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Artist: Ash

Title: 1977

Debut album from the Northern Irish power trio as they were at the time (Charlotte Hatherly, has since joined on rhythm guitar) The album is so called as they were all born in 1977, surprisingly. While this is a fantastic debut album, the high points are most defintely the singles that were realeased from it. Goldfinger is a piece of pop genius, as is Angel Interceptor. If you don't find yourself strangely drawn towards Kung Fu then their really is something wrong with you. However the two undoubted best moments of this great album are Oh Yeah and Girl From Mars, possibly the only song ever to name-check Henri Winterman Cigars in the chorus. The rest of the album contains some good songs, but they don't live up to the singles. The one thing that has slightly spoiled the album, is that Tim Wheeler and co, seem to indulge themselves in just one too many guitar solos, every song seems to contain one somewhere. This is not to take away from the fact that this is a good album, and Ash have gone on to show us that this was no fluke with excellent songs such as Life Less Ordinary and Shining Light.

Rating (7/10)

official ash website: www.ash-official.com

Title: Hour Of The Bewilderbeast

If somewhere in the world there is a pictorial dictionary, then beside the word 'quirky' would be a picture of this album. Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough, was called one of the finest songwriters of his generation in the NME, and on the evidence of this Mercury Music Prize winning album, deservedly so. Gough has been know in the underground indie scene for a few years now, thanks to a series of EP's that have been put out, however it was only this year that he sprung to the attention of the public. The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast is a triumph for the alternative music scene, and contains some fine songs. Disillusion is one of the best songs on the album, and features a rather surreal video where Gough acts as a human taxi. However the finest song on Bewilderbeast comes in the shape of Once Around The Block, which was originally released in 1999, but was rereleased on the back of the Mercury Music Prize win. On paper, like so many other songs on this album it shouldn't work, but when played it seems to take on a mantle of erratic genius. The one drawback of this album is that if you're going to make an album containing 18 songs, then by rights you're going to have a few turkey's as well, this album has its share, but they don't overshadow how good it really is. If Gough can continue the form he has shown in Bewilderbeast, then like the tea cosy fixed permanatly to his head, his future is very secure indeed.

Rating (7/10)

Title: 1

Before I start raving about how fantastic this album is, lets mention the bad points. 1) It is a complete cash in by EMI to sell a few records, and credit to them it worked and 2) There are a few songs whos absence is notable. No Twist and Shout? No Strawberry Fields Forever? Tut Tut. It would be impossible to slate this album. I mean its the Beatles for goodness sake, saying The Beatles were rubbish is like dissing The Godfather. It's not on.Everyone has their favourite Beatles track, my own personal one being Hey Jude. The chances are yours will be on this album (unless that happens to Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band of course) From start to finish, it is the definition of pop music, and anyone who doesn't respect the Beatles should be forced to listen to it repeatedly, while tied to a chair until they know the words of Help! off by heart. This collection is a must for any Beatles fan, and only contains one bad song "Get Back" isn't and never will one of my favourites. If you're not aquainted with many of their songs already, say for example you've being living on Mars for the last 40 years, then there isn't really a much better place to start.

Rating (10/10)

Title: Enema Of The State

After just one listen to this album, you can tell that most of Blink's fans (you know, the 12 year olds that run about most town centres with spiky hair a, wallet chains and hoodies.Ooooh I'm scared) are the type of people who find films like Scary Movie or American Pie funny. Theres a word for people like that. Morons. Right from the start they show that they have a very juvenile (it would be wrong to say immature, mainly because they don't know what it means) sense of humour, Dysentery Gary anyone? The album lacks any sort of punch, although All The Small Things is a great song and rains down from 50,000 feet on every song on this poor excuse for wasting a CD. Blink try and gain some cred on Adam's Song by ripping off a Nirvana lyric (I took my time I hurried up), in answer to Come As You Are. The day that Blink 182 deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Nirvana is the day that Satan ice skates to work. Or possibly the day after. If you feel the need to buy this may I suggest Green Day, a band that Blink seem to have used for a reference point, and failed spectacularly to reach.

Rating (2/10)

Title:The Great Escape

This album arrived at the height of the great blur v oasis battle (blur were always my own personal favourite). It is however not all that good. It starts off on reasonable enough form with the catchy stereotypes, before moving on to a song probably regarded as the worst thing the band have done, but ironically their most successful. In August 1996 Blur had went head to head with Oasis, both releasing probably their worst singles ever.Country House beat Roll With It to number 1,but both bands have done a lot better. The undoubted high point of Blurs 4th album is The Universal, with its Clockwork Orange influenced video. Aside from Charmless Man, this is ultimately a disappointing album, but it is, and rightly so regarded as one of the defining moments of Britpop, along with its predecessor Parklife.

Rating (6/10)

Artist: Blur

Blurs 5th eponymous album proved to be one of the most dramatic changes ever seen in a band. From Britpop to Lo-fi grunge in just one easy step. It is this ability to refine define themselves which means that in the future Blur will be regarded more highly than those Beatles tribute types in Oasis. Lets start with the bad points. Apart from track 1 and 2 this albums sucks more than an extremely sucky thing. Now the good points. Beetlebum and Song 2 are two of the best things that Blur have ever done, and were worth their entrance fee alone as a football commentator might say should he find himself reviewing this album. Song 2 proved the theory that all the best songs only get to number 2 in the charts (Design For Life, Wonderwall, Born Slippy, Teenage Dirtbag, Penny Lane. Need I go on?). Song 2 is a song I will never tire of hearing. The same however cannot be said about the rest of the album.

