Robbie Robertson "Storyville" (1991)

Storyville
release date: Sep. 30, 1991
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Robbie Robertson, Gary Gersh, Stephen Hague
label: Geffen Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Night Parade" - 5. "Day of Reckoning (Burnin' for You)" - 8. "Breakin' the Rules" - 10. "Sign of the Rainbow"

2nd solo album by Robbie Robertson following four years after his acclaimed debut.
Stylistically, the album is much more pop / rock-shaped than his '87 album, which paid more attention to americana. The track "Breakin the Rules" was made for the Wim Wenders '91 movie "Until the End of the World", and the song feature all three band members of the Scottish band The Blue Nile: Paul Buchanan, Paul Moore and Robert Bell, and Moore also plays keyboard on three other tracks.
The album sounds like the result of Robertson gathering much of his contemporary inspirational sources: The Blue Nile and their spacious art pop, and the production-sound and arrangements made by U2 on its most recent albums.
I have always felt that the album was too slick - the production and the structure of the songs echo too many familiar songs by others or sound as remakes of other songs by Robertson, thus making it a bit of a bland experience.

Rammstein "Rosenrot" (2005)

Rosenrot
release date: Oct. 28, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,88]
producer: Jacob Hellner
label: Universal - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Benzin" - 2. "Mann gegen Mann" - 3. "Rosenrot"

5th studio album by Rammstein and for the 5th time with Swedish producer Jacob Hellner who is credited as producer solely. It's the band's first studio release on Universal, although, it contains six tracks recorded for but omitted on the previous album Reise, Reise (2004).
The style and compositions are much alike the former album, only this one has even fever good and memorable compositions. Actually, with the material from both albums they could have made one really fine release instead of producing two lesser albums.
Not really recommended and most likely the band's least favourable album to date.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]

Grand Avenue "Place to Fall" (2009)

Place to Fall
release date: Sep. 28, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,58]
producer: Richard Rainey
label: Playground - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Nowhere Now" (live) - 3. "Follow You Down" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Control" - 9. "Coming Up"

4th and so far final studio album by Grand Avenue, and the second consecutive album to be produced by Richard Rainey. It's the first album after the band's three-album contract with EMI, now released on the independent Scandinavian label, Playground Music. Again, the musical style doesn't reveal a band in progress. These songs could easily have been released with its second album She from 2005. It's indie pop and pop / rock. It's nice, it's well-played, well-produced, and a bit on the polished side, but it doesn't take you anywhere. It's like... 'Yeah?' And? It's a bit boring, and in my mind the band's least interesting album, almost without decent songs, which is a bit of a shame 'cause they are skilled musicians, but frankly, they play without any direction, and what's worse: without a mission. Where are the emotions. What point is there in playing songs that sound as if you had put R.E.M., U2, Travis, and Coldplay in a pot? At this point, I rarely noticed the band was still around, and it's no surprise that it ended on with this. From the start, they seemed to be on a slope, and things weren't getting better. In Denmark the album peaked at #18 on the album charts list. As far as I know, Grand Avenue never officially disbanded but in 2011, Rasmus Walter initiated a more successful solo career when launching his eponymous and critically acclaimed singer / songwriter and pop / rock debut album consisting of songs entirely with Danish lyrics. The cover art is credited Rasmus Walters brother, Anders Walter Hansen.
[ Gaffa.dk 2 / 6 stars ]

Jeffrey Lee Pierce "Wildweed" (1985)

2005 remaster

Wildweed
release date: 1985
format: cd (2005 remaster)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,92]
producer: Craig Leon
label: Sympathy For The Record Industry - nationality: USA

Solo studio album debut by The Gun Club frontman and primary composer, Jeffrey Lee Pierce originally released on Statik Records. Here, Pierce on lead guitar, vocals and piano has teamed up with Andy Anderson on drums and John Mackenzie on bass. The style is less noisy, less energetic, and instead a more 'americana' 'blues rock' sound. It's not bad at all, I just find that it lacks direction.

"Red Hot + Blue (A Tribute to Cole Porter)" (1990)

Red Hot + Blue (A Tribute to Cole Porter)
released: Sep. 25, 1990
format: vinyl 2 lp (gatefold - CHR 1799) / cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: various
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: UK

Track highlights: A) 2. Neville Brothers "In the Still of the Night" (4 / 5) - 3. Sinéad O'Connor "You Do Something to Me" - 4. Salif Keita "Begin the Beguine" (4 / 5) - 5. Fine Young Cannibals "Love for Sale" - - B) 2. Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues "Miss Otis Regrets / Just One of Those Things" - 4. Tom Waits "It's All Right With Me" - - C) 1. U2 "Night and Day" - 2. Les Negresses Vertes "I Love Paris" - - D) 3. Jimmy Somerville "From This Moment On" (4 / 5) - 5. Aztec Camera "Do I Love You"

A double vinyl album of various artists in tribute of Cole Porter. The album was released as focus was high on Aids. The full title is: Red Hot + Blue - A Tribute to Cole Porter to Benefit Aids Research and Relief. The artists represent various styles and genres and the result is a bland experience but it also contains truly great interpretations, and my absolute favourites here are the tracks by The Neville Brothers, Salif Keita, Fine Young Cannibals, Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues, and Jimmy Somerville.

