Underworld "Second Toughest in the Infants" (1996)

Second Toughest in the Infants
release date: Mar. 4, 1996
format: cd (1998 reissue)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Underworld
lable. JBO - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Juanita / Kiteless / To Dream of Love" - 2. "Banstyle / Sappys Curry" - 3. "Confusion the Waitress" - 4. "Rowla" - 5. "Pearls Girl" (4 / 5) - 8. "Stagger"

4th studio album by Underworld and the second as a electronic trio.
The band continue its explorations into trance but also with hints of breakbeat.
It's a rather experimental release where the band adds conventional instrumentation to its predominantly electronic style by the use of loops, and they seem to explore more on this compared to the predecessor Dubnobasswithmyheadman from 1994, which appears as a more coherent electronic album, but Second Toughest in the Infants reveals a distinct trait of balancing the pace of slow meditative parts with bolder energetic outburst, which is a dynamic recipe they would keep to on later releases.
The album was not an immediate favourite, but I have come to reevaluate my initial thoughts more than once when speaking of this particular album. With this, they're on the right move away from early electronic techno and trance in their sound of progressive house, and this particular album has always been there in the outskirts of great albums and is a true grower once you let it unfold.
The album is the trio's second electronic release on which they show that they have found their style, and this is their first truly successful originally sounding studio album, imho.
It was released to critical acclaim, it peaked at number #9 on the UK albums chart list, and it has been included in Mojo's "100 Greatest Albums of Our lifetime" and in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" - the so far only by Underworld.
[ allmusic.com 5 / 5, NME 4 / 5 stars ]

Ramones "Too Tough to Die" (1984)

Too Tough to Die
release date: Oct. 1, 1984
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]
producer: Tommy Ramone, Ed Stasium
label: Sire Records - nationality: USA

8th studio album by Ramones is an attempt to return to former hey-days exemplified by producer-duo Tommy Ramone and Ed Stasium who also stood behind Road to Ruin (1978). Ritchie Ramone has replaced Marky on drums, the latter having played in the band since the '78 album. A bit ironic that Marky apparently was fired for alcohol abuse - ironic 'cause also Joey was a notorious alcoholic but he may have seemed irreplaceable (and then Dee Dee was a cocaine addict at the time).
Yes, the sound is back to something one can easily determine as Ramones and their power pop- or 'bubblegum'-driven version of punk rock. The only negative side of it is the absence of great tracks - the compositions are just not there anymore. The magic seems gone, and to me, this marks the end to Ramones as I had already given up on the band after Pleasant Dreams (1981). However, the band would go on in slightly different line-ups (Marky returning and Dee Dee being fired, replaced, and eventually re-adopted in the band) to release another six studio albums - the final being ¡Adiós Amigos! released in 1995.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Paul Banks "Banks" (2012)

Banks
release date: Oct. 23, 2012
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]
producer: Paul Banks and Peter Katis
label: Matador Records - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "The Base" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Over My Shoulder" - 3. "Arise, Awake" - 4. "Young Again" (4 / 5) - 5. "Lisbon" - 6. "I'll Sue You" (4 / 5) - 7. "Paid for That" - 8. "Another Chance" - 9. "No Mistakes" - 10. "Summertime Is Coming" (4 / 5) (live on KEXP)

Studio debut album by lead vocalist of Interpol with his second solo album [!]. His first actual solo debut was released under the name of Julian Plenti and was musically far from that of Interpol with a polished styled art pop, synthpop, which explains the alias in an attempt to distance himself from the darker post-punk image bound to his name. Banks is then his solo debut released in his own name, and it's a fine return to the style of Interpol with a touch of art rock and indie pop and I almost said singer / songwriter... at least he sort of steps more into the foreground lyrically.

I really enjoy and recommend this album and find it one of the best releases in 2012.

2012 Favourite releases: 1. Marie Key De her dage - 2. Paul Banks Banks - 3. Alabama Shakes Boys & Girls [debut]

Bauhaus "4AD" (1983) (ep)

4AD, ep (compilation)
release date: Oct. 1, 1983
format: vinyl (BAD 312) / digital
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Bauhaus
label: 4AD Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1: "Dark Entries" - 2. "Terror Couple Kill Colonel" - 3. "Telegram Sam" - - B) 1. "Terror Couple Kill Colonel (version)" - 2. "Rosegarden Funeral of Sores" - 3. "Crowds"

An ep compilation released after Bauhaus split in mid-1983, and an album that I always fancied a little bit more than most of their releases. Actually, the tracks are very different but I think, they all show the energy in the dark gothic rock, which sometimes tend to be sinister and 'emo'-like, but this is held up on pure energy. It also contains two fine cover-versions: The glam rock tribute "Telegram Sam" (written by Marc Bolan), and a fabulous live version of "Rosegarden Funeral of Sores" (written by John Cale). Also, the end-track "Crowds" is a fine slowcore-like track filled with beautiful desperation.
The cover art photo "Masks" by the French photographer Emmanuel Sougez dated 1930s has always fascinated me. It has a wonderful disturbing feel - like masks still containing some emotions from the person(s) who wore them.

