CD-Charts Position 171
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Squirrel and G-Man

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Happy Mondays

Release Date January 04, 2000
Squirrel & G-Man was the Monday's debut released on Manchester's Factory records in 1987. John Cale (Velvet Underground) is on production duties, presumably because of the Velvet's drug history going hand in hand with the Monday's renowned intake.

The album displays a crude funk reminiscent of post punk funksters such as Gang of Four and A Certain Ratio. Cale concentrates on developing the funk by bringing the drums and bass to the front. What sets this album apart is the Ryder brothers Paul & Shaun. Shaun's guttersniping one-liners are well known and deserve all the credit they get but older sibling Paul's bass lines make the record listenable.

A couple of tracks let the side down but Tart Tart is as good ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 172
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Phantom Power

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Super Furry Animals

Release Date July 21, 2003
This is a record that I seem to be able to appreciate more each time I listen to it. I still don't like it as much as "Love Kraft", but it seems that I can appreciate the composition of the album more when I stop looking for stand out tracks. I wonder actually whether this is a concept album. I've not heard mention of it so far, but there are more excursions into political discourse than the Super Furries usually incorporate. The psychedelic imagery is still there, and also the fun factor.

I've always thought of the Super Furry Animals as the British Flaming Lips, but at the same time I always wonder why I think of them that way. They don't really sound alike, but I guess they share a kind of outlook and aesthetic.

This ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 173
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The Remixes

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Stone Roses

Release Date October 30, 2000
Can't beat the originals but there are some great alternatives on here, especially the two versions of Waterfall. Certainly one for the collection.

CD-Charts Position 174
Average Rating:

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The Trip created by St. Etienne

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Various Artists, mixed by St Etienne

Release Date September 27, 2004
This is a sensational compilation and, for my money, by far the strongest of the Trip series. I've always had a soft spot for St Etienne's mix of beats, melody and kitsch and their influences are certainly evident here. CD1 is the more upbeat and cheesy set, the highlights being a hidden gem by post-Ross Supremes (track 9), a bombastic 70s stomper (22) and a couple of Northern Soul interludes. But the more consistent delight is CD2 with at least 7 or 8 obscure golden nuggets. The collective strength stems from some awesome female vocal performances by, variously, Sandy Denny, Beverley Martin, Dusty Springfield and, in the set's climax, Julie Covington. Elsewhere there are sumptuous arrangements aplenty (tracks 1, 7. 14, 20), some delightful eccentricities, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 175
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Brotherhood

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: New Order

Release Date April 10, 2000
As a fan converted by 1985's Low-Life album I read up on the band and it was apparent they took TIME between recording. It was thus a great shock to recieve Brotherhood the very next year! I know NOW that this haste was due to Factory Records haemoraging money into The Hacienda night club but back in 1986 all I knew was there was a new album to be welcomed!
Brotherhood builds on Low-Life and adds acoustic guitar to their electronic palete to great effect.It also bosts their synth sound at it's best, the classic New Order sound never got any better than this!
Paradise is a good intro with drums ala Love Vigilantes, Weirdo swaggers along on Peter Hook's booming bass with a great solo too. As It Is When It Was is a classic, with low key acoustic guitars ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 176
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Finisterre

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Saint Etienne

Release Date October 07, 2002
after the appalling sound of water album i struggled to think of how saint etienne could ever produce an album that i would love again.but they did and im proud to say this is one of my favourite albums of 2002.most of the songs are excellent especially action and shower scene.the main thing that spoils it are the voice overs between songs.very annoying.great album though

CD-Charts Position 177
Average Rating:

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Brothers & Sisters

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Coldplay

Release Date December 01, 2003
Got the E.P. and it's great but i'm only writing the review to say the tracklisting is wrong. I guess that much is quite obvious really - i can't imagine Chris crooning "Embraceable You" (although that could be fun)

Anyway, here's the correct tracklisting:

1) Brothers and Sisters
2) Easy To Please
3) Only Superstition

CD-Charts Position 178
Average Rating:

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Low-Life

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: New Order

Release Date January 04, 2000

Best tracks: "This Time of Night", "Sunrise", "Elegia".

New Order's third album is possibly even better than Power, Corruption and Lies, and that was a bit of a classic! The band have found their niche with their trademark bass-fuelled, ringing-guitar embellished dance-pop, yet here the quartet admirably try a few new things; the opening "Love Vigilantes" is best described as electronic country and western, yet it's played out so effortlessly and wonderfully that it's nowhere near as gimmicky as that description might suggest. The lyrics are something else entirely, listen and find out for yourself!

Okay, now the song that follows is the greatest ever New Order song, and that's "The Perfect Kiss", but, but BUT!!! The version here on Low-Life just does not ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 179
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Sonic Flower Groove

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: Primal Scream

Release Date July 01, 1991
I've read a few Bobby Gillespie interviews, and heard him mention some of the Scream's 60's influences like The Byrds and Love, and you can hear them all over this album. It's not at all like any of their later stuff (maybe bits of Screamadelica), but as far from Xtrmntr or the Southern strutt of of 'Give Out, But Don't Give Up' as you can imagine. A great collection of well crafted indie pop songs. I've found my summer album for 2006 (well, until Riot City Blues comes out in June. C'MON!)

CD-Charts Position 180
Average Rating:

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Sound of Water

CD-Charts > Music > British
by: St. Etienne

Release Date May 22, 2000
This is an excellent Sunday morning record. All the hallmark Saint Etienne sounds are here but that is not a criticism. A record where the band are at their most pensive and producing some fairly emotional and thoughtful tracks. There is also some rather nice sequencing and mood generation emerging througout the record.

Best tracks in my opinion are 'Heart Failed', 'Don't back down' and 'How we used to live' but I can't really fault any of them. Recommended for the half-way mood days when you're neither up or down.