Arctic Monkeys "Leave Before the Lights Come On" (2006) (single)

Leave Before the Lights Come On, 7'' single
release date: Jul. 25, 2006
format: digital
[single rate: 3,5 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "Leave Before the Lights Come On" (4 / 5) - 2. "Put Your Dukes Up John" (3 / 5) - 3. "Baby I'm Yours"

Single release from Arctic Monkeys. The music is just as energetic and dirty garage rock as their debut. None of these tracks are included on the album debut and are therefore nice to have on this. Alex Turner spurts out songs like... no one else. The two first tracks are fierce edgy songs and "Baby I'm Yours" is a fine violin-supported ballad, which also feels genuine.

Red Hot Chili Peppers "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" (1991)

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

release date: Sep. 24, 1991

format: vinyl 2 lp (gatefold)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]

producer: Rick Rubin

label: Warner Bros. - nationality: USA

5th studio album by Red Hot Chili Peppers following two years after Mother's Milk (Aug. 1989) is the band's first after signing with Warner and the second to feature new guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik introduces a new sound of the band. Like Mother's Milk was a turn away from the psychedelic and funky acid-rock into something with a stronger heavy rock profile, Blood Sugar Sex Magik is yet again a move in a new direction. On this, they still play as a tight energetic unit, but where the predecessor was in a way more focussing on old school rock with a heavy metal influence, this appears as a conglomorate of psychedelic rock, funk rock, and punk rock with room for other stylistic influences and melody-based compositions but held together in an original soundscape of their very own.

The album was met by critical acclaim, overwhelming sales numbers and it basically sky-rocketed the band from theatre concerts to stadium arenas. Apparently, the success was more than Frusciante had ever wanted and he found it more than difficult to come to terms with the fact that the tight unit he had only just entered now was about to be promoted as a major act. Disillusioned, following the release and still well into a promotion tour, Frusciante eventually left the band in early '92 and was subsequently replaced by Arik Marshall for the rest of the tour.

The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". In retrospect (as of 2015), Blood Sugar Sex Magik remains the band's best album.

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

Lars H.U.G. "Kiss & Hug From a Happy Boy" (1996)

Kiss & Hug From a Happy Boy
release date: May 5, 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Peter Mark & Lars Hugh Uno Grammy (aka Lars H.U.G.)
label: EMI-Medley - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Thanksgiving Man" - 2. "Love Against Sex" - 3. "Backwards" - 5. "Waterfall" - 6. "Happy Boy" - 8. "Colorfull Love"

5th studio album by Lars H.U.G. released four years after his most recent studio album, Blidt over dig is a more subdued ballad-like pop album with a distinct jazz influence only containing compositions by H.U.G. himself. The backing band on the album is called Once Around the Park consisting of Rune Funch on guitars, Anders Christensen on bass, Nikolaj Torp on Hammond Organ and piano, and with Michael Finding on drums.
I believe, it's H.U.G.'s first album without both Hilmer Hassig and Finn Verwohlt in any parts involving the album making. The track "Backwards" feature a duet with Swedish vocalist Lisa Ekdahl. Best faring single from the album is the single "Waterfall". The album is not bad, but I have always felt that it lacks really strong songs.
The album was generally met by positive reviews but after the album, H.U.G. retired from music. He now wanted to dedicate his life fully to his artistic role as a painter. Actually, I recall him stating that he believed his career in music was over with.

Steve Kilbey "The Slow Crack" (1987)

The Slow Crack
release date: 1987 (December?)
format: digital (1989 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Steve Kilbey
label: Rough Trade Records - nationality: Australia

Track highlights: 1. "Transaction" - 3. "Woman With Reason" - 4. "A Favourite Pack of Lies" - 5. "Something That Means Something" - 8. "Ariel Sings"

3rd solo album by Steve Kilbey is like his two previous albums produced by Kilbey himself. The album saw its first national release limited to a vinyl edition on Red Eye Records in late '87, but that album comes without four tracks recorded in '89 (tracks #1, #3, #7, and #11). The song "A Favorite Pack of Lies" clearly features parts of the music from the instrumental track "The Dawn Poems" which is found on the precursor, Earthed (1987), and which perhaps may be seen as a kind of draft for this track with added lyrics. Like the predecessor, this one was recorded, mixed, produced, written, and composed by Kilbey with minor assistance, and again (girlfriend) Karin Jansson is credited as a co-writer on some tracks. Incidentally, the '89 reissue (this one) starts with the track "Transaction", which features Donette Thayer - with whom Kilbey formed the band Hex in '88 - on guitar, and this extended release consists of twelve tracks with a total length of 46 minutes.

At this particular stage of his career, Kilbey is in a fairly productive phase. Together with the other members of The Church, he has thus been behind the studio album Heyday (Nov. '85), his solo debut Unearthed (Jan. 1986), the instrumental successor Earthed (May '87) issued alongside a book of the same name consisting of poetry and essays, and then this album from late '87, after which he was once again ready with a bunch of new songs for The Church with whom he recorded the critically acclaimed Starfish - recorded in '87 and released Feb. '88.

Stylistically, this is more in the same realm as his solo debut and it ties in nicely with releases with The Church. It's alt. rock, indie pop and it both contains jangle pop and elements of neo-psychedelia. Most of the compositions are uptempo tracks with a normal song structure, and the way I hear this album, it sounds more like a kind of 'forgotten' release by The Church - or, it's the kind of material that could easily have been intended for compositions with the band.

