Marc A. PriceAbout Marc A. PriceReviews
The Amazing World of Arthur Brown: The Voice of LoveI am the god of hellfire and I bring you… a collection of acoustic tunes. [1 October 2008]
Monkey: Journey to the WestA musical, circus stage show based on a 16th century Chinese novel about a monkey who dreamed of being a god? Damon Albarn must have something to do with it. But stripped of the fancy visuals, the music is left wanting.
CIAM: AnonymousNeo-goth noodlings spoiled by a cover version on the banned list. [25 September 2008]
Lowlight: BloodlineIt is pretty easy to work out what the people on the album cover are running away from. [19 September 2008]
The Death Set: WorldwideSongs fed through the early 1980s UK punk scene and spat out at velocity accompanied by a biscuit tin lid, a cheap Bontempi organ and a Speak and Spell. It's a noise, but a welcome noise. [27 August 2008]
Apocalyptica: Worlds CollideApocalyptica began their career by marching to the beat of their own drum, but the introduction of percussion brings them into the mainstream. [14 August 2008]
Whitesnake: Good To Be BadDoes exactly what it says on the tin, only better than you might expect. [11 August 2008]
Asia: PhoenixEasily the best Asia album in 25 years. If only it hadn't been released a quarter of a century ago. [8 August 2008]
Beau Jennings: Holy Tulsa Thunder"Alt-country" side project of Cheyenne frontman does what it says on the tin. [3 July 2008]
Lisa Cerbone: We Were All TogetherA stark but beautiful acoustic recording with a certain peculiar charm. [26 June 2008]
Mud: YearbookNot the influential 1970s British glam rock icons but another Avril Lavigne sound-a-like skate punk outfit from San Francisco. [20 June 2008]
Cedric Gervais: Space Miami TerraceYou had to be there, but if you were it was probably a cracking night. [17 June 2008]
The French Kicks: SwimmingThe French Kicks over-egg a now soggy but once delicious pudding. [19 May 2008]
Firewater: The Golden HourFirewater blow up the laboratory and produce… a great pop record. [7 May 2008]
Lissa Schneckenburger: SongA cheerful array of old school folk tunes with the emphasis on the fiddle. [2 May 2008]
Various Artists: Beautiful Escape… is Coming Right Along EPSome frosting is best left on the beater. [23 April 2008]
Nine Inch Nails: Ghosts I-IVA radical departure for Nine Inch Nails challenges conventional wisdom of their music and the music industry. [11 March 2008]
Paul Stanley: Live To WinAfter 28 years Paul Stanley releases his first non-KISS branded solo album. Perhaps not surprisingly, it is a fun but not very satisfying chunk of slick, over-chewed bubble gum. [7 February 2007]
Optimo: Psych OutA motley array of psychedelic, acid, rare grooves and the best song that Simple Minds ever recorded. [4 October 2006]
Hello Stranger: Hello StrangerA disappointing debut from another Californian 1980s revivalist troupe. [21 September 2006]
The Holy Fire: In the Name of the WorldAs soon as they break free of past-worn territory, the Holy Fire just might become something great in their own right. [7 September 2006]
Robin Guthrie: ContinentalNo new continents explored by ex-Cocteau Twin Guthrie. A haunting and haunted release. [28 August 2006]
Hezikiah Jones: Hezekiah Says Youre A-OKA disturbingly nice record that is just so simple you suspect that there may be more to it than meets the eye. [25 August 2006]
Alan Singley and Pants Machine: Lovingkindness"Nice" has just been redefined to also mean "visceral". [23 August 2006]
The Good Luck Joes: What Do You Think of That Noise?Confusing but despite that entertaining release from eclectic popsters. [16 August 2006]
Say Hi To Your Mom: Impeccable BlahsAn eclectic look into the world of vampires that tells us more about humans. Not a concept album, but an album with a concept. [10 August 2006]
Voicst: 11-11The bar has been raised and the gauntlet is down. I would love to hear a better collection of songs this year, but I won't be holding my breath. [1 August 2006]
Disco Biscuits: The Wind at Four to FlyLovers of "bisco" are in for a treat. However, if you are no "bisco" aficionado, then this will be a no no. [5 July 2006]
Billy Mackenzie: Transmission ImpossiblePosthumous vault raiding has resulted in a gloomy but worthwhile collection from former Associates front man. [9 June 2006]
Amsterdam Klezmer Band: Remixed!Traditional klezmer music given a contemporary twist by DJs. Not one for purists. [2 June 2006]
Dub Syndicate: The Rasta Far IIf you've never heard anything by the Dub Syndicate, this will serve as a good primer. If you are a fan already, waiting patiently until summer 2007 for the new album, then this might sate your appetite until then. [30 May 2006]
Black 47: Bittersweet Sixteen16-track retrospective from Irish-American rockers tends to highlight their weaknesses rather than their strengths [24 May 2006]
Ani DiFranco: Carnegie Hall - 4.6.02A top-notch snapshot of a performer coming to terms with a world that has been changed forever. [19 May 2006]
Thievery Corporation: VersionsIf you find yourself in the market for a record to put on in the background while you chat to your mates, or if you have a particularly awesome sound system that you would like to put through it's paces, then you could do a lot worse than buying this album. [18 May 2006]
Elefant: The Black Magic ShowThe second album from NYC's Elefant is good, but it sounds eerily safe and familiar. Twenty-first century bubble gum plundered from the depths of the '80s. [18 April 2006]
Vernon Reid and Masque: Other True SelfToo many notes and too few tunes make Vernon Reid's third solo outing a difficult listen. [17 April 2006]
Pérez Prado: The Best of Pérez Prado - The Original Mambo No. 5A compilation of the best slices of mambo magic served up by Pérez Prado. Add sunshine, tequila, frilly sleeves and hot horns; shake vigorously and then serve in a glass with a lightly salted rim. Ay Carumba! [14 April 2006]
Röyksopp: Röyksopp’s Night OutA Live EP from Norwegian duo that adds nothing to their canon but a Queens of the Stone Age cover. [27 March 2006]
Some by Sea: On Fire (Igloo)A wordy but worthy release from Seattle songsmiths Some by Sea generates some energy but loses some momentum due to the sheer length. My igloo did not catch fire. [22 March 2006]
KT Tunstall: Eye to the TelescopeKT Tunstall's debut album finally finally gets a release in the USA. It's been a long time coming, but it was really worth the wait. [15 March 2006] Hypatia Lake: ...And We Shall Call Him JosephSecond concept album from Seattle prog rockers retreads rather than breaks new ground. [28 February 2006]
Polysics: Now Is the TimePolysics take their inspiration from DEVO but turn it all the way to 11. Now is the Time is a good jumping on point for new converts to the band. [27 February 2006] Jeff Hanson: Jeff HansonJeff Hanson is a lovely record that will not disappoint fans of his debut and can only serve to increase the popularity of this talented singer/songwriter. [21 February 2006]
Paul Weller: As Is NowThe new album from Paul Weller does exactly what it says on the tin. A return to form? Not quite, but not a bad attempt. [1 February 2006]
The Contrast: Forget to Tell the TimeNot groundbreaking, but this album distills all of the Contrast that has come before into their most refined effort yet. [24 January 2006] |
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