Trollheart

Hey, nice to see you review an album I can appreciate!
I almost did this myself, but ended up going with "The division bell" instead.
I actually like this album. I agree "Final cut" was more "Roger Waters and Pink Floyd" than an actual Floyd album, but this doesn't have any Waters influences on it at all really, and yet still stands (to me) as a good Floyd album.

I would disagree about your impressions of "A new machine". I think it's chilling and scary, different and stands out from the rest of the album, and I love the idea of someone "living behind your eyes" and never being able to live themselves. Not entirely sure what it's about, of course, but I do like it.

I also think "Dogs of war" is a great track, but I would put "On the turning away" more in the bracket of "The tide is turning" or "Two suns in the sunset" than "Learning to fly". I like the opening theme too, the idea of someone rowing out to, or in from, somewhere, and the funny little radio-like noises over everything. I also think "Yet another movie" is a great track.

There was always going to be some controversy about the first album sans Waters, as there was with Marillion after Fish left, Genesis after Gabriel, or any other band where the main creative driving force leaves. But I think Floyd pulled it out of the bag with this one. Not by any means a fantastic album, but they didn't collapse without Waters to lean on. I thought "Division bell" showed them really maturing without him, coming out of his shadow as it were, and Gilmour was able, on both albums, to show what a fine singer he is, in addition to the superb guitarist we know him to be.

Good review!

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

TheNiceGuy

The Jam-All Mod Cons



Track Listing:
1. All Mod Cons
2. To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time?)
3. Mr. Clean
4. David Watts
5. English Rose
6. In The Crowd
7. Billy Hunt
8. It's Too Bad
9. Fly
10. The Place I Love
11. 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street
12. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight

Best Track: It's Too Bad

My Generation,circa 1978?



I'd never heard of The Jam until two weeks ago, when I decided to take the plunge on them when I saw one of their cds. This was All Mod Cons, which is a superb if a little derivative art-punk album.

The sound on this album is pretty standard for the Punk era; being guitar, bass and drums but that doesn't stop the individual tracks from being quality. The title track opener sets the scene for the majority of the album with it's gritty yet melodic guitar riffs, it's effective bass lines and Paul Weller's harsh and heavily accented vocals. I really do like Weller's vocal style, as it has that punk angryness in it but yet it also conveys a very attractive essence to it, which I find uncommon for vocalists of this era.

This album seems to have taken a lot of cues from The Who's My Generation. Certainly it combines the art punk style of My Gen whilst it also has srtikingly similar vocal harmonies. It's Too Bad sounds beautiful because of these harmonies, which seem to have been inspired by The Kids Are Alright. Down In The Tube Station also uses these harmonies to good use, but the real good stuff here is on the smart guitar riffs that blend in so well with Weller's literal and immediate lyrics that he sings in a quick and decisive style. Add a few typical "Tube" sounds and you get the best description of a late night bashing that you'll ever get.

Just too balance out the general feel of the album there is the touching English Rose. One would think it's acoustic guitar and quite sweet love lyrics would make the song stick out like a sore thumb, but the song is sung with a sincere enough feel to keep it tasteful. Certainly it feels like an island of tranquility in the sea of kitchen sink style (not quality ) lyrics and a largely non acoustic sound. David Watts is a nice Kinks cover that continues the My Generation era feel that parallels the more modern punk elements that are also present in the music. And The Jam certainly manage to combine the two rather nicely with no obvious real faults. Perhaps Weller's vocals can get a touch too gritty in songs like To Be Someone, but other than that there's not much wrong here.

The Jam have made a brilliant album that manages to combine the musical spirit of two eras, which is certainly a step up from most other punk albums in the era (even though this wasn't straight out punk). Certainly one to lend your ear to.

14/15

__________________
My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

Trollheart

Not a band I ever was into (my brother was), I'm still surprised you've never even HEARD of the Jam up to now? No "Town called malice?" No "Going underground?" No "Start"? Weird. You must be very young (or in residence under a rock) not to have heard of them, as they were pretty huge in the late 70s/early 80s, and of course Weller went on to fashion his own solo career with the Style Counsel.

FYI, the Jam weren't thought of as punk at the time of their success, they were known mostly as a "mod" band, and in fact pretty much carried the mod scene.

Good review again; nice to see you expanding your musical horizons (says he, preparing to enter the dark and murky world of boybands --- brrr!)

