The Civil Wars - Billie Jean (Later with Jools Holland)

If you don't like this, their is not much hope for you. I simply Love It.

Bettye LaVette - Thankful N' Thoughtful

Thought I give Bettye LaVette a try, no other reason than I have never heard her before. Always give something new a try you never know it might me the album your looking for. She sounds very much like a slowed down Tina Turner, so if your into Tina go out and buy this you will enjoy it. I love her different slowed down version of Dirty Old Town and her take on "Crazy" The Gnals Berkely song. This is album is great for dinner parties or preparing the food for the party.

Score 3 / 5

Tracklist:

01 – Everything Is Broken

02 – I’m Not The One

03 – Dirty Old Town

04 – The More I Search (The More I Die)

05 – I’m Tired

06 – Crazy

07 – Yesterday Is Here

08 – Thankful N’ Thoughtful

09 – Fair Enough

10 – Time Will Do The Talking

11 – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere

12 – Dirty Old Town (slow version)

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The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

Once in a while you find an album that on repeated plays gets better everytime you play it. This is one of them I love the Civil Wars (Joy Williams beautiful in both looks and voice and John Paul White).  I really love Dance Me to the End Of Love reminds me of being in Paris and watching the sun go down. My advice is to go out and buy it. They also do a fantastic version of Bilie Jean.

Score 4 / 5

Tracklist:

01 – 20 Years

02 – I’ve Got This Friend

03 – C’est La Mort

04 – To Whom It May Concern

05 – Poison & Wine

06 – My Father’s Father

07 – Barton Hollow

08 – The Violet Hour

09 – Girl With The Red Balloon

10 – Falling

11 – Forget Me Not

12 – Birds Of A Feather

13 – Billie Jean (Live)

14 – I Want You Back

15 – Dance Me To The End Of Love

16 – You Are My Sunshine

17 – Goodbye Girl (Acoustic)

18 – Marionette (Demo)

Barton Hollow

Donald Fagan - Sunken Condos

Read the reviews who highly rated this album, must be me didn't enjoy, I lost interest after track one sorry Donald.I would score it 2 but I think it's middle of the road so will give it a 3.  I love listening to albums without knowing who the artist is, therefore you get a truer impression of the album. Just because it's Donald Fagen doesn't mean I have to like it.

Score 3 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Slinky Thing
02 – I’m Not The Same Without You
03 – Memorabilia
04 – Weather In My Head
05 – The New Breed
06 – Out Of The Ghetto
07 – Miss Marlene
08 – Good Stuff
09 – Planet D’Rhonda

No Doubt - Push and Shove

My wife loves  "No Doubt" and I have to say I really love this album. Try and get the special edition as you will love their version of Adam and the Ants "Stand and Deliver". However my fave track is the acoustic version of "One more Summer" Beautiful, fantastic, sentimental, emotional. Cover reminds me of the U2 sleeve for "Staring at the Sun"

Sore 4 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Settle Down
02 – Looking Hot
03 – One More Summer
04 – Push And Shove
05 – Easy
06 – Gravity
07 – Undercover
08 – Undone
09 – Sparkle
10 – Heaven
11 – Dreaming The Same Dream

Bonus CD:
01 – Stand And Deliver
02 – Settle Down (Acoustic-Santa Monica Sessions)
03 – Looking Hot (Acoustic-Santa Monica Sessions)
04 – One More Summer (Acoustic-Santa Monica Sessions)
05 – Easy (Acoustic-Santa Monica Sessions)
06 – Looking Hot (Jonas Quant Remix)
07 – One More Summer (Jonas Quant Remix)
08 – Push And Shove (Anthony Gorry Remix)

Paul Weller - Sonic Kicks

I like Paul weller never plays it safe and changes direction and you either love it or hate it. I love the Style council despite loving the mod sound of the Jam. Anyway this album changes his direction again and to be honest it sounds like the Gorillaz. Fantastic album. Goout and get it.

Sore 4 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Green
02 – The Attic
03 – Kling I Klang
04 – Sleep Of The Serene
05 – By The Waters
06 – That Dangerous Age
07 – Study In Blue
08 – Dragonfly
09 – When Your Garden’s Overgrown
10 – Around The Lake
11 – Twilight
12 – Drifters
13 – Paperchase
14 – Be Happy Children

Bonus Tracks:
15 – Starlite
16 – Devotion

Diana Krall - Glad Rag Doll

I love smooth Jazz so thought I give Diana Krall's new album. Why is it when you expect so much from great singers your actually end up disappointed. I love her voice but it doesn't seem to work with these songs. If you reading this Diana how about an album of classic seventies songs, for example "Alison " by your old man, or "Love will tear as apart" Joy Division?

