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Roxanne Walsh
My record collector's life started in the 1960s with compilation albums from Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones that I urged my parents to buy for me. Myself, I just could afford singles from my pocket money. If I recall correctly, the first album I bought myself was the Doors debut album, although that was in 1968 already - prior to that I had recorded their songs with a hand held microphone and a cassette recorder from the family radio. I have not stopped listening and collecting since then.
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Roxanne Walsh's Album Reviews
Due to the pandemic it took them a while to finish the album, with recordings done between 2018 to 2020. It did not harm the record, it still provides the feeling of one big party and a band really enjoying to do what they are best at.
Nobody would expect them to change anything of their trusted formula and why should they?
The first 5 tracks are a firework of Cheap Trick power pop like fans can only wish for.
Track 6 Final Days sounds like a Slade anthem and is this really a goodbye song?
Track 7 So It Goes is a Beatles style ballad before Light Up the Fire continues to rock and roll but the remaining tracks add little more than standard Cheap Trick (not that this is a totally bad thing).
Note that tracks 12 and 13 (an acoustic song and a Lennon cover) appear to be glued on and probably bonus tracks.
A very fine album and among their best ones. True fans will surely rate it higher than the casual follower of the band's history.
Nobody would expect them to change anything of their trusted formula and why should they?
The first 5 tracks are a firework of Cheap Trick power pop like fans can only wish for.
Track 6 Final Days sounds like a Slade anthem and is this really a goodbye song?
Track 7 So It Goes is a Beatles style ballad before Light Up the Fire continues to rock and roll but the remaining tracks add little more than standard Cheap Trick (not that this is a totally bad thing).
Note that tracks 12 and 13 (an acoustic song and a Lennon cover) appear to be glued on and probably bonus tracks.
A very fine album and among their best ones. True fans will surely rate it higher than the casual follower of the band's history.
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As a musician, The Man is in top form and full of energy and drive - this is not the voice of a 76 year old. No problem here.
Only fools would deny that the world is in a pretty bad shape in 2022 and there is much to lament about, including the topics that Van hits. No problem here.
But the singer is also a songwriter, and I do not always need to agree with the views of a songwriter as long as the songs are well written or try to make their point clear (even if it is not my point). A song like Absolutely Positively the Most on its own is great, however it is song #11 after ten ones that already said the same. In the end, the album is 79 minutes of pointless ranting and head-on preaching. Here is the problem.
A great band, a fantastic singer, talent amassed but nowhere to go.
Only fools would deny that the world is in a pretty bad shape in 2022 and there is much to lament about, including the topics that Van hits. No problem here.
But the singer is also a songwriter, and I do not always need to agree with the views of a songwriter as long as the songs are well written or try to make their point clear (even if it is not my point). A song like Absolutely Positively the Most on its own is great, however it is song #11 after ten ones that already said the same. In the end, the album is 79 minutes of pointless ranting and head-on preaching. Here is the problem.
A great band, a fantastic singer, talent amassed but nowhere to go.
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They returned to the studio where they once recorded Dreamtime and this is a clear signal that the album reflects as well - a return to where and how they started.
At just 8 songs in 35 minutes, this is quality over quantity.
Great songs, great guitar, great vocals...of course nothing new but they have not delivered such quality for ages.
One of their good albums.
At just 8 songs in 35 minutes, this is quality over quantity.
Great songs, great guitar, great vocals...of course nothing new but they have not delivered such quality for ages.
One of their good albums.
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The guest list may look impressive at first glance - but one cannot miss the fact that they are all of Ozzy's age, i.e. past 70 now. They know the tricks of the trade and they know the fans willingly lick up anything they present as long it fits into the old trusted formula.
Ozzy-by-numbers is not a deficit but a trademark. And everybody involved is professional enough to deliver the product the market wants.
Ozzy-by-numbers is not a deficit but a trademark. And everybody involved is professional enough to deliver the product the market wants.
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This is Sweet's guitar album and not only that - he plays everything himself except the drums provided by long time associate Ric Menck.
His main ambition was to play a guitar solo on each tune and so he does. Nevertheless, the album has a full and many layered sound and does not at all sound like the one-man shows so many have released lately. It has a full band sound on all tunes.
And the guitar is kind of his duet partner in the swirling power pop melodies that he is still able to create in abundance.
The opener Blown Away immediately recalls T.Rex's Children of the Revolution before it takes off into a totally different direction, Crazy Horse. These nods to his influences pop up throughout the album but always as a tip to the hat, never to copy. He comes up with tons of memorable melodies and maybe with his best vocal performances in his long career (this is his 15th studio album after all).
The best Crazy Horse album that Neil Young never made.
His main ambition was to play a guitar solo on each tune and so he does. Nevertheless, the album has a full and many layered sound and does not at all sound like the one-man shows so many have released lately. It has a full band sound on all tunes.
And the guitar is kind of his duet partner in the swirling power pop melodies that he is still able to create in abundance.
