Destroyer by Black Mountain

Destroyer by Black Mountain - Album Review

The fifth album from Canadian rockers, Black Mountain, a band that I'd not come across before this year, arrives and continues the confounding of expectations that I found in opening track, "Future Shade". I've already eulogised about how much I like that track, here. My thoughts on the rest of the album continue below.

The list of influences is long, from classic rock & metal behemoths Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Iron Maiden to the indie rock of bands like Swell via Berlin-era David Bowie and Depeche Mode. I love the way they use keyboards and guitars to equally powerful effect.

"Horns Arising" starts by continuing the hard rocking with vocoder vocals and strong keyboard work, before becoming a Mastodon-esque stomper then morphing into sinister but pastoral folk and back again. This is not an album for the faint-hearted, or those of simple tastes. This band takes you on an intense aural journey in the space of one song.

"Closer To The Edge" sounds like a 1970's science fiction film soundtrack and serves as a breath catching interlude after the craziness of "Horns Arising" before "High Rise" brings back the rock. Less metal and more garage rock but drifting into Hawkwind and Spiritualized territory as it progresses to full on wig out.

"Pretty Little Lazies" is another journey through the styles. Starting off as a distant cousin of the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" before becoming something that wouldn't have seemed out of place on Blur's eponymous 1997 masterpiece. Naturally, it takes a detour to wig-out central halfway through, before finishing with a dark melodic coda.

"Boogie Lover" takes a more traditional blues-rock vibe but still has a 1960's psychedelic edge, and a heavier undertone. It is the only track that approaches a standardised sound, and suffers for this a little. Possibly a couple of minutes too long as well.

"Licensed To Drive" slowly builds up with some great tom-tom work into a metal feel similar to opener "Future Shade". This is obviously a good thing.

Album closer "FD'72" heads off in the David Bowie/Depeche Mode and Joy Division direction. Lead singer Stephen McBean really channels the Berlin-era Bowie here, whilst the musical intro and outro would fit perfectly into many a thriller soundtrack.

At only 8 tracks it might seem on the short side, but only one of those is under 3 minutes and the album is a perfectly sized 43 minutes. Moreover 7 of those 8 tracks take the listener on an extravagant musical journey. One of the more intriguing albums I've heard in a while, only to be avoided by those who don't want their musical horizons expanded.

"Drown in the future shade, ain't no-one gonna save you tonight...."

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Eraserland by Strand Of Oaks - Album Review

A new album from Tim Showalter which, barring a final misstep, hits all the Americana, (and more), marks. This album is heartfelt, sleazy, uplifting, classic and referential all at the same time whilst still pointing forwards.

The beginning is inauspicious. "Weird Ways" starts out like a standard Ryan Adams ballad, but takes off halfway through in a way that reveals the pedigree of the other musicians on the album. After hearing this track I thought it sounded like the aforementioned Mr Adams playing with My Morning Jacket(MMJ). The reverb drenched sound kept rearing its head and a little research revealed that, minus main man Jim James, they were the backing musicians on the album . No wonder I kept hearing them! As a band who has produced much that I like this was a good thing.

After "Weird Ways" heads for the stars we stay there with "Hyperspace Blues" which is one for fans of Jason Pierce's Spiritualized, and sounds just as a song with that title s…

Iron Maiden & Killswitch Engage: Live at the O2 Review

One of the glaring gaps in my live music experience was filled on Friday night, after catching Iron Maiden at the O2 in London.
Before the main event though, support was provided by a band I'd happily pay to watch a headline set by, Killswitch Engage.
The Massachusetts natives hit the stage at 1930, tearing into "Strength Of Mind" to a decent reception. Given that everyone was there for Maiden, the arena was far fuller than normal for an opening act, indicative of the quality of the metalcore pioneers.