Will say its a lovely album for a back ground fill in for a dinner party or preparing the meal.

Score 3 / 5

Tracklist:

01 – We Just Couldn’t Say Goodbye

02 – There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth the Salt of My Tears

03 – Just Like a Butterfly That’s Caught in the Rain

04 – You Know I Know Ev’rything’s Made for Love

05 – Glad Rag Doll

06 – I’m a Little Mixed Up

07 – Prairie Lullaby

08 – Here Lies Love

09 – I Used to Love You but It’s All Over Now

10 – Let It Rain

11 – Lonely Avenue

12 – Wide River to Cross

13 – When the Curtain Comes Down

14 – As Long as I Love

15 – Glad Rag Doll (Alternate Version)

16 – Garden in the Rain

17 – There Ain’t No Sweet Man That’s Worth the Salt of My Tears (Alternate Version)

Mumford and Sons - Babel

I loved Mumford and sons first album "Sigh no More" and looked forwarded to hearing "Babel". Once again an album where the artists have played it safe. I seemed to switch off after a while and whilst this isn't Mumford and sons fault as in reality they are really not my taste, their was not that much on this album for me to tap my foot to.

Score 3 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Babel
02 – Whispers In The Dark
03 – I Will Wait
04 – Holland Road
05 – Ghosts That We Knew
06 – Lover Of The Light
07 – Lovers’ Eyes
08 – Reminder
09 – Hopeless Wanderer
10 – Broken Crown
11 – Below My Feet
12 – Not With Haste
13 – For Those Below
14 – The Boxer
15 – Where Are You Now

Ian Hunter - When I'm President

This is a lovely album, Van go out and buy it, this is not playing safe and whilst Ian is making a point he does it in a positive manner. Love the anti American attitude from an outsider but I love Ta Shunka Witco ( crazy horse) my favourite track on this lovely album. Go out and buy it.

Score 4.5 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Comfortable (Flyin’ Scottsman)
02 – Fatally Flawed
03 – When I’m President
04 – What For
05 – Black Tears
06 – Saint
07 – Just The Way You Look Tonight
08 – Wild Bunch
09 – Ta Shunka Witco (Crazy Horse)
10 – I Don’t Know What You Want
11 – Life

Van Morrison - Born to sing : No plan B

Oh how I waited for Van the man's new album, oh how disappointed I was. Nothing new, still moaning, about all and sundry. Still the same format from the "Days like this" era. Van has delivered a safe if not boring album, nearly gave up after the third track as it was so boring. Will Van you can moan at me as much as you like but this album is lazy. Can I suggest you go and listen to the new Ian Hunter album. At least he knows how to Rock.

Score 2 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Open The Door (To Your Heart)
02 – Goin’ Down To Monte Carlo
03 – Born To Sing
04 – End Of The Rainbow
05 – Close Enough For Jazz
06 – Mystic Of The East
07 – Retreat And View
08 – If In Money We Trust
09 – Pagan Heart
10 – Educating Archie

Gary Moore - Blues For Jimi

Have been listening to this Gary Moore album also this week. Whilst I love Gary's music sadly I'm a bit disappointed with this album, maybe because I was influenced by Jimi at an early edge.  I suppose I still hear the classic original  when he tries to play my favourite songs and it really doesn't  cut the mustard as far as I'm concerned. It's a pity it could have worked. 

Score 3 / 5

Tracklist:
01 – Purple Haze
02 – Manic Depression
03 – Foxey Lady
04 – The Wind Cries Mary
05 – I Don’t Live Today
06 – My Angel
07 – Angel
08 – Fire
09 – Red House
10 – Stone Free
11 – Hey Joe
12 – Voodoo Child (Slight Return)

Rickie lee Jones - The Devil You Know

Have spent the week trying to love this album, but sadly no. I like the way she has slowed the numbers down but it sounds like she is drunk or high and in the ends it doesn't really hit home for me. Good try though Rickie, maybe it would work better with Tom Waits voice.  

Score 1 / 5 the one is for trying.

Tracklist:
01 – Sympathy for the Devil
02 – Only Love Can Break Your Heart
03 – Masterpiece
04 – The Weight
05 – St. James Infirmary
06 – Comfort You
07 – Reason to Believe
08 – Play With Fire
09 – Seems Like a Long Time
10 – Catch the Wind

Lauren - French exam - The Catherine Tate Show - BBC comedy

Brill

Smithy saves Red Nose Day 2011!

So Funny

Paul McCartney Attacks Heather Mills "Lady McCartney"

Love this spoof