Everything Express
album
Review: Phoenix – Bankrupt!
The French “classic-pop revivalists” fifth album Bankrupt! pushes further into throwback pop. It turns up the synths, turns down the Strokesy guitars and morphs into an 80′s copycat of Stuart Price’s (Les Rythmns Digitales) 80′s tribute Dark Dancer. Really? Four years in the making, and all they come up with to follow Grammy award-winning, 2009 … Continue reading
Review: Phoenix Foundation – Fandango
The unusual fifth album from psychedelic indie-folk-prog-rock New Zealanders consists of a double album of 2 cd’s or vinyl; two short volumes that add up to that rare thing these days; a Concept Album. Fandango surrounds you with it’s dreamy, ambient quality, a rich layered sound, swinging between Pat Metheny harmonies and Ray Davies witty … Continue reading
Review: Junip – Junip
You know how music goes around in waves, as record labels and radio stations jump on a sound and play a bunch of me-too bands? I think we’re in one of those waves now. I thought I’d made a mistake with Junip – Line of Fire began like a Two Door Cinema Club track. Vaguely … Continue reading
Review: Depeche Mode – Delta Machine
The band that bought us Personal Jesus and Enjoy the Silence back with a new album to celebrate thirty years in music. Recently asked on a chat show what their songs are about, Gore and Gahan replied “death, pain and suffering.” It’s been a winning formula and Depeche Mode see no reason to change now. … Continue reading
Review: Dido – Girl Who Got Away
The Queen of Beige is back. In beige. The album launch delayed by motherhood came good in 2013; not that it made a lot of difference. For the most part it’s a continuation of Life for Rent and White Flag, with Ms Dido droning wan (and wan and wan) and listless through another collection of … Continue reading
Review: David Bowie – The Next Day 2013
Bowie’s surprise comback album is a Kenwood blender-mix of ingredients from his last forty years’ back catalogue. Excluding The Laughing Gnome. When Bowie got over his mid-life crisis (Tin Ear Machine), got married, moved to NYC, floated shares in himself on the stock market and went silent for ten years, we all thought that was … Continue reading
Review: Two Door Cinema Club – Beacon (2012)
In the second half of 2012, UK band Two Door Cinema Club was everywhere. I spent the January sales listening to Sun in every retail outlet in the country (okay, I’m a Sale junkie). They seemed to be on every TV music show playing live, with a good performance on BBC2′s Jules Holland. More than … Continue reading
Review: Pink Roman Holiday Reloaded – Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj’s persona is a hotch-potch version of Gaga’s arty image. The schizophrenic, clash-coloured randomness of her wardrobe and hair styles is musically recreated in her latest album Pink: Roman Holiday. The album’s strikingly discordant range of songs makes you feel as if you’re listening to a chronological personality shift. The opening song, Roman Holiday, … Continue reading
Review: Samantha Jade
The debut album from Samantha Jade follows the 25 year old’s journey through Australia’s X-Factor final. Featuring re-recorded studio tracks of some of Samantha’s performances on the show including UFO, Breakeven, Wide Awake and Free Fallin’, as well as recordings of her standout performance and number #1 iTunes song, Heartless and her winning single, What … Continue reading
Review: How to Destroy Angels – An Omen EP
Veteran of hard rock masters Nine Inch Nails, Trent Reznor side-steps from writing movie and game sound tracks to resume work with partner Mariqueen Maandig and long time collaborator Atticus Ross, with new member Rob Sheridan as How to Destroy Angels. After long hiatus, the angel destroyers have produced an atmospherically charged and highly individual … Continue reading
Review: Ellie Goulding – Halcyon
Competing with the current queens of British synth-pop – Little Boots, La Roux et al – Ellie Goulding is back with the ‘difficult second album.’ Only this one isn’t difficult. It’s a joy – and not just track seven (Joy). Opening with three strong tracks incuding current single Anything Can Happen, Goulding has evolved her … Continue reading
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