To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain
Reading Time: 2 minutesI recently found the soundtrack to the 2004 version of Alfie. The songs and written and performed jointly by Mick Jagge4 and Dave Stewart. Unlike many movie soundtracks, Alfie (2004) contains a fine collection of songs that certainly rewarded this listener, some 19 years after its release.
Reading Time: 3 minutesWe finally have the entire gushingly reviewed 2023 Rolling Stones album, ‘Hackney Diamonds’.
Does the album as a whole live up to the four to five star ratings. For me, it didn’t at first, but I’m starting to appreciate just how good it is.
Reading Time: 2 minutesWaters demonstrates creative genius in producing an album that is readily identifiable as Dark Side of the Moon, yet sufficiently different to not be regarded as merely a version of the original. On Dark Side of the Moon Redux Waters showcases his musical mastery, in a manner befitting a writer and musician who is 50 years older and performing for an audience that is not asked to compare or look up the original.
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 29 September 2023 · Last modified 5 October 2023
Reading Time: 2 minutesOn October 20 the remaining three Rolling Stones will release their latest album, Hackney Diamonds, the band’s first studio album in 18 years. Two singles off this album have been released to date. The first, Angry, left me relieved that that these old rockers can still sound so good, but disappointed that this single foreshadowed yet another enjoyable, but not particularly great album. The second single, Sweet Sounds of Heaven, released today, has blown me away.
Reading Time: 2 minutesWeather Alive, Beth Orton’s latest album is a further departure from her electro-folk roots. Her raw voice and piano set the tone of the synth lined melodies. But it’s the slower atmospheric mood of her songs that dominates and makes this album arguably her best.
Reading Time: 3 minutes’The Situation’ is not an excuse for Snowy to show off his guitar skills – as guitarists’ albums so often are. In part, it is an instrumental album with tracks reminiscent of Classic Santana, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler. The tracks are largely laid back, non formulaic, bluesy rock
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe band rocks as hard as ever. If anything, the collaboration seems to add another level of aggression to the band’s music.
MUSIC REVIEWS / Music Reviews - Alternative
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 5 April 2019 · Last modified 25 April 2019
Reading Time: 2 minutes‘Early Summer’ is Amaya’s second album. Though released in 2010, it is a personal favourite that showcases this talented singer/songwriter, her noteworthy band and their hypnotic melodies.
MUSIC REVIEWS / Music Reviews - Alternative / Music Reviews - Jazz
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 5 April 2019 · Last modified 24 April 2019
Reading Time: < 1 minuteThis 24-minute single track EP was released in 2016. Although it is classified as Jazz, to accept such a clear-cut classification is to ignore the track’s complexity. Melanie De Basio has released two Alternative...
MUSIC REVIEWS / Music Reviews - Jazz
by Daniel Stepniak · Published 9 October 2018 · Last modified 19 April 2019
Reading Time: < 1 minuteMelody Gardot – Live in Europe – The tracks on this album capture Melody’s unmistakable voice and sense of humour and showcase her straddling of several genres that loosely fall under the umbrella of...
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