Minus - The Great Northern Whalekill (One Little Indian) 31/03/2008

N: I'm glad I've already had my breakfast...

T: He's right you know. The reason behind this is that this noisy Icelandic quartet have put in their entry form for "Most Disgusting Album Cover Of All Time" with a picture of a naked man (?) who clearly loves his hot dogs too much and has so much blubber that it renders him androgynous to the casual viewer. He may even be a eunuch for all I know. Basically I'd suggest only ever bringing this album out backwards and, if you know anyone who's into frightening small children, this would make the perfect gift. The songs are raucust and exciting, and bizarrely sound like old rock 'n' roll tunes given a thrash/grunge workover. It does actually work though, but I reckon I'm going to make my own sleeve...

N: I was going to comment that really that's enough of a description of the artwork, let's get down to the music, but at the ninth hour, you saved your review and actually started describing the album...

T: Well you've just taken up two lines of your review talking about my review...

N: ...and you've taken up half a line describing my comeback, which is next Tuesday at the Royal Albert Dock's boxing club, kicking off at eight o'clock. Odds on myself are keen for the punter, so get in early.

T: Again, he's right. It's worth putting a quid on at 1000000000-1. And he's fighting Zippy.

N: Enough of make believe, I'm actually enjoying this album. Hard and heavy, and unlike much of the thrash community, pretty easy to understand. Yeah, as you say, fifties rock 'n' roll given a hardcore makeover. 8/10

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The Black Keys - Attack & Release (V2) 31/03/2008

T: Interesting notes here - "The Black Keys invited producer Danger Mouse into their studio to work on an Ike Turner album. Scratch all that, and you're left with "Attack & Release". Intrepid, fearless and steeped in the Keys' trademark blues". Well, although I wondered what on earth they were babbling on about, one listen to the new album and it's perfectly clear that the description is spot on. Though I think they should have mentioned that a virtual Jimmy Page popped in for a cuppa as well.

N: I've either heard the song we're listening to already this morning ("Strange Times") or it has a very memorable chart quality and I'm more inclined to believe the latter. Again, heaps of fuzz and a bluesy quality reminiscent of ex-husband and wife duo The White Stripes. A very personal album in its content, one where the listener can wrap themselves within the album's...

T: What I think you're trying to say is that the listener is swathed in blues soaked beauty throughout.

N: Well that's one way of putting it. 8/10

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Supergrass - Diamond Hoo ha (Parlophone) 24/03/2008

N: Dirty fuzz...

T: Well, you remember they were "Caught By The Fuzz" very early on in their career, so it's hardly surprising. Now, you may have thought, taking into consideration the downbeat, laid back feel of their last album (the criminally underrated "Road To Rouen") that the lads would see out their career with a more "mature" sound, but not a bit of it. On this evidence, Supergrass have returned to the crunching guitars of "Richard III", often sounding like a slightly heavier version of Nazareth or a number of other "glam" bands. The most telling number is "Rebel In You" which could have been penned by the hand of Bowie himself. Grown up? Ha, I think they're going through a midlife crisis, trying to relive their teens, and don't they sound great for it?

N: Now, I realise that we have had our disagreements over my likening of the band to Kings Of Leon, but I'd like to clarify that in some parts, it's just the general feel of the music - compressed vocals and heavy use of fuzz, whilst at other times the band prove their chameleon like qualities when, as you say, they emerge Bowie-esque from the cocoon. Overall they have shown themselves to reject the concept of growing old gracefully in that this album has a vibrancy and youth that surely belies their years. In short (and I think it's about time too), brilliant. 9/10

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The Grid - Doppelganger (Some Bizarre) 25/03/2008

T: So, after a lengthy hiatus, David Ball's erstwhile "Swamp Thing" hitmakers return with a new album which begins, rather frighteningly, like Pat and Mick's version of "I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet", and then bizarrely starts to sound like a bong addled Tom Waits, let loose in someone's synthesizer garden. The rest of the album seems to waver between "Flat Beat" style techno and the more avant garde side of the Chemical Brothers...

