Who We Touch Review

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(More customer reviews)A blistering guitar riff which soon morphs into a catchy retro Rock song on "Love is ending" opens the new CD by UK Rockers Charlatans. Comprising 10 tracks, other upbeat songs are the sixties-sounding harmonious "My foolish pride", "Sincerity" (with a shouty chorus), "Trust in desire" (which starts off an acoustic ballad) and the breezy "When I wonder".
"Your pure soul" is an acoustic/organ-drenched ballad. Other standouts are the Psychedelic Folky ballad "Oh!" and the part woozy experimental "You can swim" followed by the hidden spoken "On the threshold".
"Who we touch", truly touching.

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What a journey it has been since the band's debut album Some Friendly (1990), and the breakthrough hit, 'The Only One I Know'...Formed a year earlier by Marlin Blunt, the Charlatans were instantly thrust into the limelight. It was a fresh and exciting time with a groundswell of music from the Manchester scene which gripped the UK and the world for years!Their eleventh studio album, and first to have a 'proper' North American release in almost a decade, Who We Touch ranks as the Charlatan's boldest to date, radically broadening their aesthetic. Produced by world-renowned bassist and studio wiz, Youth (McCartney, the Verve, more), Who We Touch is a 'soulful voyage', a journey through moods uplifting and profound, dark and delirious, which ultimately concludes in blissful optimism.The first emphasis track and video from Who We Touch, 'Love Is Ending' is a world class song while the rest of the album speaks of reconciliation ('Oh') with complex time signatures and continues into the ambience of 'You Can Swim' and then into the hidden track 'I Sing The Body Eclectic' featuring vocals by Crass' Penny Rimbauld! So, existentially, culturally, commercially, Who We Touch is a big record for The Charlatans. In places, you may hear echoes, or homages, reflecting music the band collectively hold dear The Stooges, The Byrds, the Madchester sound - but they are still unmistakably themselves, only remodelled, reimagined, re-energized.Now, after that journey through the past, the onward march continues ...

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Thunder Lightning Strike (Limited Tour Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Go! Team might just have one of the catchiest albums of the year, "Thunder Lightning Strike." When it first came out, definitely the catchiest of last summer. Despite the current wave of nu-Manchester or new wave bands that are popping up, this Brighton band dips into a different musical well.

Their unique sound is made up of sunshine funk, big beats, peculiar samples, adrenaline-pumping rock, TV theme songs and the occasional cheerleader. (Yes, cheerleader) It opens with a charged trashcan drum song, "Panther Dash," before slipping into a series of funky, blippy grooves.

Those sounds run through the entire album, alternating between hyperkinetic rock'n'roll and colorful electronic big beats. It's all jammed with harmonica, horn, what sounds like a sitar, and hip-hop flourishes. And whatever style it is, it's danceable from beginning to end, densely packed with fun beats and wild rhythms.

In fact, it's hard to find a part of "Thunder Lightning Strike" that isn't packed with at least two kinds of sound at once. In fact, it sounds like they gathered every single instrument they could get their hands on, dosed them with Red Bull and planted them in front of a bunch of 1970s TV shows. That retro sound isn't a gimmick, however -- even if you don't have nostalgia for that TV era, the sound is wildly entertaining.

Their hyperdrivin' guitars might sound repetitive, if they didn't have lots of samples and extra instrumentation thrown in, including blaring trumpets and some explosive drums. And the flourishes range from glockenspiel to horns to harmonica. Without them, the music would seem a little too bare and ordinary.

And cheerleaders, of course -- there are some rousing cheerleader chants, exploding from the foot-stomping "Huddle Formation" and playfully chaotic "The Power Is On." It sounds like a football-game-turned-rave, with just the right amount of energetic messiness.

Imagine the Propellerheads on a sunny day, and you have the basic sound of the Go! Team. "Thunder Lightning Strike" -- perfect for a party or a wild night.

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One of the biggest success stories has been the rise and rise of fab UK combo THE GO! TEAM. To celebrate the forthcoming Australian tour, here is the very limited 2CD release of 'Thunder Lightning Strike' containing a 6-track CD of material previously unavailable! If you already have the album, fear not as this Bonus Disc is available separately as 'Are You Ready For More? Tour EP. Cortex. 2005.

