Album Review :: Dave Arcari – Got Me Electric
Traditional delta styled blues Dave Arcari delivers his latest album that grabs you by the throat and never lets go.
Dave Arcari - Got Me Electric © Dave Arcari/Buzz Records
With a powerful, gargling voice and fingers that spit fire across his guitar, Dave Arcari brings a little of the deep south from the windswept Loch Lomond in Scotland. His delta driven, pre-war blues guitar and lyrics that conjure up the far off images of a world much simpler to live in, Acari’s second album Got Me Electric offers new and old listeners a great contribution to the blues scene merging here in the UK.
The Scottish singer/songwriter Dave Arcari is now no stranger to the UK blue scene. Having been hugely successful in a number of indie, blues and country competitions and tours up and down the country, Arcari was recently commissioned by the BBC to compose music for the Robert Burns poem “Parcel of Rogues”. This honour, as part of the Homecoming celebrations and 250th Anniversary of the poet’s birth, has catapulted the bluesy, bearded, badass onto a major stage and subsequent stage, his most recent achievement coming in the form of an appearance at this year’s Glastonbury Festival on the prestigious Jazz & Blues stage.
His latest album Got Me Electric is a fantastic mixture of hard hitting blues and country riffs that shake up the potential stagnant genre. With a positive and progressive attitude towards the more traditional sounding, pre-war sound, Got Me Electric is an album that takes the listener on a journey through the misty, hazy by water way of life and taking the punches, kicks and beatings that life invariably throws at us.
Kicking off the album is the eponymous track “Got me Electric” a great little blues number that demonstrates Arcari’s superb guitar skills, his gargling voice and the meaty sound of the steel guitar he wields with a venom. “Nobody’s Fool” follows this with a melodic, more intricate form of the blues style. Arcari once again demonstrates his deep seated, grimy vocals that perfectly compliment the thumping, constant guitar that makes the listener bob their head with embarrassingly accurate timing. Other highlights of the album include “Homesick and Blue”, “Walkin’ Blues” and “One More Heartbreak” each a delight to listen to and enjoy either with direct contact or even as a background theme track to the drudgery of everyday life.
The jewel of the album is, however, the aforementioned “Parcel of Rogues”, the Burns lyrics given the twenty-first century treatment and pushed through the steel guitar with frivolous vivacity. Arcari’s manipulation of the tempo and historical lyrics are expert in both delivery and production, the audience captivated by the romantic image of Scotland painted by its most famous poet. Although not necessarily still relevant where lyrics apply and some would argue a little too romanticized considering the history that preceded its inception, Dave Arcari never the less brings his own, individual interpretation of blues and country to this piece of classical poetry. It is therefore a fitting tribute to both Burns and Arcari himself for taking material of this nature and bringing them to a wide, enjoyable audience. Got Me Electric is now widely available for both download and purchase from Buzz Records.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out Dave Arcari's website and his record label Buzz Records for album availability and tour dates: http://www.davearcari.com, http://www.myspace.com/davearcari and http://www.thebuzzgroup.co.uk.
Album Review :: Airbourne – No Guts, No Glory
No change please, we're rockers. Airbourne's return to studio work stands and delivers.
Airbourne - No Guts, No Glory © Airbourne/Roadrunner Records
In a world dominated by uncertainty, it is important to appreciate the smaller, infrequent moments that often can pass us by. With a volatile financial climate, seemingly constant threat of imminent doom and the frankly violent level of boredom offered by the likes of The X Factor and other degenerates, it is heart warming to be treated to the brilliantly performed, excellently produced and wonderfully fun latest release from hard Ozzy rockers Airbourne.