N: This does in fact become a little too nondescript in its presentation of 13 tunes, that are just that, bearing no meaningful lyrics or other side, save for that of the dance floor. I just feel that although the furore surounding the rave generation was thought to have long since extinguished, it's clear that Dave Ball et al haven't been living on the same planet, or maybe a darkened basement room, where bass still seeps from the walls, like a case of rising damp. If this was released 20 years ago it would be seemn as a revelation, now regrettably it's just like your dad emerging from the garden room during the party held to celebrate the end of your school days. Tone?...

T: (pulls trousers back up) Eh?

N: I really can't see you crashing your teenage daughter's party, come to think of it...

T: Depends how many fit mates she brings. And don't put our attractive female readers off please. I do not have children girls. And I'm completely legitimate and single.

N: Ummm, better not give that one too much thought. 6/10

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Deep Purple - Very Best Of (EMI) 24/03/2008

T: You'll already know these songs, or at least the vast majority of them, and basically they just serve as a 21st century reminder of just what a quality band Blackmore's outfit was. A bunch of effortlessly appealing rock songs that show the new pretenders how it should be done. "Black Night", "Strange Kind Of Woman" and "Smoke On The Water" have rung out around many a spotty teenager's bedroom - and frequently still do - and they're all here amongst several other choice cuts that are difficult to disagree with. This is rock in its purest form and it's great to hear it all over again.

N: Great music never dies, it just hibernates for a while until the right time comes for it to awaken and reignite the fuels of passion in the hearts of those young enough to care. 9/10

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Bryan Adams - 11 (Polydor) 17/03/2008

N: Mr. Adams' 11th album, on which we see him playing chicken with the cars in the middle of the road.

T: Hopefully one'll get him. No, that's a bit harsh, I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Perhaps just a milk float. Or a pushbike. To be fair to him, I did like that song he did with Chicane a few years back, but where are they now? They seem to have deserted him just when he needs them the most.

N: I don't think that's actually fair. Eleven albums is no mean feat.

T: It's a VERY mean feat if you ask me...

N: Well this album certainly places Bryan back in the music calendar, next week in fact. It's an album that is full of his signature phrasing, it's a Bryan Adams album for pity's sake, but unfortunately this doesn't carry quite the same weight these days. He's a great musician, that even though having to carry the load that was the theme tune to Kevin Costner's 'Robin Hood', rose above it, although never quite recording another 'Summer Of '69' and I don't quite think this'll be another 'Reckless'.

T: Listening to this album confirms to me that I'm still not quite old enough to be classed "middle aged". Yay. 6/10

web site

Operator Please - Yes Yes Vindictive (Brille) 17/03/2008

T: I'm pleasantly surprised. I've not been overly sure about the musical merits of this band before, but hearing it all in the context of an album, it all makes sense. Operator Please are a vibrantly exciting bunch of teenagers with a hatful of extremely catchy songs up their sleeves, a great look and a seveteen year old violinist that makes me think thoughts I am ashamed of...

N: It all has to come down to that doesn't it? But certainly an album full of songs that could wake the dead, in fact I saw you wiping the sleep from your eyes earlier...

T: Waking the dead? You see? I only had to mention the lovely nubile Taylor and already you're talking about stiffs rising up. Seriously though, there are some corking tunes here, like the ass kicking fury of current single "Get What You Want", the Lush infested "Cringe", the frantic punk pantomime of "Terminal Disease" or the wonderfully shouty title track. There's barely any let up, with only "Other Song" sounding more like mainstream pop than any of these other thunderous boulders of class.

N: Operator Please certainly "rock the lobster" with an aggression rarely seen this far from the beach. 8/10

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Sam Amidon - All Is Well (Bedroom Community) 10/03/2008

T: Can't say I'm overkeen on the cover. Sleeves that depict puny looking men's naked torsos don't really do it for me. Not that I'd be any more keen on a picture of a muscular well toned man showing his six pack, I hasten to add.

N: It's just your insecurities mate, but the album doesn't seem to be doing much for either of us. A bit moany for my liking.

