T. Rex "Futuristic Dragon" (1976)

Futuristic Dragon
release date: Jan. 30, 1976
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,14]
producer: Marc Bolan
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Jupiter Liar" - 3. "Chrome Sitar" - 4. "All Alone" - 6. "My Little Baby"

11th studio album by T. Rex and again with Bolan in full control. 1976 was the year when punk rock exploded in Britain with The Damned, Sex Pistols, The Clash and a totally different approach to music. but it was also a fine year for Marc Bolan, although, his music had a hard time getting through to the crowd he used to appeal to.
This is actually a fine and daring album with some nice tracks, but... Bolan keeps to a formula based on glam rock and boogie with the addition of soul and funk elements, which may feel a bit strange and somewhat dated when thinking of the time of its release. "My Little Baby" is a mighty fine track and would have fitted perfectly on The Slider or Tanx.

The Crash "Comfort Deluxe" (1999)

Comfort Deluxe [debut]

release date: Jun. 3, 1999
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,72]
producer: Hannu Pikkarainen
label: Evidence - nationality: Finland

Track highlights: 1. "Sugared" - 2. "World of My Own" - 4. "Coming Home"

Studio album debut by Finnish band The Crash. All music is credited vocalist and guitarist Teemu Brunila. The music is indie pop in family with Swedish twee pop band The Cardigans and British glam rock band Suede but the album is somewhat mediocre compared to their follow-up.

The Crash

~ ~ ~

The Crash: is a Finnish indie pop band formed in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi, Finland in 1991. The band split in 2009. Members: Teemu Brunila (vocals, guitar, piano), Samuli Haataja (bass, vocals), Erkki Kaila (drums), Toni Ahola (keyboards, 1997-2000), Jussi Lehtinen (keyboards, 2000-01), Tomi Mäkilä (keyboards, 2001-2009). Former members: Dani Aavinen (1991-96), Tommi Rapeli (keyboards, 1994-96). The band released its first full-length studio album in 1999 with some international attention, and the second release Wildlife (2001) secured the band a nomination as Best Nordic Artist (alongside Röyksopp, Saybia, The Hives, and Kent) at the MTV Europe Awards in 2002 - a prize eventually handed Kent. The Crash went on to release a total of four albums before calling it a day, as the public eye failed to keep an interest for he band, and the final album was released in 2006.

~ ~ ~

Cactus World News "Urban Beaches" (1986)

Urban Beaches [debut]
release date: 1986
format: vinyl (253 026-1) / digital (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]
producer: Chris Kimsey
label: MCA Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Worlds Apart" (5 / 5) - 2. "In a Whirlpool" - 3. "The Promise" - 4. "The Bridge" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 6. "Years Later"

Studio album debut by Irish band Cactus World News consisting of Eoin McEvoy on lead vocals & acoustic guitar, Frank Kearns on electric & Spanish guitars, Fergal MacAindris on bass, and with Wayne Sheehy on drums & percussion.
A band that critics and musicians predicted a glorious career as the new big thing coming from Ireland and to follow close on the path laid out by U2, which never happened, but this very album really is a gem.
I purchased the album after having acquired the single "The Bridge".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

T. Rex "Bolan's Zip Gun" (1975)

Bolan's Zip Gun
release date: Mar. 11, 1975
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Marc Bolan
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Light of Love" - 3. "Precious Star" - 4. "Token of My Love" - 10. "Golden Belt"

10th studio album by T. Rex and the first to be solely produced by Marc Bolan. Following little success with his previous album, Bolan wanted full control of the sound of this release, and for the first time in a long time he actually succeeds in exploring new musical territory with a combo of glam rock, boogie, and bold use of blues and especially soul. The result is slower and more complex compositions but the album turned out as his least successful album so far, which may seem a bit unfair as I find it bettering his Zinc Alloy... album, and it's really not far from Bowie's Diamond Dogs from '74 - and then again: It perhaps shows how Bolan now comes up with an approach to new evolving styles.

The Style Council "A Solid Bond in Your Heart" (1983) (single)

A Solid Bond in Your Heart, 7'' single
release date: Nov. 1983
format: vinyl (gatefold - TSC4)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Peter Wilson and Paul Weller
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) "A Solid Bond in Your Heart" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "It Just Came to Pieces in My Hands" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "A Solid Bond in Your Heart (Instrumental)"

4th single release by The Style Council released after the ep Introducing.... Still, only Mick Talbot and Paul Weller are credited as The Style Council with Zeke Manyika (on drums), Chris Hunter (on saxophone) are credited as 'hon councillors'. Somehow this single wasn't including on the '84 full-length studio debut. The style is a fine uptempo combo of jazz pop and pop soul, and it would have fitted very nicely on the album released four months later.

Cactus World News "The Bridge" (1985) (single)

The Bridge, 7'' single
release date: 1985
format: vinyl (MUM 2)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: Bono and Jon Kelly
label: Mother Records - nationality: Ireland

Tracklist: A) "The Bridge" (4,5 / 5) - - B) 1. "The Other Extreme" - 2. "Frontiers"

Single release by Irish band Cactus World News from the forthcoming album Urban Beaches.
The single is released by the U2-founded label Mother Records.

Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala" (2007)

Night Falls Over Kortedala
release date: Sep. 5, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Jens Lekman
label: Service - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "And I Remember Every Kiss" (4 / 5) - 2. "Sipping on the Sweet Nectar" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "The Opposite of Hallelujah" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 4. "A Postcard to Nina" (5 / 5) - 5. "Into Eternity" (4 / 5) - 8. "Your Arms Around Me" (5 / 5) - 9. "Shirin" - 11. "Kanske är jag kär i dig" (4 / 5) - 12. "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo"

2nd studio album release by Swedish singer / songwriter chamber pop artist Jens Lekman. In my mind, it's also his best album. The songs are recorded from 2004 - 2007 but are not previously released. Many artists have made attempts in the genre of romantic chamber pop in the 1990s and in the new millennium, but few do it so well. It may be cheesy, and over the hill but hey!, It's twee pop [AND better than Belle and Sebastian], he sings so well, and his songs are cut as highly original compositions with a few samples here and there.
In Scandinavia, he has a musical "soul brother" in Teitur from the Faroe Islands, and they're both sparkling great (new) romantics singing about lost love and other boring stuff like that.
This release is simply one of the best in 2007.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian 5 / 5 stars ]

Felt "Forever Breathes the Lonely Word" (1986)

Forever Breathes the Lonely Word
release date: Sep. 1986
format: cd (CRECD 011)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,96]
producer: John A. Rivers
label: Creation Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Rain of Crystal Spires" (4 / 5) - 2. "Down But Not Yet Out" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "September Lady" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Grey Streets" (4 / 5) - 5. "All the People I Like Are Those That Are Dead" (4 / 5) - 6. "Gather Up Your Wings and Fly" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "A Wave Crashed on Rocks" - 8. "Hours of Darkness Have Changed My Mind"

6th studio album by Felt re-introduce John A. Rivers, and this time he is credited as producer. The album is released only three months after Let the Snakes Crinkle, which was the band's first with keyboardist Martin Duffy (who feature on the album cover). In hindsight it makes perfect sense. Where Let the Snakes Crinkle... was like a first draft, yet exclusively instrumental, with Duffy adding a new sound to the band, this is the fulfilment of that experiment or reorganisation within a band going from guitar-driven jangle-pop to a more complex style. This is the first Felt album without a single instrumental only, and to me, the album showcases everything good about Felt: the sparse instrumentation, yet wide simple sound, Duffy's beautiful Hammond Organ and on top of it all, the signature of Lawrence's guitar and voice. This is not over-produced, like I feel Ignite the Seven Cannons tends to be - this is so much more genuine. This is the band's finest hour, imho.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Record Mirror 5 / 5 stars ]

T. Rex "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow" (1974)

Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
release date: Feb. 1, 1974
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Venus Loon" - 2. "Sound Pit" - 4. "Galaxy" - 5. "Change" - 8. "Liquid Gang"

9th studio album by T. Rex and the last to be produced by Tony Visconti. Again, the new album from Bolan doesn't add new dimensions or styles to his repertoire, and the album was received with less enthusiasm compared to his previous releases. A lot of the tracks sound much like former compositions, like was the case with Tanx (1973), and the album title made critics imply it a lesser copy of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (1972). It's not really that the music is bad, it contains several fine songs with perhaps a darker approach to life, but what perhaps made critics dislike the album is what may be seen as Bolan's attempt to stay on top despite having no ideas left, clinging on to a throne while the magic is dissolving.
The king will not step down, although, everyone has seen former glam rockers like Bowie and Reed more than just able to produce new material building on new ideas following glam rock into new areas, whereas Bolan has no intentions to follow suit. It's really not bad but at the same time it's difficult to embrace. Not one of the best by Bolan.

T. Rex "Tanx" (1973)

Tanx
release date: Jan. 28, 1973
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: EMI Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Tenement Lady" - 2. "Rapids" - 9. "Born to Boogie" (4 / 5)

8th studio album by T. Rex. The album was a general success in Europe, and in particular in the UK where it reached number #4 on the albums chart list like its 1972 predecessor The Slider, but musically it's widely considered a step down for Marc Bolan. Except from "Tenement Lady" and "Born to Boogie" the album doesn't contain any great tracks.
The biggest issue about the album is that it mostly just sounds like a copy of his former hits and a mix of David Bowie and Lou Reed compositions. The originality is missing, and it's just okay glam rock and boogie rock. Some tracks seem like attempts to move away from the style on his previous two albums into a blues or rock & roll style with slower arrangements adding strings and backing vocals like heard on Lou Reed's Transformer (1972), e.g. the tracks "Mister Mister", "Broken Hearted Blues", "Electric Slim & The Factory Hen" and "Left Hand Luke".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars, Rolling Stone review without rating ]

Boney M "Oceans of Fantasy" (1979)

Oceans of Fantasy
release date: Sep. 21, 1979
format: vinyl
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,66]
producer: Frank Farian
label: Atlantic Records - nationality: (West) Germany

4th studio album by Boney M originally released on Hansa.

Joe Strummer "Earthquake Weather" (1989)

Earthquake Weather
release date: Sep. 20, 1989
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,05]
producer: Joe Strummer
label: Epic - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Gangsterville" - 2. "King of the Bayou" (4 / 5) - 4. "Slant Six" - 6. "Shouting Street" - 8. "Leopardskin Limousines" - 10. "Jewellers & Bums" - 11. "Highway One Zero Street" (4,5 / 5) - 12. "Ride Your Donkey" - 13. "Passport to Detroit"

2nd solo studio album by Joe Strummer after his first full solo album - the instrumental soundtrack album Walker (1987) one could suggest that this is in fact his 'real' debut album releasing his own characteristic music inspired by reggae, garage rock, and punk rock with bits of folk as well as more traditional rock & roll.
The album received many positive reviews but generally failed to reach the record buyers. I think, the record company may have had the impression that his name and reputation would be enough to sell, and simply forgot to promote it. I found it shortly after the release at the local library, my huge source for new music at the time. So, for many years I kept a copy on tape until I finally found it on cd. I remember listening a lot to the album, and my surprise that no-one ever played it. It contains some great uptempo tracks that could easily have been fitted on a 'lost' The Clash album, say after Combat Rock (1982), which it rightfully should have followed instead of the mish-mash album, Cut the Crap (1985). Some of the slower tracks are typically more ska revival and / or reggae styled. "Highway One Zero Street" is a killer of a track on an album that only needs a remastered edition. The production sound is a bit on the muddy side, and with the right personnel it can only shine as the jewel it rightfully is.
Highly recommendable.