Bruce Springsteen "Lucky Town" (1992)

Lucky Town
release date: Mar. 31, 1992
format: cd (2005 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,08]
producer: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin
label: Sony Music Direct, Japan - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Better Days" - 2. "Lucky Town" - 4. "If I Should Fall Behind" - 5. "Leap of Faith" - 8. "Book of Dreams"

10th studio album by Bruce Springsteen originally issued by Columbia Records and released simultaneously with the album Human Touch.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, and Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Bruce Springsteen "Human Touch" (1992)

Human Touch
release date: Mar. 31, 1992
format: cd (2005 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan
label: Sony Music Direct, Japan - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Human Touch" - 4. "Cross My Heart" - 7. "Roll of the Dice" - 9. "All or Nothin' at All" - 10. "Man's Job"

9th studio album by Bruce Springsteen originally released by Columbia Records. Instead of releasing a double album Springsteen released the album simultaneously with the album Lucky Town. Human Touch was recorded between Sep. 1989 and Mar. 1991, and was initially intended to be released in 1990. Apparently, Springsteen delayed the deadline on more than one occasion, as he wanted one more track on the album. "Living Proof" was to be be recorded for the album, but he ended up writing enough songs for another album. He then postponed the release and ended up with two albums instead of just the one.
The album received mixed reviews. Generally, this is considered the more mainstream uptempo 'pop / rock' album of the two, whereas Lucky Town is more singer / songwriter and folk rock-oriented. The title track was the only song that had a considerable airplay on the radio stations, which may explain some people's idea that this album is the better of the two. On the other hand, other critics suggest this is the shallow one and Lucky Town the more artistically driven, and better...
I think, the two albums are very much on the same level, and just think of them as one and the same, and for once Springsteen hasn't written a bunch of great and memorable tracks, and furthermore, it seems he has no real idea of direction: should he go for another Tunnel of Love production or a more stripped down sound?? He ends up releasing what he has written and recorded. I think he could have done better by releasing a double album and re-ordering the set-list to fit an uptempo disc and a more folk-based one, or he could have done without two albums and perhaps recorded one good album instead of the two near mediocre ones we are left with.
Not really recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Blur "The Magic Whip" (2015)

The Magic Whip
release date: Apr. 27, 2015
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Stephen Street, Graham Coxon, Damon Albarn
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Lonesome Street" - 4. "Ice Cream Man" - 5. "Thought I Was a Spaceman" - 6. "I Broadcast" (live on later) - 10. "Pyongyang"

8th and so far final studio album by Blur released 12 years after the predecessor Think Tank (2003) also marks a return to Stephen Street in the producer chair as well as a reunion of the original quartet.
Stylistically, the album doesn't stick out in pure experimentation, as it might have done had it been an entirely Albarn-led project. This time Graham Coxon and producer Street have held the style on a leash, which makes it a more cohenrent release than the band's last two studio albums: 13 (1999) and Think Tank (2003). It contains dub, jazz and electronic bits, which builds on the same material as Albarn's 2014 album Everyday Robots, but on an overall level it feels more in family with the artsy britpop Blur came to represent after Parklife.
The album is the sixth consecutive Blur album to enter the albums chart list in Britain as number #1, and in general, the album was met by quite positive reviews. I just don't find it that great. Perhaps time will tell if it's in fact one of their better, but so far I'm not truly convinced. I think of it, as more than just a solid release and far from a lesser album, which has fine moments, but where Albarn and Coxon agreed on getting everything back together by having Street producing again - "just like he used to. We gotta have that!" - in order to make ends meet again, and by that they have made a brand new album using all their brilliant contemporary and accumulated skills and put down a record that fits ever so nicely... somewhere in the past.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]

Zucchero & The Randy Jackson Band "do." (1985)

Zucchero & The Randy Jackson Band

release date: Mar. 8, 1985
format: digital (reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Corrado Rustici
label: Polydor - nationality: Italy

Tracklist: 1. "Donne" - 2. "Stasera se un uomo..." - 3. "Ti farò morire" - 4. "Per una delusione in più" - 5. "Tu mi piaci come questa birra" - 6. "Un piccolo aiuto" - 7. "Jimmy Jimmy" - 8. "Oh Stevie" - 9. "Quasi quasi"

2nd studio album by Zucchero following two years after the debut Un po' di Zucchero is released as a collaboration which also is its title: 'Zucchero & The Randy Jackson Band'. All songs have lyrics by either Mogol (aka Giulio Rapetti Mogol) (5 tracks) or by Alberto Salerno (4 tracks) and all compositions are with music by Zucchero. Randy Jackson is here merely credited on bass, and he would go on to be a much asked for studio musician - he is also Zucchero's co-arranger and bassist on the successor.
Already here, Zucchero sounds very much like he does on much later albums. Compared to his '83 debut album, the style has been altered from a folk-oriented singer / songwriter style to a more spacious and essentially blues-inspired style. The track "Donne" sounds much like a sketch to his later hit "Senza una donna". Listening to this today, I cannot help thinking that Paul Young must have listened to this as his albums comes very close to much of the same smooth pop soul sound.

Note: front cover is Randy Jackson holding baby girl Irene Fornaciari, daughter of Angela Figliè and Zucchero.