T: And can I just add (and yes I am getting on a bit now, so I'm excused for saying this) that you can't make out a bloody word he's saying.

N: In fact, a little Thom Yorke without in fact being the diminutive genius. In essence, this has already been done. Given time, I'm feeling this album's appeal may grow...

T: I agree. I'm actually starting to quite enjoy it, but in the cold situation where we're having to review this quickly, it doesn't quite have the same impact. 7/10

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Voodoo Six - First Hit For Free (Pebble Beach Music) 17/10/2008

T: You were clearly toying with me when you claimed a moment ago that we thought this band's single was brilliant.

N: No, that's just a term used in the porn industry to signify foreplay, toying I mean.

T: Well I know you know more on these matters than I do.

N: I wish I'd not brought up the subject.

T: I didn't know you had! Make it go down.

N: Steady now. But back to the music, this is evidently an album full of the rock pretences of possibly fifteen years ago...

T: I don't think my original Soundgarden comment was as way off the mark as it originally seemed. It's like fish fingers that weren't made by Cap'n Birdseye.

N: Or baked beans that weren't made by Heinz. They look the same, they sound similar, but end up a little too greasy when they come out of the frying pan.

T: What the fuck are you on about?

N: Well it was in fact you that finished my sentence there - so I could actually direct the same question to you, but I won't. Short of saying that Voodoo Six are a rock band, practicing that classic rock sound, alright, but nothing groundbreaking, other than the occasional phrasing that will put you in mind of their forefathers. 6/10

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The Kills - Midnight Boom (Domino) 10/03/2008

T: Well, considering we were both totally underwhelmed by the single "Cheap and Cheerful", The Kills' new album has started in a very promising fashion...

N: ...but the use of a CD player or mp3 player to listen to the album has the advantage of skipping track 2, the aforementioned single, to leave the album hopefully untainted and it's sounding a hell of a lot better already.

T: Yep. The offending track would appear to have been a minor glitch in what has turned out to be a fine third album. They're still as fuzzy and leftfield as ever, I'm happy to report, and when you can write tracks as strong as the innovative "Getting Down" and fuel them with the kind of post punk injection of "Hook and Line", then you really have little to worry about.

N: Yes, all of us apparently have off days, although I can't really recall when I had a day when I was less than perfect...

T: ...Didn't you crash into a concrete post last month?

N: Er, alright then, but in my defence it was actually January, it was extremely dark and it was the post that had developed an attraction to the rear of my vehicle.

T: You know that switch on your right hand side? It's your LIGHTS.

N: Again my defence was that the post was out of my line of sight...

T: You have a worse defence than Wrexham.

N: Although all this banter has allowed us to hear more of an album that just grows in estimation. 8/10

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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (Mute Records ltd) 03/03/2008

T: I've been really excited about hearing this, as I believe the title track from Cave's latest album has an overwhelming chance of being the greatest track I'll hear this year. Reminds me of The Hold Steady, yet still has that typical Nick Cave drawl stamped all over it. Gloriously offbeat stuff. A touch of Springsteen here and there, it would seem, which also explains my earlier reference.

N: From listening to this album, it sounds like Nick has swallowed a David Byrne album (from his vocal reflection) and what's more, got a whole lot more cheerful into the bargain. Whereas some artists might include a guitar solo on their compositions, it's great to hear Mr. Cave having rediscovered the Hammond organ solo on "Today's Lesson". As we embark on the following track "Moonland", it might be clear that the artist's cheerful demeanour was only a short lived fad, as his characteristically downbeat mood returns.

T: Having said all that though, I feel like this is Cave's most spiritual album in a long time, and as a result is probably the best thing he's put out since the heady days of the late eighties. Not that he's ever been a slouch, consistently releasing a barrel load of quality albums throughout his career.

N: In essence, this album, reaching through a multitude of moods, sees Nick Cave's Bad Seeds producing an extremely listenable album of quality compositions. 9/10

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The Black Crowes - Warpaint (Angelus Entertainment) 03/03/2008

N: Is this the Crowes new album?