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Shoot Out the Lights (2-Disc Deluxe Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)They should have called their concert appearances to support this album "The Divorce Tour" or "Break Up Tour. "Shoot Out the Lights" remains a seminal 80's album and one of Richard and Linda Thompson's finest achievements. Although it wasn't written about their martial discord, "Shoot Out the Lights" certainly reflected the aftermath of failing marriage. A spare, brilliantly written/performed/produced album and one of the Thompson's towering achievements.
When this review was written it was still cheaper to order this through Rhinohandmade.com
As many fans know this was the second attempt to make the album the first was with Hugh Murphy (and Gerry Rafferty)and Richard wasn't happy with the result. He, Linda and producer Joe Boyd started all over again. The first disc is the original album (unfortunately none of the earlier tracks are here and "Living in Luxury" hasn't been added back to the CD. It was never on the album but was a b-side to the single).
The second disc consists of the surviving live recordings taken from the multitracks for the San Francisco, Santa Cruz appearances and from soundboard cassetttes. The multitracks were damaged for most of these performances (some of them irrepairably)but Ed Haber working with the Rhino team managed to restore some of these for this set. Sound quality is surprisingly good given the various sources and damaged state of some of these tapes and Haber along with input from Richard and Linda Thompson has assembled the best surviving performances for an 11 track CD:
1. Dargai
2. Backstreet Slide
3. Pavane
4. I'll Keep It with Mine
5. Borrowed time
6. Did She Jump or Was She Pushed?
7. I'm A Dreamer
8. Honky Tonk Blues
9. Shoot Out the Lights
10. For Shame of Doing Wrong
11. Dimming of the Day (and a "hidden" track at the end of the CD--"Price of Love"--from a cassette recording so the quality does fall a bit).
All of these have never been released before and since the only other full length concert recording is from a 1975 show, it's nice to have these tracks as well. Sadly, Joe Boyd DIDN'T record the L.A. shows which were by all accounts outstanding so this is all we have with good sound (at least "offically").
The CDs are housed in an oversized hardcover book with a deluxe booklet including comments/interviews from the Thompsons' band, Haber as well as Joe Boyd. The original lyrics are also included presented in the same typeface and design as on the inner sleeve for the original vinyl album (and on the booklet for the earlier CDs as well). It's kind of big to store with your regular CDs but you could do what I did and just rip the songs from the CDs for listening in the car. I'm sure some folks might not like the design but I did--it isn't as big as most "boxed sets" and it adds quality to it in my opinion.

While I think this is a terrific two disc set, it's a pity that Rhino couldn't (or wouldn't due to cost concerns)license the material from the aborted first attempt to make the album. The few tracks that have turned up were on the "Watching the Dark" third disc anthology that Ed Haber put together and "Dreams Fly Away". I would have loved to see those tracks here as part of a third disc. It's also possible that Richard or Linda nixed the idea of including these tracks but I suspect it was more a licensing/cost issue since some have appeared before.
Early editions of this album on CD also include the bonus track so you can find "Living in Luxury" there.
The inclusion of this material would have made this the ultimate edition of this great album. These minor quibbles shouldn't prevent you from buying this though as it is worth it for fans if only for the second live disc AND the exceptional packaging of the set.
Highly recommended.

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Lock and load with a high-powered chronicle of one couple's failed marriage. Shoot Out The Lights is Richard and Linda Thompson's final album together and, ironically, the folk-rock couple's most artistically acclaimed and commercially successful. The album was recorded, scrapped, and rerecorded before finally emerging in 1982, arriving just around the time that the couple split up. Despite the separation, they embarked upon a U.S. tour to promote the album, delivering emotionally charged performances at every turn.
Rhino Handmade reissues the couple's legendary swan song as a two-disc deluxe edition that includes the original album along with a bonus disc of 11 unreleased live performances from the tour.
Track listing:
Disc 1
1. Don't Renege On Our Love
2. Walking On A Wire
3. A Man In Need
4. Just The Motion
5. Shoot Out The Lights
6. Back Street Slide
7. Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed?
8. Wall Of Death
Disc 2
1. Dargai (live)
2. Back Street Slide (live)
3. Pavanne (live)
4. I'll Keep It With Mine (live)
5. Borrowed Time (live)
6. Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed? (live)
7. I'm A Dreamer (live)
8. Honky Tonk Blues (live)
9. Shoot Out The Lights (live)
10. For Shame Of Doing Wrong (live)
11. Dimming Of The Day (live)