BEST OF 2015:Mellemblond "Fra et sted" (2015)

Fra et sted
release date: Apr. 20, 2015
format: vinyl (Mellem 02 lp) / digital (10 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Mads Brinch Nielsen
label: Mellemblond (self-released) - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 1. "Fra et sted" - 2. "Ryster" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "Ned i et hul" (4 / 5) - 5. "Glimtvis" - 6. "Jeg må le" - 7. "Nord" - 8. "Til ilden" (4,5 / 5) - 9. "Barfodet"

[ SoundCloud playlist ] [ full album ]

3rd studio album by Mellemblond (aka Kristoffer Munck Mortensen) following two years after the album Lysvågen has so far only been released on vinyl, for streaming through various services, and for digital download as a self-released album.

Not only has the album been established with a strong production sound balancing the style somewhere between garage rock, neo-psychedelia and singer / songwriter, but it also contains a number of truly great songs, which makes this music-project one of the most interesting Danish acts at the moment. This is not yet another artist simply copying styles and movements on the international music scene. Instead, it's highly original with reminiscences of, or a unique conglomerate of psychedelic rock of the late 60s, swamp rock of the early 70s and folk rock in a 60s / 70s / 80s kind-of-style.

I really enjoy this album, which I initially only purchased for digital download. The streaming and download sound quality was, however, for the first years limited to mp3-format in 320kbps. I really missed having the opportunity to be able to purchase a cd with liner notes and listening to high-end sound quality, but I guess, that's how things are to be for the time being. Artists who have little backup from a record label need to fund everything themselves and quite naturally they (have to) choose what makes things go around, and then most consumers are satisfied with Spotyfie and bApple Music services... as well as a Sönos [mono !] speaker that goes well with the furniture... [ffs!!]. Fortunately, the album also comes in vinyl format, and that is the right choice.

On previous releases Mortensen provided great tracks and quite original lyrics, but here it just seems like he really has found his feet as a more comfortable songwriter and on top of that also showcases an ability of composing simple, elegant and truly sincere music cut to the bone.

Fra et sted sums up the past six decades of folk rock and psychedelic rock with bonds to the best songwriting talents combined with a quality stamp as warranty of Danish poetry. It's truly remarkable and easily the so far best album from this gifted artist. It also happens to be my absolute favourite of 2015, which makes it highly recommended.

[ Gaffa.dk 5 / 6, Undertoner 4,5 / 6 stars ]

2015 Favourite releases: 1. Mellemblond Fra et sted - 2. Paul Weller Saturns Pattern - 3. Alabama Shakes Sound & Color

//--- EDIT 2021: As of 2021 the album has been made available in FLAC-format (Qobuz.com). ---//

Bob Mould "Body of Song" (2005)

Body of Song
release date: Jul. 26, 2005
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,55]
producer: Bob Mould
label: Granary Music - nationality: USA

6th studio album by Bob Mould as solo artist follows more than three years after Modulate (Mar. 2002). Is this his worst album? I do believe it's one of them, anyway. Best news is that he has now abandoned the electro synth experiments and has returned to alt. rock and power pop, but the good songs are simply missing Bob! This is just mediocre and not really recommendable but it's better than his most recent career low point, Modulate.
Not recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

The Pogues "The Best of The Pogues" (1991)

The Best of The Pogues (compilation)
release date: Sep. 1991
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Pogue Mahone / Warner Music - nationality: UK

First best of album by The Pogues containing fourteen tracks.

Mew "No More Stories Are Told Today..." (2009)

No More Stories Are Told Today, I'm Sorry They Washed Away // No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I'm Tired, Let's Wash Away
release date: Aug. 19, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Rich Costey, Mew
label: Evil Office / Columbia - nationality: Denmark

Track highlights: 2. "Introducing Palace Players" (4 / 5) - 3. "Beach" - 4. "Repeaterbeater" - 13. "Sometimes Life Isn't Easy"

5th studio album by Mew continues the style introduced by the band's previous album. There's a distinct progressive rock element to it, which sometimes works and at other times seems too planned. It's also experimental in the way the band challenges itself with instrumental skills, which require the full attention of the listener. Given time and attention, it's more interesting and daring than the band's 2005 album, but it's also an album without great pop songs like "Apocalypso", "Special", and "The Zookeeper's Boy". In that way No More Stories... is the band's most prog. rock-styled and daring album to date.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars]

Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet "The Juliet Letters" (1993)

The Juliet Letters
release date: Jan. 19, 1993
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Brodsky Quartet, Elvis Costello and Kevin Killen
label: Warner Bros. - nationality: England, UK

Studio album by the music crossover-project featuring pop / rock artist Elvis Costello and British classical string ensemble (the) Brodsky Quartet consisting of Ian Belton and Michael Thomas on violin, Paul Cassidy on viola and Jaqueline Thomas on cello.

The album was released to mostly positive reviews and the project also perfomed live to critical acclaim. I just don't think it works that well. Costello performs songs from his most delicate jazzy corner à la "Almost Blue" / "Shipbuilding" with the string quartet as instrumental appendix trying to fit in, or simply communicate that this is true art. I find it boring, uninspiring altogether, and see it as more of a media stunt he pulled through.