Since they emerged on the major market in 2006 with their debut album Runnin’ Wild Airbourne have quickly rocketed up the rankings and become one of the world’s most popular hard rock acts of the last ten years. Aligned very much in the style of the countrymen AC/DC and with frequent nods to other such classic rock gods as KISS, Van Helen, Bad Company and Whitesnake, these lads certainly know how to get a good party going. With a deliciously grimy blend of pseudo blues based, three chord riffs, eye wateringly accurate bass and a drum line that boils the very beer in your belly, Airbourne consistently deliver in the studio and on the road where they have been relentlessly touring since Runnin’ Wild debuted. It is therefore with great anticipation, excitement and aplomb that their second album No Guts, No Glory hits the shops in Europe on March 8th, April 22nd globally.
Kicking off the album with three traditional rock tracks are “No way but the hard way,” the album’s first single release, “Raise the Flag” and the oddly haunting “Born to Kill” the last of which opens the album with a creepy, screeching solo guitar intro before crunching down to a hard as nails, beaten and bruised rock anthem. Continuing in the vein of their previous album, and those of their aged predecessors, No Guts, No Glory is seeped in the style of songs that, as so many have said before, “The wives don’t get to know about”. Concentrating on all the debauchery, hard drinking, smoking and illicit bad behaviour that hard rock has built its own reputation on, the album more than heartily delivers on both the theme and playing styles that fans have now come to expect of this band. It is perhaps only a shame then that only really Airbourne and a very small handful of others are still producing this style of music. Honourable mention of course go to The Answer who, although not nearly as hard or successful, have at least remained true to the hard rock vein, more than can be said of the likes of Wolfmother and The Steroephonics.
As fine and dandy hard rocking, questionably easy riffs and shouty lyrics can be, No Guts, No Glory also aptly displays the wide array of talent Airbourne have when it comes to pace, lyricism and durability. Widely publicised during the build up to the release of this album, lead singer/guitarist Joel O’Keeffe stated that the band lived in the studio, eating, sleeping and existing during the recording of the album, much akin to the likes of Bruce Springsteen during his heyday. With high octane numbers like “It Aint over till its Over,” “Devils Child” and “Rattle your Bones,” the last two only available on the special edition album, it is surprising and refreshing to have a track like “Bottom of the Well” where the tempo is much more relaxed and melodic, the passion and conviction still very much present.
Couple these along with an epic range in subject matter and the album that stands at a whopping thirteen tracks, eighteen on the special edition, delivers on pretty much every front. The excellent summer anthem “White Line Fever” is sure to be played all throughout the warm months on rock stations the world over. This unashamedly crass feast of excess is stark in comparison to the endearingly heart felt “Steel Town” an ode to working class cities and towns and the bands’ own little tribute to their heritage and lifestyles and their audience.
In all, No Guts, No Glory is an excellent, triumphant return to the market for Airbourne. With a subsequent world tour following and the band gaining an excellent, healthy fan base all over the planet, Airbourne are very much poised to take the step from being sole soldiers on the hard rock front lines to upper echelon, fully fledged members of the community. It is often said that any artist, in any genre, needs a really good, solid, stand out studio performance on which to fundamentally launch their careers from. Now, it would seem, Airbourne have just that.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's website: http://www.airbournerock.com
Album Review :: Airbourne – Ready To Rock
Australia's Hard Rock heirs to the throne's often overlooked EP is a lost gem, tragically overlooked.
Ready to Rock by Airbourne © Airbourne
With their second full album now less than a week away from general release here in Europe, April 20th in the States, Airbourne are the latest and most recent rock success story form Australia. Where their first album Runnin Wild was a success story all across the globe, this up and coming piece No Guts, No Glory is set to sky rocket their popularity. However, for more discerning fans there is the EP Ready to Rock available for consideration and definitely worth listening to.
Hailing from Warrnambool in Australia, this four set outfit consist of Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe on lead vocals/guitar and drums respectively, rhythm guitarist David Roads and bassist Justin Streets, all young, fun loving guys who have a penchant for debauchery, hard drinking and all kinds of fornication. It is no surprise then that they have been described by many as being heavily influenced by AC/DC, their first album often unfairly antagonized and mocked as being too much of a tribute. However, with a massing fan base, there would appear to be a vast majority of listeners out there who would claim that to be a good thing, the other ozzy rockers now pushing on a bit.
