Paul Weller "66" (2024)

66

udgivet: 24. maj 2024

format: vinyl (Ltd. udgave) (blå vinyl) / digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[vurdering: 4 / 5] [3,98]

producer: Paul Weller

selskab: Polydor - nationalitet: England, UK

Udvalgte numre: 1. "Ship of Fools" - 2. "Flying Fish" - 4. "Nothing" (4 / 5) - 5. "My Best Friend's Coat" - 6. "Rise Up Singing" - 7. "I Woke Up" - 9. "Sleepy Hollow" - 11. "Soul Wandering" (4 / 5)

17. studiealbum fra Paul Weller følger tre år efter den stærkeFat Pop (Volume 1) (maj 2021), og det er - hvis man fokuserer på titlen - måske ikke den forventede Volume 2. Det er dog tæt nok på, for faktum er, at Weller i sandhed har fundet sin musikalske skattekiste de seneste år og simpelthen virker ude af stand til at lave et irrelevant album. '66' har i øvrigt en dobbeltbetydning, idet titlen både refererer til året 1966 - en tid hvor musikken brød igennem med stor styrke rent produktionsmæssigt og i forhold til fyldigere arrangementer, og specifikke soul-hits fra netop det år - og så selvfølgelig til hans nuværende alder. Forside-coveret af Peter Blake (som også lavede coveret til Stanley Road) rammer ganske fint stilen fra netop det år. Albummet udgives dagen før hans 66-års fødselsdag og er Wellers første i en lang række, der ikke har deltagelse af hans nærmeste musikalske åndsfælle: tekniker, producer, multiinstrumentalist og medkomponist Jan 'Stan' Kybert. Albummet byder dog både på faste instrumentalister samt adskillige prominente gæsteoptrædener, som tæller Suggs (aka Graham McPherson fra Madness), Bobby Gillespie (fra Primal Scream), Christophe Vaillant (fra Le SuperHomard), Erland Copper, Steve Cradock, Noel Gallagher, Richard Hawley, Dr. Robert (aka Robert Howard) og Hannah Peel. Hertil har Weller både skrevet og komponeret selv, men han har også fundet matchende melodier med inspiration fra andre sangskrivere eller skrevet sange sammen med forskellige andre. Det bemærkelsesværdige ved dette er en stærk, sammenhængende samling af forskelligartede sange, hvor Weller's vokal sjældent har lydt så ekspressiv.

Albummet kunne lige så godt have heddet 'Volume 2 (66)' eller noget lignende, da det tager stafetten op fra 2021-albummet. Det er ikke strengt taget fra den samme tur i byen, da '21-albummet bød på flere uptempo-sange, mens dette fremstår som en mere afdæmpet udgivelse - måske fulgt af en melankoli over alle de år, der er gået? Nogle numre indeholder et vist strejf af The Style Council, i hvert fald, når vi taler kvalitet i stil med Café Bleu-perioden, hvilket er en nostalgisk tendens, der også høres på hans seneste forgængere. Generelt set er det et velafbalanceret album, der beroliger i blå og disede nuancer af blødhed, som ikke desto mindre stadig byder dig indenfor med den umulige blanding af musikalsk aristokrati og arbejderklasse-appel, og med en stærk sans for stilistisk mangfoldighed uden på nogen måde at miste sammenhængskraften. Oven i det, står melodierne side om side og kalder på lytterens opmærksomhed - det er et album fyldt med stærke sange, som allerede kandiderer til et af hans hovedværker. Imponerende, det er hvad det er, og naturligvis varmt anbefalet.

[ allmusic.com, 👍The Guardian, 4 / 5, Clash 3,5 / 5, Record Collector 5 / 5 stjerner ]

Best of 2023: Anohni and the Johnsons "My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross" (2023)

My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross

release date: Jul. 7, 2023

format: vinyl (LTD. white vinyl) / digital (10 x File, FLAC)

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

producer: Jimmy Hogarth

label: Rough Trade / Secretly Canadian - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "It Must Change" (4 / 5) - 2. "Go Ahead" - 3. "Sliver of Ice" - 4. "Can't" (4 / 5) - 5. "Scapegoat" - 6. "It’s My Fault" (4 / 5) - 9. "Why Am I Alive Now?"

