Blasting out of St Albans like the Urban Voodoo Machine's long-lost redneck cousins, the TTO's second album was a moonshine-sodden collection of skid row country laments about drink and death. Some of the darkest music of this genre you're likely to hear this year and all the better for it. Full review here.
44. DAVID BOWIE - "Blackstar"
I know that some will see "Blackstar" being this far down the list as sacrilege but bear with me here. Bowie has made his name over the years as someone who's not afraid to turn his hand to any sort of music you care to mention and while he doesn't always get it right, that sheer guts to take risks is a big part of the reason why he's so fondly remembered and so sadly missed. "Blackstar", while not a bad effort, is unfortunately not an album I'd put up there with his best stuff and it definitely gets a bit rambling and impenetrable in places such as on "Sue" or "Girl Loves Me". However, the epic title track, the hypnotic "Lazarus" and the closing "I Can't Give Everything Away" were fine efforts indeed and more than a good enough reason to give this one a listen. Video for the title track below.
43. PROPHETS OF ADDICTION - "Reunite The Sinners"
Strange things are afoot down on Sunset Strip and it sounds oddly like evolution. Prophets of Addiction may look like yer stereotypical second division LA sleaze band with the big hair, glam rags and tats plus members previously doing time with LA Guns and Pretty Boy Floyd but beneath the surface, "Reunite The Sinners" is actually an impressively varied album ranging from sneering punked-up riff-fests to the odd bit of Lords of the New Church style swooping goth melodrama. You can read a bit more about it here.
42. THE QUIREBOYS - "Twisted Love"
If I'm honest, this did feel like a bit of a step down quality wise from the last few Quireboys albums like "Homewreckers and Heartbreakers", "Beautiful Curse" and "St Cecilia And The Gypsy Soul" just because it felt a bit one-paced compared to its predecessors. But it's still a solid effort from Spike and the lads with the likes of "Torn And Frayed" and a re-recorded "Gracie B" are fine tunes in their own right making it well worth a listen. Full review here and you can watch the title track's video below.
41. BRIJITTE WEST & THE DESPERATE HOPEFULS - "From NY With Love"
A worthy follow-up to 2010's self-titled debut, "From NY With Love" saw Brijitte (backed up the excellent Fiascos) deliver an enjoyable 40 minutes of Big Apple style glam-punk with "Typical Drunken Loser", "Permanent Ink" and "We Didn't Make It" all being stand out songs. Definitely a good album to put a bit of sunshine into your life with.
No comments:
Post a Comment