T: So you're on first name terms with them are you?

N: Oh, we go back years, although it's surprising just how much they now sound like the Rolling Stones.

T: Don't be so condescending. Although I have to admit, you're right. If I'm totally honest, I've never really embraced the Black Crowes in the same way that you have. I saw them at a festival in the mid-nineties, and they bored the living daylights out of me. Then again, I didn't really know a great deal of their stuff back then. And their stuff all sounded like this. And again, it's boring the living daylights out of me. I have a feeling you'll have something more positive to say than I have...

N: Funnily enough, I have. I've aways felt this band are never excusing what it is they are performing. This is rock of the Eagles variety, a sound with a late sixties early seventies vibe about it and in fact in this album's case they have never sounded so akin to this era...

T: Ah well that explains it then. I just don't like bands named after birds. The Eagles were lame as far as I'm concerned too. Having said that, I quite liked the Housemartins. Anyway, this track ("Oh Josephine") sounds more like The Band than anyone else, which does actually elevate it to being far more lobe grabbing. I guess it's the rock equivalent of Val Doonican. Easy listening for the studded jacket brigade. Background music as far as I'm concerned - I wouldn't switch it off if it came on the radio, but it doesn't do a great deal for me.

N: I thought it was "background" music that you liked from those films you are such a fan of, then again in those it's not the music that is in any way grabbing your attention.

T: And you STILL haven't given them back. I'll be having to buy Viagra soon.

N: It's not me who's holding on to them, since Jo found them in my sock drawer I've not seen them, or her since, but back to the album...

T: Have I not already said what I think?

N: S'pose so, but I'm making you digest some more. Admittedly this might be an album for a niche, or bygone audience, but I feel the compositions here are very well executed and performed, even if it does remind you of those classic movies you're such a fan of.

T: It does puff the magic a bit though doesn't it?

N: Huh?

T: Drag on.

N: Terrible, it's not on the scale anymore! So back to business... 7/10

web site

Duffy - Rockferry (Advance Copy 5 Track Sampler) (Polydor) 03/03/2008

N: Well, apart from being your fantasy lady, Duffy has been supported by her record company through an extensive advertising campaign, including peak time tv advertising, and if this doesn't reap rewards, both are going to be heavily out of pocket...

T: Er...Nick, she's been number one for the past three weeks...

N: Well that's alright then, but exactly how many records do you need to sell to reach number one these days?

T: Well, I put my cheese sandwich out as a single last week, and that reached number 23. Seriously though, out of all these new ladies of the smoky jazz club genre, I think Duffy does it best of all. She's almost like a modern day Dusty at times, and the arrangements of these songs are top notch. Predictably, the NME hated the album, but I personally think it's a really well put together piece of work, with "Distant Dreamer" the standout moment for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the five tracks we were sent on this album sampler, so bear in mind we're only basing our review on those. Of course, it probably helps that I'd like to give her a good seeing to.

N: But being serious for a moment, that the NME hated her album is no bad thing these days, but hey, as a thirtysomething, what do I know? 8/10

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The Presidents Of The United States Of America - These Are The Good Times People (Cooking Vinyl) 10/03/2008

T: You definitely wouldn't associate the word "depth" with the Presidents, and the whole thing comes across, rather frighteningly, like a Barenaked Ladies tribute band. I actually bought this band's debut album several years ago, and it was an enjoyable romp, but this time around it sounds like it belongs on the coffee table at a Daily Mail readers convention.

N: Pretty formulaic stuff really, kicking off here, the band sounds as if they were attempting a diluted Green Day, without the parental advisory sticker, but the further you head into the album, it's clear this is never going to happen. On the whole, pretty enjoyable stuff...

T: ...if you're a middle aged lady at a Daily Mail convention...

N: ...but so many other bands have done this better, such as They Might Be Giants.

T: In short, it's not terrible, but...

