1 comments about Never Mind the Sex Pistols Here's the Bollocks.

1. This is not a Sex Pistols CD.
   
   I realize that certain data entry personnel may prefer their bhangra and filmi music to 70's & 80's punk, but if they have any interest in what they're keying into this site's database they should've noticed that they were listing band names as well as song titles for this CD.
   
   NEVER MIND The S*X P*STOLS HERE'S The BOLLOCKS is a various artists comp of punk (and some not so punk) tracks owned by veteran music huckster Miles Copeland, the brother of the Police's Stewart Copeland and founder of IRS Records, who has recently found a new purpose in life as a bellydance promoter.
   
   Of the groups included on this comp, some are from punk's early years (Alternative TV, Chelsea, the Cortinas, Wayne County), some were highly influential (the Fall, Menace, Sham 69), and some (Kim Fowley, Models, Squeeze) don't belong here at all.
   
   Recommended to those looking for Chelsea's "Right to Work" or the Cortinas "Fascist Dictator," or anything by Menace or Wayne (Jayne) County & the Electric Chairs.

5 comments about Kingsize.

1. To me The Boo Radleys were the Best band of the 1990s, regardless of popularity. The band constantly changed and expanded their sound with each and every release-
   From the shoegazing, My Bloody Valentine inspired sounds of 'Everything's Alright Forever' to the Summery kaliedoscopic 'Giant Steps' to their happiest, fun, pop album in 'Wake Up' containing The Boos biggest hit with Wake Up Boo! Then it was off to another album 1996's 'C'mon Kids' which was more of the opposite of 'Wake Up' a neo-psychadelic and dark anti-pop type of album.
   And then you have the Boo Radleys final release. 'Kingsize' in 1998. Influenced in different genres including soul, dance and jazz.
   As much as lyricist Martin Carr strives to write simplicity through pop music - songs like "High As Monkeys" goes against the mold adding chamber music, drum machines and a stunning array of keyboard noises..."Let the Sunshine Crash into our Souls(one of my favorite Boo lines) indeed.
   The Music and vocals reaches it's listener on all levels of emotions.
   'Kingsize' offers the best vocals I have ever heard from lead singer- Simon Rowbottom a.k.a Sice, out of all The Boo Radleys studio albums.
   The Music within is much more eclectic and experimental (in a quieter way) then any of The Boos' earlier works. Expanding pop music as far as pop can be taken. And this my friends, is one of the finest, most energetic Pop/Rock albums that I have ever heard.
   I am not just saying that because The Boo Radleys are my Favorite band, no sir/miss. I truly do mean it with all my heart.
   The lead off track sets the tone with a Oasis meets Aphex Twin like sound with the Powerful 'Blue Room in Archway'
   Then it's off to a more jazzed up orchestrated piece in 'The Old Newsstand at Hamilton Square'
   Track 3 is 'Free Huey' (hit) which may seem a bit repetitive. It is the most fun on 'Kingsize' and most upbeat. Singing : "And you know you Got to be All you can be" over and over as the chorus. A song influenced by Martin Carr after he read up on the Black Panther Party and based this song around that.
   Now we get to one of the Main highlights/standout tracks the Beatle-like title track -'Kingsize' A song that Sice sounds his clearest and most pure, even angelic. Tops for me as far as his vocals go.
   Critics have under-mined this album. They say(said) it's not continuing the same approach that previous albums suggested. It sounds out of step.
   Well, I think that is a bunch of bologna. I don't give this album 5 stars based on the Band's previous releases. I give it 5 stars on the account of being a stand alone great album.
   I like 'Kingsize' so much, that I would recommend this one first to a Boo Radley 'newbie'. Especially if you are not looking for a shoegazer type of sound, but just a solid Rock/pop album, Trust me you won't be disappointed with this.



2. For a band with such a creatively rewarding career(especially the golden trilogy that preceded this album-Giant Steps,Wake Up,C'mon kids)Kingsize can be viewed as nothing else than a colossal disappointment,a major drying out of the fire they once undoubtely posessed.
   
   While C'mon Kids had been a sprawling and colourful canvas of diamonds and quirky shifts in direction the boredom that haunts Kingsize borders on intolerable,or even annoying at times(particularly "Free Huey").
   