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

TheNiceGuy

Well I'm not too young...

I'm in Australia and there are a number of British bands that don't get a hell of a lot of exposure here. Mind you I have heard of The Style Council before but that was only because of one of my friend's owning a Greatest Hits album of them.

As for the Mod vs. Punk image you're quite right in retrospect. Certainly it makes a lot of sense considering the similarities to My Generation, which showed The Who at the peak of their mod style. I guess the punk tag is more from a time period point of view rather than an accurate description of their sound.

And you're a brave person to be tackling boy bands that's for sure!

__________________
My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

TheNiceGuy

Peter Gabriel-Peter Gabriel 3-Melt (1980)



Track List:
1. Intruder
2. No Self Control
3. Start
4. I Don't Remember
5. Family Snapshot
6. And Through The Wire
7. Games Without Frontiers
8. Not One of Us
9. Lead A Normal Life
10. Biko

Best Track: And Through The Wire

****ed up and disturbing...But I like it!

Peter Gabriel is one of the most gifted Art Rockers around because he can combine his arty experimentation with a sound that is appealing to the mainstream. (At least pre-1986) With PG 3 or Melt as I like to call it he manages to combine the two beautifully.

Intruder sets the scene of the album from the start. A disturbing synth background gives Gabriel plenty of room to sing in a very awkward and approiate style, which fits in brilliantly. The lyrics perfectly describe what happens in the head of an intruder, and it just comes out so nicely. It's not what I'd call immediately accessible but it's a strong starter. No Self Control continues to touch on the mentally unstable feel of the album, but Start is a massive left turn. Lovely luscious sax dominated instrumentals? Is this Roxy Music's Avalon? This is definitely a very distinct song from the other tracks and it does represent a nice breather from the heavier (in lyrics and feel) songs around it.

The next few songs feel a touch more listenable for the more mainstream person. I Don't Remember has a strong and heavy vocal hook which interchanges nicely the guitar there, whilst Family Snapshot touches on the heartstrings with Gabriel incorporating a childish touch to his voice at the end when he's singing to stop his parents fighting. The character impersonating stuff is a throwback to his Genesis years but it certainly sounds a lot more emotional and serious here. Which in a sense is a good description of the whole album.

And Through The Wire is next, and it shows Gabriel uses voice to good extent again, with a nice very 80's sounding but also quite good guitar riff dominating around it. This combination makes it my favourite song here. The hit single Games Without Frontiers has strong anti-war lyrical content but isn't quite as atmospheric as the other tracks. Not One of Us is similar in musical style to I Don't Remember without quite as strong a hook. Lead A Normal Life has a very thick and effective atmosphere, with nice piano work just floating to the surface over it. It almost has an ambient feel at times, except towards the end where there is a flood of distortion again returning to the mentally unstable style again. Biko is another political song (about some South African anti-apartheid campaigner I believe?) with excellent use of African drums and choir. Gabriel is a big campaigner for World music and it is represented nicely here, even if it kind of sticks out from the majority of the album. It is still a quality song.

From the striking album cover to the striking songs Melt represents art rock at it's finest. Rarely had Gabriel ever reached this kind of brilliance, in or out of Genesis, and so it certainly deserves praise.


14/15

__________________
My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

Trollheart

Oh yes, another one I can comment on! Lovely! So many of the guys around here review albums I wouldn't have a clue about, with band names like Panthers Drowning In Jam or My Second Bicycle, that it's nice to see someone else getting involved with the music I appreciate.

Been a Gabriel fan since Genesis days, and although this album is one of his better ones, I personally rate "Ovo" as him reaching his creative peak --- although I'm shortly about to listen to "New blood", and by all accounts that takes things to a new level: Gabriel and orchestra? Sounds like a match made in Heaven! I'll let you (and everyone else) know what I think once I've had time to absorb it.

As far as this one goes, I agree with about everything you say, other than the choice of favourite track. Not sure what mine would be, maybe "Lead a normal life", if only for its total simplicity and yet deep symbolism: come on! A song with all that music and only ONE lyrical passage? A few lines? What a classic!

"Family snapshot" I always took to be about Lee Harvey Oswald, tracing back his youth and the troubles that (are seen to) assail him and cause him to assassinate President Kennedy. Like where he says "The governor's car is not far behind/ He's not the one I have in mind/ Cos there he is, the man of the hour..." I love also the way it starts so slow, builds to a ferocious intensity, drops off a cliff via piano and then comes back full circle.