N: ...I think we'd both agree that although not worthless, this could've been so much better. 5/10

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Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash (Domino) 04/03/2008

N: iTunes have specified this album as "reggae". Hardly. Someone's idea of a joke, I would assume. This is most certainly a work from a fragment of what was the creative line-up once termed as Pavement.

T: Knowing Malkmus, it was probably HIS joke though...

N: ...the question remains, "would this album have been any the less for it, had it been an album with a reggae leaning?" - and I think not; I think any album where Malkmus had been involved would be worth checking out.

T: And this is no exception. Typical Malkmus stamp all over it, but utilising long drawn out guitar segways more often than usual. Yet another very good album. 8/10

web site - myspace

Mexican Institute Of Sound - Mejico Maxico (Cooking Vinyl) 03/03/2008

T: Vastly different from everything we've heard so far today, but no less palatable for it. The man behind it all, Camilo Lara, has taken aspects of traditional Mexican music and welded it together with laid back electronica, creating something akin to Groove Armada meets Massive Attack. I think we've been extremely lucky with today's batch of releases, to be fair.

N: This album's content prompts memories of a former member of the Atomicduster team, Nic Chbat. This album possesses a "cool" entirely appropriate for the artist responsible, mashing together influences and producing something entirely different, yet with a familiarity befitting the original tunes. It's almost like a film shot with that 1950s colour palatte at hand, seducing the listener into a trance like state. 8/10

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Bauhaus - Go Away White (Cooking Vinyl) 03/03/2008

T: If ever a band wore their influences on their sleeves, Bauhaus are unashamedly flying the Bowie flag, even this late in their career. Luckily for them, it works in a BIG way. "Too Much 21st Century" could almost BE the Thin White Duke himself, and "Adrenaline" follows in much the same vain, but it all gets a lot darker later on, spiralling into a kind of drug addled Velvet Underground (not that I recall another kind of VU, admittedly!) but constantly scaling the heights of brilliance, despite the lengthy period out of the spotlight. This may well end up as our Album Of The Year for 2008 - I don't think it's too early to say it's guaranteed a place in our top ten at least.

N: This album's brilliance shines through. Sceptics will always assume that for a band to re-emerge after such a long period of inactivity, it's going to be less than worthwhile. Well, in this case, Bauhaus have proved that even after 25 years ("Burning From The Inside Out") the band may still be considered relevant - perhaps even more so, listening to some of the lyrics here. With a sound wholly appropriate for a band emanating from the shadows, "Go Away White" will be considered a Murphy and co classic. 10/10

web site - myspace

Malcolm Middleton - Sleight Of Heart (Full Time Hobby) 03/03/2008

T: While this is undoubtedly a foot tappingly pleasant album, unfortunately for Malcolm we've had something of an abundance of brilliance to listen to today, so perhaps this makes the impact of "Sleight Of Heart" diminish a tad. It's a good set of songs, well crafted and with a lot of depth. In fact, I do actually like this album quite a lot, upon second listen...

N: ..."second", or third listen, this album is indeed a good listen, wherever you're coming from. Malcolm's ability to write an album's worth of quality material in abundance is something that qualifies this artist's place on your player. Hardly commercial, as was his bid to capture the Christmas market with 'We're All Going To Die' - well in the season of so called "good will" this was only ever going to be considered by the anti-crowd, no matter how well intentioned. 8/10

web site - myspace

Black Francis - Svn Fngrs (Cooking Vinyl) 03/03/2008

T: After rather bizarrely opening his latest "mini album" with a track not dissimilar to Eminem at his best ("The Seus"), Black Francis then lets rip with yet another onslaught of boisterous beauty. "Garbage Heap" could have been plucked from "Bossanova" era Pixies quite easily, whereas "I Sent Away" is just a frantic rush of hedonism. Best of all though is the album's title track, the rhythm heavy number proclaiming "I was born with seven fingers and seven toes". The Bostonian legend has once again proved he is one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. Superb. Not that i want to come across predictable, you understand.