5th studio album by Anohni and the Johnsons (6th by Anohni) follows Hopelessness (May 2016) by Anohni, but more interestingly it continues after the album Swanlights (Oct. 2010), the fourth album in the discography with the Johnson-project after which Anohni put that on a hiatus while seemingly concentrating on a career under the name of Anohni and a period of collaborations and other art projects. All previous releases have been executed with Anohni as producer, but here this role is handed Jimmy Hogarth, who also takes part in the project as guitarist on all tracks. Anohni and Hogarth are the only two instrumentalists featuring on all compositions, and the choice of Hogarth is of course not just a matter of having someone else produce - as a new ingredient or someone with a new and fresh perspective. Hogarth is no novice in the British music industry, and he has recorded albums with soul-influenced artist such as Amy Winehouse, James Morrison, Sia, Duffy, Corinne Bailey Rae, and James Blunt - all artists with bonds to a British version of soul, and that's probably the whole idea: to pay tribute to exactly that source of inspiration.

Thirteen years is an unusual long time in the music business, but if the four studio albums by Antony and the Johnsons are your only reference, then this new album doesn't fall far from that. Anohni is back with chamber pop and pop soul as main ingredients and with an album that is dedicated inacceptable conditions for everyone sticking out on a 'normality' spectre as well as the very existence / destruction of our planet.

Critics have lauded the album as a great return, and I'm already considering it one of the absolute best by this great artist. The musical arrangements are cheerful and fillled with warmth but the lyrics and the lamenting [beautiful] voice of Anohni brings a contrasting element of grief and disaster that nontheless functions brilliantly.

I already consider this part of my top-3 list of the best albums of 2023.

Highly recommended.

The front cover portrays [activist] Marsha P. Johnson, who initially gave name to Anohni's project.

[ 👉Pitchfork 8,7 / 10, 👍NME 4 / 5, Clash 9 / 10, The Observer 5 / 5 stars ]

2023 Favourite releases: 1. Anohni and the Johnsons My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross - 2. Ukendt Kunstner Dansktop - 3. Sigur Rós Átta

Fine Young Cannibals "She Drives Me Crazy - The Best Of" (2008)

She Drives Me Crazy - The Best Of (compilation)
release date: 2008
format: 2 cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: various
label: Music Club Deluxe - nationality: England, UK

2-disc best of compilation album by Fine Young Cannibals released on the BBC Worldwide parent-label Demon Groups' sublabel Music Club Deluxe (with a speciality of re-issuing 2 cd compilations).
The album contains 30 tracks (15 on each cd). The back cover reads "This collection boasts hit singles, 12'' mixes, key album tracks and rare B-sides. Enjoy." There's a decent description on the formation of the band, its short-lived career and what became of the three band members, and the selection of songs is fine without being what it could have been, had they put more energy in the selection of compositions, e.g. making an effort to put important releases in chronological order. The band only released two albums, which means that most of their album songs are included, and then you only wonder why some of their biggest hits from the second album, "Good Thing" and "As Hard as It Is" are not even here when instead several songs are represented in more than one version. The band made so many great tracks that it's hard not to like almost no matter how it was put together, but with material like that, you could at least pay the band a little more respect. Despite my verdict as a 4/ 5 stars' album, I would instead recommend purchasing their two studio albums.

Roland Gift "Roland Gift" (2002)

Roland Gift [debut]
release date: Mar. 2002
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: David Z, Ben Barson, Roland Gift
label: MCA Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Tell Me You Want Me Back" (4 / 5) - 2. "Looking for a Friend" - 3. "It's Only Money" (4 / 5) (live ?) - 5. "A Girl Like You" - 7. "Superhero" (4 / 5) - 8. "Lady DJ" - 11. "If We Ain't Got Love"
[ full album ]

Solo album debut (and so far only) album by Roland Gift - former lead vocalist of Fine Young Cannibals released on American label, MCA with primary American producer David Z (aka David B. Rivkin), who also worked with FYC on a number of songs for the band's final studio album The Raw & The Cooked (1988).
The album doesn't fall far from the works by FYC, although, it's clearly more polished building on 'pop soul' and pointing at a more (adult) mainstream audience. The album was made while Gift stayed in the US, but unfortunately, also while MCA went through management changes being merged and absorbed by bigger companies (and dissolving in 2003), which meant that the album was practically released without promotion.
Critics were hard on the album claiming that it's without strong songs like "She Drives Me Crazy" and that it simply lacks dynamics. And yes, how could he run away from the ultimate success of Fine Young Cannibals?! The trio had kicked in the door on the world, and then just slipped out the back. Even more than a decade as an actor didn't make it any easier - Gift will forever be linked with FYC and the fact that they couldn't continue as a band after experiencing the downside of the success.
I actually listened to the album shortly after its release, and was completely astonished as to why they never played the album or any of its songs on the radio stations. This is simply too good not to be played. It may not be as strong as the two studio albums by Fine Young Cannibals - but lesser will do more than just fine, and frankly Mr. Shankly, why at all compare a soloist with the works of his former band? Its's completely unjust not to evaluate this album for primarily one of the strongest and most characteristic voices coming out of Britain - ever.
Recommended.