Having achieved their popular status from their first album Runnin Wild it now often overlooked that it was their inaugural EP that brought them to the attention of Capitol Records. Released in 2004, Ready to Rock heralded a triumphant debut into the less than populated world of heavy rock. With traditional sounding “Three Chord” riffs, Airbourne hearken themselves back to a simpler, cruder time when rock music was in its infancy.
The eponymous opening track “Ready to Rock” coupled with “Stand and Deliver” are run of the mill hard rock songs, the brothers gelling well with the percussion and rhythm section, a solid foundational opening for the rest of the EP. Other excellent sounds come in the form of “Come on Down” a great little pub anthem and a must for any pre-night out warm up playlist. “Runnin’ Hot” and “Women on Top” which, as the popular advert used to say, does exactly as it says on the tin. The jewel in the sweaty, static and beer soaked crown comes in the form of “When the girl gets hot (The love don’t stop)”. Apart from having a frankly awesome classic rock title and subject matter, the opening, almost haunting guitar riff of Joel O’Keeffe leaves the listener wondering how this band had gone so long without being snapped up by a major record label. Couple that with the frankly brilliant production behind both the song and the rest of the album, the boys do an excellent job of getting the right mix of sleazy, grimy sounding Gibson SG with thunderous drums and a thumping bass line.
In all, although perhaps more of a tribute to AC/DC and other classic rock bands that made the mid seventies to early nineties so memorable for this music than their first official release, Ready to Rock is never the less a wonderful introduction to the Australian outfit. Not as widely available as it perhaps should be, the songs on the EP are slowly and surely being bled into the western market via exclusive downloads and bonus tracks on re-releases of the Runnin Wild album. The upcoming album, released March 8TH, and subsequent tour are set to send Airbourne into the upper echelons of hard rock stardom and with a lot of life and fight left in this band, let us hope that they are ready to accept the responsibility of being hard rock’s royal dynasty for the next four decades.
N.B Look out for the review of No Guts, No Glory coming soon.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's official website at: http://www.airbournerock.com
Album Review :: Doll & The Kicks – ‘Show Your Bones: Live 2009′
After having it released from the captivity of the printers, Show Your Bones is finally here. As expected, it's another great release from one of the UK's most exciting unsigned acts.
Granted
we're only two months into 2010, but I'm sure Doll & The Kicks will be one of my favorite gig going experiences this year. For anyone who didn't manage to catch them this time around the guys have released a new live album.
The nine-track disc, recorded during Morrissey's Tour Of Refual, contains a lot of fan favourite tracks from their first release and three new ones.. The standout tracks have to be What Goes Around - one of the new ones, Roll Up The Red Carpet and If You Care (if you read my gig review, you'll already know that's a favorite of mine). The new material is great and it's great to have songs like Fire, You Do It Better and, the aforementioned, What Goes Around available to listen to on the go.
As much as I like the album, it's no replacement for seeing Doll & The Kicks in the flesh. I've already said that the band are at their best live and, although this is a good representation of that, the album just doesn't have the same kind of energy that a DATK gig does. I'm not saying it's bad. In fact, it's far from that. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy it. I just knew it would be hard to capture a live experience like this in a recording.
This a really good second release from Doll & The Kicks. It's a good live album, but it fails to capture what it is that makes their gigs such a great experience. That's not to say you shouldn't buy this, in fact it's quite the opposite. For fans of the band, this is a must buy and I strongly recommend it to those who're just getting into them. It's good to hear some of the new stuff outside of the gigs and well worth your money.
Buy this album and all your other Doll & The Kicks merchandise here. Check out the band on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter too.
Album Review :: The Alan Weuters Alliance – This is My Life
An alternative sounding, New York based folk rock group offer up their first foray into the mainstream market.