N: Mini or not, this is certainly a body of work from the frontman of the mighty Pixies, complete with heavyweight guitars and melody that penetrates the listener on another level. Seven tracks that would suggest an urgency of the artist to get this heard, but don't consider that it is in any way second rate. 9/10

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Orchestral Manouevres In The Dark - Dazzle Ships (Virgin/EMI) 03/03/2008

N: OMD's least successful album sees its re-release to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Following the hugely successful 'Architecture & Morality' that preceeded this release in 1981, McCluskey and Humphreys were finding it difficult to repeat the success and find a creative leaning with which to start work on the follow-up. Dazzle Ships came about from those World War 1 vessels used to confuse the enemy, ships painted with disjointed lines and it was long time sleeve designer Peter Saville who persuaded the band to write the tune that would give the album its title. It was from this that the album grew...

T: ...and while you had one extreme where industrial music was concerned - the likes of Nurse With Wound or Einsturzende Neubaten playing with their pneumatic drills and concrete mixers and creating something which was more likely to terrify the man on the street than glide happily into their senses - at the other end of the spectrum were this more commercially aware duo, and while you could hardly accuse them of being overly radio friendly (at least not in the early days), there's no doubt they were able to come up with tune after tune that woud bring them mainstream appeal. "Dazzle Ships" is no exception, and though my colleague has pointed out that it garnered little success at the time, the album is now quite rightly revered as a landmark. You only have to see the reaction from Steve, who almost had a nasty accident when he saw we'd received a re-issue of this album (NB - This last statement was sponsored by Kleenex, was edited for sexual and offensive content and the names were changed to protect the innocent).

N: But getting back on track, hearing "Dazzle Ships", an album without another "Enola Gay", is almost to listen to another record without a purpose, but pretty quickly the whole concept becomes clear - this album is an extremely intimate one. A record the listener can submerge themselves in, wrap themselves in the sometimes quirkly bars of music that eke the early emergence of electronic music. For me, this is the Human League's "Travelogue" or an albeit earlier Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut", a record that free from the hit singles that served to ground an album, allows it to achieve a timelessness. 9/10

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City & Colour - Bring Me Your Love (Hassle) 25/02/2008

N: This is not quite what you were expecting...

T: Not yet, admittedly, but give it time. I fully expect some whiny emo kid to come in soon...

N: Well the fact the original CD player we employed to play the album, refused to recognise the CD admittedly didn't bode well. However since we have found a player that 'likes' the album, it certainly bears no resemblance to "...some whiny emo kid...", how do you respond to that?

T: Ok I admit it, I was wrong! It sounds like Clayhill now. Not a bad thing, and it possesses a rather dreamy aura, making an extremely "easy" listen. Quite nice, that's my analogy.

N: Their vocalist, Dallas Green certainly has command of his vocals and the rest of the band produce a clean layer of sound on which these are presented.

T: Do you want to stroke my beard? You haven't got one and you clearly need to after that statement.

N: You haven't GOT a beard. You're just tight and don't want to go to the expense of recharging your razor. 7/10

web site - myspace

Sheryl Crow - Detours (A&M) 18/02/2008

T: Kicking off with the jangly acoustic folk of "God Bless This Mess", Sheryl Crow's new album makes you wonder whether her diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006 has played a part in the relatively sparse feel of her new material. I must admit, I was blissfully unaware of the singer's illness until Nick informed me a moment ago, so maybe that factor is playing a part in my train of thought at present. Actually, having said all that, "Love Is Free" has just begun and it's a cheerful, happy-go-lucky tune, so I was probably talking bollocks from the outset.

N: In Sheryl's long carear, when at this point an artist re-emerges after a break - in this case for very valid reasons - a fan will no doubt welcome the artist's return, but there will surely be that grain of doubt surrounding the quality of material on offer. I am pleased to say that although this is not another 'Tuesday Night Music Club' - then again why should it be? - this new album is wonderfully different. Still with that redneck refrain and dirty rock, Sheryl and her band are putting out what might be considered their best work. Engaging and thoroughly musical, Detours will certainly put paid to any critics' uncertainties.