Imperiet "Imperiet" (1984), mini-lp

Imperiet, mini-lp
release date: Mar. 1984
format: vinyl (MLRM 02) / cd (1997)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Stefan Glaumann & Imperiet
label: Mistlur - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Det glittrar" - 2. "Dekadanser" (4 / 5) - 3. "Kickar" (4 / 5) - 4. "Kriget med mig själv" - 6. "Jag kan inte leva utan dig"

2nd album release by Imperiet. This was released as a six track "Mini-LP" but it's often listed as the band's second studio album, which I think of it... but it does raise a question as to where the line is between 'extended play' and 'mini-album'? Both are characterised by a short playing time but where's the exact limit to that?
Anyhow, this is a 'Mini LP', meaning 'Mini (short) Long Playing' [!] album with a total of a little more than 24 minutes playing time... and it's really fine. Actually, it's one of the best by the band. Stry Terrarie sings and plays guitar on the album, and saxophonist Per Hägglund has taken over playing keyboards. For whatever reasons, this is the last album featuring Terrarie.
The album was later (in 1992 and 1997) released on cd with the album Rasera.

T. Rex "The Slider" (1972)

The Slider
release date: Jul. 21, 1972
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,77]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: EMI Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Metal Guru" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Mystic Lady" (4 / 5) - 3. "Rock On" (4 / 5) - 4. "The Slider" (4 / 5) - 5. "Baby Boomerang" - 6. "Spaceball Richochet" (4 / 5) - 7. "Buick Mackane" - 8. "Telegram Sam" (4 / 5) - 9. "Rabbit Fighter" - 10. "Baby Strange" - 11. "Ballrooms of Mars" - 12. "Chariot Choogle" (4,5 / 5) - 13. "Main Man"

7th studio album release with Tyrannosaurus Rex / T.Rex. The style is very much the same as on Electric Warrior (1971), and the album is packed with great tracks that put Marc Bolan and Co. on top of glam rock. Actually, it's hard to say which album is the best of the two classic T. Tex albums of 1971 and '72, as they both contain some of the most classic glam rock songs of the era. Also, the year 1972 was truly a fine year of rock seeing such other fine releases as: David Bowie's (his best album ever) The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Lou Reed's Transformer, Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick, and Neil Young's Harvest, which explains the difficulty in reaching my top-3 that particular year. The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

Cocteau Twins "Garlands" (1982)

Garlands [debut]
release date:  Sep. 1, 1982
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,90]
producer: Cocteau Twins, Ivo Watts-Russell
label: 4AD records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlight: 1. "Blood Bitch" - 2. "Wax and Wane" - 7. "Garlands"

Studio album debut by the Scottish band Cocteau Twins on 4AD Records. Here, the band consists of guitarist Robin Guthrie, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, and bassist Will Heggie, and without a real drummer in the band, Guthrie handed all drum programming.
The style is like many post-punk bands of the early 1980s an unidentified search within an experimental shape of sound with traces to art rock and proto-punk and the outcome is a dark meandering gothic rock-like and ethereal wave-style, which really is far from what later became the band's trademark of much more positive dream pop. The style is not fra from what you could end up with when thinking of a combo of The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees. There's a certain similarity with the sound of Robert Smiths' swirling guitar-sound of the early '80s, and although, Fraser has a unique singing style, there are obvious bonds to the alto vocal of Siouxsie Sioux.

I don't think, I ever managed to play the album from start to finish back then, as I came across the album in the late '80s. I always ended up feeling the music had been caught in some time bubble or stylistic trench and the tracks kept repeating themselves without much progression, but there are qualities in the soundscape, which makes it an original blend. It's not an album of traditional harmonic  melodies but more of experimental nature where the overall sensation matters more than the single tracks.
Not really recommended as a first encounter with the band.

The Cranberries "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" (1993)

Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? [debut]

release date: Mar. 1, 1993

format: cd

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]

producer: Stephen Street

label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "I Still Do" - 2. "Dreams" - 3. "Sunday" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 7. "Linger" (4,5 / 5) (live and unplugged) - 8. "Wanted" (studio session) - 9. "Still Can't..." - 11. "How" - 12. "Put Me Down"

Studio debut album by Irish band The Cranberries consisting of Dolores O'Riordan on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, the brothers Hogan: Noel (older brother) on lead guitar and backing vocals, Mike on bass guitar, and with Fergal Lawler on drums and percussion. The brothers Hogan and Fergal were longtime friends and together with Niall Quinn (who also played in the band The Hitchers) they formed The Cranberry Saw Us in 1989 - the quartet played gigs and recorded demos, and in '90 Quinn left to concentrate on his other band, The Hitchers, and the trio then was joined by O'Riordan after which she soon became the band's primary songwriter.

Musically, The Cranberries play a softer version of alt. rock and dream pop with obvious jangle pop parts. It's not far from other contemporary artists like Cranes, The Sundays, Echobelly, Slowdive, but it also reflects musical bonds to Cocteau Twins and more melodious tracks by My Bloody Valentine, and perhaps the most obvious inspirational source: The Smiths. Most tracks here have lyrics by O'Riordan and music written by Noel and O'Riordan (three songs are solely written and composed by O'Riordan).

The album debut peaked at #1 both in Ireland as well as in the UK, though none of the two singles, "Dreams" and "Linger" - both issued prior to the album release - made remarkable entries on the singles chart lists. Both singles were re-issued in '94 with much more success when peaking at number #3 and #9 respectively in Ireland.