[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

BEST OF 2005:Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté "In the Heart of the Moon" (2005)

In the Heart of the Moon [debut]
release date: Sep. 13, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 5 / 5] [4,88]
producer: Nick Gold
label: World Circuit - nationality: Mali

Tracklist: 1. "Debe" (5 / 5) (live in Brussels) - 2. "Kala" (4 / 5) - 3. "Mamadou Boutiquier" (5 / 5) - 4. "Monsieur le Maire de Niafunké" (4 / 5) - 5. "Kaira" (4 / 5) - 6. "Simbo" - 7. "Ai Ga Bani" - 8. "Soumbou Ya Ya" - 9. "Naweye Toro" - 10. "Kadi Kadi" - 11. "Gomni" (4 / 5) - 12. "Hawa Dolo"

reviewed Feb. 20, 2008
G R E A T! That's what this is. It's the collaboration debut by Ali Farka Touré and Toumani Diabaté, two Malian musicians. The music is delicate, surreal and haunting. What rhythm, and what wonderful dreamy tunes these guys produce! Splendid music - and highly addictive. Play it when you drive to or from work, or just anywhere, when you read, or when you make love - just play it, and listen. It's extremely soothing for body and mind. I give it my warmest recommendations, and… I only need more of that kind! On this Touré plays guitar and Diabeté plays the 21-stringed African kora, which is responsible for the spiderweb-like strings on this amazing release. The album received world-wide recognition and led to a World Live Tour with the two playing in Europe and USA.
Touré had been politically engaged and became mayor of the local town of Nianfunké in 2004, and although there are 25 years between these two musicians and they do sound as if having played together for years, when in fact the album was recorded without initial rehearsals and without Touré and Diabeté had played together for more than 3 hours in total over a span of 15 years.
Diabaté was 40 and Touré 65 years of age when this album was released, and most sadly, Touré died Mar. 2006 as a 66-year-old, only just experiencing the international acclaim this album was attributed. The album is the first in a series of three albums commonly known as "Hotel Mandé Sessions" - the second would be Tourés last solo album Savane (released posthumously, Jul. 17, 2006) and Diabeté's Boulevard de l'Independence (credited Toumani Diabaté's Symmetric Orchestra and released Jul. 25, 2006).
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

2005 Favourite releases: 1. Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabeté In the Heart of the Moon - 2. Sigur Rós Takk... - 3. Kent Du & jag döden

Lisa Ekdahl "Bortom det blå" (1997)

Bortom det blå
release date: Oct. 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,52]
producer: Georg 'Jojje' Wadenius
label: RCA / BMG Sweden - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Bortom det blå" - 3. "Två lyckliga dårar" - 5. "Vi tillhör varann" - 8. "Du var inte där för mig"

3rd solo studio album by Lisa Ekdahl shows new sides to her talent. Musically, she has moved into a more traditional pop / rock sphere. The album is nicely produced with broader arrangements and also more uptempo songs without touching on rock, although, there's still room for acoustic-driven compositions. It's still with focus on story-telling and songs about relationships - happy as well as unhappy ones. The overall impression leaves me thinking it's a little too much honey - it's as if her sincerity is washed away with the sugary arrangements, and it makes me long for her more simple compositions.

Cocteau Twins "Heaven or Las Vegas" (1990)

Heaven or Las Vegas
release date: Sep. 17, 1990
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Cocteau Twins
label: 4AD Records - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Cherry-Coloured Funk" (4 / 5) - 3. "Iceblink Luck" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Heaven or Las Vegas" (4,5 / 5) - 6. "I Wear Your Ring" - 7. "Fotzepolitic" (4 / 5) - 8. "Wolf in the Breast" - 10. "Frou-Frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires"

6th studio album by Scottish trio Cocteau Twins follows two years after Blue-Bell Knoll takes a step into more uptempo territory with focus on harmonic melody structure. Alledgedly, the album is released on Fraser and Guthrie's daughter's one-year birthday, which alludes a perfect family harmony that may not be there after all. Guthrie had to spend time in rehab caused by drug and alcohol abuse, and tensions with the 4AD management was just another issue they had to face.

The album is generally considered the band's masterpiece into dream pop. It's also the band's highest charting album in the UK peaking at number #7 on the albums chart list. All tracks are credited the band, vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, guitarist Robin Guthrie, and bassist Simon Raymonde, and the album has been enlisted in a number of best of releases of the nineties. This is also the first time really that you're capable of understanding the lyrics by Fraser, who was already renowned for her indistinct singing style up until this. I also find that the production sound is way better here than on any other of their previous albums. Guthrie's guitar with their keyboard-sound and the drum programming together with Raymonde's tight basslines all make up a perfect bright sound that both dwells but only touches on ambient and still create clear and perfect harmonies weighing both melancholy and positivity. Heaven or Las Vegas is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" and it was released to generally positive reviews, but 4AD still wouldn't sign the band for further albums, which from hereon sent the band in the hands of Fontana Records.

The album was reissued and remastered by Robin Guthrie in 2003.