The opener Blown Away immediately recalls T.Rex's Children of the Revolution before it takes off into a totally different direction, Crazy Horse. These nods to his influences pop up throughout the album but always as a tip to the hat, never to copy. He comes up with tons of memorable melodies and maybe with his best vocal performances in his long career (this is his 15th studio album after all).
The best Crazy Horse album that Neil Young never made.
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Steve Earle & the Dukes pay tribute to Steve's son Justin Townes (J.T.) who passed away in 2020.
Of the 11 songs, ten are covers of JT songs, while "Last Words" is written by Steve himself. Note that all money gained from the album goes to a trust for JT's three year old daughter, so this is an honest way - and maybe only way for a musician - to say goodbye to a child who left too early.
The songs that were selected span JT's whole career and the originals covered a variety of styles while the Dukes' interpretation lose some of those subtleties. As such you hear an experienced road-tested band and singer going through a ten song repertoire and making it their own. The final song is Earle senior's solo acoustic goodbye words to his son, that sounds direct and unedited.
The album is surely essential for the artist but may not be for distant listeners.
Of the 11 songs, ten are covers of JT songs, while "Last Words" is written by Steve himself. Note that all money gained from the album goes to a trust for JT's three year old daughter, so this is an honest way - and maybe only way for a musician - to say goodbye to a child who left too early.
The songs that were selected span JT's whole career and the originals covered a variety of styles while the Dukes' interpretation lose some of those subtleties. As such you hear an experienced road-tested band and singer going through a ten song repertoire and making it their own. The final song is Earle senior's solo acoustic goodbye words to his son, that sounds direct and unedited.
The album is surely essential for the artist but may not be for distant listeners.
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It is all about expectations.
If someone still expects some masterwork or a return to the initial phase of the band - forget it.
What we get are 12 interesting, very well performed and produced tracks from a (meanwhile) professional band. Most songs have their moments and each one at least keeps you interested in what the next one will bring.
Nothing stands out or tries to prove anything but as a whole this is an enjoyable and at times even joyful album and really worth listening to. Just forget the name of the band for an hour and try not to compare it with something that is long part of a history.
If someone still expects some masterwork or a return to the initial phase of the band - forget it.
What we get are 12 interesting, very well performed and produced tracks from a (meanwhile) professional band. Most songs have their moments and each one at least keeps you interested in what the next one will bring.
Nothing stands out or tries to prove anything but as a whole this is an enjoyable and at times even joyful album and really worth listening to. Just forget the name of the band for an hour and try not to compare it with something that is long part of a history.
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Wisdom does not come with age and the older one gets, the deeper that insight goes - unless you are ignorant.
Still, there is some value to express and share what little we learn by living and getting older. This is what Rodney Crowell does now that he is past 70. This is what we may expect of the elders we respect.
The lyrics on the album are as excellent as anything he has written before (and the standard he set for himself is high) but the musical arrangements are just as brilliant. Each of the 10 songs is a small and very valuable gem.
PS - I am past 60 myself, and I think this perspective is important to see why I value this album that high.
Still, there is some value to express and share what little we learn by living and getting older. This is what Rodney Crowell does now that he is past 70. This is what we may expect of the elders we respect.
The lyrics on the album are as excellent as anything he has written before (and the standard he set for himself is high) but the musical arrangements are just as brilliant. Each of the 10 songs is a small and very valuable gem.
PS - I am past 60 myself, and I think this perspective is important to see why I value this album that high.
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1990 Crazy Horse sounds like 1980 Crazy Horse which sounds like 2010 Crazy Horse...and nobody would want it any other way. Still, every tune has one of those "simple" Neil Young melodies that sticks with you and makes it unique.
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When I was 18, The Clash were called "the only band that matters". Today the title may go to Midnight Oil. Their mini album last year already proved they still have something to say.
The song that moves me the most is At the Time of Writing...this is what my generation has done all these years - thinking that problems will resolve on their own, that there is still so much time etc.
The other thing for me is that all the places they use as examples e.g. Tarkine, Darling River are right next door to where I live.
Open up the floodgates to the rising seas - they started to warn us already 40 years ago and they were always loud and powerful enough to be heard...it just all seemed to be so far away, on the other side of a planet for some who did not notice that it still was the very same planet, the only one we have.
Apart from all of this there is also the best rock 'n' roll any band is able to produce these days. Peter Garrett will be 70 next year, he and the band have learned their trade.
This will be their final album and they go out with a big bang.
The song that moves me the most is At the Time of Writing...this is what my generation has done all these years - thinking that problems will resolve on their own, that there is still so much time etc.
The other thing for me is that all the places they use as examples e.g. Tarkine, Darling River are right next door to where I live.
Open up the floodgates to the rising seas - they started to warn us already 40 years ago and they were always loud and powerful enough to be heard...it just all seemed to be so far away, on the other side of a planet for some who did not notice that it still was the very same planet, the only one we have.
Apart from all of this there is also the best rock 'n' roll any band is able to produce these days. Peter Garrett will be 70 next year, he and the band have learned their trade.
This will be their final album and they go out with a big bang.
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