CD-Charts Position 41
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King of Cards

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Tom McRae

Release Date May 14, 2007
I had none of Tom McRae's other albums but Amazon recommended it to me.

And what an album it is. Stunning, emotional, beautiful. Since writing this review I am gone and bought All Maps Welcome - Another stunning album. Tom McRae is amazing! Cannot understand why some people compare him to Radiohead though! - I see no resemblance whatsoever.

Thoroughly recommended.

CD-Charts Position 42
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Oyster

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Heather Nova

Release Date September 01, 2000
Oyster opens with the brooding mid tempo rock number Walk This World, Heal is a tender ballad with lovely acoustic guitar whilst Island is a long passionate rock song with great vocals and evocative imagery. Love ballads like Light Years, Verona and Maybe An Angel are found alongside surges of aggressive rock. Sugar has plenty of tempo variation, starting out slow and atmospheric like a spoken poem, then developing into a full-blown rock number. I like the solemn drums and interesting arrangement of Throwing Fire At The Sun. A highlight of Oyster is the melodic pop song Truth And Bone with its poetic lyrics and hypnotic chorus. The poignant and tuneful Doubled Up In Love that concludes the album is my favorite. Nova seems to prefer complex arrangements ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 43
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Other People's Lives

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Ray Davies

Release Date February 06, 2006
Well, I saw Ray live last September and he played some of the tracks to be featured on this long-awaited album then, The Tourist and Stand-Up Comic amongst the set. I loved these new tracks and looked forward to the February launch, hoping that live memories wouldn't taint the album for me.

I needn't have worried. The album is spectacular. The sound is not far away from The Kinks later material, and in passion, not far away from the mid-60s work. There are songs reminiscent of the legendary Kinks Village Green album (Next Door Neighbour) as well as songs unlike any in Davies' oeuvre (Other Peoples Lives, with its Latin sound). Ray is 61 years old but still has the passion of a younger man (not to mention the voice) on tracks like After The Fall and ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 44
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Lapalco

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Brendan Benson

Release Date March 31, 2003
I had to post this review after reading the review by thisisadrian which I completely disagree with, I absolutely love Indie music and somehow I'd never heard of BB until my girlfriend turned me on to him and I seriously cannot stop listening to all 3 of his albums which are all brilliant in different ways and he's nothing like David Gray or Coldplay he has far more cred than that! I think the previous reviewer may regret writing his nonsense since BB is now in a band with Jack White (Raconteurs), I've had the pleasure of seeing them live in Glasgow and they are going to be MASSIVE!!!

CD-Charts Position 45
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Just Enough Education to Perform

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Stereophonics

Release Date April 09, 2001
Stereophonics have a knack of performing to anyone but their peers. They know the art of conversation and when it's best to say nothing. Whether it's staring at someone in a jail cell or laughing at themselves in the same position -Maybe- they are cutting edge rock with an Alien twist. Just don't try too hard to swallow Vegas Two Times and have a nice day. Thinking of you, dude.

CD-Charts Position 46
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You Gotta Go There to Come Back

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Stereophonics

Release Date June 02, 2003
This phonics installment takes them in a completely different direction from their last 3 rock based albums. with a slower tempo and more acoustic feel, it would not even be far-fetched to call this a 'blues' record.

Yet despite initial reservations and granted it took me a while to warm to this album, i definately like it now.

Ive never thought the phonics have been able to match the standard they set themselves with 'word gets around' (their debut album) and this is by no means in that league, but then again its probably the first album they've released post WGA that doesn't really try to be. madame helga is a more traditional offering from the phonics but other than that tunes such as 'maybe tommorrow' epitimise the record. This is definately Kelly Jones' ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 47
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Just Like the Fambly Cat

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Grandaddy

Release Date May 15, 2006
One facet of Grandaddy's music is consistently overlooked by critics and reviewers: that this is profoundly *American* music; it is the truest expression and "sound" of a warm American Summertime afternoon since Pet Sounds, complete with lawn mowers, sprinklers spinning around, and crickets in the cool evening. Grandaddy owe more to The Band, Big Star, the Velvets, Dylan, Gram Parsons, and the 13th Floor Elevators than they do Radiohead, the Flaming Lips, and Mercury Rev.

And this, their final LP, is easily as good as anything in their back catalog, though, as everyone notes, it is more complex, more inaccessible, and generally harder to "get". They seem to have pulled out all the stops to be as sonically bold and challenging as possible, and it certainly pays off to the careful ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 48
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As Is Now [CD + DVD]

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Paul Weller

Release Date October 10, 2005
In 2005, a single called "From The Floorboards Up" came out and pairs of loafers danced. A roar of pride. In at number 7. The man had done it and reminded people what he could do. It sounded like Johnny Kidd & The Pirates. It sounded urgent. In the autumn came "Come On/Lets Go" and 2005 sounded good and alive.
"As Is Now" is not a consistent peak across its fourteen tracks. The aforementioned singles are the cream of the album. That is not, however, to say that the rest of the album is poor.
Kicking off with some stodge in "Blink And You'll Miss It" and the lumpen "Paper Smile" you could be forgiven for wandering off. However track 3 comes good with "Come On..."
"Here's The Good News" is charming enough. "Savages" is a belter. "Roll Along Summer" could be "Cafe Bleu" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 49
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In/Casino/Out

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: At The Drive-In

Release Date December 06, 2004
This is quite possibly my favourite album of all time. In Transatlantic Foe it certianly does contain my favourite track of all time, packed with energy and an infectious switch of tempo and melody. Lopsided and Napoleon Solo are other standout tracks that show a real development of maturity from Acrobatic Tenement and El Gran Orgo. While Hourglass is a clear emotional and melodic precursor of the likes of Invalid Litter Dept. Not as accessible as Relationship of Command but ultimately more satisfying. It's still as enjoyable and inspiring to listen to as it was the so many years ago that I bought it.

CD-Charts Position 50
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One More Drifter in the Snow

CD-Charts > Music > Albums
by: Aimee Mann

Release Date September 25, 2006
Aimee Mann, loved and lauded for her sharp, original songwriting, doing cover versions? Surely not?! Well, it works, thanks to Aimee's superbly understated vocal and some truly innovative, yet retro, arrangements. Highlights are the poignant original composition "Calling On Mary" which sees the individual heartache under the seasonal tinsel, "Have Yourself..." which refreshes a tired classic using a simple but highly effective keyboard riff, and "White Christmas" which is nicely de-Binged by a mournful bass drum throughout. Mann's aim was to recreate the magic of vintage Christmas LPs by Sinatra, Matt Monro etc. but she's actually made this all her own.

One star docked only for the very short running time (33 mins) and possibility that it won't sound great on the beach in July!