I must admit that I didn't appreciate the band all that much when the album was released. I simply couldn't come to terms with the voice of O'Riordan because, in my ears, she sounded too much like Sinéad O'Connor, whom I saw then as a greater songwriter. However, both The Cranberries and O'Riordan proved not to be short-lived nor minor artists, and today I see this album in a much more positive light, and Dolores... well, she is not just a major contemporary singer and songwriter, she is just in a league of her own.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Slant, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Kitchens of Distinction "The Death of Cool" (1992)

The Death of Cool
release date: Aug. 3, 1992
format: cd (TPLP 39CD)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]
producer: Hugh Jones
label: One Little Indian - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "What Happens Now?" (4 / 5) - 2. "4 Men" (5 / 5) - 3. "On Tooting Broadway Station" (4 / 5) - 4. "Breathing Fear" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Gone World Gone" (3 / 5) - 6. "When in Heaven" (4 / 5) - 7. "Mad as Snow" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "Smiling" (3,5 / 5) - 9. "Blue Pedal" (3,5 / 5) - 10. "Can't Trust the Waves" (4,5 / 5)

3rd studio album by Kitchens of Distinction released on One Little Indian is like the former produced by Hugh Jones, although, it reflects a noticeable change of sound as the production is more towards a dream pop feel with less distorted noise pop.
My first impression was bland, and I thought of it as a weaker release. I still do but it soon grew better as some of the softer pop songs were more than quite okay. The opening track "What Happens Now?" and my favourite "4 Men" (feat. Katie Meehan's vocal) are more in line with the previous album, with their high pitched tempo and great guitar based sound, than the remaining tracks. "When in Heaven" is a sing-along-up-tempo dream pop tune - nice and sweet. "Mad as Snow" is a surprisingly beautiful progressive dream pop ballad, and one of their finest songs. "Smiling" jumps on the same train as "When in Heaven" with an up-tempo and fine chorus line, and then it goes even further in the progressive area with "Blue Pedal" which is almost a post rock song before the style was even named. The album closes with "Can't Trust the Waves", again a slow progressive track only this time it's a ballad with saxophone... The entire experience is a bit confusing, and I guess that was my initial verdict - I couldn't find it's overall sound, and it still appears rather varied and broad... maybe for the broad minded. What really binds the whole thing together is first and foremost Julian Swales' signature sound of harmonically distorted guitar-noise - the dna of the band.
At the time of its release I would most likely have rated it 2,5 - today I think of it as close to 4 stars.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Cesária Évora "The Magic of Cesária Évora" (2011)

The Magic of Cesária Évora (unofficial) (compilation)
release date: Dec. 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 4 / 5]

producer: various

label: Chinese Dragon Music - Cape Verde

An unofficial [bootleg] best of compilation album with Cesária Évora of Cape Verde, Africa issued on the bootleg label Chinese Dragon. The album was probably released shortly after her death (Dec. 17, 2011).

It contains 18 tracks and has an extensive running time for 1 disc albums at just above 77 mins.

This is a very fine collection of the wonderful Évora. I only have two original studio albums with her, and two best of compilations, and the compilation albums does what they do so fine: they introduce and showcase more of her repertoire. Only, I prefer original studio albums.

Cesária Évora "Radio Mindelo (Early Recordings)" (2008)

Radio Mindelo (Early Recordings) (compilation)
release date: Dec. 5, 2008
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Lusafrica - nationality: Cape Verde

Compilation album with the subtitle "Early Recordings" by Cesária Évora with music from six early recording sessions. This is just one of dozens of beautiful compilations with music by with Évora. I don't know anything about the selected songs but it's a fine collection of the Cape Verdian morna and coladeira she's so famous for. Some of the recordings seem like live recordings and poorly mixed early takes but nonetheless, the music lives extremely vitally.

Cesária Évora "Cafe Atlantico" (1999)

Cafe Atlantico
release date: Aug. 1999
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]

Studio album by Cesária Évora and the follow-up to Cabo Verde (1997). I really enjoy the former album but I think this one even surpasses it. Before this release, she wasn't internationally an unknown artist, as she had already harvested some broad recognition for both her 1988 album La diva aux pieds nus, and Miss Perfumado (1992), however, in 1996 she was nominated Best World Music Album for the first time at the Grammy Awards for her album Césaria. This release only underlined her status as one of the most renowned African artists as it was also nominated Best World Music Album at the 2000 Grammy Awards. The album also received 4,5 stars from 5 stars at allmusic.com (her highest ranked album here). The music on this album is rather close to that of her musical 'cousins' Cuban Susana Baca and Peruvian Omara Portuondo making it a beautiful cocktail of latin jazz, vocal jazz, and African jazz.

Sort-Hvide Landskaber "Golde byer" (1982) (single)

own scan

Golde byer, 7'' single
release date: 1982
format: vinyl (REP 3)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Tommy Hansen and Sort-Hvide Landskaber
label: Replik Muzick - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: A) "Golde byer" - - B) 1. "Sekunder" - 2. "Fremmede"

Single and only release by the Danish post-punk band Sort-Hvide Landskaber, which had started out under the name of Reaktion. The band only lived for about one year and consisted of the brothers Olesen: vocalist and bassist Peter H., guitarist and vocalist Henrik, lead guitarist Ole Jensen, and drummer Søren Mørk. The brothers Olesen later formed a short-lived brother-project named Skizo Kids, after which they formed the band Greene (initially 'Green') and even later on, the longer-lasting duo-project Olesen-Olesen.
Golde byer is highly influenced by British post-punk and especially by the sound of Joy Division but lyrics are held in Danish only.

