The Ga Gas TONIGHT THE MIDWAY SHINES. Sanctuary
With so many new rock bands around at the moment it’s refreshing to receive an album that is a little more melodic, a little more distinctive, heavier, and even possesses several potentially chart busting singles.
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The Organ SINKING HEARTS. Sink & Stove Records
This album is by a Canadian all-girl band that appears to have created its own musical style in defiance of popular market trends. On the evidence of this six-track EP, I think the girls have succeeded in marking out their own very distinctive territory.
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Beck GUERO. Interscope
In recent years Beck’s album releases have delighted and disappointed in equal measure. The fact that I included not one but two songs from this new album on a recent local Shakenstir radio session tells you something about how I feel about his latest effort. In fact I was struggling to keep it down to two songs!
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March 2005 Modern Jazz Roundup
Rudy Van Gelder. BLUE NOTE PERFECT TAKES. Blue Note
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Shakenstir Radio Session on Calun FM
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Shakenstir Radio Playlist 20 March 2005
PROGRAMME 1 SHAKENSTIR RADIO SESSION ON CALON FM
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Martha Wainwright MARTHA WAINWRIGHT. Drowned In Sound
In 2004 I was lucky enough to see both Martha and Rufus Wainwright perform live. It was a special night in Liverpool and took place on the eve of the USA presidential election when it became clear who the Wainwrights wanted to win (and it wasn’t George W). Just prior to the event I had been blown away by Martha Wainwright’s stunning EP, Mother Fucking Arsehole, my recording highlight of 2004 (could not be included in our albums of the year list as it was a four tracker). As a result her debut album was my most anticipated of 2005. Well, it’s arrived and I’m happy to report that it is a remarkable recording by the most original singer/songwriter to appear in recent years.
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KT Tunstall EYE TO THE TELESCOPE. Relentless/EMI
A quarter of the way into the 2005 and I’m hoping that the rest of the year will reveal a few more very special albums. So far it’s been disappointing, although it started with a couple of crackers from the Frames and Ani DiFranco. KT Tunstall’s debut album has wowed the music media but I have to admit to a degree of scepticism, especially in an age when the ‘quality’ broadsheets shout the praises of the most manufactured of acts and music. Rather late in the day, I received a copy of Tunstall’s album and I hoped what the media was saying was true…
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Download 2005 Preview
Ask me which music festival I enjoyed covering most in 2004 and I’ll answer Download at Donington. Great weather, a formidable heavy rock line-up, good organisation and a massive crowd – all combined to make this a fabulous fest, and one I can heartily recommend.
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