It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll
It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll
Customer Review: Seems to be a hidden gem in the Stones repertoire
If this had come after Exile On Main Street instead of Goats Head Soup then it would have been far better received. People were still smarting about how the run of 4 great albums prior to that had been ruined when It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll came along. This is a much warmer, melodic offering than the Stones had ever released and contains some fine lead guitar work from Mick Taylor. Keith took a bit of a back seat on this album due to his addictions and as a result the overall sound is less Stonesy, perhaps this different vibe is what puts some fans off? The songs are very strong and the production much more appealing than Goats Head Soup which was a bit of a shocker in my opinion. This is definitely one of my favourite Stones albums.
Customer Review: Insubstantial Offering From The Stones
‘It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll’ does display some rock ‘n’ roll vitality which is largely missing from the previous more subdued ‘Goats Head Soup’ but this hardly results in contributing to a great Stones album. In fact it’s difficult to claim it’s even a good album although it does have its moments.
The album’s first three songs are all highly energetic, displaying some great vitality. The only problem is once the listener has had a little time to digest them they’ve very little more to offer. They seem so very shallow as if the Stones were now content just going through the motions. Unfortunately this seems to be the problem with the rest of the album also.The ballads ‘Till The Next Goodbye’ and ‘If You Really Want To Be My Friend’ seem pleasant if lacking in a little substance.The Stones seem as though they are content at this point to just parody their former selves.
The most satisfying track for me is ‘Time Waits For No-one’ which succeeds mainly through guitarist Mick Taylor’s wonderfully inspiring guitar solos. ‘Luxury’ with its slight reggae influenced sound (in particular the vocals) is another enjoyable track.
Ultimately though too many of the songs are a little too sketchy to be anything above average which leads to an album that is ultimately unsatisfying.
It’s a scenario that Stones fan would become all too familiar with in the years that followed.
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Dutty Rock [New Version]
Dutty Rock [New Version]
Now that everybody wears Rastafarian-flavored red, green and gold wristbands and the Signal De Plane and Pon De River dances have grown to Macarena-like proportions, you have Sean Paul (and the guy who actually invented these dances, the “Energy God” Elephant Man) to thank. This re-release intended for international markets trims the fat from the original Dutty Rock by losing the filler skits, songs (”It’s On”) and adding the previously unavailable “Baby Boy” single featuring Beyonceacute;’s seductive croons.
This one’s for fans who don’t have Beyonceacute;’s Dangerously in Love album (the only other place to get this popular reggae-lite single) and those who want to renew their love affair with the Diwali riddim popularised on Paul’s “Get Busy”–and subsequently re-sung on chart toppers by Lumidee (”Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)”) and fellow dancehall vocalist Wayne Wonder (”No Letting Go”). –Dalton Higgins, Amazon.com
Customer Review: Gimme Da Light
this isnt that good but it doesnt make him different from any of artsits like the crap fake rubbish rock bands that make “real” music that is supposed to be “emotional” when its just poncy rubbish. He’s pop, although get busy and like glue are good songs, the rest is pap. Dont pick a guitar and think you can make good music from that - u’d be mislead, look at busted
Customer Review: Don't give him the light!
One of the worst, unpolished albums I've heard for a longtime! - Although a few of his hits are on here, the other tracks are awful and give a very unprofessional and unpolished feel. If its Sean Paul vs Shaggy (like for like) Shaggy has no competiton whatsoever!
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A-Z: Kitty Daisy and Lewis: the Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll
A-Z: Kitty Daisy and Lewis: the Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Customer Review: Fantastic Music But…
I was really disappointed because I thought it was an album by Kitty, Daisy, Lewis (as it says on the front cover). It turns out that it is infact a compilation of different ‘roots/rock n roll’ artists, and only one of the songs on the whole album are from Kitty, Daisy, Lewis’ !! However quite apart from this fact, all the music on this 2 cd album is top notch roots/rock n roll music at its best, hence the 5*
Seems we’ll have to wait a bit longer for the Kitty, Daisy and Lewis album….