[ collectors' item - only pressing! - from ~ €60,- ]

Cesária Évora "Cabo Verde" (1997)

Cabo Verde
release date: Mar. 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: José Da Silva
label: Lusafrica / RCA / BMG - nationality: Cape Verde

Tracklist: 1. "Tchintchirote" - 2. "Sabine Largá'm" - 3. "Partida" - 4. "Sangue de Beirona" (4 / 5) - 5. "Apocalipse" - 6. "Mar é Morada de Sodade" - 7. "Bô ê di Meu Cretcheu" - 8. "Coragem irmon" - 9. "Quem Bô ê" - 10. "Regresso" - 11. "Zebra" - 12. "Mãe Velha" - 13. "Pe di Boi" - 14. "Ess pais"

Studio album by Cesária Évora originally released on French record label, Lusafrica, founded by the album's producer, José Da Silva.
This is beautiful African music from Cape Verde. Cesária Évora didn't make a great number of albums in her lifetime, although she lived to be 70 years old (born 1941). At the age of 47, her studio debut album is as late as 1988, and unfortunately she passed away in 2011 having by then released about a dozen studio albums. There's many more live and compilation albums with her fine melancholic singing voice, and her music continues to live on, and this album is a fine place to start. The music is African morna, or maybe more specifically coladeira (a faster style developed from the slow and more monotonous morna). I think, it's world vocal jazz and much in family with latin jazz, at least more so, than i.e. African mande folk, and frankly, I think, the music is somehow closely related to the music of Susana Baca of Peru and the music of Cuban grand lady Omara Portuondo. Without knowing the exact sources, one could imagine a musical relationship due to historical origins of Portuguese and Spanish folk and its effect on local music in both Peru, Cuba, and Capo Verde. Anyway, the music is original and B-A-Utiful. It's music I will always return to, and I cannot imagine that I should ever dislike it. I only need more of this.
Highly recommended. [ here's more ]

Aztec Camera "Dreamland" (1993)

Dreamland
release date: May 1993
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,46]
producer: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Roddy Frame
label: WEA / Warner - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Birds" - 2. "Safe in Sorrow" - 3. "Black Lucia" - 5. "Spanish Horses" - 6. "Dream Sweet Dreams" - 9. "Vertigo" - 10. "Valium Summer" (4 / 5) - 11. "The Belle of the Ball"

5th studio album by Aztec Camera is another return to a more slick pop sound instead of the jazz feel one found on the predecessor, Stray. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Frame produced the album together, and knowing the works by Sakamoto one could have imagined a more experimental result. Instead it's a bit confined as a bold synthpop release.

Yes, it's atmospheric but also somewhat sterile and as such not the best of Aztec Camera albums, although, it hardly contains any fillers. Critics point to the use of synths and drum machines instead of real musicians - I don't mind, nor see that as a obvious mistake. Sakamoto has made many albums using electronics, which are full of life and beautiful tunes. Despite that the music nicely arranged it really only contains one truly great song, imho: "Valium Summer". Back in the early '90s, I found the album a rather big disappointment succeeding the great Stray (1990), however, it really isn't all that bad - it's just a bit unfocused and without much traditional soul.

The following year Frame featured on Sakamoto's '94 album Sweet Revenge on the song "Same Dream, Same Destination", which is another truly fine song.

[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]

T. Rex "Electric Warrior" (1971)

Electric Warrior
release date: Sep. 24, 1971
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,38]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Fly Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Mambo Sun" (4 / 5) - 2. "Cosmic Dancer" (5 / 5) - 3. "Jeepster" (4 / 5) - 4. "Monolith" - 5. "Lean Woman Blues" - 6. "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "Planet Queen" - 8. "Girl" (4,5 / 5) - 9. "The Motivator" - 10. "Life's a Gas" (4 / 5) - 11. "Rip Off" (4 / 5)

2nd studio album as just T. Rex and his sixth including four other releases as Tyrannosaurus Rex, again with producer Tony Visconti. The album is the first predominantly glam rock album by Marc Bolan. The albums A Beard of Stars (Mar. 1970) by Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex (Dec. 1970) by T. Rex are the transitional albums that lead up to the sound one will find on this release. The album topped the UK albums chart list, as the only Marc Bolan album, and it's enlisted in a number of lists compiling the all-time best of albums including "1001 Album You Must Hear Before You Die", Rolling Stone Magazine's "500 Greatest Albums" (#160), and "NME: The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time" (#225).
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, Q Magazine 4 / 5 stars ]

1971 Favourite releases: 3. Deep Purple Fireball - 2. Joni Mitchell Blue - 3. T. Rex Electric Warrior

Nina Zilli

~ ~ ~

Nina Zilli: born (Feb. 2, 1983) in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; aka: Maria Chiara Fraschetta [birth name], aka Chiara; member of Chiara & gli Scuri, The Jerks.

~ ~ ~

Nina Zilli "L'amore è femmina" (2012)

L'amore è femmina
release date: Feb. 15, 2012
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Per le strade" - 2. "Per sempre" - 3. "Una notte" - 4. "L'inverno all'improvviso" (5 / 5) [ means 'Sudden winter' ] - 6. "L'amore è femmina" - 7. "Piangono le viole" (4 / 5) ( live ) - 11. "Un'altra estate"

2nd studio album from Nina Zilli, and this album contains some fine pop soul songs from Italy. Besides Amy Winehouse, whom she copies the most, she also makes me think of (Italian-)Swedish Veronica Maggio, and I think they could be musical sisters. This is however, more r&b soul pop I also think, this is much better than her debut because it's simply much more original and the songs are better.

~ ~ ~
"Se mi sfiori come un piano
io dimentico che tu
sei soltanto un altro uomo
una luce che andrà giù
mai ti avrei immaginato
più diverso da me, sei arrivato
come l'inverno all'improvviso
voglio te, voglio te, voglio te..."