Michael Kiwanuka "Kiwanuka" (2019)

Kiwanuka
release date: Nov. 1, 2019
format: 2 lp vinyl (gatefold)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Danger Mouse, Inflo
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

3rd studio album by Michael Kiwanuka is a double gatefold vinyl album produced by Danger Mouse [aka Brian Joseph Burton] and Inflo [aka Dean Josiah]. Kiwanuka (aka Michael Samuel Kiwanuka was born and grew up in Muswell Hill, London, UK. He's the son of Ugandan parents. In 2012 he won the BBC's Sound of 2012 poll.
His two previous albums more more traditionally crafted with a folk rock style, but here he has added a psychedelic touch, which is widely known as psychedelic soul and shows influences from Prince and Sly and the Family Stone. It's an even bolder introspective collection of songs than you'll find in his back catalogue.
The album was generally met by positive reviews and Kiwanuka has gained reputation as a modern singer / songwriter of contemporary soul.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, The Guardian, NME, Q Magazine 5 / 5, 👍Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Amy Winehouse "Lioness: Hidden Treasures" (2011)

Lioness: Hidden Treasures (compilation)
release date: Dec. 6, 2011
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Salaam Remi
label: Universal Island - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Our Day Will Come" (5 / 5) - 2. "Between the Cheats" - 3. "Tears Dry" (Original Version) - 4. "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? (2011)" - 6. "Valerie ('68 Version)" - 8. "Half Time" - 9. "Wake Up Alone" (Original Recording) - 10. "Best Friends, Right?" - 11. "Body & Soul (duet with Tony Bennett)" - 12. "A Song for You"

Compilation album by Amy Winehouse released posthumously is primarily produced by Salaam Remi, but it also feature two songs (tracks #4 & #6) produced by Mark Ronson.
The album title suggests a collection of well-hidden gems, and it may just be that but it's more of a mixed bag in the sense that it contains a big variety of songs - some that were undoubtedly meant to be prt of a never realised third album, and others that, well, weren't intended to be reeased as is but given the circumstances thankfully were revealed without having to fit in. "Our Day Will Come" and "Between the Cheats" are superb compositions that probably would have been included on that third studio album, but the remaining tracks come to define the album as something else. We find outtakes, demos, and rarities rather than future album songs 'cause Winehouse hadn't found time to compose that many more. Some tracks are alternate recordings, two songs are with other artists - Nas and Tony Bennett respectively, where the latter duet appears to have been her last studio recording, and then a couple of old classics make up the lot before it's all over in just around 45 mins. Apparently, the songs were selected by the producers, Sallam Remi and Mark Ronson, but apparently also with a say from one or two family members.
The album debuted at the top of the charts in the UK as it replicated in Austria, Greece, Portugal, Switzerland, and in The Netherlands. It also became Winehouse's best charting standard album in the US making it to number #5 on the Billboard 200 (Back to Black peaked at #2 when it was re-issued). It spawned two single releases - track #11 "Body and Soul", a duet with Tony Bennett reaching number #40 and "Our Day Will Come" peaking at number #29 on the national singles chart.
Lioness... is an album without obvious fillers or poor songs, and it's more than nice to have these recordings as well, although, the collection appears more as an incomplete glimpse into a treasury, where the voice of Winehouse is the jewel that shines through it all.
Highly recommended.
[ 👍allmusic.com, Spin 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👎The Guardian, Q Magazine 3 / 5 stars ]

In 2015 "Amy", a British documentary by Asif Kapadia was released to mostly positive reviews, although, the Winehouse family and especially Amy's father Mitch Winehouse rejected the film as biased and misleading. 

EDIT 2025:

The Winehouse foundation (established by the family estate) approved the biopic "Back to Black" directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson and featuring a strong lead role by Marisa Abela was released in 2024, and it shows another - much brighter and less controversial - family drama. Several other documentaries may be found about the life of Amy Winehouse but "Amy" stands out as a genuine attempt of showing the story of her life, as it was portrayed and told by the media, as well as people close to Amy. Now, the 2024 film does come with a fine soundtrack, which works quite nicely on its own terms.

Paul Weller "True Meanings" (2018)

True Meanings
release date: Sep. 14, 2018
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Paul Weller
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Soul Searchers" - 3. "Mayfly" - 6. "What Would He Say?" - 7. "Aspects" - 13. "May Love Travel With You" - 14. "White Horses"

14th studio album by Paul Weller, who is also credited as sole producer like he was on A Kind Revolution (2017).