The Alan Weuters Alliance - This is My Life © Cherrybomb Records
For those who would like to enjoy a more alternative, softer, riff based rock album, The Alan Weuters Alliance’s This is My Life is the perfect place to start. Blending an enchantingly harmonising and layered sound with rich lyrics and storytelling, this New York based group is a wonderful introduction to more contemporary folk and classic rock.
The first thing that is individual about The Alan Weuters Alliance is the seemingly stark individual sound that the group has been able to produce on what would appear to be a shoestring budget. The eponymous Alan Weuters is a thirty five year veteran of the New York music scene, playing with some great musicians including Steve Coronel, an original member of KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley’s original group; Wicked Lester. With a distinctly higher-toned voice and electro/acoustic sounding folk guitar, This is My Life is a perfect introduction to the band that seeks to promote themselves internationally.
The opening three tracks of the album emerge to the listener like an old boat, sifting through the morning mist, the introductions of “This is my Life,” “Living on the Edge” and the “Aquariana” have the listener tapping and bobbing with the upbeat riffs and lyric ladened track which follows. Although not primarily based on the softer sounding folk oriented style, “Great Accuser,” “Troubles (For the rest of your life)” are much more bluesy and harder rock based, the latter a fine example of the versatility of playing style, song writing and riff work. This song also provides a wonderful solo towards the end of the track, the only problem being that the chorus has been layered over it. This does not however detract from the clearly brilliant playing style of Alan as he takes the fret board for a walk.
Primarily dealing with the lonesomeness and sometimes hardships of existence, This is My Life is a twelve-track album that takes the listener through the broad spectrum of life’s emotions. Acting like a road weary muse to the listener, the band sings and plays with real emotion invested into the songs. As so often can be the case when dealing with folk based music, folk rock especially, the message can seem rather hackneyed and clichéd. Abandoning the more resentful and patronizing tone, This is My Life is a much more fun sounding, jollier offering to the market.
Aligning themselves with the likes of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and John Lennon as both influences and contemporary sounds, The Alan Weuters Alliance is worth more than a brief listen. Providing the listener with a wide array of material that is sure to suit longer standing fans of folk and harder rock along with casual listeners. The wonderful, harder hitting cover of Simon & Garfunkle’s “Sounds of Silence” is the highlight of the album. Not to detract from the rest of the material there, the thought of a cover being the best track in this case does not signify less quality of the rest of the album, pays a respectful homage to the original and the band justice. For those who would like an alternative sounding but more traditionally based folk rock album, The Alan Weuters Alliance’ This is My Life is the perfect place to start.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's official website on myspace and record label site: http://www.myspace.com/alanwautersalliance, http://www.cherrybombrecords.com/artist_detail.php?id=4
Album Review :: Alkaline Trio – This Addiction, Released 23/02/10
Having been a massive Alkaline Trio fan for nearly ten years now, my opinion on their records is often biased. I’ll try and keep my opinions free from as much ass kissing as possible. This is the seventh studio instalment (8th if you count the S/T L.P) from the crowned dark princes of pop-punk. The trio have apparently returned "back to their roots” on this record, but let’s see how it pans out…
The album opens with This Addiction the albums title track, this has been previously reviewed by fellow writer 'Anton B-Low' so I won’t go into it much. A lot of people have called this the weakest track on the album, and if so, this album should kick some serious booty.
Next up is Dine, Dine My Darling - the title being a parody of The Misfits' classic Die, Die My Darling - and the first track from the man Andriano on this disc. What a fucking ear shredder, (in a good way). In my opinion, Dan has been the stronger force in Trio post From Here To Infirmary, and this song is total proof of that. Good wholesome punk rock with a fucking meaty hook of a chorus, especially on the final chorus in the song, showing just how much Mr. Andriano has progressed in both vocal talent and confidence since the early days.
For the third installment it’s back to Matt, who gives their claim of “back to roots” all the more clarification. Fast, furious and dark as hell, Lead Poisoning is Skiba at his best. Wait, what’s this, a ska-punk horn section in an Alkaline Trio song?! But wait...again, this actually works, and works well! REALLY FRIGGIN’ WELL!!