   Evidently,for a band so accustomed to the craft of memorable pop songs some are found here but in an appalingly short quantity-the only standouts being"The old newstand at Hamilton Square","Monument for a dead century","Jimmy Webb is God","She's Everywhere" and thwe awesome "High as Monkeys".
   
   I would recommend this album only to hardcore fans since it could give newcomers a completely different idea of what the Boo Radleys are all about but then again the choice is yours.



3. Though they've parted, the music produced by the Boo Radleys should stand the test of time. Unfortunately there aren't a whole lot of people who know about this gem of a band. Formed in Liverpool in the midst of the shoegazer craze (see My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse) they created an impressive catalog of music through this swansong. Opening with slow and gentle guitar tune invaded by an Aphex Twin style drum machine beating and some weepy violin you won't be sure of what to make of it at first. I know I wasn't on first listen some 4 years ago. The collection of songs tap into many of the same themes that remained constant throughout the Boo's career - politics, anquish in love, anguish in loneliness, good friends. The highlight has to be 'Heaven's At The Bottom Of This Glass', an excellent melding of guitars, piano, percussion (including bongos and tambourine), horns, bass and Sice's ever-smooth voice. The album bounces from the highly energetic 'Free Huey' to the mellower, 70's AM-radio tinged 'Song From The Blueroom'. 'Comb Your Hair' manages to capture the essence of the bubblegum pop that was prevalent in the 50's. 'Monuments For A Dead Century' builds from acoustic guitar and flute into shimmering guitar and synthesized vocals and is a beautiful tune. The album doesn't suffer through any inconsistencies and maintains the pop mastery of The Boo Radleys throughout. It is a piece of work the band should be proud of and should be appreciated by their fans, new and old alike. It is unfortunate they weren't as recognized as they should have been for their craft. I highly recommend their '93 album Giant Steps as it is in my opinion the finest and most complete pop music album recorded in the 90's



4. Anyone expecting to stare at their shoes and cry should not get this album. But if you want to hear one of the funnest, most catchiest, and just a dog-gone good album then cop this album. A far cry from "Everything's Alright Forever"; which I like very much, this album takes the great song writing from that album and throws it against feel-good rythms and beats. You'll find yourself singing and thinking about the great lyrics found throughout the whole album. This album will appeal to fans of their earlier recordings, with a few slow & soft songs that are terrific. But the up-tempo even "techno-ee" songs is what makes this album unique and great. Can't pick out any stand-out songs because literally all the songs on the albumt are great.



5. After 6 diverse and exciting albums the Boo Radleys caleld it a day, although Martin Carr's recently released 'Fingertip Saint sessions' discs under the name Brave Captain are worth a go. It was a fine way to go out. Rarely has an album been inspired by classic pop, Britpop, Soul, Jazz and Electronic at the same time and not sounded like a pretentious mess. Highlight in my mind is Eurostar, where singer Sice's voice gloriously peaks and flows. The title track is equally beautiful, but it's tracks like High as Monkeys and Adieu CLo-CLo which are particularly unpredictable. The way the latter shamelessly samples Curtis Mayfield is a nice touch, and Sice's voice is again on top form. One mystery is why the excellent Put Your Arms... was not on the UK release as it's a lovely retro sound. Unlike may peopel I'm not that keen on the first 2 tracks, but after that the group is on top form. Lyrically Martin Carr si one of the best, and here he digs into tobacco companies (Monuments For A Dead Century's Philip Morris section), the Millenium (Monuments, Future is Now), and everythign else imaginable. With a few good old-fashioned love songs as well. This is probably their best album, although C'Mon Kids is up there if you like an edgy sound and Giant Steps has teh great elements of this, though it seems a bit looser. An under-rated gem.

2 comments about Once More with Feeling: Singles 1996-2004.

1. I've always loved Placebo, and I'm so glad that all my favorite songs are now on one disk. The new ones are great too. My only regret is that My Sweet Prince isn't on the disk, as that might be my all time favorite Placebo song.



2. I have always been a fan of Placebo's music over the years but felt that ever since their black market album their music just got too repetitive.
   So i stopped buying their music.
   
   So this compilation is a great treat as it'll allow me to have everything in one shot. I don't think it's missing any songs so in my eyes it's a great best of compilation!
   
