Elliot Minor - Solaris (Repossession) 16/11/2009

T: You see, they've always been onto a loser with me immediately by spelling Elliot without the final "t". I hate poor spelling. Plus, their record label is called "Repossession", which smacks of corporate greed. I guess the thing that really goes against them though is that their music is boring as hell.

N: So what you're saying is that hell is boring?

T: Well do let me know.

N: I can't even be bothered to come back to your comment there.

T: I take it you're not impressed, seeing as you have a look on your face that suggests you've been wedgied.

N: Oh turn it off. 1/10

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Snow Patrol - Up To Now (Polydor Ltd) 09/11/2009

T: Snow Patrol are one of those bands where I've never actually disliked anything they've put out, but then I can't say I've ever been bowled over either, so this, a "Greatest Hits" CD if you will, is a pleasant listen, featuring a lot more hits than you may imagine. Not even considering the uberhit package of "Chasing Cars" and "Run", you're atill left with an array of impressive top twenty singles in the shape of "Chocolate", "Set The Fire To The Third Bar", "You're All I Have", "Crack The Shutters", "Signal Fire" and more. Perhaps it's testament to the quality of their craftsmanship that you can listen to both CDs throughout without wanting to punch the CD player at any time.

N: Thankfully Hadrian's Wall failed in its aim of keeping the marauding Scots out...

T: Bit racist.

N: I haven't finished what I'm going to say yet! Anyway, read my comment again and I think you might want to reconsider your words.

T: (scans sentence) Ah. Oops.

N: ...and it has to be said that South of the border has benefitted from the wealth of culture offered. 8/10

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Funk Provida - I Got Hip-Hop 07/11/2009

T: An underground hip-hop album, if ever there was one. I'm not even entirely sure that hip-hop is the correct term. This is a bit like a lighter hearted version of Dalek, not that this is a bad thing, seeing as they've consistently been one of the most innovative acts of the genre over the past decade. This album demands your attention, from the arresting title track, through some gloriously uplifting world beats, otherworldly spoken samples and thoroughly entrancing melodies. Brilliant.

N: I get the feeling that although this would appear to have taken influence (and samples) from many a genre, perhaps Josh Davis' alter ego DJ Shadow or James Lavelle's Unkle might be considered the godfathers of Funk Provida's particular brew, although many of the earlier hip-hop vibes play their part. Again, this shouldn't be considered a sleight, and as my cohort has pointed out, this is nothing less than "brilliant", one where you will hear new facets the deeper you delve. Perhaps the most innovative recording we've heard so far today, if not..., well you get the picture, this is verging on great! 10/10

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Hank Williams - Hank Williams Revealed (Time Life) 03/11/2009

T: I'm having difficulty reviewing this. I mean, obviously Hank was a country legend, and you'll already know many of these songs, though admittedly they're different versions to those that were popularised. So how do you review it exactly? I can tell you that you get all the songs on a 3 disc set, beautifully packaged, and that there is often a narrative spoken by the great man, all taken from the Mother's Best Flour shows. After that, I admit, I'm stumped. Many of these tracks though are rather scratchy, especially on the first disc, which makes them more difficult to appreciate.

N: I guess it might be to duplicate what has been said of this collection in that the album's structure has been given more care in the compiling, with the three discs representing a definite strain, namely "The Hits Like Never Before" on disc one, disc two representing "Silent Harmony" and finally on disc three, "Luke The Drifter". Although it is believed that all the songs featured on the latter disc may not all be originally "Luke The Drifter" songs, they are certainly songs of a more philosophical bent.

T: One thing's for sure though - this collection is better in small doses. I fear if I listened to all three discs in a row, I'd become a redneck serial killer.

N: Bit strong mate.

T: Feisty one you are.

N: And only I might fully appreciate this comment, your having bought me the first two series of "The Inbetweeners" for my birthday recently.

T: I think there's more than just me and you watching it mate.

N: Agreed, but as you include the soundbite in many a recent conversation, it might have to be made clear to others.

T: Feisty one you are. 7/10

Lost Highway - Wikipedia

The Gun Club - Miami (1982) / Death Party EP (1983) / The Las Vegas Story (1984) 26/10/2009

T: A well overdue set of reissues. Led by the late Jeffrey Lee Pierce, The Gun Club were a hugely influential band to the likes of Jack White and Black Francis. "Miami" was one of the finest sophomore efforts ever to grace the planet in this reviewer's humble opinion, making nonsense of the idea that their debut, "Fire Of Love" was unfollowable. Featuring an aura reminiscent of Jim Morrison, and in line with the more inventive bands of the time, such as Echo and the Bunnymen, The Gun Club really reached new heights on thie album.

N: It's music that certainly doesn't seem out of place in today's musical climate. You could even say it possesses a timeless quality, aand perhaps one that was not fully appreciated at the time of these albums' release. A youthful aura, that with bands like the Velvet Underground, The Doors, and even The Byrds, given their more country fuelled songs.

T: Yeah they really were underappreciated in their day. So these reissues consist of a brilliant second album, a staggeringly good EP, and a decent stab at a third release. Wonderful stuff. 9/10

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Jackie Leven - The Haunted Year: Autumn: Greek Notebook / Only The Ocean Can Forgive (Cooking Vinyl) 26/02/2009

T: The final part of Leven's package of properly issued fanclub releases, the first of which was recorded by the man himself on a Sony Walkman. It's the equivalent of a band releasing a second CD full of demos, and it has to be said, Jackie's vision with these tunes is nothing short of breathtaking. It also proves just how adept he is with a guitar in his hand. When I saw him two years ago, it was mainly just rhythm guitar he was performing, but this shows a greater variety with mesmerising finger picking and impressive riffs throughout. The second disc is one of pretty melodies and hilarious stories from the incredulous Scot.

N: A quiet unusual and wonderful recording that not only demonstrates Jackie's musical ability, but also his deadpan storytelling, reaching its dizzy heights with the rib-tickling aside "Sting's Dead". 9/10

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Ste McCabe - Murder Music (Cherryade Records) 26/10/2009

N: An album in which Ste McCabe ensures that he is going to hell, in whichever faith turns out to be right. In his own inimitable fashion, he does it in a highly entertaining fashion.

T: Well even though it has its humorous side, the album appears to be a very serious attack on certain corners of society's views on gay rights. As you have pointed out, this is an explosive, and most enjoyable take on the matters. Often he comes across like an even camper Jilted John, but that's part of the appeal. 8/10

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