"Biko" is indeed about a South African legend, Steven Biko. Watch the movie "Cry freedom" if you want to know more about this guy. I also love "Not one of us" for its frenetic style, as well as "No self control", the way it goes, well, out of control near the end. I see it, "Lead a normal life" and maybe "I don't remember" as being kind of a trilogy, tracing the progression of a man's madness, his treatment and perhaps release after that treatment. Probably totally wrong, wouldn't be the first time!

It's true though: from the unsettling drum intro of "Intruder" to the fading, plaintive African chant of "Biko", this is an album with no flaws. His last "real" album, "Up", was a huge disappointment to me, so I'm expecting big things from "New blood".

Great review, but I would have included a few YouTubes? Like these




And you need to get your [font] brackets sorted. Pedant, pedant, I know...

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

TheNiceGuy

As for the font sizes I always seem to forget what size I had my previous ones on! I probably need to focus a little on the editing afterwards with the reviews.

As for the Family Snapshot interpretation I must admit I never thought of it that way! Guess Pete's snuck in another little political song here under my nose...

__________________
My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

TheNiceGuy

Radiohead-Pablo Honey



Track Listing:
1. You
2. Creep
3. How Do You?
4. Stop Whispering
5. Thinking About You
6. Anyone Can Play Guitar
7. Ripcord
8. Vegetable
9. Prove Yourself
10. I Can't
11. Lurgee
12. Blow Out

Best Track: Creep

Anyone can play guitar apparently, but can THEY play it well...

It's very easy to look at Radiohead's debut album through modern (2011) eyes and think it looks pretty unremakable. Obviously Pablo Honey lacks the arty-experimental rock of the later albums but Thom Yorke and co. do produce quite a decent debut.

You starts off proceedings in a honest fashion, with some slightly heavy but not too heavy guitar-work dominating. Yorke's vocals blend in alright with this playing. Radiohead's first hit Creep is one of the highlights on the album, with the self loathing lyrics really biting down hard. The swearing fits in well with that idea, without coming out as just braindead songwriting ala The Sex Pistols. There is a grungey feel here as well with the quiet-ish verses before the harder chorus. And then appears that falsetto in the middle which, while not as good as what Yorke will do on later albums, is still quite effective. It forms a nice contrast to his singing earlier in the song. How Do You feels very punk (Maybe they were like The Sex Pistols...) but has a slightly depressed note to it at the same time. The start is good but the heavy distortion at the end seems a bit of a pointless and not very pleasing way to end proceedings.

Stop Whispering is weird for the band in that it has a lyrics that make you want to stand up for yourself, instead of wallowing in depression. The drumming here from Selway is quite good as it provides a nice framework for Yorke to deliver a strong hook (Stop whispeeerriinngg...) and the three guitar attack to riff hard. Thinking About You is a very Smiths-like semi acoustic love song, whilst Anyone Can Play Guitar echoes The Smith's melancholic style without Morrissey's emotional delivery. Yorke has a good crack but the hooks here aren't quite as well delivered as the earlier songs. Ripcord again displays Selways good drumrolls but the vocals get drowned out by the just slightly too heavy guitars. And there doesn't seem to be that quiet-loud grungey dynamics that there were on Creep and Stop Whispering. Vegetable addresses this deficiency and has a nice twisted distortion guitar sound over quite strong lyrics that aren't referring to your regular garden greens.

Grungey distorted guitars continue to be the word of the day with Prove Yourself, and I Can't features an attractive slightly choppy guitar based melody that hang around a more subdued but still strong rhythm section. I Can't also taps into that well trodden teen insecuritys/angst theme to a good effect. It's probably a minute too long but that doesn't ruin the song. Lurgee is a touch unremarkable but not horrid. The finale Blow Out goes against the flow of the whole album with it's quite mellow overtones, before entering a siren like section that seems to point towards the sonic exploration of their early 2000's albums. The thumping drums underneath keep it from total white noise though.

Mixing The Smiths with the in style (Grunge) at the time is interesting, but the fact is Radiohead were never a band to hang around with only the limitations of Grunge, and every album after Pablo confirms this. However if you like you're Radiohead distorted guitar-heavy and angsty with a grungey flavour then Pablo fulfills that need. If you've just entered the world of Radiohead through this album however you've still got a long and throughly enjoyable ride to go. And yes, these guy's do know how to play guitar.