[ "L'inverno all'improvviso" ]

Nina Zilli "Sempre lontano" (2010)

Sempre lontano [debut]
release date: Feb. 19, 2010
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Best tracks: 1. "50mila" - 3. "L'uomo che amava le donne"

Studio debut album by Nina Zilli , a 27 year-old Italian pop soul diva. The album is not unforgettable neither bad, and it makes me think it as an attempt to follow the music or style of Amy Winehouse into Italian, which is artistically mediocre. Nina just doesn't have the voice, although the music is quite okay.

T. Rex "T. Rex" (1970)

T. Rex
release date: Dec. 18, 1970
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Fly Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Jewel" - 3. "The Visit" - 10. "One Inch Rock"

1st studio album release under the shortened name of T. Rex, and the 5th studio album after forming Tyrannosaurus Rex, thus not really a debut after all, but many official sites file it as such. This clearly shows the transition period of the band still playing psychedelic rock but also playing with new shorter, more simple compositions of glam rock - e.g. compare "The Visit" with "Pavillions of Sun" released as Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Veronica Maggio "Satan i gatan" (2011)

Satan i gatan
release date: Apr. 27, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Christian Walz
label: Universal Music - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Satan i gatan" (4 / 5) - 2. "Välkommen in" - 3. "Jag kommer" (5 / 5) (live) - 4. "Mitt hjärta blöder" - 5. "Vi kommer alltid ha Paris" - 7. "Alla mina låtar" - 8. "Snälla bli min" (4 / 5) (live) - 10. "Finns det en så finns det flera" (4 / 5)

3rd studio album by Veronica Maggio following three full years after Och vinnaren är... (Mar. 2008) is made with producer Christian Waltz, who is also credited as composer on all but one song (track #5). The album contains 11 tracks but on the only downside its total running time only clocks in at 35 minutes.

Satan i gatan was my first listening experience with Maggio's music. It's also her big Scandinavian breakthrough album that really put her on the charts all over Scandinavia thanks to her major single hit "Jag kommer" (a song with double meaning and often mistaken lyrics).

The album was well-received by critics and it became her first album to top the charts in Sweden. "Jag kommer" was released Feb. 2011 and was the first of three singles from the album, and that also was her first to top the singles chart list. The second single "Välkommen in" peaked at number #2, and the last single, "Mitt hjärta blöder" went as high as to number #5 - so all singles were top-5 single hits. The album also secured Maggio several prize nominations at the 2011 Swedish Grammis, at Rockbjörnen - where she won two prizes and also was handed three prizes at the award show, Gaffa-priset.

The album is a clear improvement from her previous releases with many fine songs instead of just two or three noteworthy tracks. The style is still in the same blue-eyed pop soul category but now with a stronger and tighter production and hints of synthpop, which distances her music from that of Lisa Ekdahl and Lisa Nilsson, and generally just makes it ever so much more digestible. I really enjoy this, and not just for a short period of time, Imho, this is simply Maggio's best album.

Highly recommended.

Kate Bush "The Dreaming" (1982)

The Dreaming
release date: Sep. 13, 1982
format: vinyl / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Kate Bush
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Sat in Your Lap" - 2. "There Goes a Tenner" - 3. "Pull Out the Pin" (4 / 5) - 4. "Suspended in Gaffa" - 5. "Leave It Open" - 6. "The Dreaming" (4 / 5) - 8. "All the Love" - 9. "Houdini"

4th studio album by Kate Bush is the first to be exclusively produced by herself, which would prove to be standard from hereon. Nowadays, two years in the making of a new album isn't a strange thing but considering the early 80s when artists often had a record contract obligation to release a new studio album each year, and the fact that Bush already started recording new songs upon her third album's release, two years was a long time in the studio then. The style is pretty much a continued journey from the predecessor Never for Ever (1980) and mostly art pop. The album may lack great single hits. "Sat in Your Lap" was released as the first single and reached #11 on the single charts but the remaining single releases from the album "The Dreaming", "There Goes a Tenner", and "Suspended in Gaffa" made much worse commercially. Being familiar with her previous releases, it was, however, the first vinyl album I ever bought by Kate Bush. I recall it as being less interesting than the predecessor and I didn't play it much. At least not until the 90s and after the new millennium. Listening to it today, I understand why artists like Björk and Suzanne Vega consider it a favourite 80s album. The production and the sound is quite unique of its time and she almost makes use of sampling in the multi-layered sound. The album has an Asian tone both heard on "Pull Out the Pin", "Suspended in Gaffa", and "The Dreaming". The album went to number #3 on the UK album chart list and its enlisted in "1001 Album You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ almusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

UB40 "UB44" (1982)

UB44
release date: Sep. 13, 1982
format: vinyl (LP DEP 3) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: UB40 and Ray "Pablo" Falconer
label: DEP International - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) 1. "So Here I Am" - 2. "I Won't Close My Eyes" - 4. "Love Is All Is Alright" - 5. "The Piper Calls the Tune" - - B) 3. "Folitician"

3rd studio album by UB40 and the bands second studio album on DEP sees the band move into a more mainstream-sounding style. Credited band members on the album are: James Brown on drums, syncussion [synthesised percussion / electronic drum pads] and vocals, Ali Campbell on vocals & guitar, Robin Campbell on guitar & vocals, Earl Falconer on bass, Norman Hassan on percussion & trombone, Brian Travers on saxophones, Michael Virtue on keyboards and Astro on toasting, trumpet and vocals.
UB44 still bonds to roots reggae and dub but some tracks are composed with an ear for harmony vocals and more traditional pop compositions. That said, it's really much of a transitional album. The successor, Labour of Love (1984) and the predecessor, Present Arms (1981) may not have much in common, but UB44 is the album that sort of glues them nicely together.
The first UK pressings of the album were issued with a hologram-cover.