The power of their performance and material really struck me at the end of the 2nd track "A Bid Farewell" and the beginning of the following song, "Hate By Design". The two guitars of Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, along with the bass of Mike D'Antonio all locked in on the same riff, doubling and then tripling for a visceral audio punch.
" My Last Serenade" from the seminal "Alive Or Just Breathing" was a mid set highlight, but…

On The Line by Jenny Lewis - Album Review

Arriving with positive notices and an all-star supporting cast that includes a former Beatle in Ringo Starr, a former Heartbreaker in Benmont Tench along with renowned players like Jim Keltner, Don Was and produced by Ryan Adams it would be easy to dismiss such a description as too good to be true.
However, sometimes it is okay to believe the hype..
The 4th solo album from Jenny Lewis is an example of the old adage that misery makes for great art, and is another entry into the canon of great break-up albums.
It is crammed with catchy melodies, expert playing and excellent, if sometimes just a little too cool for school, songwriting. Right from the very start with "Heads Gonna Roll" the sweetness of the melodies is leavened with a perfectly judged dose of underlying menace and bitterness.
Mention has to be given to the Hammond solo from Benmont Tench on this track. The tone is deliciously fat and filthy in the best possible way.
"Wasted Youth" continues with a ridiculous…

Teenage Fanclub - Live At The Barrowlands

As previously mentioned, there was a certain sadness attached to this run of gigs by Bellshill's finest. My fear was that the imminent departure of Gerry Love would change the atmosphere from one of celebration to regret. Fortunately this was not to be the case. Whilst the atmosphere WAS different from a normal Fannies gig, that had more to do with the set list and personnel on stage.

Billed as 'The Creation Years- Songs From 1994-1997', this was exactly as advertised. What we got was "Grand Prix" and "Songs From Northern Britain", (SFNB), top to tail and in order.

Given that those two albums are the finest work the band produced, there were no complaints from me. What it did highlight was the difference between a live show and an album in terms of sequencing. Whereas most gigs will build to a big finish, "Grand Prix" for example finishes with "Hardcore/Ballad", a mash up of the early raw sound cutting immediately into a heartfelt sol…

A Musical Epiphany: Bruce Springsteen

Have you ever struggled to understand the appeal of an artist?

In the case of Bruce Springsteen I was in this camp until August 2002. I appreciated that he was a significant figure in music, and enjoyed some of his hits, "Born To Run" and "Thunder Road" in particular. "Born To Run" and "Greatest Hits" were the only albums of his I owned, and found the almost religious fervour of his most passionate devotees baffling.

All that changed in early August 2002 when on the basis of many positive reviews at the time I bought his just released, (9/11 addressing & E-Street Band reuniting), album "The Rising". I was walking the dog, listening on headphones, and had found the first 10 tracks, enjoyable, if not spectacular. Track 11,"Mary's Place", changed all that. The old time gospel hall feel with it's saxophone licks caught my attention. I wasn't prepared for what happened at 3:34 on "...drop the needle and pray...…

Top 10 Albums Of 2018 - Number 10

A note before I start. This is not the definite list of the best albums of 2018, but my personal top ten.I have only included albums that I own, and there will be notable and popular records not in this top ten simply because I have neither the time or inclination to listen to them all. It's okay to disagree!

With that said here's my selection for number 10.

Live At Hammersmith by The Darkness

If you're only familiar with The Darkness from the huge hit "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" then this 19 track live set would be a good place to get a feel for the band since they re-formed in 2011. The live setting has always been the best place to enjoy this band as they put on a great show, with Justin Hawkins a superb front man.
The tone is set from the outset as the band begin with "Open Fire" which whilst it bears some tonal similarity to "She Sells Sanctuary" it rocks a whole lot harder.

The segues straight in to the monster power ballad from their…

Neil Young - Songs For Judy - Album Review

Whilst Shakey's new output has been patchy to say the least over the last few years, the Neil Young Archives keep dispensing the goodness. After "Hitchhiker" last year we've already had "Roxy: Tonight's The Night Live" in 2018. Now we get a 23 track, 22 song single disc of solo live Neil with a difference.

A mono soundboard mix recorded on cassette and then transferred to reel-to reel for posterity from a 1976 U.S. tour by photographer/guitar tech Joel Bernstein. In conjunction with his friend Cameron Crowe, (yes, that Cameron Crowe) they compiled the best versions that comprise this release.

It is a real treat. The track listing is superb with plenty of lesser known gems alongside the staples. "White Line", which didn't finally appear on record until 1990's superb "Ragged Glory".

"Human Highway" which Neil introduces with a comment about the abortive attempts to get it recorded.

"Give Me Strength" which surf…

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