CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

This is Alphabeat

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Alphabeat

Release Date June 02, 2008
A great album, all high-octane Scissor Sister-esque camp one moment and full-of-itself grandeur the next.

"Go-Go" and "Boyfriend" sound like True Blue-era Madonna, having a mix with Opportunities-era Pet Shop Boys, whilst "10,000 Nights" and "Fascination" could have been on the last SS's album.

There's also a Grease soundtrack / rockabilly thing going on, which resurrects the shades of Aqua and <> The Cartoons, but there's a great sense of genuine fun and songwriting nous which elevates this album way beyond any of that.

The male vocalist has a kind of twang to his delivery that put me in mind of the lead vocalist of The Tubes ('Fee' Waybill) - no bad thing, in my book.

I didn't expect ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

Very Best Of Smooth Jazz

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Various Artists

Release Date June 23, 2008
A great album, all high-octane Scissor Sister-esque camp one moment and full-of-itself grandeur the next.

"Go-Go" and "Boyfriend" sound like True Blue-era Madonna, having a mix with Opportunities-era Pet Shop Boys, whilst "10,000 Nights" and "Fascination" could have been on the last SS's album.

There's also a Grease soundtrack / rockabilly thing going on, which resurrects the shades of Aqua and <> The Cartoons, but there's a great sense of genuine fun and songwriting nous which elevates this album way beyond any of that.

The male vocalist has a kind of twang to his delivery that put me in mind of the lead vocalist of The Tubes ('Fee' Waybill) - no bad thing, in my book.

I didn't expect ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Tales from the Beach

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Incognito

Release Date May 05, 2008
On first listen I was bit disappointed - but I kept at it, and sure enough the grooves started to register, and in time nearly every track was etched on my brain. Really a very strong album indeed - not quite 5 star as there a one or two weaker tracks - but overall a cracker. "Love, Joy and Understanding" is an absolute stand out. A real return to form - right up there with the superb "Eleven".

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Floating Point

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: John McLaughlin

Release Date June 30, 2008
You have to pay attention to a man who has two Miles Davis pieces named for him, but I was paying attention to John McLaughlin well before I realised he and Miles had even met. Back in the seventies, when he was to me what Clapton could only pretend to be, McLaughlin was renowned for white overalls, twin-necked guitars and his adherence to eastern mysticism, referenced by the strong, even at times all-pervasive, influence of Indian music on his work.

It is to that influence that this set returns, bolstered by an ensemble whose names suggest they, too, originate in the sub-continent. To call them backing musicians, however, is to totally misrepresent their role here. In many ways McLaughlin takes a leaf out of his old mentor's book, giving his ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Brilliant Corners [Keepnews Collection]

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Thelonious Monk

Release Date June 09, 2008
You have to pay attention to a man who has two Miles Davis pieces named for him, but I was paying attention to John McLaughlin well before I realised he and Miles had even met. Back in the seventies, when he was to me what Clapton could only pretend to be, McLaughlin was renowned for white overalls, twin-necked guitars and his adherence to eastern mysticism, referenced by the strong, even at times all-pervasive, influence of Indian music on his work.

It is to that influence that this set returns, bolstered by an ensemble whose names suggest they, too, originate in the sub-continent. To call them backing musicians, however, is to totally misrepresent their role here. In many ways McLaughlin takes a leaf out of his old mentor's book, giving his ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

The Best of Humphrey Lyttleton [3CD Box Set]

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Humphrey Lyttelton

Release Date April 14, 2003
Have just been reminded that i bought this by the sad news that Lyttleton has passed away.
I first heard about Humph from a documentary on the Brecon Jazz festival and i ended up wanting to hear more. This is a good box set with a hell of alot of tracks making it great value and a fine introduction to British post war jazz.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

Blake

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Blake

Release Date November 05, 2007
What a stunning album! I requested it for Christmas after seeing Blake at the Festival of Remembrance, and what a delight the album was... my only criticisms are first - a few naff tracks (God only knows - Beachboys did it better) and too many female sopranos in some (Swing low). If I buy a CD for men singing harmony, I don't want screeching women!
I do hope that a second album (and a website??) will soon be available.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

Damn Right I've Got The Blues

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Buddy Guy

Release Date September 18, 2004
Buddy Guy celebrates his new recording contract with Silvertone by setting out his stall from the very first track - the title which features some exceptionally fiery guitar playing and there's some lovely fluid guitar playing all over this album. As well as this facet Buddy Guy shows his softer - more "bluesier" side on "Five Long Years" and "Black Night" - the two longest tracks on the album. The album features a stellar cast of guitar greats - Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler but Buddy Guy's guitar burns the brightest of them all. There's an odd cover here of "Mustang Sally" which is taken a tad slower than normal but works well. The last track - "Remembering Stevie" is in homage to the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan and is a beautiful poignant instrumental. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Tuesday Wonderland

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Esbjorn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.)

Release Date September 25, 2006
fading made preludium
30 seconds of blissfully quiet piano before grinding, crashing
godspeed-esque noise and chaos, electric bass flanged and feeding back
like a guitar for the next three minutes

tuesday wonderland
repetitive, kraut-ey piano riff, almost like life's what you make it
by talk talk, bass drops in, other piano layers and twirls dance
around skittish drums simple acoustic bass patterns at deceptive
speed. glacial concentric circles and swirls

the goldhearted miner
twanging acoustic strings give way to piano and slow, sweeping drum
brushes, occasionally the twanging strings re-emerge as a motif.
autumnal, balladic, falling leaves, frosty paygrounds

brewery of beggars ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Body Heat

CD-Charts > Music > Bestsellers
by: Quincy Jones

Release Date October 01, 1999
fading made preludium
30 seconds of blissfully quiet piano before grinding, crashing
godspeed-esque noise and chaos, electric bass flanged and feeding back
like a guitar for the next three minutes

tuesday wonderland
repetitive, kraut-ey piano riff, almost like life's what you make it
by talk talk, bass drops in, other piano layers and twirls dance
around skittish drums simple acoustic bass patterns at deceptive
speed. glacial concentric circles and swirls

the goldhearted miner
twanging acoustic strings give way to piano and slow, sweeping drum
brushes, occasionally the twanging strings re-emerge as a motif.
autumnal, balladic, falling leaves, frosty paygrounds

brewery of beggars ... Read More: