Top CD's - February 2006

[GazzaBTFC]

Looking back over the month of February, it really was a lean month.

A couple of goodies, one really acceptional live DVD / CD and an old "git" making, what will be my CD of the year so far, nothing else stands out.

 

So, lets go through what, in my opinion is hot and what is not.

 

The Whitesnake live DVD / CD double pack, I've ranted about as a footnote on my last post. I've seen 'em loads of times over the past...er...20 years and thought that as Mr. Coverdale got older, his star was diminshing due to his wanting to scream every lyric out. He really has a great blues / soul voice and it was a shame to see that he wasn't using it as well...and then there was the 2004 tour and for me, business as usual. Coverdale's voice was in great "nick" and he actually sang!!! The DVD is taken from the Hammersmith Apollo gig of this tour and is truely brilliant. A fine performance from the band and one that I have played quite a lot over the past month (The missus leaves the room when it comes out from the shelf). It includes the old Purple opener "Burn" which moves quite nicely into "Stormbringer". For those of you that know both albums, it's nice to see them dusted down and played live.

 

Not a new release for February but recent and I bought it in February was Richard Thompson's Front Parlour Ballads. Top CD. Very acoustic and organic and the man knows how to write a damn fine tune. Obviously it's (mid atlantic) folk but his playing is brilliant and I have to say, you think that he has arranged an old folk song but no, they're all originals. Oh and his sense of humour brings a smile to the face as well (not one for the Chemlsford supporters then).

 

Jam - Snap. At last...re mastered and re issued in all it's glory including the live EP (you can get it without). This collection has always been the definitive Jam "best of" for me. well thought out and no filler.

 

Talking Heads Re issues - Naked, True Stories, Little Creatures and Speaking In Tougnes. They're all good but for me, the earlier work is better.

 

Sparks - Hello Young Lovers. He, he, he. I will say, I wasn't interested in this until I read the review that the first track "Dick Around" was the Bohemian Rapshody for the noughties. So, armed with the purpose of listening it at my local record shop (Slipped Disc - Billericay), I ventured in, head phones on...and...damn!!! I concour. A brilliant CD. Great songs, great arrangements, it's nice to hear the guitar again (in Dick Around). The CD sort of condences the different musical styles the band had developed over their career. Quirky, humourous and almost operatic in it's grand arrangements.

 

Neil Diamond - 12 Songs. Well, if you likes Johnny Cash's American Recordings he did with Rick Ruben, then you may like this. It's stripped down like the Cash recordings but it's, well, Neil Diamond.

 

ZZ Top - Tres Hombres. Another re mastered re issue. Early ZZ Top, with Waiting For The Bus and Jeasus Just Left Chicago, which are absolutly the best!!!

 

Mott The Hoople - Mott. Another re mastered re issue...Best album from a very under rated group. The last one with Mick Ralphs before he buggered off to form Bad Company with Paul Rogers.

 

Ray Davis - Other Peoples Lives. This is the "old git" I was referring to earlier. Best new CD this month. His songwriting is on it and the suject matter are characters he has either made up or studied and viewed whilst living in America. I really cannot prise this CD enough. Funny thought, it's his first solo album, which, for such a prolific songwriter I find quite hard to believe. This and the Whitesnake DVD have been getting the most air play this month...and, it's sounds as fresh every time I play it.

 

Corrie Bailey Rae - I dunno about this. I liked it on the first couple of listens but now I'm not too sure. I think you can liken her to a Macy Gray but with a sweeter voice. There are some great tunes on the album but some fillers as well.

 

Deep Purple - Live In Europe (1993). A four CD release of the last tour with Blackmore and surprisingly good (well the German performance is...the UK performance Blackmore throws his toys out of the pram because of the cameramen filming for a video release).

 

Bruce Springsteen - Live At The Hammersmith (1973) - The audio release of the DVD which came with the special release of the Born To Run re issue. This was when he was dubbed the "future of rock 'n' roll" by some twat, a title he hated. The performance is fantastic (nice to hear a performance from an artist at his most vibrant) and is Bruce at his best. Includes a super charged motown / rock and roll medley as an encore and the live versions of Born To Run and Rosalita, which are my personal favorites.

 

So, of the music releases this year, I will have to say that the old gits have it, at the mo. Panic At The Disco is my personal favorite of the newbies (I've got bored with the Artic Monkeys...an impact CD. Great for a couple of listens and then....yawn) but Richard Thompson's "Front Parlour Ballads", Spark's "Hello Young Lovers" and (the cream of the crop) Ray Davis "Other People Lives" are the best of what has been released so far (and before anyone moans - just because it's done by established artists doesn't mean it's bad - I do like some new bands but February was dire for new music).

 

The best of the re issue stuff for me is Jam "Snap", together with Bruce Springsteen "Live".

 

Overall a pretty bleak month for new music (and I mean new bands). It's going to have to be a bloody good album to top the Ray Davis album from my favorite new release for 2006.

[Andy g]

A quality read Gazza.

Interesting to read your thoughts on the Corrine Bailey Rea album as this sums up my thoughts on 1st listening.

Un fortunatly i have not heard the Ray Davies album as yet but will make a point of it in the very near future.

It's not a latest release or anything like that but Sam Cooke has been getting a lot of plays in my car recently ,if you listen you can hear just how much influence he has had on Rod Stewarts career.

I am now going to fish out my Mott the Hoople albums out for a listen, Honaloochie Boogie being one of my favourite tracks of all time and ZZ Tops first album with that classic track Just Got Back From Babys, for me ZZ Top are at their best playing the blues rather than Boogie.

Already looking forward to your March review.

[GazzaBTFC]

Andy, get the Ray Davis album. Just played it again!!! I wasn't sold when I read all the "rave" reviews as some of his later "Kinks" albums were a bit lack lustre but decided to get it when I heard a track on one of the internet radio stations when writing the notes for the programme. He really has released a corker!!!

 

Playing Suzi Quatro "A's & B sides" which came out last year on a EMI budget. Top stuff!!!

 

My favorite of the Mott albums is the live album. Re released a couple of years ago, it includes the full shows from America "Puppert" Show and the UK. Brilliant album.

[Andy g]

My brother has the Ray Davies album on his wants list mate so will wait for him to get it. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smilewinkgrin.gif" alt="" />

Can't say i'm a great fan of live albums ,David Bowie Live At The Tower Philadelphia being the exception.

[williamm]

Am I missing something or is this on the wrong forum,because apart from look at me don't i know alot about music i cannot see what its doing on a football related forum. Just wondered?? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[GazzaBTFC]

And why not...I always find that music and footie go hand in hand...Of course, that couldn't be anything to do with being the match announcer....