Tyrannosaurus Rex "A Beard of Stars" (1970)

A Beard of Stars
release date: Mar. 13, 1970
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,14]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Regal Zonophone Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 4. "Fist Heart Might Dawn Dart" - 5. "Pavillions of Sun" (4 / 5) [alternate version not on album] - 6. "Organ Blues" - 9. "A Beard of Stars" - 12. "Lofty Skies" - 14. "Elemental Child"

4th studio album release by Tyrannosaurus Rex and the last under the full band name, as the following album was released as a T. Rex album. This is one of two transitional albums reflecting Marc Bolan's move away from psychedelic folk and folk rock and into his heydays of glam rock. Tracks #1 and #14 showcases his inspiration in Jimi Hendrix (and the album features Bolan on electric guitar for the first time), and tracks #4, #5, #7, and #12 are fine (proto-)glam rock and boogie rock compositions.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

The Teardrop Explodes "Wilder" (1981)

Wilder
release date: Nov. 1981
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]

producer: Clive Langer

label: Mercury Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Bent Out of Shape" (5 / 5) - 2. "Colours Fly Away" (4 / 5) - 3. "Seven Views of Jerusalem" (4 / 5) - 5. "Falling Down Around Me" (4 / 5) - 7. "Passionate Friend" (4 / 5) - 8. "Tiny Children" (5 / 5) - 11. "The Great Dominions" (4 / 5)

2nd and final real studio release by Teardrop Explodes. In less than a year the band has been through various changes of line-ups, but here they are back to a nucleus of undisputed leader and only songwriter Julian Cope on lead vocals, guitars, bass, piano and organ, new member Troy Tate on guitar, David Balfe on keyboards and with Gary Dwyer on drums. James Eller, who played bass in the band during concerts to free Cope to concentrate on vocal parts is credited as additional personnel.

This is just great. Like the debut, it's a rather huge fusion pot of styles and genres but here it's under control and direction, and the neo-psychedelia fits nicely with what else Mr. Cope did later on. This is a rare album of the early '80s insofar that I still enjoy it. The album has so many fine tracks on it that one could easily think of it as a compilation album. I've had various favourite tracks on this release. Back then it was probably "Falling Down Around Me" and "Passionate Friend". Today, I think "Tiny Children" is a masterpiece.

The album was, however, met by poor sales and luke-warm reviews. After yet another period of internal conflicts the band was reduced to a trio of Cope, Balfe and Dwyer, and without a guitar-player, and after unsuccesful attempts of recording a follow-up album in '82, the band was dissolved in '83 after which Cope initiated his solo career.

[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Alt. cover

Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man "Out of Season" (2002)

Out of Season [debut]

release date: Oct. 28, 2002
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Beth Gibbons & Paul Webb
label: Go Beat! - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Mysteries" (4 / 5) - 2. "Tom the Model" (4 / 5) - 3. "Show" (4 / 5) - 4. "Romance" - 5. "Sand River" - 6. "Spyder" - 7. "Resolve" - 8. "Drake" (4 / 5)

A collaboration project debut by Beth Gibbons, former lead vocalist of Portishead, and Paul Webb (aka Rustin Man), former bassist and additional vocalist of Talk Talk. Here the two have expanded their 'powers of instrumentation' as Beth aside from her haunting vocal also plays acoustic guitar and Paul really shows his abilities as multi-instrumentalist by handling percussion, organ, guitars, keyboard, as well as functioning as programmer for the duo.
The album contains ten tracks and it's really an original, beautiful and very laid-back collection of songs in an almost ambient jazz scenery. It's not trip hop as you could connect with Portishead nor is it specifically art pop or post rock, as something that would've bonded with Talk Talk, instead it's mostly a combo of modern folk in a chamber pop universe. Some tracks are close to harmonies reminding us of Carpenters, just in a jazz-like downtempo kind of way. Beth still has a remarkable and haunting vocal, which suits these arrangements very nicely.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine 4 / 5, The Guardian 5 / 5, Blender 3 / 5 stars ]

Tricky "False Idols" (2013)

"Somebody's Sins" (feat. Francesca Belmonte)

The Teardrop Explodes

~ ~ ~

The Teardrop Explodes: English band formed Oct. 1978 in Liverpool, UK. The band was dissolved Oct. 15, 1982. Members: Julian Cope (vocals, bass), Paul Simpson (keyboards), Gary Dwyer (drums), Mick Finkler (guitar), David Balfe (keyboards), Alan Gill (guitar), Troy Tate (guitar), Jeff Hammer (keyboards), Alfie Agius (bass), Ron François (bass). The band was one of many not to last long that came out of the punk explosion. TE had its very own distinct style - a blend of new wave with psychedelic rock or neo-psychedelia. THE driving force behind both music and lyrics of the band was Julian Cope who went solo in the aftermath of TE, and he has continued the very style of the band in his many solo projects.

~ ~ ~

Tyrannosaurus Rex "Unicorn" (1969)

Unicorn
release date: May 16, 1969
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Ton Visconti
label: Regal Zonophone Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Chariots of Silk" (3,5 / 5) - 3. "The Seal of Seasons" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Cat Black (The Wizard's Hat)" - 7. "She Was Born to Be My Unicorn" - 11. "The Sea Beasts" - 12. "Iscariot"

3rd studio album release by Tyrannosaurus Rex. This is Bolan's final album with Steve Peregrine Took. The style is still influenced by baroque folk and the output is still mostly psychedelic folk, alhtough, Bolan has taken up a few electric experimentations and shorter compositions.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Y'akoto "Diamonds" ('Babyblues', 2012)

"Diamonds" in Soul Kitchen Sessions, and Live on Arte

Kate Bush "Never for Ever" (1980)

Never for Ever
release date: Sep. 8, 1980
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Kate Bush, Jon Kelly
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Babooshka" (4 / 5) - 2. "Delius (Song of Summer)" - 3. "Blow Away (For Bill)" - 4. "All We Ever Look For" - 10. "Army Dreamers" (5 / 5) - 11. "Breathing" (5 / 5)