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You also, on the hit single Them Kids, despair over the state of rock music today. You've been described as a retro rocker. Do you see yourself that way … Continue …
The History of Rock
The History of Rock
The History Of Rock arrives as the sort of superstardom-celebrating release that can buy a hot-selling artist time. (Think, say, G N’R Lies.) After 8 million (and counting) sales of 1998’s Devil Without A Cause, the trailer-rockin’ rapper is out to remind the world that it hardly started there. Mostly drawn, and often retooled, from his out-of-print Polyfuze Method and Early Mornin’ Stoned Pimp, these tracks display a “funk country hick” already on point with his knowing, hardheaded combo of old-school beats and classic-rock guitars. An “American bad ass” for sure, but also an artist who could come only from America, Kid Rock brings the noise–not to mention the bread and the circus. –Rickey Wright
Customer Review: A slight let down after Devil Without a Cause
This album is certainly not one of the Kid’s best efforts. After the sucess of the Devil Without a Cause album, it seems something deserted him here. I like Kid Rock but this album isn’t his best. The only tracks I really liked were American Bad Ass, Early Morning Stoned Pimp and 3 Sheets to the Wind, the rest of the album isn’t very good, and I would recommend leaving this be and getting his first album or his more recent album Cocky instead.
Customer Review: History Lesson
After the huge sucsess of 1998’s diamond certified “Devil without a Cause” Kid Rock has made a huge dent on the rock landscape & much was expected of the 28 year old rock-rapper from the mean streets of motown. This album does not dissapoint as Kid provides more of his southern fried nu-metal in the form of tracks like “American Bad” & “Dark & Grey”. Rock also proves his frankly remarkable skill on the mike as an MC on tracks like “Ya Keep On” & “3 Sheets to the Wind”. This self-prouced 14 track collection is a must for fans of Kid Rock’s hardrock rapping. The album is a true insite into the life of Kid Rock before the massive sucsess of his 1998 album “Devil without a Cause”. Although I reccommend this LP to all Kid Rock fans but some may be dissappointed as the main flavour of the album is Rap. Apart from this small defect I reccommend this tape to all fans of truly great music.
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HistoryShots Genealogy of Pop & Rock Music
Ars Longa Vita Brevis: a Compendium of Progressive Rock 1968-1974
Ars Longa Vita Brevis: a Compendium of Progressive Rock 1968-1974
Customer Review: ‘Highly’ recommended
This collection has had some negative remarks. I was born in 1959 and have spent most of my life as a musician (including some prog rock stints), music lover, and importantly, a collector of music (10,000 plus recordings, various media), of especially ‘adventurous’ music (within every context of my stages of life). Suffice it to say, I personally view this collection as ‘manna’, most enjoyable and a true gift for it’s release. Thats all ;-). Was this review helpful to you (just kidding ;-))
btw, I am listening to these recordings as I write, wish you were here.
Customer Review: Nostalgia satisfied.
This superb boxed set took me back to my fifth form days at school when we were allowed to bring in our albums and play them on the common room record player. Being pretty much strapped for cash most of the time, samplers were very popular.
These were usually cheap and often double albums. They usually featured resident bands on labels like Vertigo, Island, who released the excellent “El Pea” and CBS who released the equally impressive “Fill Your Head With Rock” etc. They were a great way to hear a lot of music at a relatively cheap price.
We were very much in to progressive rock then and this album reflects the inventiveness of the era. Names you’ve heard of and names you haven’t. Somehow I managed to have heard of the bands if not the music.
But while we have the giants of the genre such as ELP, Jethro Tull, The Nice, The Kinks, Fleetwood Mac, Uriah Heep and Atomic Rooster represented here, there are gems from lesser known names such as Black Widow (how we got away with playing a song called Come to the Sabbat with the RE master in the room beats me), early, pre Annie Haslam Rennaisance, Man (Always worth hearing) and Savoy Brown (Oh, the memories).
On board too are oddities by Mike Oldfield, Gothic folksters Comus, Pre T.Rex Tyrannosaurus Rex and, oh, look at this, even some Status Quo. Something for everyone then but maybe you need to be of a certain age to really appreciate this.
Or maybe you just need to appreciate well thought out and often intelligent music that didn’t follow the set formula.
This 3 CD set is the best I’ve heard in amany a long year. Better even than the also superb Vertigo Retrospective. For a 50 something and rapidly aging male nurse, rejuvenation was suddenly discovered and I was 17 again. Please release more like this.
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Rock Island Line
Rock Island Line
Customer Review: If anybody asks you “Who sung the song?”….
Influence is curious currency. And Lonnie Donegan as a performing artist had bags of it.
The Quarrymen became The Beatles and the three chord tricks became British R&B. Whilst skiffle itself was not durable in terms of the public eye it spawned a whole era of music that charts British music history.
Mr Donegan then. Here is probably the most comprehensive and best value compilation of the man’s material. There are decent alternatives but this collection of Singles (both A-sides and B-sides) does a good job of covering the man’s career from the mid-1950s to the mid-late 1960s.
“Rock Island Line” sounds like it’s in the eye of the storm when it gathers pace. Magic but accessible magic. Sounds American but quintessentially British.