   Very much worth checking out!

5 comments about X&Y.

1. If Coldplay is generation Y's U2, that would mean "Rush of Blood to the Head" is its Joshua Tree. In turn that would mean that the next list of albums will turn out to be minor disapointments. It may also mean that due to Gen Y's short attention span, Coldplay will not last nearly as long, and have fewer good albums. It really is too bad, as they have taken over the artsy british rock crown from Radiohead.
   Now, there are two kinds of fans who will buy this album. Those who want to listen to Coldplay, and Chris Martin lovers. I myself am a coldplay lover. Don't get me wrong, Chris Martin is the perfect vocalist for this band and without his piano work Coldplay wouldn't be what it is today. But the problem with this album is the focus is drifting too much on Chris Martin and not the music. Sure, its good for business to have a sex symbol being the main focus of a band, but the art will struggle because of it. Before, in Parachutes and Rush of Blood to the Head, there was a perfect balance between Coldplay and Chris Martin, between the Music and the Man. Now that balance has completely gone askew. It shows in the slower songs that a certain pretentiousness is arising, and a naivity that is far more blatant than before. I guess the thing that really bothers me is Chris Martin singing without any music, which to me seems silly, and very self-important in contrast to a good supporting cast.
   3 stars, however, is not enough. I wanted to give it 3 1/2, but 4 would have been pushing it. Some of the music has amazing flows. The drumming is solid, and the guitar distortions are exceptionally effective. The lyrics, are very hit and miss. Some of them, are simply stunning. Others are extremely naive, or even pompous. The best songs, the music flows pleasantly, and works surprisingly well. If every song followed a similar logic, this album would be stunning, but it would also be harder for singles to be released. Again, good for business, but bad for art.
   1. Square One: 4/5 One of the better songs on this album, it starts off well, has some good parts, but the ending is almost spoiled by shoddy and naive lyrics.
   2. What if: 3/5 Very inconsistent in terms of both instrumentals, and flow. A bad introduction, with occasional parts of brilliance. Unorganized, flawed, and naive, with promise however.
   3. White Shadows: 5/5. The best song on this album, amazing use of distortions, back-up vocals, and overall instrumentation. This is another perfect balance between Coldplay and Chris. Lyrics are boarderline strong, and some of them are very well done.
   4. Fix you: 2/5. Allright, i dont watch the OC. This is the worst song on the CD, and released as a single. The opening is simply cheesy, as are the lyrics. This is sadly the new direction of Coldplay, or should i say Chris Martin. Even the vocals at the beginning, the vocals are strangely poor. This song is almost completely done by chris, at least the 1st 1/2. It does finally pick up about 2 mins in, which is far too long. If you are a coldplay fan, fear this if it is the future(Think of the last several U2 albums). When the group sings together it is unnecessary and doesnt really add to this song, it just sounds cheesy.
   5. Talk 3.5/5. A better song on this album, is very inconsistent. The lyrics aren't that great, and there are sections that are poorly done. But the chorus is somewhat well constructed and has instances of being enjoyable, even some of the lyrics are great, but overall mediocre.
   6. X&Y 3.5/5 Another poor introduction, but this song does in fact get better. The rhythm is simple, but effective. Lyrics, again mediocre. Good guitar work, and drumming is flawless.
   7. Speed of Sound: 4/5. This single released from the album is good, the only thing preventing itself from being amazing is the fact that at parts it is nearly identical to clocks. Amazing guitar distortions, and the bass gives a good heartbeat to the song. Above average lyrics, and a good balance between focus on the band and chris martin, at least relatively. I think maybe the piano, though good could have been toned down a bit.
   8. A Message: 4/5. A newer version of sparks, but there is nothing wrong with that. At least the music doesnt suffer. As for chris martin this is a good use of his talents, and his band backing him up.
   9. Low : 4.5/5. One of the far better songs on this CD. The lyrics are above average. The riffs are basic, but good nonetheless. Perhaps what is so good about Chris Martin is that the lines between his singing and talking are very blurred. He has a very good voice, he can raise an octave without any noticeable difference, seemingly completely calm, talk-singing, and then belt out a high pitched sound with great flow. It can also come down with equal fluidity. This song showcases it, but not at the expense of the band.
   10. The Hardest Part: 3.5/5, I don't have any significant complaints, of things that havent allready been heard. It has good flow, and balance. I love the guitar about 1:20 into it. But at the same time, it is nothing special, and as far as coldplay goes, its not up with their other music.
   11. Swallowed in the Sea: 4/5. Allthough it is guilty of the general complaint i had about this album, the lyrics are stunning. The sounds backing up chris' voice, create a mystical fairy tale feel to it. The band slowly comes back into it, first guitarist then bassist and drummer. The pace gets faster, which works.
   12. Twisted Logic 3.5/5. Still guilty of the main complaint. But instrumentally becomes something much more. Perhaps you can see what i mean in my major complaint. With a strong instrumental, why do we need to hear Chris Martin sing by himself? Why should the spotlight solely be on him? It just seems silly. Now here him with his band, isnt it so much better?
   13. Kingdom Come: 5/5. Another song i like. It is a very good ballad, lyrically it is very good, and musically very well written. Nothing spectacular, but very well put together instrumentally. It is simply effective, that is why it is so good. The album could not have closed on a better song, kind of unorthodox for coldplay but that does not matter.
   I know, i may get a lot of responses, and that this will be a very controversial. If you are a coldplay lover, not a chris martin lover, then listen to my review after hearing the entire CD for a while. The overall flow of the CD is marred slightly by some of its poor songs, but a good effort, not just what i expected after Rush of Blood to the head.