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The Hard Way (Tour Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)James Hunter is less Sam Cooke on this one, and more Ray Charles. He's clearly been absorbing the Atlantic/Stax catalogue - which is a great thing. Why not learn from the best?
Like on his previous CD, it's all original material. Hunter continues to exhibit his rare gift for writing songs that come out sounding like old r&b classics from the 50's, 60's, and 70's. And that's not easy. In fact, I can't think of any other current artist able to do it!
This is punchier, with more grit and growl than the ultra-smooth "People Gonna Talk" - and better reflects the energy of his "live" show. It's another beautifully paced mixture of mid-tempo and up-tempo compositions, with only a couple slow numbers. Many tracks feature prominent sax, keyboards, and sometimes a low-key violin section. As a whole, it rocks a little more than its predecessor - and has a somewhat looser, more organic feel to it. He sounds more contemporary. Lyrically, these are songs of unrequited love - the romantic pleas of a persistent suitor - but they're never sad or morose. A couple others offer hard-won advice gleaned from life lessons. In either case, he lets you know he's a survivor and a fighter.
For a guitar hotshot, Hunter seems to prefer being an understated team player - really letting loose only a few times. "Don't Do Me No Favours", "Til The End", and "Ain't Goin' Nowhere" all contain incendiary guitar work. "Carina" is similar to "Mollena" from the last CD. It's a sound I love - like Ben E. King and the Drifters. "She's Got A Way" slightly resembles Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman", while "Believe Me Baby" channels Ray's "What'd I Say" with a chorus nod to Rufus Thomas' "Walking The Dog" (featuring great Allen Toussaint piano). Another stand-out is "Jacqueline", which seems inspired by Little Richard's "Good Golly, Miss Molly" and Chuck Berry's "Maybellene". The man has impeccable good taste! As usual, his vocals are soulful and spot-on.
Really, the whole CD is terrific. This guy's going to be around for a long time. I love "People Gonna Talk" a lot, but "The Hard Way" is even better. If you get it, I guarantee you'll enjoy it.

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Soul deep Brit James Hunter - who possesses a "tight, slithery soul groove" and a "sweet growl" (NY Times) - will make his Hear Music debut with the release of 'The Hard Way.' The new album finds Hunter delving further into the realm of deep soul on a set of all-original material. 'The Hard Way' was produced by Liam Watson (The White Stripes) at famed analogue haven Toe Rag Studios in London. The instrumental palette is rich and the arrangements sharpened for 'The Hard Way.' Allen Toussaint joins Hunter on the sultry "Til The End," the rhumba "Believe Me Baby," and the title track. The gorgeous Echo Strings buoy "The Hard Way" and the romantic "Carina," with accompanying pedal steel. The jumping "Don't Do Me No Favors" is designed for the dance floor. The album resolves with the romantic ballad "Strange But True," the first Hunter recording stripped down to just vocals and guitar. The album also showcases further evidence of Hunter's guitar prowess, his manic solos recalling the fretwork of Ike Turner. Hunter has extensively road tested the new album, crisscrossing North America and Europe since his 2006, GRAMMY nominated album 'People Gonna Talk' put him on the map. That album took him from being "one of the best voices, and best kept secrets, in British R'n'B and Soul," as Van Morrison put it, to a major breakout success of 2006. He opened for Etta James, Boz Scaggs, Los Lonely Boys, and Aretha Franklin; reached #1 on Billboard's Blues chart; and made several national television appearances. 'People Gonna Talk; earned him critical acclaim as well, with Rolling Stone calling it "a treat not to miss" and USA Today raving about his "sublime soul."--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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