Queen – One.
9/10.
Why review an album that’s 50 years old, well simply
as it has been picked apart and lovingly restored, the instruments are so
subtly different the tones on the drums, guitars, vocals, just about everything
is so improved, it’s part of a vast box set, and yes its expensive, in the old
days I would have panicked as to how I was going to pay for it, now I have
Apple music, I simply click the button and I have it.
So why not a perfect score simply as they have
restored a track that was supposed to be on the album “Mad the Swine” it was
released at the time of Innuendo as a b side and that’s what it feels like I’m
afraid a little too similar to other songs on the album, is it any good, I like
it but it does pop up unexpectedly in the running order. So, what do you get in
this box set well its quite comprehensive.
Disc 1 – The album and extra track, its like a warm hug,
I can’t wait until they do the second album, you can hear every little thing
that was recorded.
Disc 2 - The De Lane Lea demo’s, the originals I’ve
heard them before just not in this depth of clarity (dodgy tapes back in the
day).
Disc 3 – Trident Backing tracks 13 tracks in various
stages of construction and banter, if you are a fan, you will love this.
Disc 4 - Various backing tracks and instrumental versions,
my least favourite disc, but still good from a historical point of view.
Disc 5 – Live at the BBC – this I have had for a number
of years, as it was released in 1989 (I think) this has 11 tracks as opposed to
the original 8.
Disc 6 – this where I thought there might be some rare
stuff, sadly not, its mainly taken from live at the Rainbow video but the last
4 tracks haven’t been released before including Hangman one of the oldest Queen
songs which I had on a few bootlegs usually of crap quality, it was nice to
finally hear a good quality version of it, although its safe to see why it was
never recorded for an album, then a couple of tracks from their first gig at
Imperial College London.
Is it worth it, most definitely and if I had the disposable
cash to hand, I would buy it in a heartbeat however because of the quality it
is very expensive (but worth it).
Cats in Space – Time Machine. 7/10
This is a great album , to be honest I haven’t had it
as long as the others and it’s a slightly complicated piece of work, its like
City Boy (The Band) mixed with Styx, it’s
all a bit too clever and sometimes it
comes across as musical theatre, that’s not a bad thing its just hard to put
your finger on it, the writing, singing and playing is all superb ( I would
like to hear the guitars being a bit louder in the mix) the more I play it the
more I like it, I have had it since since Monday (the 28th) and I have
played it 6 times, every time it’s played something else jumps out in the mix, they
have played close to us twice recently, unfortunately life gets in the way, but
they are top of the list to go and see, if you like classic well written well
played and ultimately well sang songs this is the band for you, maybe start
with a couple of the earlier albums that aren’t as dense (musically speaking)
one of the best British bands out there at the moment.
Beth Hart – You still got me. 7/10.
This lady never does a bad album , however the first
two tracks are the weakest of this bunch, both with special guests (Slash &
Eric Gale) they both add nothing to the tracks in my humble opinion, its when she’s
let off the leash by herself and her band that’s when it gets slinky, lots of
different styles and just damn good music, I know her singing in vibrato puts
some people off, but she uses her voice to devasting effect on this album, I avoided
her last album as it was a tribute to Led Zeppelin, I’m simply not a fan of the
band, I might go back and try it, is this her best album no, but its not a bad
album, start with her “War in my Mind” album and work all the way through her
back catalogue you won’t be disappointed.
Amanda Marshall – Heavy Lifting. 7/10.
Again a lady who should have been massive but a shit
manager and record label and the lady wanting to do things her own way, well
its taken a while for her to come back, 22 years after her last album she is
finally back, I discovered this quite by accident and I was over the moon to
discover it, the one issue I have with it is its obviously a break up album as
the songs clearly indicate that, that doesn’t make it a bad album (because its
not) it does come across as slightly bitter, I suppose she’s entitled to, it’s
a great starting point and its closer to her debut album style wise (which is totally
awesome) not her more polished “modern” albums, if you find them they are all
worth it, and again the more I play this the more I get into the groove, and it
is a great groove album, I would love to see her live one more time as a
headline act not as a support.
So, that’s the albums on rotation this week, not a bad
album among them, just maybe as good as some of their previous albums its all
good, play and kick back and watch the world keep spinning, until the next time………………………….
Toodles!