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

The Cardigans "First Band on the Moon" (1996)

First Band on the Moon
release date: Sep. 17, 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,92]
producer: Tore Johansson
label: Stockholm Records . nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 1. "Your New Cuckoo" - 2. "Been It" (4 / 5) - 5. "Never Recover" - 6. "Step On Me" - 7. "Lovefool" (4,5 / 5) (live on 'late night') - 8. "Losers" - 11. "Choke"

3rd studio album by The Cardigans. With strong catchy songs like "Been It", "Never Recover", and "Lovefool", this is just as great as the debut, although the jazz pop style has almost vanished. To me this is their last great album. Just like the debut album, this contains a Black Sabbath cover song, "Iron Man".
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Ali Farka Touré

~ ~ ~

Ali Farka Touré: Touré is a multi-instrumentalist but is mainly known for playing the guitar. Ali Farka Touré died in 2006 (from bone cancer) but has released a number of acclaimed albums (including Talking Timbuktu, 1994, as a collaboration with Ry Cooder), and he became known as Africa's blues man or John Lee Hooker of Africa, anyway, a man of the blues. In a collaboration work with Toumani Diabaté, the two made a world-wide appraised album In the Heart of the Moon (2005) with Malian mandé folk music. Interesting music from Mali seems like an endless pot. I'm not saying it's the only interesting country in Africa but it's really amazing how much music has come from Mali, and these two are the exquisite artists of Malian mandé music.

~ ~ ~

Toumani Diabaté

~ ~ ~

Toumani Diabaté: (born Aug. 10, 1965, Bamako, Mali); aka: Toumani Diabate, Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra. Diabeté is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional folk music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles. In a collaboration work with Ali Farka Touré the two made a world-wide appraised album In the Heart of the Moon (2005) with Malian mandé folk music.

~ ~ ~

The Gun Club "The Las Vegas Story" (1984)

The Las Vegas Story
release date: Jun. 1984
format: cd (2004 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,82]
producer: Jeff Eyrich
label: Sympathy for the Record Industry - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "Walkin' With the Beast" - 3. "Eternally Is Here" (4 / 5) - 4. "The Stranger in Our Town" - 5. "My Dreams" - 7. "My Man's Gone Now" - 8. "Bad America" - 10. "Give Up the Sum"
[ full album ]

3rd studio album by The Gun Club follows nearly two full years after Miami (Sep. 1982) and was originally issued by Animal Records. The 2004 remaster comes with one bonus track.
In the aftermath of Miami, The Gun Club experienced a major change of members with Jeffrey Lee Pierce as the only remaining member, which may explain the longer time between albums. Patricia Morrison was a new stable bassist in the many new formations of the band in the following years. Drummer Terry Graham had been sacked and replaced but returned, then he refused to carry on, then he was replaced, but eventually he is still the drummer on this album. Guitarist Kid Congo Powers also returned from a period playing with The Cramps, and together they formed the new quartet who recorded The Las Vegas Story, which is nicely put together and also better produced than its predecessor. The style is with less reminiscences of post-punk and psychobilly, and instead it has a more profound blues rock at the base of an alt. rock sound. Strange as it may seem with the ever-changing band members, it's still an album with a sound and style that is unmistakably The Gun Club, which only goes to show that Jeffrey Lee Pierce is nearly synonymous with the band.
To me, this is one of the band's most memorable albums. It demonstrates a fine balance of the alternative rock, a bold blues line, and that certain Jeffrey Lee Pierce combo of white energy and trembling fragility.
Within less than six months after the new album release, tensions within the band made Pierce decide to put an end to the band and they performed a number of farewell concerts before disbanding in late '84. Kid Congo Powers initiated work with Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and Jeffrey Lee Pierce worked on and released his first solo album Wildweed (1985). However, in '86 he regrouped a band and restarted the name The Gun Club.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo 4 / 5 stars ]

Mew "No More Stories EP" (2009)

No More Stories EP
release date: Jun. 29, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]

Track highlights: 1. "Introducing Palace Players" (4 / 5) - 2. "Repeaterbeater"

5-track ep by Mew consisting of two tracks from the forthcoming 5th studio album. This is the band's first release after being reduced to a trio. These two tracks proof the band's continued mix of alt. rock, dream pop, and some elements from progressive rock. The first two tracks are quite interesting but the rest seems like mere fillers. It didn't really make me want to rush out to purchase the new album. I think, the band had come to a stand still, and I mostly just miss the simplicity of Frengers.

Angelo Badalamenti "La cité des enfants perdus" (OST) (1995)

La cité des enfants perdus (OST), soundtrack

release date: May 1995

format: cd (0630-10251-2)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]

producer: Angelo Badalamenti

label: EastWest - nationality:

Track highlights: 1. "Générique (a: Marcello, b: Who Will Take My Dreams Away?, c: Theme de La Cité des Enfants Perdus)" - 2. "L'anniversaire d'Irvin" - 8. "Le Voyage du Rêve" - 9. "Miette" - 10. "L'exécution" - 12. "La foire" - 16. "La Cité des Enfants Perdus"
👉 [ Soundtrack playlist ]

Soundtrack album by Angelo Badalamenti for the French film "La cité des enfants perdus" by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro - a film featuring Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman, and Jean-Claude Dreyfus. The total running time of the album just excedes 52 minutes.

The soundtrack has a bit of the same uneasy vibe as you'll find on the "Soundtrack from Twin Peaks" (the TV-series) from 1990 as well as Badalamenti's soundtrack for "Blue Velvet" (OST); however, the style is more orchestrated both displaying elements from a popular French culture as well as more string-based arrangements. The soundtrack works splendid in the film but appears a bit weaker on its own.

