What does it sound like?:

The Coral’s first album came out 20 years ago. And a fine album it is. After this, and over the next 8 albums, The Coral went about their business with quiet consistency, and whilst perhaps not receiving untold riches or high profile interviews in the music press, there really is very much to like in their catalogue. Phase 1 of their career was closed out by 2008’s ‘Singles Collection’. 1 more album came before a 4 / 5 year hiatus which was broken in 2016.

And now they’re back again with a double concept album titled “Coral Island”. Except … it isn’t really a double album (done and dusted in under an hour!) more two companion albums telling 2 sides of a story. And it isn’t really a concept album – there is a theme and outline narrative (best explained in the accompanying book), but no underlying story, main characters, or narrative conclusion.

Coral Island is an imagined seaside resort, and the album is split into 2 parts telling the story Summer point of view when the place is buzzing with incomers (Part 1: Welcome To Coral Island) and then looks at the town » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

The Who’s 1967 album is given the Super Deluxe enormobox treatment. And there is a lot to get through. If you are new to this album, this 80 quid box is unlikely to be your starting point, so the assumption is that buyers of this will already be familiar with the album content. It’s been suggested that Sell Out was an early concept album. Not convinced – there is no narrative, no story thread linking the songs, and no conclusion. What it is is a collection of great songs linked by jingles and adverts. It is more an attempt to celebrate (or perhaps re-create) the experience of listening to Pirate Radio. The original plan was to sell the space between tracks for real adverts – when this idea didn’t fly, the band created and recorded their own (many of them created by John Entwhistle and Keith Moon in the Pub round the corner from the Studio). The 13 tracks that make up the original album are a mix of psychedelia, tough-egded pop, and with “I Can See For Miles” a rock edge that would become The Who’s trademark. Like previous outing ‘A Quick One » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

With the best will in the world, I’m not sure anyone would cite Alice Cooper’s first two albums – ‘Pretties For You and ‘Easy Action’ – as essential. They have their moments, but not the energy, commitment or even at times a clear focus. In the main they are a mix of Psychedelia, Freak Rock, Frank Zappa knock-offs, and Alice sounding close to Captain Beefheart. But California was not a natural fit for the band, and they upped sticks and moved towards Detroit – a scene and sound perhaps closer to their liking.

And like it they did with confidence showing on third album ‘Love It To Death’ – OK not an unadulterated classic, but more than enough to warrant repeat playing. And they were off … next album ‘Killer’ would by my choice as the pick of their back catalogue, and this was closely followed by ‘Schools Out and ‘Billion Dollar Babies’ – probably the bands last truly great album.

Alice Cooper is 74, his band mates of a similar vintage, but they have come together again for a couple of tracks on the new album and deliver the goods once again. ‘Detroit » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

After the demise of Husker Du, Bob Mould released a couple of solo albums in a similar style and, erm, mould. He then formed Sugar whose debut album – ‘Copper Blue’ – took Husker Du’s melodic moments and added some shine. ‘Copper Blue’ is, to my ears, a better album than Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ yet Sugar remained a peg below their Grunge counterparts in a voracious genre chasing media. Thought For The Day: Is Bob Mould to Grunge what Paul Weller is to Britpop? Bob Mould’s solo career continued releasing a number a critically acclaimed, but largely commercially ignored albums. Last years ‘Sunshine Rock’ seemed to be showing Bob in a more optimistic light – there were genuine moments of lightness and happiness there. His current release – and maybe it is a reflection of the times – is as simmering and angry as ever. The opening track is titled “Heart On My Sleeve” and that is exactly what he does, and he’s not the happiest bunny in the hutch. Although don’t be fooled by the acoustic Neil Young-esque nature of the track – there is a definite undercurrent going on in the lyric. It » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Getting a Radio 1 Session (preferably a Peel Session) is something of a rite of passage for many bands. It was one of the first steps along the path of “making it” (or nearly making it, as some bands who never progressed from the BBC Studios found it). And established bands had a habit of returning when asked – there is usually something from a Radio 1 Session that marks a difference to the studio version, whether it is an early sketch for a song, a changed lyric, or a new bridge that was later dumped and then resurrected for an entirely different song. The Pogues did their fair share of Sessions – not just John Peel, but also Kid Jensen, Janice Long and Phil Kennedy (who? Me neither), and this set collects those Sessions from 1984 to 1986 and covering their earliest songs through to (maybe) the first recorded attempts at If I Should Fall From Grace With God material. It’s an expansion of an earlier Record Store Day release adding 7 additional tracks. and including 13 tracks available for the first time on CD that have not been heard since initial broadcast. » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

This package is a 4CD / 2DVD Box Set and a 40 page hardback book in one box.

The Lepps have 40+ years of recording under the belts, and have been regular visitors to stadiums and enormodomes since 1987s Hysteria sold several million copies worldwide. But they’d never played a UK gig as big as the O2. Until December 2018, when after discussions about a Las Vegas residency, the idea to stage a show on the back of Hysteria’s 30th Anniversary became real. The first DVD (and double CD) is a recording of one of the biggest UK shows they’d ever done. of one of those nights. The Hysteria album is played in full – track by track – and then followed (in a not entirely unexpected encore) by 6 more tracks from times pre and post Hysteria. The playing is spot on – to my ears sometimes too spot on – and the performance totally comfortable from a band who’ve been giving shows like this for 30 years. My only criticism here is that I just wish they’d go off script and do a bit of shredding, noodling, extended coda stuff – it » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Well, that was unfortunate timing – after a time spent building an audience, Facebook followers, and YouTube views, Block 33 unleash their debut album (to be supported by an Album Launch Party at the 100 Club) at the start of April. But with the world in lockdown, the Album Launch Party is deferred to September. The album did come out as planned though – and it ain’t bad at all. It’s had a fair few spins, and there is a very high possibility this will be in the Year End lists. It’s a definite contender.

The official narrative (from the bands Facebook page): Block 33 are a brand new mod revival band from the South of England. The band are a familiar mix of Energetic driven guitars, rolling bass, charging punk rhythms & quintessentially British, rasping yet melodic vocals that altogether make for a nostalgic sound catered for fans of the modernist subculture.

Note the word “Energetic”. Yes, oh yes. There’s plenty of Energy here.

11 tracks all meeting the criteria/description above, with a blend of the familiar and the new. Do you want a simple redux description: Take the drive of Oasis, » Continue Reading.

What does it sound like?:

Imagine Half Man Half Biscuit with a Midlands accent and a whiff of ska. That is a really simple description of The Humdrum Express. Very possibly unfair – there is more to the band than that – but I’ve got to start with a bit of a hook.

Ian Passey (for it is he) has been casting a wry eye over the world on a couple or 3 albums before. It was the last album (‘The Day My Career Died’) and more particularly the song “Leopard Print Onesie” which drew me in – and an enjoyable time it is too. As before, every listen to this album has so far revealed another smart turn of phrase, a raised eyebrow, or a the very least a knowing smile. The content is very much rooted in the ordinary (the humdrum I suppose?) and you’re immediately comfortable in this world of pop culture references and musings. And on the subject of Pop Culture Musings, there is a track by that very name here – one where he may have written his own review of the album opening with the line:

“Before I wander off to check how » Continue Reading.