Archive for the ‘Re-Reviews’ Category

Men Without Women – Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul

In 1982 Bruce Springsteen was about a big an artist as the rock n’ roll world had and hence it was no surprise that his right hand man was aksed to make a record of his own. Steve Van Zandt has been the guitarist in the E Street Band and his contributions were essential – whether they were a guitar lick here, a harmony vocal there, a production idea in the studio or a moment of on stage flair... Read the full story

Fuzzy – Grant Lee Buffalo

Fuzzy was one of the great debut albums from the heyday of alternative rock. Released in 1993 on the Slash label it introduced me to the talents of Grant Lee Phillips, and in so doing provided me with a subsequent catalogue of music that I rate almost second to none. Grant Lee Buffalo was actually a trio though. Along withy Phillips the band boasted the talents of bass player and producer Paul Kimble... Read the full story

620 W. Surf – Michael McDermott

620 W. Surf was the 1991 debut album from Chicago based Irish-American singer songwriter Michael McDermott and it quickly attracted comparisons with Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp. It was an ambitious and sprawling album that showed that Mc Dermott had the potential to match those artists he was being compared to. The albums centrepiece is the rambling Your Silence I Will Always Admire For Its... Read the full story

Pop Art – Transvision Vamp

Of course this album and this band could be seen as contrived, commercially motivated nonsense and maybe that’s what they were. But they were fun. Transvision Vamp was a vehicle for a saucy little vixen named Wendy James, a peroxide blonde, whiplash smart go-getter that London was able to turn out with some regularity in the 80’s. She was great fun and played her role really well. I remember... Read the full story

True – Concrete Blonde

I knew nothing about Concrete Blonde the first time I heard the title track from this album. I loved the song True from the first play. It had a swing, and a sass and an edge that set it apart from everything else at the time. The lead singer sounded a bit like Chrissie Hynde and she managed to sound world weary and smart mouthed simultaneously. I loved the lyrics that preached self belief in the face... Read the full story

Cheap Trick – Heaven Tonight

Cheap Trick managed to get it incredibly right on this 1978 album. It was their third and the teaming with producer Tom Werman made the Rockford, Illinois band’s sonics gel with their undeniably hooky rock songs. The album opens with Surrender which still remains one of the great commercial rock songs. It’s a song of suburban escapism with just enough left field references (especially those to... Read the full story

Mazzy Star – She Hangs Brightly

Mazzy Star formed as a evolution that found its source in the LA Paisley Underground scene. Former Rain Parade member David Roback had created the band Opal with former Dream Syndicate member Kendra Smith. When Smith left Opal he called in Hope Sandoval – a Dream Syndicate fan who had been in a duo called Going Home who had been discovered by Smith and later produced by Robuck. Incestuous enough? Rather... Read the full story

World Party – Private Revolution

When Karl Wallinger left The Waterboys after that band released 1985’s This Is The Sea album he set about creating World Party. This album Private Revolution was the debut of the band that was effectively Wallinger’s solo outlet. It was a startling debut that seemed at the time to be the vehicle to launch Wallinger to superstar status. The fact that that result never quite eventuated remains somewhat... Read the full story

Kimono My House – Sparks

What a strange album Sparks unleashed on an unsuspecting world when they released Kimono My House. Opening with the decidedly wonderful This Town Isn’t Big Enough For Both Of Us the album is intriguing from the get-go. The strange falsetto-ish vocals of Marc Bolan look-a-like Russell Mael delivering the twisted and oblique lyrics of his brother and keyboard player (and obviously well read) Ron Mael... Read the full story

American Boy And Girl – Garland Jeffreys

Everything about Garland Jeffreys was a hybrid. His own blood, his musical style, his influences and his approach to life all found him dipping a toe in a number of waters. When Jeffreys released this album in 1979 he was essentially ahead of his time. He was a New Yorker and like many New Yorkers he was of mixed blood – part white, part black, part latino and part native American. The streets he... Read the full story

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