This in my opinion, it one of the best Albums ever made, it is somewhat overshadowed by its predecessor, Dark Side Of The Moon. The shimmering opener, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, the bands tribute to founder Syd Barrett, is an amazing opening track, and never fails to move me. The Album is a group effort, possibly the last time Pink Floyd works collaboratively together, and based of the general theme of absence, the fact that it is understated, never diminishes the shear power of the music
Key Track : Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Roxy Music-Avalon (1982)
This is the final Album made by Roxy Music (to date at least), and their best, the whole thing based around the world weary title track Avalon. The whole thing has a certain ethereal feel, with sparse rhythm, and meticulous attention to detail, and mixed to perfection by Bob Clearmountain. At this point Roxy Music consisted of just 3 core members (Bryan Ferry/Andy McKay/Phil Manzenera), but the mix of Vocal, Guitar, Drums, Sax and superb production, make this for me a landmark Album, and I must have listened to it hundreds of times, it never fails to amaze me, it was the first Album I ever had!
Key Track : More Than This
The Beatles-Abbey Road (1969)
This is the last Album recorded by The Beatles, and Producer George Martin needed some persuading after the in fighting of the previous (and at the time still unreleased Let It Be), it feels like the end...but what a way to go out. All band members contributed (George Harrison's Something & Here Comes The Sun, are some of the best songs they ever recorded), and Lennon and McCartney though writing individually collaborated musically one last time. The remastered CD is superb, the transition from 'You Never Give Me Your Money' into 'Sun King' clearly audible now, being one of the many highlights, and the closing melody a testament to a great band, whose music remains undiminished now and forever.
Key Track : Come Together
Paul Weller-Wild Wood (1993)
This is Paul Weller's second solo Album, an eclectic affair, with a rustic feel to it. It took him a while to rediscover himself, and his music, a find a way artistically, after the demise of firstly The Jam, and The Style Council. By going back to his routes in Soul music, and influenced by Small Faces/Traffic, the result was a musician revitalised, and in turn rediscovered by old fans, and a new generation alike. The get it together in the Country feel to this is not contrived in any way, and tracks such as 'Sunflower' and 'Has My Fire Really Gone Out' are standouts on simply an amazing set of songs, delivered by a man reborn musically, a superb listen, and one of my all time favorites.
Key Track : Country
The Smiths-The Queen Is Dead (1986)
This is a State-Of-The-Nation address, recorded and written amongst a backdrop of a miserable Britain, and a rapidly disintegrating band. Both Morrissey's acid lyrics, and Johnny Marr Guitar develop and amaze over the albums 10 tracks. Music in the 1980's tended to border on the dire, a bunch of chart acts, taking themselves very seriously, flying off to far flung exotic locations to film expensive promo video's, while back home, the nation quietly simmered and turned in on itself, this is the real soundtrack to that, not Duran Duran. The Smiths only lasted another album, but when they were this good, I don't imagine it could ever last, I know it's over Morrissey crooned, not quite, a darkly comic masterpiece.
Key Track : There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Kate Bush-The Hounds Of Love (1985)
At this point in her career, Kate Bush looked to be on a rapidly diminishing slope, with previous singles, and Album (The Dreaming), pointing to an artist that had lost her way musically, The Hounds Of Love not only galvanised her adoring fans (me), it won her an entire new audience. The Album is delivered in kind of two half's, the fist a peerless set of radio friendly songs, such as 'Cloudbusting', and the title track. the second half given over to a kind of dreamlike suite of songs, called the Ninth Wave, truly astonishing, an amazing album, by a great artist. I have to own up to the fact, that when at Uni, I had a poster (a promotional one for her Greatest Hits-The Whole Story CD), above my bed, I wanted to wake up next to her, , I found it comforting, student's eh (don't tell)
Key Track : Running Up That Hill
Key Track : More Than This
This is the last Album recorded by The Beatles, and Producer George Martin needed some persuading after the in fighting of the previous (and at the time still unreleased Let It Be), it feels like the end...but what a way to go out. All band members contributed (George Harrison's Something & Here Comes The Sun, are some of the best songs they ever recorded), and Lennon and McCartney though writing individually collaborated musically one last time. The remastered CD is superb, the transition from 'You Never Give Me Your Money' into 'Sun King' clearly audible now, being one of the many highlights, and the closing melody a testament to a great band, whose music remains undiminished now and forever.
Key Track : Come Together
This is Paul Weller's second solo Album, an eclectic affair, with a rustic feel to it. It took him a while to rediscover himself, and his music, a find a way artistically, after the demise of firstly The Jam, and The Style Council. By going back to his routes in Soul music, and influenced by Small Faces/Traffic, the result was a musician revitalised, and in turn rediscovered by old fans, and a new generation alike. The get it together in the Country feel to this is not contrived in any way, and tracks such as 'Sunflower' and 'Has My Fire Really Gone Out' are standouts on simply an amazing set of songs, delivered by a man reborn musically, a superb listen, and one of my all time favorites.
Key Track : Country
This is a State-Of-The-Nation address, recorded and written amongst a backdrop of a miserable Britain, and a rapidly disintegrating band. Both Morrissey's acid lyrics, and Johnny Marr Guitar develop and amaze over the albums 10 tracks. Music in the 1980's tended to border on the dire, a bunch of chart acts, taking themselves very seriously, flying off to far flung exotic locations to film expensive promo video's, while back home, the nation quietly simmered and turned in on itself, this is the real soundtrack to that, not Duran Duran. The Smiths only lasted another album, but when they were this good, I don't imagine it could ever last, I know it's over Morrissey crooned, not quite, a darkly comic masterpiece.
Key Track : There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
At this point in her career, Kate Bush looked to be on a rapidly diminishing slope, with previous singles, and Album (The Dreaming), pointing to an artist that had lost her way musically, The Hounds Of Love not only galvanised her adoring fans (me), it won her an entire new audience. The Album is delivered in kind of two half's, the fist a peerless set of radio friendly songs, such as 'Cloudbusting', and the title track. the second half given over to a kind of dreamlike suite of songs, called the Ninth Wave, truly astonishing, an amazing album, by a great artist. I have to own up to the fact, that when at Uni, I had a poster (a promotional one for her Greatest Hits-The Whole Story CD), above my bed, I wanted to wake up next to her, , I found it comforting, student's eh (don't tell)
Key Track : Running Up That Hill
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