Where his latest solo albums all have been in the alternative rock genre showing various contemporary musical influences, this is something quite diverse. It's a primarily acoustic-driven folk rock and singer / songwriter album, although, it also bears traits of a mellow chamber pop with bold use of strings. The overall sensations, however, is a quiet sincere collection of songs that bonds nicely with the ballads he has written throughout his entire career, be it with The Jam, The Style Council or as solo artist.

As Mark Beaumont of NME remarks "Paul Weller’s career has always ebbed and flowed between the incisive and the pastoral, one minute joy-riding through a town called Malice, the next punting soulfully down the Cam." And yes, that might be so, and what if? It's not entirely up to Weller to release cutting edge game-changing music where he do have his hits and misses - and mostly the latter. It's always nice to hear his own true-meant ballads instead of pretending he's shaping new styles with the young ones, and this album may not be his Nebraska or King of America album, but it does suit his voice and age very nicely.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, 4 / 5, NME 3 / 5 stars ]

Gregory Porter "Nat 'King' Cole & Me" (2017)

Nat 'King' Cole & Me
release date: Oct. 27, 2017
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Vince Mendoza
label: Blue Note Records - nationality: USA

5th studio album by Gregory Porter is as the title suggests a tribute to and an album exclusively featuring songs recorded by Nat "King" Cole arranged and produced by Vince Mendoza.

The songs are not that far from Porter's usual style and it really gives you the opportunity to hear from where he got much of his influence. The songs are nicely arranged with the abundance of strings and brass that were associated with Nat Cole, and needless say, it also fits Porter's smooth vocal like hand in glove.

The album comes in various formats - in a standard single cd edition containing twelve tracks, a Deluxe edition containing fifteen tracks like the double vinyl album.

The album hasn't been met by the 'usual' overwhelming positive reviews, and I do understand some of the critics indicating that it's like Porter's voice doesn't compare to the strengths of Cole. In these vocal jazz standards Porter contributes with his honey-dripping warm vocal but doesn't add new dimensions to already classic songs and in that regard has made a bit of the redundant tribute.

Edwyn Collins "Badbea" (2019)

Badbea
release date: Mar. 29, 2019
format: digital (12 x File, MP3)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: Edwyn Collins, Sean Read
label: Analogue Enhanced Digital - nationality: Scotland, UK

Track highlights: 1. "It's All About You" - 3. "I Guess We Were Young" - 5. "Outside" - 6. "Glasgow to London" - 10. "I'm OK Jack" - 12. "Badbea"

9th studio solo album by Edwyn Collins released by Collins' co-founded micro label AED is his first album out in six years - following Understated from 2013. Stylistically, it's a blend of the many styles Collins has been involved with in his long musical career. It contains elements of pop soul, sophisti-pop, indie pop and singer / songwriter, but it's first and foremost a quite coherent output. There's the ever-present echo of an ancient proto-punk energy, which makes me think of The Stooges and Patti Smith, and also bonds with Collins' fine '94 album Gorgeous George. It's psychedelic rock bits and pieces, art punk twists with screaming horns and also a very present subtle caring in ballad-like and honest-to-the-bone songs of present days - delicately woven songs with acoustic guitars and his charismatic crooning. On top of that there's also left room for electronic traits scattered around to widen the stylistic expression rather than the attempt to take control of songs. And quite surprisingly, it doesn't feel much like the usage of too many styles. And I think, primarily thanks to the production sound and Collins' dark vocal, which cleverly binds it all together.
The front cover depicts Collins in a confronting fragile portrait hinting to his physical conditions after multiple cerebral hemorrhages that struck him around 2005.
This is a warm grower and a recommended listen. It's so great to see and hear Collins back!!
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "A Kind Revolution" (2017)

A Kind Revolution
release date: May 12, 2017
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]
producer: Paul Weller
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 3. "Long Long Road" (live on later) - 4. "She Moves With the Fayre" - 5. "The Cranes Are Back" (live on later) - 6. "Hopper" - 8. "One Tear" - 9. "Satellite Kid" - 10. "The Impossible Idea"