New Order "Thieves Like Us" (1984) (single)

Thieves Like Us, 12'' single
release date: Mar. 1984
format: vinyl (FAC 103)
[single rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: New Order
label: Factory / Rough Trade - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: A) 1. "Thieves Like Us" (4 / 5) - - B) 1. "Lonesome Tonight" (Instr.) (3,5 / 5)

Single release by New Order as FAC 103 on Factory Records. A fine single, which is included on the Power, Corruption & Lies Collector's Edition album from 2008.

Kliché "Okay Okay Boys" (1982)

Okay Okay Boys
release date: Oct. 1982
format: vinyl (MdLP 6090) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Kliché, Poul Bruun, Hilly Michaels
label: Medley Records - nationality: Denmark

Tracklist: 1. "Bag de røde bjerge" - 2. "Pil på himlen" - 3. "Patrulje" - 4. "Bravo Charlie" - 5. "Oppenheimers formiddag" - 6. "Okay Okay Boys" - 7. "Brændende kakler" - 8. "Mama mama" (aka: 'Mamma Mamma') - 9. "IKB" (aka: 'International klein blue') - 10. "Ansigt til ansigt"

2nd and final studio album by Kliché. After the strong debut album, keyboardist Jens "Valo" Danielsen left the band and was substituted by Steffen Brandt of TV-2 for a short period of time before Nils Torp replaced Brandt. Later Love Shop guitarist Hilmer Hassig also feature on this album and he adds his signature guitar sound to most tracks, although he was never a full-time member. The style is very different from the debut and it's striking how much they evolved over a short period of time. At the time of its release I was somewhat disappointed about it. It was too much art pop and synthpop for my liking, and I had just really hoped for another energetic outburst, but they were over with that, and had moved on. It didn't take me long to appreciate the new sound and today, I find this another great Danish album of the 1980s, and I guess my rating has gone from 2,5 (then) to the 4 stars I feel it rightfully deserves. The considerable change of style also reflects how they evolved. When they began playing concerts, they played punk rock with a twist of new wave and art pop, and in a span of only a few years, they were in another position, which may explain why they felt inclined to split up a project constantly in extreme progress.
After this - their only second album - the band toured with its new material featuring Hilmer Hassig, and then they went on a hiatus to realise other musical projects. Lars Hug initiated an interesting solo career (and later became Lars H.U.G.), he worked on and released his solo debut album City Slang (1984), while the remaining three band members, Johannes "Voss" Møller, Jens "Valo" Danielsen, and Anders "Brill" Gilberg, went into the studio and as Voss Torp Brill the trio released the album ++Dobbelt plus (1984). Hug toured in late '84 with his solo album, and then the quartet rejoined as Kliché. The band composed several new songs to be included on a third album but it was never realised 'cause in '85, Lars Hug publicly announced that Kliché had disbanded. Some of the compositions for the band's third album actually ended up on Lars Hug's second solo album, Kysser himlen farvel (1987). Johnny Voss and Nils Torp worked together and released Den store lysfest (1987) as Voss / Torp, and from 1992, Nils Torp formed the lasting duo Souvenirs with his wife Sofie Bonde, and Hilmer Hassig continued his musical career in the band Naive for a short period before finally eventually forming the band Love Shop together with Jens Unmack.

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.
Cactus World News is a band that critics and musicians predicted a glorious career as the new big thing coming from Ireland and a name that was expected to follow close on the path laid out by U2, which just never happened, however, this very album really is a gem.
I purchased the album after having acquired the single The Bridge (1985).
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]

Kate Bush "Lionheart" (1978)

Lionheart
release date: Nov. 10, 1978
format: cd / cd (2018 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Andrew Powell with Kate Bush
label: EMI - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Symphony in Blue" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "In Search of Peter Pan" - 3. "Wow" (5 / 5) - 4. "Don't Push Your Foot on the Heartbrake" - 5. "Oh England My Lionheart" - 6. "Fullhouse" - 8. "Kashka From Baghdad" - 9. "Coffee Homeground" - 10. "Hammer Horror"

2nd studio album by Kate Bush released only 9 months after her fantastic debut. The record label quickly understood what a treasure they had signed with and basically wanted to get most of it. Like on most of her works, she has composed all tracks on her own, and here she is credited as assistant to producer Andrew Powell. Musically, the album is close to the debut, only this is generally more quiet with stronger elements from progressive rock.
"Hammer Horror" was chosen as the first single from the album, which I don't really get. "Symphony in Blue", and "Wow" are easily the two most outstanding tracks on an album that fared well in the UK but wasn't released in the US until '84 because her debut album simply didn't sell.
The A-side is quite good and almost on par with the debut, but the B-side simply lacks great songs. It's far from a lesser album, I just find it lesser in comparison with her great masterpiece from earlier this very year. Bush herself has later admitted that she was pursuaded to release the album, although, she didn't have enough time to make it a satisfying follow-up. The experience, however, taught her to gain control of her own music, which in retrospect was the right thing to do at a time when labels only had profit in mind.
Kate Bush initiated her only ever live tour in the spring of '79 to promote her first two albums - the experience on the road apparently was so negative that she never toured again.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 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] [3,68]
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 taken from their forthcoming debut album Urban Beaches (1986).
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.