Dead On The Floor sounds a lot more like the more recent Trio, which isn’t a bad thing at all. It’s a lot slower pace-wise to our opening three, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Number four on the album has one of the slickest bass lines I’ve heard in a long time and really cool vocal line. This will surely have fans drowning out Skiba at concerts, in true Trio live fashion.
It’s back to the upbeat with The American Scream. Out of the entire album so far, this is the one that brings me back to the old school. The lyrics are as darkly poetic as most on Maybe I’ll Catch Fire and the chorus riff just begs for many drunken air guitar motions in future listens. The track title itself reminds me of The Misfits tinged play on words that I know from other reviews and interviews Skiba loves so much. You can tell he’s having fun in every word.
Easily the strongest track on the album in my opinion, if I was a woman or a more openly minded man, I would fall deeply in love with Dan Andriano. Fuck it, I think I have anyway. Not only is it sticking with the old-school etiquette, but this song seems to have kept the awkward romance of Dan’s songs and lyrics since his marriage. It’s reminiscent of the Good Mourning classic Every Thug Needs a Lady and Dan’s heartfelt track on Crimson, I was a Prayer. If Off the Map isn’t Alkaline Trio’s first Dan written single, it REALLY should be.
Draculina is unfortunately, in my opinion, the weakest track on the album, with the famed darkness the Trio hold dear seeming very forced. When I read the title I didn’t think I’d be keen on this song, and after a few listens my opinion hasn’t changed. Not a poor song as such, it just seems like a song that would appeal to a younger generation of fans, more a song for the My Chemical Romance era of fans. Though the line, “I’m leaving heaven behind for good this time the angels can keep it,” is absolutely fucking awesome.
What the hell is this, The fucking Human League? Eating me Alive starts like some 80’s synth track, but make no mistake; this song is no laughing matter. This is the best track on This Addiction to come from Skiba. A clever combination of the pop-punk and Skiba’s influences from artists such as Sisters of Mercy. With lines such as “I can’t stand this dark feeling, this shark eating me up inside,” and “I was bound by your father the jewel thief that night, as you said he was still behind bars,” sung over such an upbeat backing. It’s another prime example of what makes Alkaline Trio such a unique figure in the punk rock scene.
Not sure what’s going on here, maybe due to Against Me! front-man Tom Gabel marrying Trio merch lady Heather Hannoura, (now Heather Gabel, obviously), but it seems the Trio have been stealing song titles from the Against Me! boys, but I’m sure it’s all in good fun. Piss and Vinegar is another awesome track, a bit more laid back and also the shortest on the track, but a bloody good tune none the less.
Dorothy is the closest in my mind to their previous album, Agony and Irony. It reminds me a lot of the track I Found Away for two reasons: it has a very similar feel and also is nearly ruined by some strange, somewhat pointless sound effect. I Found Away had a clock ticking before Skiba sang the word "time", this track, on the line, “like the scratching sound of insects,” there’s, well, you get the point, but this a minor fault in an otherwise kick ass tune.
The album closes with the Andriano track Fine. The most mellow of all the songs on the album, and definitely the right choice for a closer. This song isn’t even close to punk-rock and it doesn’t try to be, though there is a kick in at the end. It’s a deep, open, heartfelt and even somewhat cheeky song, which is surprising for Dan. Lyrically it is best on the whole record, lines such as “You see a storm knocked out my super powers,” and, “If I’m captain of this ship, then all my shipmates are fools,” see’s Dan mocking himself in an innocent way. Not only is it heart warming, but also quite humorous. The song draws to a close as does the album. Fine? This albums a lot more than fine, its Alkaline Trio just as I like them, darkly poetic, tongue in cheek and slick as hell.
And for any drum fans out there, don't worry, Derek Grant might not have much mention in this review, but he is very much up to form on this record.
Album Review :: Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea – EP
A raw post-rock band which takes many influences and ideas, executes them well with some impressive vocals to add to that.
Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea are a four-piece group from Brighton who have been busy recently, with this being their second EP since forming in spring 2009. It's the Falling That Counts, Not the Landing is a good all round record with a balance of slow and high tempo tracks.
The first track 'Any Port In a Storm' is a solid opener giving you an insight onto what the rest of the record will consist of; with a simple guitar riff a catchy chorus and, what seems to sets this group apart from the others, some great shouty vocals which manages to keep its originality. 'Eyes Turned Inwards' is one of the slower tracks with the dark, sinister track name reflecting on the song with its dark atmosphere. Starting off slowly and speeding up, changing tempo numerous times throughout - like any good rock band should in my opinion.
In 'One Hundred Yards into the Desert' you can definitely hear influences of the likes of Biffy Clyro showing through, with snappy riffs and chaotic drums. At 2:11 long its a short but powerful track. 'You'll Get Used Too Me' has to be the most impressive track for me: its the slowest song on the EP but is also the catalyst. With some very impressive lyrics and vocals, it definitely shows these boys have some talent.
'Johnny Forger' is the final track and rounds off the record well but sounds much the same as the other heavier tracks on the record with heavy drums and some clean guitar riffs to break it up. It is also a very short song which is for me one of the few negative points for this EP: that most of the tracks are on the short side.
This is an impressive rock EP from the group, but they lack some originality. Yes its good rock music but its nothing that's really going to make you take a step back. In saying that the shining light of CM,CS has to be the vocalist with his captivating shouty voice that seems to lift every track. Despite the negatives I think this group has a strong future if they manage to free themselves from sounding like all the other simple riff, post-rock bands kicking about, and try to find their own individual sound.
Crooked Mountain, Crooked Sea are currently on a tour of England, check out their Myspace for details http://www.myspace.com/crookedmountaincrookedsea
Album Review :: Grande Duke – EP
Grande Duke are fundamentally a funky, post-rock trio based in the East Midlands, who include a wealth of musicians on their tracks, offering great jazzy undertones infused with grungy beats and great basslines.
The opening track of the self-titled debut EP is called “Stonecutter”, a lengthy 8 minutes 23 seconds, the track is a great introduction to the rest of the EP, easing the listener gently into the grunge-reality of basement bassy riffs and sultry saxophone overtones. The track is far from anthemic and it doesn’t offer a great climax, however, it’s a great instrumental track that is a gentle invitation into the unruly and creative world of Grande Duke.
The following 2 tracks on the EP are in the same vein as the first, not as lengthy but still displaying the now familiar elements of jazz and rock. The second track, “Duke of Rain” is a tune that could easily have been heard in a 70’s pop-cult drama starring a side-burned detective, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re into that kind of sound.
The third track on the EP, “Lunacy by Sea Wind”, is my favourite of the 4 introductory tracks. It reflects many bands of yesteryear and channels some bands of the moment whilst being fresh and innovative. There’s elements of Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and heavier, more metal based bands, with the weighty guitar riffs, juxtaposed with the airy electric-guitar.
Finally, the album is rounded off by “Chora”, a sluggish but fulfilling track, giving an air of melancholia and the subdued. The track has a slow but varied drum beat and a tempting bass line with a simple yet effective guitar riff. The track has the notion that it’s building to something bigger and halfway through the tempo picks up and the bass line becomes more dominant, leading to the heavier guitars, similar to those in “Lunacy by the Sea Wind”.
The entire EP is full of post-rock experimentation, there’s whiffs of The Clash, T-Rex, The Cult as well as more recent bands like Nirvana and Rage Against The Machine. The band has no doubt revelled in their inspiration and tried to create something unique whilst remaining true to the sounds of their instruments. The jazzy elements are refreshing and mix well, in most parts, with the grunge-inspired guitars and drums.
The EP is lengthy, with all the tracks being over 4 minutes and ranging right up to 8 minutes 23 seconds. Perhaps the reason for the timely tunes is to fit the imaginative instrumentals in comfortably. The EP can, at times, feel haphazard and somewhat unfocussed but this is not necessarily a criticism, it all lends to the vibe of the EP, which is cleverly concocted to combine a multitude of genres.
