Review Corner

Tag: Congleton Chronicle

  • ,

    Gary Clark Jr: Sonny Boy Slim

    The only thing that’s traditional electric blues about this new CD from Clark is the title. For a man who could presumably get very rich playing formulaic blues with lengthy solos, it’s a good move. Who wants to play dull music for white men in cardigans, after all? Eric Clapton’s got the market covered. Instead…

  • ,

    Editors: In Dream

    While Darktown Jubilee (see below) are busy sounding a bit like a poppy version of Editors, that band has refined its sound to somewhere between Depeche Mode and Bronski Beat, singer Tom Smith making as much use of his falsetto as his baritone. This new album was recorded in Scotland and it sounds like they…

  • , ,

    Darktown Jubilee: City of Light

    This is the second album from Manchester band Darktown Jubilee and it’s accomplished and mature. We did an internet search thingy and among their recent gigs was Knutsford Beer Festival. Honestly! Talentless no-hopers on television being milked by Simon Cowell on one hand and a talented band playing for tipsy Knutsfordonians on the other. Pah.…

  • ,

    Stuart McCallum: City

    Although Manchester guitarist McCallum’s album is out on Naim Jazz (his second on the label), this is more a soul album than jazz. The more jazzy sections are on the verge of being easy listening, though they stay the cool Pat Metheny side, rather than going all Bob James. It’s a chilled, late night album,…

  • ,

    Ordinary Boys: Ordinary Boys

    If ever there was a band that don’t sound like they’re reforming out of desperation, it’s Ordinary Boys on this rather decent new album. We confess we couldn’t name any of their tunes from their previous incarnation, though Wikipedia informs us that their big hit Boys Will Be Boys featured in the fifth Harry Potter…

  • ,

    A-ha: Cast In Steel

    Famous for Morten Harket (“gorgeous” and “like a model” according to a former fan) and that video where a cartoon character comes to life, A-ha had a string of hits before saying they were retiring in 2009, after the release of their ninth studio album Foot of the Mountain. Now they’re back (but for two…

  • ,

    Roman Statkowski: Piano Music

    We played this through a couple of times before looking what it was and it came over as an entertaining and lively collection of piano music. It’s got a real sense of energy about it; there’s nothing serious about this and no dark tones, and we half-thought it was a compilation of favourite piano tracks…

  • ,

    Brother and Bones: Brother and Bones

    Brother and Bones are an excellent new band who struggle a little with the high standards they set themselves. Standout track is the album opener Kerosene, a musical explosion that’s pure Kings of Leon southern boogie rock, with stomping drums, pounding bass, a scuzzy guitar solo and the singer screaming tunefully about kerosene love. After…

  • ,

    Nicholas Marshall: Songs and Chamber Music

    It’s not just rock CDs that we misplace; this classical recording came out a few months ago but we, er, temporarily filed it in the wrong place (though when “down the back of the desk” is ever the right place, we don’t know). It’s actually got a fair amount of local interest: it features the…

  • ,

    Cattle and Cane: Home

    There are two Cattle and Canes on this new album, the ones who play catchy country-tinged pop such as the opener Skies and the ones who play blandly dull pop tunes that have as much traction with the listener’s brain as a greased pig on a pole. We always hope a band does well —…