PlayRewind

Lou Rhodes - Rain

This single is a must have for singer/song writer fans, Lou (from LAMB) struck out on her own and was nominated for the mercury prize in 2006. This is the first single of her follow up Bloom.

The 3-track single features a new radio mix of ‘The Rain’ and recordings of LAMB’s ‘Gabriel’ which is worth the price alone and Elliott Smith’s ‘Satellite. The song itself is a gem but when combined with Gabriel made me gleefully giggle like some form of school girl hyena hybrid. She as a unique voice and is in turns dramatic or understated to masterful effect.

Click on the play if you don’t believe me.

REVIEW: Blue October: Foiled

Blue October know what it feels like to nearly make it, only to get pushed aside. Signed to Universal in 2000, only to be subsequently dropped a matter of months later, and picked up in 2003 again by Universal. Where they have remained since.

REVIEW: Less Than Jake: In With the Out Crowd

Its easy to remain unimpressed by the maturing of once almost juvenile punk bands. Blink 182 just ceased to exist, Green Day hopped on the anti Bush bandwagon, NOFX delivered one of their finest records to date and Less Than Jake gave us the excellent,  overlooked Anthem. The most obvious change in punk musics maturing is the loss of that youthful enthusiasm which was an integral part of the mix.

REVIEW: Kings of Leon: Because of the Times

The most adept comparison one can make with Kings of Leon’s third album is Randy Newman.  I’m sure most will reread that statement a number of times before accepting that someone just compared the Kings to Randy bloody Newman.

REVIEW: Electric Six - Switzerland

ELECTRIC SIX -SWITZERLAND

There is a somewhat sordid history of one hit wonders who were much better than their initial hit suggested. Electric Six seem destined to be remembered solely for the completely OTT brilliance of "Danger! High Voltage", the appeal of which is undeniable even now. Returning after the sorely underrated Senor Smoke, Dick Valentine and Co are aiming for the top again with Switzerland

The Shins - Winch the Night Away

 The rather strange title of the new Shin's album is all down to singer and songwriter James Mercer's struggle to sleep at night due to the anticipation surrounding the album. The Shin's became almost overnight sensations in 2004, due in no small part to Natalie Portman telling Zach Braff that the Shins will "change your life" in the fan favourite Garden State.

Mercer was wrong to worry. Winch the Night Away, the groups third album is their best to date, and should launch the band into the big league. That is if there actually is any justice in this world. The band have considerably upped the ante, with a far more varied sound that shows their astounding talent.

Early single "Phantom Limb" is a hook filled pop song that shows the band at the peak of their song writing ability. One of the bands gifts is that you're never quiet sure what the hell the lyrics are about.  References to the "polymorphing opinion" on the quiet beautiful Spilt Needles' or "faced with the dodo's conundrum" on the superb 'Australia'.  Yet they retain a magical quality which enrapture the listener with their fairytale styling.

From the psychedelic 'Black Wave'  to the hip-hop styling of 'Sea Legs', this really is an album to behold. I know the year has only just dawned, but believe me when I say that not only is this the first true classic of 2007 it is also a serious contender for album of the year. It's doubtful that any other release of the coming year will be quiet so brilliant.

James Mercer had best get used to many sleepless nights, as he contemplates how the hell can he follow up musical perfection.

If we had a rating system then  Winch the Night Away would recieve 5/5, but only because I can hardly give it 10/5, or can I???

Craig Gallagher

Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralyze

How does a band go about recording a follow up to the two finest rock albums of the past decade? Josh Homme's solution, has been a somewhat original one. Having devised an all star army, with three front men for Songs for the Dead, Homme proceeded to tear his team apart. Even going as far as sacking his faithful, if a little unhinged first mate Nick Oliveri.

Lullabies to Paralyze is basically a Homme solo album. From the bleak opening, Lullaby, sung with expected dark gravitas by Mark Lanegan (one of the departed front-men). From here the album takes a strange turn. A series of restrained, stripped down songs suggest that this is Homme's radio friendly album.

This evaporates about half way through this majestic and absorbing set. Someone's in the Wolf, a breathtakingly perverse hard rock track which paves the way for what follows. Homme also provides one of the most unusual and awe inspiring musical hybrids in existence, The Blood is Love, Led Zeppelin by way of David Bowie's Berlin period, has to be heard to be believed.

Throw in a couple of pulsating ballads like I Never Came, and Lullabies to Paralyze easily sits amongst the greatest Rock albums ever recorder. Josh Homme has done what few bands ever accomplish. One truly great album is common, two is rare, but three great albums is something rare indeed.

Craig Gallagher

Billy Corgan - The Future Embrace

Billy Corgan is one of the most talented, frustrating and cantankerous figure to ever grace American rock mainstream success. As front man of the Smashing Pumpkins, he divided his time  between psychedelic grunge overtly pompous industrial, and stadium friendly rock anthems. After the Pumpkins went their way he formed a new band, Zwan which was comprised of a number of leftfield individuals. They played 70s rock and turned out the finest album of Corgan's long and industrious career. Like all good things this failed to last, and Zwan swiftly went the way of the Pumpkins.

Its with a heavy heart I say that Corgan's first solo album is by far the worst thing he has been involved in. The first evidence of the pretentiousness of the whole affair is evident by the anti-grammatical album title. The Future Embrace owes a lot to New Order, (whom Corgan briefly joined) and the Cure. Robert Smith even pops up on a rather overtly grim rendition of the Bee Gee's To Love Somebody.

Corgan's gift for crafting beautifully mournful anthems remains intact, evident on tracks A100 and DIA. Two fine tracks which almost make the album worth owning.

Craig Gallagher