T: Sheryl goes spiritual. That's my take. Good stuff though. 8/10

web site

Morrissey - Greatest Hits (Decca) 11/02/2008

So with a new studio album apparently due later this year, Morrissey does his spring cleaning in a most public of manners by releasing a greatest hits of 15 solo tunes, but the question that hangs in the air is "are these the greatest hits you would like to have seen on this album?" It could've been given so much more, alright so the version I'm reviewing here is only the single CD edition, but even the limited deluxe edition omits numbers like 'November Spawned A Monster', 'Sing Yours Life' and where exactly is that 'Interesting Drug'?

It's unquestionable that Morrissey's social commentary throughout his carear as both a solo artist and with The Smiths has added to music's rich tapestry, so I'm not even going to consider trying to dismiss this, but surely the task of compiling an album of this nature is going to be a thankless one. This artist is an institution, and we're all going to have our own individual ideas as to what could be considered great and even greater, just to say that when playing the album it was over all to quickly, you might do just as well to create your own 'greatest hits'. 7/10

Nick James

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Rivers Cuomo - Alone: The Home Recordings Of... (Geffen Recordings) 04/02/2007

Perhaps better known for his work as frontman with Weezer, Rivers Cuomo assembles an album of "home demos". For the most committed, this collection that spans 15 years is in places, of the roughest variety whilst others like an early demo of the song that is perhaps his later band's most memorable, that of 'Buddy Holly' are a light.

I wouldn't call this album a valuable one, and if you are looking to add this musician to your libary of music would suggest that Weezers 1994 eponymous affair is a better bet. But if you're a fan or just looking for that 'work in progress' album then this might be what you're looking for - but to take full advantage of what this artist has to offer, stick with the album, it gets better. 6/10

Nick James

web site - myspace

Dispatch - Zimbabwe (Bomber Records) 29/01/2008

N: It was when writing a recent news item concerning this release that my attention first turned to this Boston based indie band, whose presentation delved the folk/roots scene in a manner that was refreshing. So, when we were given the opportunity of reviewing this album, I seized this with both ears, and what's more, as this album comes with a DVD of the Concert For Zimbabwe Live At Madison Square Gardens, with both eyes fixed firmly on the screen.

T: Interesting stuff too, and I must ashamedly confess to never having heard of the band prior to today. Nick pointed out to me that several of the tracks here are reminiscent of The Police and he's spot on, perhaps leaning more towards Marley at other points, and then when they decide to funk out they become an early version of Red Hot Chili Peppers. All good stuff and hearing what is presumably an enormous crowd, it makes me wonder how on earth I missed them!

N: There's the crowd (pointing to album sleeve)

T: Ah. Not that big then. Ahem.

N: I think you were between shifts and asleep!

T: Well now I've woken up and smelt the coffee. Actually, I've drunk it.

N: I think we can both agree this is an enormously engaging album and for a live recording is released as all live albums should be, accompanied with a video playback. 9/10

web site - myspace

Eels - Meet The Eels - Useless Trinkets... (Geffen) 21/01/2008

Released to coincide with their first "best of" compilation (reviewed by ourselves below), this is something of a treat. Pitched as 'B-sides, Soundtracks, Rarities and Unreleased (1996-2006)', or otherwise "Useless Trinkets", this 3-disc set is in fact far from it. A 'must' for fans of this band, whose ever changing line-up of musicians collected together to play the songs of singer/songwriter/multi instrumentalist Mark Oliver Everett, or just 'E' to those who have been 'touched' is far from being considered a "useless" project. 2 CD's and a DVD works to bring together 50 audio tunes of work of the highest quality and alternative variety, as well as 6 video playbacks of the band's "Lollapalooza" set from 2006, including a vocal, guitar and tambourine contribution from the guy in the 'security' T-shirt.

Releases of this nature are often done with little thought as to their longevity, or place in a record collection - an afterthought almost. But rest assured this collection is a must for the fan and a serious consideration for the interested party, from every second of the 2 and a half hours of audio playback, or the on stage clowning around of the DVD, to the comprehensive colour book - get it while you can. 10/10

Nick James

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