Despite the lack of singing/shouting throughout the EP, the sound effects and spoken word offer an intriguing blend with the instruments. There are no sung lyrics on any of the tracks, which is either a clever omission, designed to create mystery and suspense or a bad decision which leaves the listener wondering where the vocalist is. Either way, it somehow works, and the tracks are well-accomplished and well produced.
Overall the debut EP from Grande Duke is a fulfilling listen which will no doubt be interpreted differently by everyone. It’s a challenge to explain what or who they sound like, which, in my opinion, makes them unique and inventive. The EP is both satisfying and interesting and it will be interesting to see which direction the trio take their material in in the future. [J]
Check out the band's MySpace! www.myspace.com/grandeduke
Album review :: The Invible Republic – The Invisible Republic
A Glasgow based ambient folk band's first foray into the mainstream gets your toes tapping and knees slapping.
The Invisible Republic’s debut EP is a barnstorming introduction from a group who prove that there is still time for a good old-fashioned country and folk album in the modern music era. With their softly spoken ambient folk-rock, with occasional foray into the psychedelic, this Glaswegian quintet offers their first full EP for consideration.
This band of young men based in Glasgow offer listeners their first, self-titled EP after a string of popular and successful gigs that have taken them all over the world. Describing themselves as a psychedelic/ambient/folk band, the debut EP demonstrates the group’s love for a style of music often overlooked by up and coming bands who’s only purpose is to penetrate the charts, often resulting in a hackneyed, overplayed pop sound. The Invisible Republic on the contrary demonstrate their adoration for folk and country styles of music, successfully blending their native Scottish roots with a more traditionally American oriented folk style creating a pleasantly listenable and enjoyable mix of laid back and toe tapping songs.
The EP’s opening two tracks, “A Fool’s Dance” and “Eiderdown” are wonderful examples of the band’s fine ability to create and produce traditional folk ballads with the slightest hint of contemporary sound and passion that oozes from a soft sounding ambiance. “She Named a Bullet After Me” is a more high tempo country number, the pedal steel guitar of Eamon Brady providing a rhythmic heartbeat to the song that simple makes listeners want to dance.
This track, along with “A Statute Reading” and “Tuesday’s Girl” perfectly demonstrates the band’s fantastic dynamic between members. This enjoyable attitude taken by the band when approaching this style of music is a must for any band playing songs like these. With such a potent emphasis on traditional values and topics like love and friendship, it is good to hear this group sounding so closely knit and familiar with each other’s playing styles. Their harmonic sound and gentle acoustics remind the listener more than a little of The Eagles and Crosby, Stills and Nash, the godfathers of course of the country and folk scenes, an honour many bands would enjoy but sadly fail to achieve.
The debut EP from The Invisible Republic delivers more than an apt and very approachable/listenable introduction from the Glasgow based band. With their regular shows and now international reputation as they continue to venture stateside, this group are a great example of how folk music is still very popular and healthy as a music scene. A testimony to the band’s success has been their recent air time on two major Scottish mainstream radio stations, “She Named a Bullet After Me” featuring on both Radio One and BBC Radio Scotland. Their infusion of traditional American and Scottish folk styles, along with others of course, creates an enjoyable set list of songs that deserve more than a casual listen.
Jonathan Whitelaw
Check out the band's official website for music and upcoming tour/gig schedules: http://www.theinvisiblerepublic.com
Album Review: Adam Lambert- For Your entertainment
Adam Lambert’s “For Your Entertainment” was arguably one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year, but has it really lived up to its standards?
Lambert featured in last year’s series of American Idol; normally I would pay no heed to whatever comes out of Simon Cowell’s well-greased pop machine but, as early as the audition stages, Adam seemed like a clear winner due to his unique voice and polished presence.
