Prince MUSICOLOGY. NPG Records
Perhaps it’s not surprising for Prince to remind us of his musical style following a few barren recording years. I’ve seen several reviews which appear to criticise the fact that some of the songs here could have been on past recordings, and that there is little new. I disagree because every artist has his/her style, and this new album builds on that style with material that is funkier and occasionally more soulful.
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Michael Buble COME FLY WITH ME. 143 Records
It seems to me that the title of the album is appropriate to the experience of hearing and seeing Buble in action. Amongst the current crop of popular new young jazz exponents, Buble is the supreme quality of the field and this album of mainly live tracks proves it.
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St Thomas LET’S GROW TOGETHER. Track & Field
St Thomas aka Thomas Hansen hails from Norway and, after a few false starts, this is his comeback return as a singer/songwriter/instrumentalist/producer. This album was recorded in over just four days and is almost inevitably stripped down, sincere and highly effective.
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FeFe Dobson FeFe DOBSON. Mercury/Universal
I wonder if there is something in Canadian drinking water that helps produce so many talented musicians, and especially singer/songwriters. Inevitably, the comparisons will be made between this young lady and the already well-established, and highly successful, Avril Lavigne. Both ladies are very young, and both utilise heavy rock backing music to communicate their teen angst and experiences. But after listening to Dobson’s new record, I think she has the edge, and in several ways.
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ASCII DISKO. L’Age Dor
So you think you’ve heard dirty, relentless, electronic dance music. After listening to this new album, I really don’t think you have.
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Keane & Bell X1 Live
Liverpool Academy, 23 April 2004
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The Fades SOCIAL MISFITS. Genepool Records
With support from Radio 1 and XFM you’d expect the subject band to be signed to a major label, and already tagged with the title of the ‘the world’s best rock band’ (by those hacks looking for a pocket-pickin’ headline). Eh, well no… You see The Fades seem to have lurched from pillar to post without any real ambition or direction. That is, until now.
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Kristian Leontiou REVEALED
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Melissa Auf Der Maur Live
Manchester Academy 3, 12 April 2004.
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Crackout OH NO! Hut.
I remember seeing Crackout perform many moons ago in Liverpool, and then again in Wrexham a few months later. The buzz surrounding them was tangible, but at the time I wondered what all the fuss was about. It seemed to me that the band was struggling to find its sound, and one that would differentiate them in a crowded and rather homogenous marketplace. This album goes a long way in establishing the band’s sound and style. And it ain’t bad…
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