13th solo studio album by Paul Weller is his first album to be entirely produced by himself only. Musically, it follows closely in the steps laid out on his splendid Saturns Pattern from 2015. It's full of style influences but mainly falls in the genre of alt. rock and singer / songwriter where he once again explores the style of pop soul. Some tracks are energetic rockers, some are ballad-like and rich of strings - touching on chamber pop, others reflect his many tours into the many stylistic landscapes of modern popular music.
This is another strong release from Weller just before his 59th birthday showing just how well he's doing in his senior years. He hasn't always been able to combine all his stylistic influences into coherent albums, but lately he seems to have found the formula to bring everything into a synthesis.
This is one of the best albums in 2017 and thus a highly recommended album.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, 👍The Guardian 4 / 5, PopMatters 4,5 / 5 stars ]

2017 Favourite releases: 1. St. Vincent Masseduction - 2. Paul Weller A Kind of Revolution - 3. Love Shop Risiko

Zucchero "All the Best" (2007)

All the Best (compilation)
release date: Nov. 23, 2007
format: digital (2-disc)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Released as 'Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari'. This is a fine double compilation album if you don't have Zucchero in your collection. It contains 35 tracks most of which are in Italian. It also contains "Wonderful Life", a song by British singer Black from his debut album Wonderful Life (1987), also released as a cover version by Zucchero as a single release earlier in 2007, which didn't make it to an album but was a rather big hit, again as it was for Black.

This is a highly recommended album.

Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari' "Fly" (2006)

Fly
release date: Sep. 22, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Bacco perbacco" - 2. "Un kilo" - 3. "Occhi" (4 / 5) - 6. "È delicato" - 7. "L'amore è nell'aria" - 10. "Troppa fedeltà"

Released as 'Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari'. A fine return to a more singer / songwriter universe. Mind you, the changes are not big, Zucchero still plays blues and pop soul but the album is more subtle and emotional. My favourite is "Occhi" but it has several fine tracks. The release comes in various versions. There's an international English version having a different tracklist, and e.g. "Flying Away", an English version of "Occchi", among others. A bonus track version also exists, which includes most of the different versions.

Black Grape "Stupid Stupid Stupid" (1997)

Stupid Stupid Stupid

release date: Nov. 10, 1997

format: cd

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]

producer: Danny Saber

label: Radioactive Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Get Higher" (4 / 5) (official video) - 2. "Squeaky" - 3. "Marbles" - 4. "Dadi Waz a Badi" - 6. "Spotlight" - 8. "Money Back Guaranteed" - 9. "Lonely"

2nd studio album by Black Grape following a little more than two years after the fine debut It's Great When You're Straight...Yeah (Aug. 1995) is like that released on Radioactive. Since the debut, the line-up has changed with founding member Bez leaving due to dissatisfaction with his paid royalties, and then the band has been expanded to a septet. The band's rapper Paul 'Kermit' Leveridge was hospitalised with blood poisoning during a tour and was replaced by Carl 'Psycho' McCarthy, who ended up being a stable member after the tour and after Kermit was back. Also live guitarist and keyboardist Martin Slattery [he should later join Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros] became a stable member before begining the recordings for the album. And Danny Saber, who had played a major part in making the debut is also new band member. In '96 Black Grape and Joe Strummer stood behind the football support song "England's Irie" and Saber was producer on the joint project. The majority of the songs here are credited Ryder, Saber and 'Manmade' - a joint moniker for Kermit and Psycho. The album contains a cover of the '72 Frederick Knight soul tune"I've Been Lonely for so Long" (by Posie Knight and Jerry Weaver), here just titled "Lonely".

Stylewise, it's a rougher and more rock-oriented album than the predominantly electronic and alt. dance, which shaped the debut, but there's still room for funk and soul as well as the usual sampling bits and parts. The album was preceded by the single release of track #1 peaking at number #24 followed by the European only release of "Dadi Waz a Badi" and lastly "Marbles" was selected as the third single.

Stupid Stupid Stupid was met by mixed reviews. Stephen Erlewine of allmusic.com says: "...it plays like 'It's Great', part two, only without its predecessor's infectious beats, mammoth hooks, and surreal humor". I don't fully agree on the "without" 'cause the album is not without good beats, hooks and humour but there's unquestionably just less of it. And yes, it is like a part two, which in many ways tries too hard to follow-up on the success.

The succeeding tour didn't last long and ended up being cancelled as Shaun Ryder in Dec. '97, allegedly after a fight of band members simply dismissed the whole band resulting in massive cancellations of already scheduled shows, and Ryder also sacked the band manager, which in the end meant that Ryder via rule of court ended up in receivership for the next 12 years. The end of Black Grape was stressed in the Summer of '98 when Ryder stated he should no longer be recording under that name [only he would much later, though].

This is not great and not entirely bad either. "Get Higher" is a marvelous track, and the album is worth a spin or more but it's not up there alongside the debut.