Laura Marling "A Creature I Don't Know" (2011)

A Creature I Don't Know
release date: Sep. 12, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "The Muse" (3 / 5) - 2. "I Was Just a Card" (3 / 5) - 3. "Don't Ask Me Why" (3 / 5) - 6. "Night After Night" (4 / 5) (live acoustic) - 7. "My Friends" - 8. "Rest in the Bed" - 9. "Sophia" (4 / 5)

3rd studio album by Laura Marling. I think, I like this one the most but it's hard to describe the big difference from her so far three studio albums. I guess, I like this better because she doesn't sound too much like other female singer / songwriters (e.g. Joni Mitchell), and because the music is really narrowed down to only consist of her voice accompanied by guitar with scarce or no hardly other instrumentation, which just emphasizes her stories and fine vocal.
[ The Guardian, NME, Q Magazine, The Independent 4 / 5 stars ]

Sting "You Still Touch Me" (12'') (1996) (single)

You Still Touch Me, 12'' single
release date: Apr. 30, 1996
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,12]
producer: Hugh Padgham, Sting, Simon Osborne, Neil Dorfsman
label: A&M Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "You Still Touch Me" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "Lullaby to an Anxious Child" - 3. "The Pirate's Bride" - 4. "Twenty-five to Midnight" (3,5 / 5)

12'' maxi single by Sting is a 4 track release where the ordinary cd single comes in various releases with different second tracks. Stylistically, the three first tracks are all slow piano-founded compositions drawing on jazz influences, whereas track #4 is an uptempo pop / rock composition with r&b and some blues influence, which may also be heard on the title track.

Bob Dylan "Under the Red Sky" (1990)

Under the Red Sky
release date: Sep. 11, 1990
format: vinyl
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: David Was, Don Was, Jack Frost
label: Bonton - nationality: USA

Studio album by Bob Dylan originally released by Columbia Records.

The Radio Dept. "Pet Grief" (2006)

Pet Grief
release date: Apr. 12, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Johan Duncansson, Martin Larsson
label: Labrador - nationality: Sweden

Track highlights: 2. "Pet Grief" - 3. "A Window" - 4. "I Wanted You to Feel the Same" (Live on WFUV) - 6. "The Worst Taste in Music" (4 / 5) - 8. "What Will Give?" - 10. "Sleeping In" (4 / 5) - 11. "Tell"
[ full album playlist ]

2nd studio album by The Radio Dept. is like the debut released by Labrador Records and produced by Duncanson and Larsson. The band members are now the trio which has become synonymous with The Radio Dept.: Johan Duncanson playing keyboards, guitars, and on lead vocal, Martin Larsson on guitars, keyboards, and bass, and with Daniel Tjäder on keyboards.

Stylistically, the album follows closely in the footsteps of their fine debut Lesser Matters (Feb. 2003), and despite that this is not a huge step in new directions, it's a pretty nice and decent follow-up into subtle indie pop / dream pop with less focus on distorted guitars and vocals and thus less noise pop-oriented. It also comes out as more consciously wider produced material indicating a move away from their previously lo-fi recorded releases but without losing the noise-pop connection.

Compared to the fine debut this seems more of a whole but it generally lacks higher level of quality compositions, although, I still enjoy the laid back feel of it.

[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

The Radio Dept. "The Worst Taste in Music" (2006) (single)

The Worst Taste in Music, single
release date: Mar. 15, 2006
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,14]
producer: Johan Duncanson and Martin Larsson
label: Labrador Records - nationality: Sweden

Tracklist: 1. "The Worst Taste in Music" (4 / 4) - 2. "Flow Flux Clan Remix" - 3. "Industry Standard Mix By Differnet" - 4. "What You Sell"

Single release by The Radio Dept. issued to promote the album Pet Grief (2006). The title track is also on the album.

Ukendt Kunstner "Neonlys" (2013)

Neonlys, mixtape
release date: Apr. 8, 2013
format: digital (10 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: Jen Ole McCoy
label: selv-released download - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Profetien" - 2. "28 / 46" (4 / 5) - 3. "Neonlys" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Guld & diamanter" (3,5 / 5) - 5. "Lørdag aften" - 6. "Søndag morgen" - 7. "Langt væk" - 8. "F.P. Jac" - 9. "Fucking nummer" (4 / 5) - 10. "Drømme" (feat. Rebecca Christel) (4 / 5)

10-track "mixtape" as labelled by the duo Ukendt Kunstner made available as free download on the duo's homepage. Musically and lyrically, I think this is an improvement to their first double ep. This is much more like the 2014 (and actual) debut album. The music is more coherent, much more original, and the lyrics are elaborated in both rhyming, choruses verses, and in the narratives, although, the subjects are mostly about the same issues - which still point back to their first ep releases. It's songs about partying, girls, drugs, relationships, and sex. However, musically, this is stuffed with great tracks all held-together by an original flow.
The album is simply one of the best of its genre coming from Denmark at the moment.