Throughout the series it looked as if he was to be the sure fire winner but as the shows started to draw to an end Kris Allen, the small town boy next door, began to appear as a threat to Adam’s top spot with his safe performances. On the spectacular final performance night Adam came on and introduced Kiss who ascended from the ceiling and performed about six songs with Adam. Despite the amazing performance he gave with Kiss Adam still came in at second place along with another scandal about the idol voting system.
Since American Idol Adam has gone on to release his debut album “For your entertainment”, established without the monster publicity push of Cowell. The album features contributions from P!nk , Lady Ga Ga, Matt Bellamy of Muse and producers with names like My Chemical Romance, Green Day and Paramore under their belts. But on the flipside, some songs have been produced by Greg Wells who’s worked with names like One republic, Hanson, Mika, The Veronicas and Natasha Bedingfield, contradiction? I think so!
For me, “For your Entertainment” is a real split album, there are some gems and some over produced, nonsensical, rubbish thanks to the help of Ga Ga and Greg Wells. On the other hand the rest of the songs have qualities of Muse and even Queen standards. Such a varied album makes me think that Adam hasn’t quite decided his style yet and what interests me is the fact that Adam has co-written some of the best tracks on the record, they are better delivered and have more passion than any of the synth- pop computer work that is spoon fed to him.
Track Listing
01) “Music Again”- I ‘m not sure about this track the opening intro gives off a sound of Black Eyed Peas- “ Boom Boom Pow” but that is soon compromised by that distinguishing Darkness sound, which is a given as this track is written by Justin Hawkins, front man to the novelty band itself.
02) “For your entertainment” -I’m not keen on the track, it’s too poppy and overly produced. It reminds me of something but I’m not sure whether it’s Britney or Rhianna. He uses his voice to full potential once or twice but the rest is pretty mediocre.
03) “Whataya want from me”- Written by P!nk, there are certain streaks of her influences showing in this track. It’s one of the better tracks on the album, it feels more Adam. There’s more skill shown in this one, it’s more of what I want to hear from Adam. It’s less synth-pop and more guitar orientated.
04) “Strut”- Written by Kara Dioguardi and Greg Wells. It’s not a very strong track, again computer orientated and not the most meaningful song on the album. After listening to it for the second time I had switched off completely, totally uninterested.
05) “Soaked”-I Love this track as it reeks of Muse as it was written by Mathew Bellamy for Muse originally. With a great Rocky feel this is Adams sound that I believe he’s searching for. After listening to strut and for your entertainment it’s a breath of fresh air. One of Adams highlights of American Idol was when he did the Muse version of “Feeling Good.”
06) “Sure Fire Winners”- after having listened to Soaked four times in a row I was disappointed to hear the synth sound back to haunt me. Whey! I hear a guitar solo, there’s a great little rocky bit and then it’s spoiled by the synth hook coming back in before the chorus.
07) “Loaded Smile”- Good but it became a bit boring, though I’d rather listen to an album of this than the pop sounds of FYE and Strut. It’s quite Ambient there’s not much to say for this.
08) “If I had you”-Just no, the same as FYE, Strut and SFW, Too Cascada for me, no thanks.
09) “Pick U Up”- Not too bad but it hasn’t got much about it again quite poppy and slightly musicalish.
10) “Fever”- Lady Gaga Love games, not too bad for Gaga still quite produced but I didn’t mind listening to it but it’s definitely background noise.
11) “Sleepwalker”- Adam co-wrote the song and it’s quite One Republic. Definitely not overly produced with a slower tempo and shows more talent. Still not the most compelling but I think he has more feeling toward the song as with most artists.
12) “Aftermath”- Rather Goo Goo dolls, more rocky and ballad-like. This is one of my preferred songs on the album, it’s also written by Adam.
13) “Broken Up”- It’s Slower quite calming but I got bored after a while. It doesn’t change much and is too long for it to not change at all.
14) Time for miracles- I’d heard this song before as it was released as a song for the movie “2012”. I like this song it’s quite rocky and lets Adam, passionately show his true brilliance.
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