2. This album is great. It's hard-hitting, lacks pretension when pretension could have been easily inserted, and has generally good songs. The only reason I am giving this album four stars is because Coldplay's sophomore studio album, "A Rush of Blood to the Head" is a classic album. It is a five-star effort, and X&Y, although good, falls short of greatness in comparison to "Rush of Blood". I wouldn't recommend this album to new Coldplay fans, but rather, to die-hards who know what to expect from the band. It's spacey, it's cool, it's another consistently good Coldplay album.



3. I'm still confused as to why Cold Play is so popular. The lead singer has a TERRIBLE voice. He can't hit any notes and it sounds like he's just talking in a sing song like voice!

   And what is with those lyrics?

   All that noise, and all that sound,
   All those places I got found.
   And birds go flying at the speed of sound,
   to show you how it all began.
   Birds came flying from the underground,
   if you could see it then you'd understand

   Do those make sense to you? Didn't think so.




4. this was the 1st coldplay cd i ever purchased, just bought their other 2 cds for amazing price (9.49) each at futureshop.!=] sadly, as much i hoped this cd to be outstanding, it was justtt OKAY. the 1st song i listened to obviously was fix you. i was already sick of speed of sound. and even that being the 1st release was just okay. nothing impressive, i still haven't managed to listen to the whole cd...

   1) square one/ ehhh. it was good the first couple times
   2) what if/ ECK only listened to whole song once
   3) white shadows/ friend liked it but bleh for me
   4/ fix you. typical coldplay song . loved it but it didn't stick
   5/ talk/ BLEH!!!!
   6) x&y/ didn't stick the first couple times but then still like it now
   7) speed of sound/ ...
   8) a message/ 1st couple times nehh. but really like it now although i skip it after halfway
   9) low/ hmmm never finished it
   10) the hardest part/ BLEH!!
   11) swallowed in the sea/ good at first but now annoying
   12) twisted logic/ same as 11
   13) BEAUTIFUL BUT SINCE THEY DIDN'T REALLY WRITE IT CREDIT GOES ALL TO CASH. (written by johnny cash b4 he died) but chris does do a nice job singing.

   hmmm that's quite a lot of blehs and ehhh. and has anyone else noticed how annoying it is that almost 70% of their songs on x&y either start with a slowwwwww intro that sucks orrrr solo guitar with sorta talking/singing over...=annoying

   OVERALL it was almost 2.75/5 chris' voice is still nice, songs are nice ballads, overall again: nice =[ and hey i wanted it to be good. still their previous albums beat this one. nonetheless you should buy this to SUPPORT THEM. WHO KNOWS MB THEIR NEXT ONE WILL AWE US ALL . but SERIOUSLY. WHAT IS UP WITH THE WEIRD LOOKING STICKERS OR TATS ON CHRIS'HAND???