11/15

__________________
My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

TheNiceGuy

David Bowie-The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars






Track Listing:

1. Five Years
2. Soul Love
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Starman
5. It Ain't Easy
6. Lady Stardust
7. Star
8. Hang on to Yourself
9. Ziggy Stardust
10. Suffragette City
11. Rock & Roll Suicide


Best Track: Ziggy Stardust, perhaps Starman



Glam Rock's only meaningful gift to society


Many consider this album to be Bowie's piece de resistance; honestly almost everyone does. At least everyone who only owns this and maybe a Bowie greatest hit collection, but the point still stands that this album represents Bowie's best quality album on the more commercial side of things. And commercial Bowie isn't bad at all, pre-1983 that is.

But Ziggy is certainly a very weird album. Which is bascially what you expect from Bowie. Anyway Five Years kicks things off, with a solid drumbeat and heavy piano chords backing through it. It's quite a lumbering song but Bowie's vocal style keeps it interesting. The story in this song and the whole album in general is a bit hard to follow at times, but it doesn't really matter too much. Everyone gets the general gist of it being the story of an alien rockstar who lives his famous life to the full (as in sex, drugs and rock'n'roll) and eventually dies a rockstar death at the end. Was Bowie trying to parody rockers like Hendrix and Jim Morrison? I'm not sure this was the original plan but hey it fits in.

Back to the songs; Soul Love is a nice acoustic twanger that gets a bit harder as it goes on. Moonage Daydream brings in some nice flute parts which gives the song a folky feel which harkens back to Bowie's 60's material. Starman is the big hit with it's flowing acoustic guitar melodies and a slightly funky bassline behind it in the verses, before hitting the string and hook filled chorus and then he hammers that down with a lovely electric guitar solo with more string backing. All this over Bowie's slightly quivering vocal stylings. Quality for you.

It Ain't Easy is a Led Zeppelin-esque rocker that doesn't quite hit the mark as Bowie lacks Robert Plant's vocal shriek. Lady Stardust makes up for it though; it's a lovely soulful piano ballad that is a lot more suited to Bowie. Star and Hang On To Yourself are both your a-typical glam rock songs but they are both listenable and catchy. It keeps the concept of the album going as it portrays Ziggy turning into that rockstar that he always was meant to be. Neither are that memorable though, but that's more to do with the excellent songs surrounding them rather than these two being bad.

Ziggy Stardust on the other hand is an album, hell, career highlight. The start sets the scene beautifully, with a heavy "sex, drugs and rock'n'roll" guitar riff before entering a chunky bassline that sets a base for Bowie's alien singing delivery. Like the song says this is Ziggy making love with his ego, and that boozy and sex-filled style bursts throughout the music and lyrics here. It almost seems like Ziggy is real! If only...

Suffragette City is a funky stomper that continues Ziggy's spiral into rock excess. His swansong, Rock & Roll Suicide, ends his life in a more settled and less uncontrollable style from the songs before it, and yet that makes it all the better. The "Your not alone" screeching (Assumedly from Ziggy to Lady Stardust but don't quote me on that) really closes up the emotional journey of his life strongly yet a touch poignantly at the same time. Bowie sure knew how to make this guy seem real, that's for sure.

Although the Musical Chameleon would move on from the glam era within only two albums or so, Ziggy Stardust still holds up as strong as ever. Certainly, Bowie would never be able to match the theatricality of this record for the rest of his career, and that just makes this album all the better.


14/15

__________________
My Music Review Blog-It's Only Rock 'n' Roll

There is no Dark Side of the Moon really, matter of fact it's all dark...

Trollheart

Another great review guy! I actually covered this as part of my "70s week" a while back. To be honest, while I loved the album and always have, I too was at sea with the storyline, so I turned to my trusty friend Wiki, who filled in the blanks. Even then, it's a weird plot.

Interesting thing about this album (as mentioned in my review) is that for a long time Bowie got so caught up in the Ziggy character and lifestyle that at times he didn't know whether it was Bowie playing Ziggy or Ziggy playing Bowie, and it nearly destroyed him.

Wiki's always good for research, I find. Made my review of the album much more informative, both for me and the reader. Great review though considering you didn't resort to "the Oracle" for your information...

TH

__________________
Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018