[ allmusic.com, NME, Spin 3 / 5, Pitchfork 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Zucchero "Zucchero & Co." (2004)

Zucchero & Co.
release date: May 14, 2004
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Luciano Luisi & Zucchero
label: Polydor - nationality: Italy

10th studio album by Zucchero following 2½ years after Shake (May 2001) is simply released under his shortened moniker 'Zucchero'. In terms of new material, this is not a traditional album of brand new compositions and on the other hand it's no real compilation either. It's the revisit to Zucchero's back catalog featuring guest artists and with new musical arrangements, and NOT produced by Corrado Rustici, which already makes it a different release. Rustici is credited as producer on two tracks, Mousse T., Simon Climie and Toby Baker all on one track respectively. The album contains 18 tracks and 18 "guest stars" all of which perform "duets" (Miles Davis is the only guest artist as instrumental artist). In track order, the featuring guests are: Miles Davis, Sting, Vanessa Carlton, Mousse T., Macy Gray, Maná, John Lee Hooker, Sheryl Crow, Dolores O'Riordan, Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, B.B. King, Ronan Keating, Cheb Mami, Solomon Burke, Paul Young, Brian May, and Luciano Pavarotti & Andrea Bocelli.
The album is pretty good, even if you happen to know the original tracks because these are new interpretations, except "Senza una donna" (feat. Paul Young), which is as good as it comes in the old familiar version.
Zucchero & Co. does not stir up Zucchero's image but basically, once again, show the international star he has grown into. Over the past decade and more, he has performed with established artists all over the world and he has become Italy's biggest national and international rock star, so in that respect the album only documents his star quality. And in his discography the album marks a fine contribution as a new musical perspective without introducing a stylistic revolution.
All in all a fine album.

Fingersnap "Smokehouse E.P." (2011) (ep)

Smokehouse E.P., ep [debut]
release date: Nov. 13, 2011
format: cd (SR001)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,84]
producer: David McAlmont, Guy Davies
label: Siskin Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "I Wanna Rise" - 2. "Some Kind of Masterpiece" (4 / 5) (rehearsal) - 3. "Mister" (4 / 5) - 4. "The Bishop of New Hampshire"

Studio album debut by Fingersnap is a 4-track cd released on Siskin Records. The band is a collaboration work of David McAlmont on vocals and with Guy Davies handling keyboards and piano. Apparently, Davies and McAlmont first worked together when Davies contributed as keyboard studio musician on McAlmont's album A Little Communication (Oct. 1998).
I nearly always just adore whatever McAlmont releases. He has one of the most fascinating voices of modern soul but really doesn't get the appreciation he deserves. Whether it has to do with his openness about his sexuality, or former (?) religious beliefs, it's really just a pity, 'cause this guy can sing like only few. Unfortunately, nothing else apart from a singles release has come from Fingersnap. A full-length studio album has been rumoured but never materialised.
Highly recommended.

[ Interview on BBC, 2011 ] [ "Tears Dry on Their Own" signing cds ] [ "Blackbirds" live 2012 ]

My own signed copy

Amy Winehouse "Frank" (2003)

original cover

Frank [debut]
release date: Oct. 20, 2003
format: 2 cd (2008 reissue - Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,94]
producer: Gordon Williams; Salaam Remi
label: Universal Island - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: Disc 1) 1. "Intro / Stronger Than Me" - 2. "You Sent Me Flying" - 3. "Know You Now" - 4. "Fuck Me Pumps" - 5. "I Heard Love Is Blind" - 7. "(There Is) No Greater Love" (aol live session) - 8. "In My Bed" - 9. "Take the Box" - 11. "What Is It About Men?" - 12. "Help Yourself" - 13. "Amy Amy Amy / Outro" - 'Brother' (hidden track) / 'Mr Magic (Through the Smoke)' (hidden track)
Disc 2) 1. "Take the Box" (Original Demo) - 2. "You Sent Me Flying" (Original Demo) - 3. "I Heard Love Is Blind" (Original Demo) - 4. "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Original Demo) - 5. "What Is It" (Original Demo) - 6. "Teach Me Tonight" (live) (Hootenanny) - 9. "Stronger Than Me" (live) (Later with Jools Holland) - 10. "I Heard Love Is Blind" (Live at the Concorde, Brighton) - 11. "Take the Box" (Live at the Concorde, Brighton) - 12. "In My Bed" (Live at the Concorde, Brighton) - 13. "Mr Magic" (Janice Long Session) - 14. "(There Is) No Greater Love" (Janice Long Session)