(Just for note “Diggin’ My Potatoes” is curiously risque for the 1950s.)
CD1 documents some of the most essential British popular music. “Lost John” is insistent and bluesy and charming in a ram-shackle kind of way. “Bring A Little Water Sylvie” is insistent and energetic and steamrollers its way into your consciousness.
“Cumberland Gap” is breathtaking.
And yeah so its Britain and its the 1950s and so there is a bit of (coughs) music hall. “Putting On The Style” is of its time but not without its charm. Even if the audience show that intrinsic British sense of rhytmn by clapping along in the only way they know how like parents at a pantomime (it’s a live recording).
“Does Your Chewing Gum…” quite possibly should be overlooked. It’s not wrong maybe it’s just so of its time that it’s a peice of work to get enthusiastic about.
CD2 contains the well-known My Father Works For Tendered Out Environmental Services. Once again, this does not do much for Merry Terry… but much else on this CD does.
Two over-looked stunners on here is the majestic single “The Comancheroes” which is a stunner and backed by the intoxicating “Rambling Round.”
The blistering “Have A Drink On Me” is infectious and irrestistable. Even for Adam Faith fans who must be forgiving.
CD3 is more reflective and some might say patchy. “Where In The World Are We Going?” is quite charming. But the influence is documented on the first 2 discs.
An excellent package and a worthy document to a huge influence and talent.
This is infectious, joyous music with class and soul. If you can forgive the music-hall tendencies in places and I think I can, this is an excellent 3 CD set from one of the most influential figures in British music in the last 50 to 60 years.
Customer Review: Can be a hit with the youngsters now - just as it was 50 years ago
My daughter sang ‘My old mans a dustman’ in the primary school choir and asked for the record (well CD). I bought her this anthology as it seemed incredible value for three CDs (and it is). My daughter (now 12) fell in love with the music and it’s been on her CD or MP3 player ever since. As a child I loved ‘John Henry’, ‘Rock Island Line’, ‘Cumberland gap’ and ‘Does your chewing gum lose it’s flavour’, and the humorous way many of the tracks are recorded. Although being born in the East End in the late 1950s, I missed nearly all of the rest of these tracks first time around though (at 18 I was into Deep Purple, Hawkwind, The Strawbs and Genesis) - although my mother & father taught me the words ‘Skiffle’ and ‘Washing board’ at an early age.
The musical variety of tracks on offer here, all delivered in LD’s enthusiastic style, is quite impressive, ranging from his early classics to pretty good cover versions of contemporary songs, e.g. The parties over - although most of his 50s hits were covers as well, and none the worse for that. His use of simple ‘instruments’ like tea chests, tins, washing boards and a cheap Spanish guitar gave the impression that anyone could do it, and he kicked off the teenage garage bands of the 50s and 60s. He became unfashionable in the 1970s (although he wrote ‘I’ll never fall in love again’ for Tom Jones). However his influence on the pop stars from the 60s onwards meant that he was always well respected in the industry, leading to tribute concerts and recordings later in life. In 2002 he died at 71 while still touring. It could be said his music, combined with the Buddy Holly sound, lead to the Beatles and British domination of popular music in the 1960s and 1970s.
The triple CD set comes in three separate CD cases, each with neat inserts making them look like Lonnie Donegan 45rpm singles (CD3: The party’s over, CD2: Does your chewing gum lose it’s flavour) and a 78rpm sleeve (CD1: Rock Island Line). There’s also a large detailed folded illustrated pamphlet about Lonnie’s life and music. This all fits, rather tightly, into a 1950’s period cardboard sleeve. It’s all very well presented and clearly made by people who care about Lonnie’s part in pop music history. So a great selection of Lonnie Donegan tracks, in a nicely presented set, and at a bargain price, plus his music can still be a hit with the youngsters today.
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Army Seeks "Professional Celebrity Rock Music Band" | Danger Room …
Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Many bands have promised to bring intelligence back into rock’n'roll, but few offer it quite so readily as on the debut album by Art Brut - even if it’s a little too frequently brains of the somewhat smart-arsed variety. This is down to Art Brut band-leader Eddie Argos, a loud-mouthed student type in vintage blazer, whose half-sung, half-bellowed vocal - rambling, witticism-strewn missives about beautiful girls, modern art, and Top Of The Pops - surfs unsteadily atop a musical backdrop of cranked-up garage-rock clatter, distorted rockabilly, and good honest first-wave punk-rock.