5. This cd is absolutely, 100 percent, completely and totally fabulous. Coldplay did a fanatstic job both with the lyrics and music. Standout tracks are "White Shadows", "Fix You", "Low", and "Swallowed In The Sea". I just saw them in concert in Toronto and they were positively amazing! An outstanding third effort. The whole copy guarded deal was a waste, though.

1 comments about Cosmic Debris.

1. Ok, so this is more like a greatest hits album with a couple B-sides mixed in, but this is still a great collection of Ash at it's very best. Each song is yet another slice of pop-punk-indie perfection. Better still, they're songs for different attitudes, if you are feeling mad and just want to burst, listen to Numbskull, it's perfect for that kind of situation. And the list of incredible songs goes on, but you don't want to hear that. What you should hear is Intergalactic Sonic 7". So go, buy it, right now! I mean it!!

1 comments about Frozen.

1. Curve / Frozen
   Year: 1991
   Track Title
   1. Coast Is Clear
   2. The Colour Hurts
   3. Frozen
   4. Zoo

1 comments about The Stone Roses.

1. It's about time. The Stone Roses released only two albums: the incredible "Stone Roses" and the enjoyable "Second Coming". I can't put my finger on why I like the Roses so much. Of course I love John Squire's ethereal, ringing guitar, and the rhythm section of Reni and Gary Mournfield never lets up. Let's put it this way, the Stone Roses are to the Beatles what the Jam are to the Who.
   
   The only fault I can really find with this 2 DVD package is, do we really need 3 versions of "Waterfall" and "I Wanna be Adored"? Hmmm, maybe. Also, the material is all from "Stone Roses". Didn't they do any videos, TV appearances, or concerts in support of "Second Coming"? Probably a marketing decision and we'll see another 2 disc DVD next year. Oh well, put my order in now.
   
   I read reviews of this package on the Amazon UK site and saw that it was routinely slammed for the poor audio and visual quality of the Blackpool concert. Well, all I know is that it looked and sounded pretty good, for a 15 year old concert, on my copy. I don't think the "for true fans only" comments were justified, based on my experience.
   
   High points: Waterfall, She Bangs the Drums, Shoot You Down from the Blackpool concert. Fool's Gold and One Love from the video section. Fool's Gold and I Wanna be Adored from the TV appearances.
   
   If you've never heard or heard of the Stone Roses (why are you reading this, then?) buy this DVD and join the hundreds of thousands of us who have seen the light. If you're a SR fan, what are you waiting for?
   
   Oh, if you didn't pay attention to this review, the 4 bands mentioned in my title are the Roses, the Beatles, the Jam and the Who.

5 comments about Rising for Sunset.

1. pretty good live document of this powerful english rock band. all the songs sound good and there aren't really many surprises. solid.



2. I already had a prior compilation for this band so I've already heard a number of the tracks and its saving grace was the differences between the live and studio versions and the new songs. Few live albums have a real strong sense of closure, but the track selection on this one has a good arc and makes you want more, just like a good studio album



3. As a huge fan of Gene, I assumed they were a "studio" band. I assumed that their soft electronic rythms and techno beats would fail miserably on a live album. Any Grateful Dead lover will tell you there is nothing quite as painful as a sub-par live album when it comes to one of your favorite bands.

   Fortunately, I was completely wrong. This recording from the Troubado in Hollywood is TOP NOTCH! Though unaided by high-tech gadgetry, lead singer Martin Rossiter's vocals are superb.

   I wouldn't push this CD on a first time Gene listener, but for anyone even familiar with their work, this is a must have CD.




4. Wonderful live album from a wonderful live act. Contains just about every Gene song that you could wish for including 2 promising new songs. If you lke Gene this is an essential purchase, if you want to find out what they're like then this is a good starting place



5. a great treat for us americans who didn't get to hear much of gene during the "revelations" phase. can't believe they released this in 3 weeks and polydor didn't manage to get that last one here at all. cheers. worth the cost of my show tix and the album, it was recorded live at the troubador. there are two new ones on here "somewhere in the world" is a stunner.

No comments about Greatest Hits.

No comments about Stand Your Ground.