Studio album debut by Amy (Jade) Winehouse (born Sep. 1983 in Southgate, London) originally released on Island Records is made with several producers where the two main forces are Gordon Williams (aka Commissioner Gordon) and Salaam Remi (aka The Chameleon), who are both credited as producers of six of the standard album's thirteen compositions either alone or together. Winehouse herself, Matt Rowe, Jimmy Hogarth and Jony Rockstar are all credited as co-producers.
Stylistically, the album represents a huge mix of styles and genres with vocal jazz, rhythm & blues, and soul at the core of most compositions, although, it's difficult not also to mention pop soul and neo-soul and perhaps the all-American standards of the 1950s and 60s as one of the major inspirational sources. Additionally, the album title both refers to Winehouse's lyrics as well as hinting at one of her childhood idols: Frank Sinatra.
Winehouse has written the majority of the lyrics and composed the songs in collaboration with either Salaam Remi (5 songs), Gordon Williams (3 songs), and Donovan Jackson (3 songs) plus a variety of others. The album also contains two classic jazz compositions (tracks #6 and #7). The Deluxe Edition contains a Bonus disc of 18 additional songs - consisting of B-sides, live recordings and extended mixes of songs from the album.
The album went as high as to number #13 on the UK charts, and although, none of the four single releases from the album made it any higher than #57 on the national singles chart, the album was nominated the Mercury Prize in 2004 and Winehouse was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for her songwriting and she was nominated British Female Solo Artist and British Urban Act at the Brit Awards also in 2004.
Following Winehouse's death, the album re-entered the albums chart and went to number #3.
Frank is the fine and yet somewhat incoherent debut by one of Britain's most talented songwriters and vocalists of the modern era. Winehouse sings with ease and so much soul that it's a thrill - despite, production-wise, being a bit messy, as if the people in charge were unable to decide whether it was made for the vast pop masses or for lovers of vocal jazz. Winehouse herself was left dissatisfied about the album production, which she among other things described "a shambles made by idiots". You really have to grant her that the included demos on the Bonus Disc support her by revealing the strength of several songs appear to have been over-produced beyond recognition. E.g. the brilliant demo recording of "You Sent Me Flying" has completely lost the strong tenderness and vocal power of the original, and the same quality may also be said about all the other four demos. Perhaps, too many chefs were involved in the making of her debut? They simply had no idea of the kind of magic they were holding in their hands, so they felt forced to re-arrange and produce raw material into something else. Unfortunately.
That said, Frank is still a very very fine debut by Amy Winehouse.
Highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com, The Guardian 4 / 5, PopMatters 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 2,5 / 5 stars ]

2008 2-Disc
Deluxe Edition

Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari "BlueSugar" (1998)

BlueSugar (Italian version)
release date: Nov. 5, 1998
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,34]
producer: Corrado Rustici
label: Polydor - nationality: Italy

Track highlights: 1. "You Make Me Feel Loved" - 2. "Blu" - 5. "Back 2 U" - 7. "(Temporaneamente) X sempre tuo" - 8. "Eccetera eccetera" - 9. "Karma, stai kalma" (feat. Irene Fornaciari) - 10. "Dopo di noi"

8th studio album by Zucchero released as 'Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari' follows more than three years after SpiritoDiVino (May '95). The album is Zucchero's fifth consecutive album and sixth overall to be produced by Rustici. Despite the relative long period in between albums this follows the blueprint of the two predecessors by being released in a national, an international (English) version as well as a Spanish version. The international version comes with six translated songs of which five have been given new titles.
Compared to Miserere (1992) and SpiritoDiVino this shares stronger bonds with British-styled pop soul and pop / rock, which I normally prefer to his ever-present American blues inspiration. However, listening to Zucchero at this point of his career, he isn't an artist who feels a strong urge to make stylistic changes when writing and composing music. He has found a formula he sticks to, and staying with the same label and using the same producer his music do tend to sound much like on earlier releases. It's in the small details that you may notice a progression - it's not that everyone has to reinvent themselves all time. Most would accept a new Frank Sinatra album had a certain Sinatra-feel, and I guess fans of Bruce Springsteen or Coldplay may expect their artistic fingerprints, respectively, and Zucchero has in many ways put himself in a certain category with artist like Sting, Peter Gabriel, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Cocker, Martha Wainwright, etc. who are all expected to deliver recognisable music and not to excell in experiments - like Neil Young, Paul Weller or Gorillaz are expected to do.
Anyway, I think it all sounds quite nice - the execution, the production, arrangements mixing, but I have simply lost a great portion of my curiosity for Zucchero's music - much like I did a long time ago with U2, Sting, late R.E.M. and Simple Minds. BlueSugar is a mighty fine album, it just doesn't ring the big bells, and I personally think it doesn't matter much what version you pick anymore. Be it Italian or English, they basically sound much alike. Now don't get me wrong, Zucchero is undoubtedly a great and truly fine songwriter and most likely Italy's finest rock artist of all their great names, and as much as I enjoy his earlier albums, I also find that he has ended up reproducing too much without being sufficiently original to do exactly just that.
BlueSugar is fine - put the first two tracks on repeat - they are part of his legacy, but at this point of his career, I think his compilation albums may be better choices, e.g. the 2-disc album All the Best (1999) or Wanted (The Best Collection) a 3-disc album from 2017.

Note: both the Italian and the international version have the same cover.

Elvis Costello "Out of Our Idiot" (1987)

vinyl cover

Out of Our Idiot (compilation)
release date: Dec. 4, 1987
format: vinyl (X Fiend 67) / digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]
producer: various
label: Demon Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: A) 1. "Seven Day Weekend" (Guest Star Jimmy Cliff) - 2. "Turning the Town Red" - 3. "Heathen Town" - 5. "So Young" (previously un-issued) - 6. "American Without Tears No. 2" (Twilight Version) - 7. "Get Yourself Another Fool (Out of Our Idiot Mix)" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Blue Chair" (Single Version) - 2. "Baby It's You" (Guest Star Nick Lowe) - 3. "From Head to Toe" - 8. "Imperial Bedroom" (demo)

Compilation album by Elvis Costello advertised as 'Rare and Unreleased Cuts'. The vinyl version is a 17 tracks single album - the cd issue contains 21 tracks.

The album is credited to "Various Artists" (on record spine) rather than to Elvis Costello because the tracks were recorded and credited under a variety of names, including The Costello Show, Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Elvis Costello and the Confederates, The Coward Brothers, Napoleon Dynamite & the Royal Guard, The Emotional Toothpaste, The Imposter, and recorded with a variety of collaborators. Most tracks are featuring The Attractions and several of the strange band names are credited single songs only.

It reflects anything but self-sufficiency and comes out as that extra dimension to his songwriting - if you want it. Yes, it's a bit of a wide and strange compilation without head or tail but it shows us nicely how wide the man grasps in terms of styles, and I have always found it quite enjoyable - perhaps because of its lightness and funny takes, and then you can always hear that Costello puts a whole lot of sincerity into his songs, also the most corny ones, which then makes them meaningful.

[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari "SpiritoDiVino" (1995)

SpiritoDiVino (Italian version)
release date: May 27, 1995
format: cd (reissue)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,54]
producer: Corrado Rustici
label: Polydor - nationality: Italy

Track highlights: 1. "Voodoo voodoo" - 2. "Datemi una pompa" - 4. "Pane e sale" - 6. "Il volo" (4 / 5) - 7. "Senza rimorso" - 8. "Papà perché" - 9. "Così celeste"

7th studio album by Zucchero released as 'Zucchero Sugar Fornaciari' follows 2½ years after the album Miserere (Oct. '92) is an album released in various different versions, and most issues contain 10 tracks. The English-versioned issue with the subtitle "Stray Cat in a Mad Dog City" is made according to the formula of the predecessor with six tracks with translated English lyrics and new titles as well as a quite different running order. A Spanish version was also issued with translated Spanish lyrics and a North American version with two older tracks replacing two tracks with Italian lyrics. All songs are written and composed by Zucchero except track #1 with music co-composed by Luciano Luisi, track #4 with lyrics by Franceso De Gregorio, tracks #7 & #8 with lyrics by Alberto Salerno and track #10 with lyrics by Jovanotti.
Style-wise the album is a step towards more pop soul and uptempo energy and it basically sounds more in tune with Oro incenso & birra from '89 than his most recent Miserere, which reeked of American soft rock and traditional r&b. With this Zucchero confirms his position as an international artist of contemporary rhythm & blues with a strong mainstream pop / rock appeal.

Recommended.

International English-
versioned issue

Fun Boy Three "Our Lips Are Sealed" (1983) (single)

Our Lips Are Sealed, 7'' single
release date: Apr. 29, 1983
format: vinyl (FUNB 1)
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,28]
producer: David Byrne
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) "Our Lips Are Sealed" - - B) "Our Lips Are Sealed, Urdu Version"

Single release by Fun Boy Three is the third and last single release from the album Waiting (1983). The song is composed by Jane Wiedlin and Terry Hall and was first released to promote the album debut Beauty and the Beat (1981) by Wiedlin's girl-band, The Go-Go's - in their version of the song, but it also appears on the final album by Fun Boy Three in '83.