3rd studio album by Kate Bush who has now taken control of her music as producer as well. The album has a better sound, perhaps because of being less prog rock and baroque pop oriented. It doesn't mean that it's without strings and horns but the classical instruments more play a part as additional instrumentation that doesn't steal the focus. I have always liked this album quite a lot, although, I find that the single "Babooshka" quickly becomes tiring. A track like "Violin" seem to be her less successful attempt to make a new wave track. However, not only does the album have two marvellous album closers, but the its real strength is that the list of good songs is long and it appears almost without fillers making it a more harmonic album than Lionheart. The track "Night Scented Stock" of 50 secs. functions more as intro to "Army Dreamers". The first single from the album was "Breathing" followed by "Babooshka" and "Army Dreamers". The album was not only her first #1 on the album charts list in the UK but it was the first album by a female solo artist to top that list.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Ideal "Der Ernst des Lebens" (1981)

Der Ernst des Lebens

release date: Oct. 1981

format: cd (2005 remaster)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]

producer: Konrad 'Conny' Plank & Ideal

label: Warner Music Group - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Eiszeit" (4 / 5) - 2. "Schwein" - 3. "Sex in der Wüste" - 5. "Feuerzeug" - 6. "Immer Frei" - 8. "Monotonie"

2nd studio album by German quartet Ideal following an unexpected national sales success with the debut Ideal (1980), originally released on the band's newly started Eitel Imperial label. On this, the band has teamed up with Kraftwerk producer 'Conny' Plank to ensure it was state-of-the-art sound. The quartet remains unchanged, as it would throughout the band's lifetime.

Compared to the debut, the immediate difference lies in how much better this is produced. The style remains somewhat unchanged, although, the small difference is a move away from the reminiscence of energy-based new wave rooted in punk rock towards a bolder style of art rock and new wave with heavier use of synths. Annette Humpe is still credited as songwriter but now with the whole band credited all music. Ideal was primarily with Humpe as lead vocalist but on this, several songs are with leading male vocals. WEA promoted the album and tempingly called it 'dance music'. Well, that's a bit taking the mouth full, but nevertheless, there's certainly a stronger stress on the rhythm-section, and when having B52's in your mind, this comes close at times.

"Eiszeit" is the lead single and the strongest track here, although, "Sex in der Wüste" is another highlight but pointing in a complete different direction, sounding more like crafted by D.A.F. And that's touching on the 'problem' with this fine follow-up: it really contains some great compositions, a few of which take up the tone from the predecessor but then the band both experiment with rhythm, using stylistic input from reggae, calypso and electronic music, and they also vary the level of energy as well as the arrangements - some tracks are harsh and more simple, whereas others are more complex, and you end up wondering if they aim to be a German version of Blondie, B52's, XTC, or they would rather pick up the baton from Nina Hagen - "No wait! It's the band who shows Depeche Mode how to deal with synths!" Yes, it's a bit of a mixed bag, although, mostly a positive one. Comming to think of it, when revisiting this album the first thing that struck me was vocal by Einar Örn from the Sugarcubes. Anyway, the two aforementioned "Eiszeit" (both being highly original and yet linking to Joy Division) and "Sex in der Wüste" are my personal favourites on this, and they are really so far from one another that you wouldn't expect them to be from the same album, and hardly from the same artist. Another minor weakness is the decrease of great songs in the second half of the album where only "Monotonie" shines. That said, Ernst... is still a great album that shows a band with great potential.

Not as coherent as the debut but still an essential new wave album.

Tyrannosaurus Rex "Prophets, Seers & Sages..." (1968)

Prophets, Seers & Sages - The Angels of the Ages & Futuristic Dragon
release date: Oct. 14, 1968
format: cd
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,24]
producer: Tony Visconti
label: Regal / EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Deboraarobed" - 3. "Wind Quartets"
[ full album ]

2nd studio album by Tyrannosaurus Rex is a studio album released only 3 months after the duo's debut album. The music is not all that different from its predecessor, and is mostly psychedelic folk.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Culture Club "Karma Chameleon" (1983) (single)

Karma Chameleon, 7'' single
release date: Sep. 1983
format: vinyl
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Steve Levine
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Karma Chameleon" - - B) "That's the Way"

Single release by Culture Club and the band's second single (succeeding "Church of the Poison Mind", rel. Apr. '83) from the forthcoming second studio album Colour by Numbers released in October.

Angélique Kidjo "Keep on Moving - The Best Of" (2001)

Keep on Moving - The Best Of (compilation)
release date: 2001
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Wrasse Records / Columbia - nationality: Benin

Best of compilation by Angélique Kidjo.

Neil Young "Hawks & Doves" (1980)

Hawks & Doves
release date: Oct. 5, 1980
format: cd (2003 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]
producer: David Briggs, Tim Mulligan, Neil Young
label: Reprise / Warner Music Group - nationality: Canada

Track highlights: 1. "Little Wing" (5 / 5) - 2. "The Old Homestead" - 3. "Lost In Space" - 9. "Hawks & Doves"

10th studio album by Neil Young is perhaps an attempt to make something with both qualities of Comes a Time and the well-received live albums with electrified folk rock. The result is not one of the best of Neil Young albums. Although it's not entirely bad, it signals the start of a period of the 1980s of experimentation and lesser albums from Young. The first track "Little Wing" is almost better than the famous Hendrix track (this is not a Hendrix cover, though) and is in itself a small masterpiece but that high standard is not kept. The style is mostly singer / songwriter folk and country rock but some of the last tracks on the album forecasts his attempts in the 1980s with blues rock, and although this isn't bad, it's neither really an unforgettable Neil Young release.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]