It’s an acquired taste, sure - not everyone will want to shriek along to Argos’ somewhat pretentious proclamation “Popular culture/ No longer applies to me!” on “Bad Weekend”. But every now and then, Art Brut’s pseudy side slides into sharp focus and turns out a song like “Formed A Band” - a hilarious indie-rock manifesto that sees Argos declare a wish to be “the boy, the man/ Who writes the song that makes Israel and Palestine get along”. And if that doesn’t warm the cockles of your heart, perhaps “Emily Kane” - dedicated to Argos’ childhood sweetheart - will. –Louis Pattison
Customer Review: Underrated.
This may be one of the best Cd’s in my vast collection, from the start, with the anthem ‘Formed A Band’ to the end with the short but sweet ‘18000 Lira’. It’s catchy, addictive and overall, brilliant.
Eddie Argos’ clever lyrics bring a smile to my face every time i hear them, from ‘drinking Hennessy with Morrissey’ to not standing ‘the sound of the Velvet Underground’.
The highlight for me is Emily Kane, a love song in which Argos sings about a girl that he once went to school with.
Overall, it may not go down in history as being one of the best indie albums of the 2000s but it deserves to, being a masterpiece in its own right.
Customer Review: Pop culture no longer applies to me
There’s just something so endearing about a band who announces on their first song: “Formed a band/we formed a band/look at us! We formed a band!” with a mixture of glee and winking confidence.
And it’s just the warmup for this enthusiastic, energetic rock band, with their solid, peppy Britpop debut, “Bang Bang Rock & Roll.” Their rollicking guitars are so infused with fun and over-the-top rock’n'roll sentiments that it’s impossible not to be charmed.
A sizzling riff opens the first song, in which Eddie Argos announces that they’ve formed a band, and urges people to”Stop buying your albums from the supermarket/they only sell records that have charted.” Then he adds with winking charm: “And yes, this is my singing voice. It’s not irony, it’s not rock & roll — we’re just talking…. to the KIDS!”
Turns out it’s only the warmup — next Art Brut focuses on the jangly, tight rhythms of how “My little brother just discovered rock & roll/There’s a noise in his head, and he’s out of control!”
From there, they trip off into a joyous round of tight Britpop odes to Emily Kane, bouncy little indiepop, and frolicking rock numbers that twist in on themselves during the catchy chorus. But they also try out some other sounds: the sunny Beach-Boysy pop of “Move to L.A.,” and the weirdly ominous ballad “Rusted Guns.”
At first, Art Brut sound like any other fun Britpop band. But their album blossoms the more you listen to it — these lads have a tight grip on their brilliant instrumentation, and they know how to wink at us through their odd, somewhat repetitive lyrics.
The riffs in this album are simply stunning: they ring, buzz, bounce, and sizzle, tightly wound into solid tunes. They’re paired with solid basslines and some smashing drums, along with some twisted keyboard and what sounds like stomping feet. Together, they form some deliciously dancy rock tunes, but they’re complex enough to never get dull
At first, their lyrics sound kind of simplistic, and in a few songs they are. But listen carefully. They’re a lot wittier than that: they take a few humorous jabs at L.A., the music industry, and derivative bands. And they know how to create beautifully over-the-top odes to a first love (”Every girl that I’ve seen since/looks just like you when I squint”), and the joy of rock’n'roll. Even a song about…. um, performance problems.
In fact, in some songs, they exude the delight of some teenage boys who are getting to have fun out on the town… with girls! In one song, Argos yells out joyously about a new girlfriend, “I’ve seen her naked…. twice!” Very cute.
Argos himself has a nice voice — it’s pleasantly ordinary, neither too smooth or too rough, and he can sing through quieter songs as well as the rollicking dancier ones. And occasionally he drops out of singing altogether, usually to deliver the best lines: “No more songs about sex and drugs and rock and roll / It’s BOOOOORING!”
Art Brut’s debut album is a fun, rollicking, laddish album of solid rock’n'roll tunes, delightful lyrics and solid singing. Definite;y a must-buy.
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Rock Music Mp3s
Rock Monsters
Rock Monsters
Customer Review: Monster of a CD
I go power walking every morning and need music to motivate me. This CD is one of my Favourites and certainly keeps up the right momentum for me. Classic great rock tunes…every one a winner!
Customer Review: Don’t drive while listening to this album.
This is a true monster of an album. If you’re tired of today’s production-line boy / girl teeny pop bands with their “where have I heard that mundane melody before” type songs, then dim the lights, pour yourself a nice glass of wine, turn your CD player up to 11 (very loud) and enjoy the sound of stretched guitar strings, overdriven amplifiers and strained soaring vocals. (Man that was a long sentence). Oh yeah you’ll find yourself saying man a lot after a few listens.
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YouTube - 70,80,90s Rock Music Video Compilation (29 …