Rammstein "Reise, Reise" (2004)

Reise, Reise
release date: Sep. 27, 2004
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
pro. by Jacob Hellner, Rammstein
label: Motor Music - nationality: Germany

Track highlights: 1. "Reise, Reise" - 2. "Mein Teil" - 4. "Keine Lust" - 6. "Amerika" (4 / 5) - 7. "Moskau" - 8. "Morgenstern" - 10. "Ohne dich"
[ The making of 'Keine Lust' ]

4th studio album by Rammstein is like the two previous albums produced by the band in collaboration with Jacob Hellner, and it's the band's last studio album on Motor Music. It follows the band's so far most successful album Mutter after a 3½ years hiatus.
Reise, Reise contains the much viewed video single "Amerika", which is a great tune and with both "Keine Lust" and fine songs like "Mein Teil" and "Moskau", Rammstein has made another solid release, although, the album lacks compositions on the same level as their great Mutter, and what is more important: for the first time I find that the band doesn't deliver truly new material but in way keeps to repeating itself. The tight and confined Rammstein universe doesn't leave room for much new if the band doesn't progress. At least they may try, but the new elements are like drawn on either themselves or other metal bands. I find several traces of the American alt. metal band System of a Down, e.g. "Morgenstern", and the album really doesn't come near the strong 2001 album. It's not great, not bad, and not really unforgettable.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone, BBC 3 / 5 stars ]

The Gun Club "Miami" (1982)

Miami
release date: Sep. 20, 1982
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,55]
producer: Chris Stein
label: Animal Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "Like Calling Up Thunder" - 5. "Devil in the Woods" - 9. "John Hardy" - 11. "Sleeping in Blood City"

2nd studio album by The Gun Club follows one year after Fire of Love but has a much more polished sound than the raw debut, which had put the band's name on every ones' lips. That may be the reason to how Blondie composer and guitarist Chris Stein ended up in the producer seat, and that may not have been the brightest decision. The band members list credited on the album is unchanged from the debut. Yes, Jeffrey Lee Pierce had been head of the Blondie fan club and simply adored Debbie Harry, but the sound / style of The Gun Club is really not part of the same neighbourhood as Blondie, and that was perhaps what Stein assumed, I think. The sound here fits what Blondie did - a more pop-founded new wave with a certain rawness to it, but basically, Blondie never was really dirty - they were never labelled punk. The Gun Club soothed of rawness, and of everything that's stuck to the other side of the coin of... "prettiness". The band is more in the same category as The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds, with a direct link to Iggy and the Stooges, and as a modernised version of Rolling Stones. Debbie Harry (credited as D.H. Laurence Jr. on the album) is credited for adding backing vocals to the album, and although, Pierce may have been thrilled and honoured by the presence of the Blondie-couple, they do not add anything good to The Gun Club.
After this album, the band went through a major change as bassist Rob Ritter left to join another band and Pierce fired guitarist Ward Dotson (who had replaced Kid Congo Powers) and drummer Terry Graham.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Mojo, Uncut 4 / 5, Q Magazine 3 / 5 stars ]

The National "Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers" (2003)

Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers
release date: Sep. 2, 2003
format: cd (HWY-003)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,22]
producer: Nick Lloyd; Paul Heck and Peter Katis (as co-producers)
label: Brassland - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 2. "Slipping Husband" - 4. "It Never Happened" - 5. "Murder Me Rachael" - 6. "Thirsty" - 7. "Available" - 9. "Trophy Wife"

2nd studio album by The National, again released on independent label Brassland. Prior to this, the band has been expanded by bassist Aaron Dessner's brother Bryce on guitar, who also contributed as additional musician on the debut. This means that, aside from now being a quintet, the band is constituted by two brother-pairs, the Devendorff brothers, Scott and Bryan, and the brothers Dessner, Aaron and Bryce together with vocalist Matt Berninger - a line-up that would prove to be a lasting one.
Without being great, this slightly betters the somewhat grey debut, which had a folk thing going on that didn't come out as something extremely original, whereas this is more of a rock thing trying to combine the inner-felt melancholy of Leonard Cohen with the strict tensions à la Joy Division. Still, I find that the end result sound much closer to American Music Club / Mark Eitzel, and the band still has a hard time sounding like a truly original band.
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 3 / 5, Uncut 4 / 5 stars ]

Steve Miller Band "The Very Best of The Steve Miller Band" (1991)

The Very Best of The Steve Miller Band (compilation)
release date: 1991
format: vinyl (1992 reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Arcade - nationality: USA

Best of compilation album by Steve Miller Band.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark "Universal" (1996)

Universal
release date: Sep. 1996
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Andy McCluskey, Matthew Vaughan, David Nicholas
label: Virgin Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Walking on the Milky Way" - 3. "The Moon & the Sun" - 9. "The Boy From the Chemist Is Here to See You"

10th studio album by OMD still reduced to a Andy McCluskey one-man project. Stylistically, McCluskey continues his journey with europop, although the drums and dance element have been reduced so the album turns out as a more mainstream pop / rock album and on some tracks with the addition of a britpop feel, like on #2. Three tracks are co-written with Stuart Kershaw and two tracks with former founder Paul Humphreys (tracks #5 & 10).
Track #2 peaked at position #17 on the national singles chart list but the album was met by luke-warm reviews, although topping at number #24 in the UK, only second-lowest of the band's albums - the debut reaching number #27, which had come out of the blue and with no expectations.
I only listened to the full album around 2012 and I'm not a big fan of it, although, I find it clearly bettering the poor Liberator (1993). It's really not all bad, but its biggest problem is its lack in direction. It contains tracks, which could be included on the predecessor, on a few older albums, and then it lays out several tracks of mainstream pop / rock and a few britpop-styled compositions, not to mention strong differences between ballads and pure dance pop, which makes it a bit of a mishmash alltogether.
A decline in national radio airplay and in sales numbers made McCluskey decide to call it a day in late '96. OMD was now history, or at least for the next decade.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5 stars ]