Rating (5/10)

Title:13

Sixth album from Damon Albarn's band. So called because it contains 13 songs. Surely not, I hear you say. This album was largely written about Albarn's break up with Elastica's Justine Frischmann. See No Distance Left To Run if you don't believe me. It starts off promisingly enough with Tender, followed by Bugman. Graham Coxon makes his vocal debut on Coffee & TV, an excellent song , accompanied by my own, and many others, favourite video of all time. You must have seen it by now. You know, the one with the milk carton? To get back on the point, apart from Trimm Trabb the rest of this album disappoints, and only finally confirms that Blur will go down as the T-Rex and Slade of our generation. Great singles, shame about the albums.

Rating (7/10)

Title:The Best Of

After what I said above, this album is somewhat of a relief. It contains 16 old singles, an album track (This Is A Low) and a brand spanking new song (Music Is My Radar), and if you're lucky you get a bonus live album from Wembley Arena.Not only is this a fantastic collection by one of the bands of the 90's, it also contains some of the most defining musical moments of the past decade. Girls and Boys does for Britpop what Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit did for grunge,and the Stone Roses's Fools Gold did for the Madchester scene. The album also features such highs as Song 2 (track number 2, of course) Parklife, End Of A Century and She's So High. This album is a must for anyone who considers themselves an alternative music fan, or even someone who was awake during the 90s.

Rating (9/10)

official blur site: www.blur.co.uk

Debut album from the highly tipped London quartet. At the start of 2000 Coldplay were tipped as the next big thing, this years Travis people were saying. Fortunately they were wrong, they are far better than that. Parachutes is what The Man Who would have sounded like had it been a good album. It starts off beautifully with the eloquent Don't Panic (We live in a beautiful world, yeah we do, yeah we do). It finishes with the beautiful Everythings Not Lost. It also has a few beautiful bits in the middle. The piano led Trouble, which could easily have been written by John Lennon, the swithering Spies . Undoubtedly the albums top two moments come in the form of the first two singles released. Shiver, a song who anyone that has ever been rejected will feel akin too (I look in your direction, but you pay more attention, i say how much I need you, but you say you see straight through me don't you). The album's highlight however comes in the shape of 2000's and the alternative world greatest moment. What else could I be talking about apart from Yellow. Genius. It came from nowhere and landed in the top 4 before anyone noticed. Altogether now "Look at the stars look how they shine for youuuuuuuuuuu, and everything you do, yeah they were all yellow" Buy this album. You need it

Rating (9/10)

official coldplay website: www.coldplay.com

Ever since Ash recruited a fourth member, and the Stereophonics went all Travisy (is that a word? it should be) on us the British music scene has been crying out for an all male power trio. Well dong dong! Crashland have arrived and they will soon to be travelling towards that funny world of rock superstardom. Glued is far more than a compotent album. It was possible the 3rd best debut of last year (after Coldplay and JJ72) Glued combines clever lyrics with big guitar riffs, a fine example of this is in the title track (Shady steady easy poppet town/ I want a princess in a ballroom gown/ You say I should relax you, relax your hands/ Cos I want my Snow White on snow white sands) The other standout track comes in the shape of Standard Love Affair. Other songs worth a mention are New Perfume and Modern Animal. The only gripe I could have about this album is a lack of variety and not enough guitar solos. If they can sort out the creases and gain a bit more airplay on a certain national radio station with the word "one" in the title then the future for Crashland is looking rather bright indeed.

Rating (8/10)

Artist: Duke Ellington and Ray Brown
Title: This One's For Blanton
Ref: Acoustic Sounds
Music:
If you are going to buy one intimate Duke disc or any Duke disc for that matter, do check this one out.
Sound:
Live two track on Chad Kassem's label. Ray Brown is right there across the living room fighting with the bass to get out every note. You hear grunts and fret board buzz. You can hear Duke moving around in his chair and even breathe.Put on Ray and The Duke and watch the jaws hit the floor. The only better piano sound that I have heard is from a real Bosendorfer. This recording can settle the two track analog done right versus digital debate.

Artist: Dum Dums
Title:It goes without saying

No matter how huge the Dum Dums become there is one thing that they can never have. Credibility. Thats their lookout though. They made their decision and sold their soul to CD:UK and Live & Kicking for the chance of stardom. It seems to have backfired on them though. Instead of getting top 5 hits they seem to be constantly in the 20's. Given the choice would you rather be a) the Dums Dums at number 29 in the charts, with teeney boppers as fans, no credibility and on the way out, or b) in the same chart position with Steve Lamacq as a fan, front covers on the NME and on the way up? I thought so. Thats not to say this is a bad album. The "Dums" seem to specialise in pop songs that you know you should hate, but just have to sing a long to. Take "Can't Get You Out Of My Thoughts" for example the fine pop record that it is, or even the less catchy but ultimately a better song "Everything" The rest of the album seems to reflect on what its like to be young and have no responsibilites, a time which the band might not find themselves in for much longer when record company pressure starts to pile up on them. Sad, they could have been huge.

Rating (7/10)

Artist: EAGLES
Title: HELL FREEZES OVER
Ref: GEFD-24725
Music:
Delicate structure of music that blends country, folk and contemporary rock.You'll notice how good this guys are as you go on listening to all the tracks which were sang by all different member of the groups. I would really say that you should really try this one!
Sound:
Deep and tight bass, detailed that you can hear every single percussion played, you can even imagine that that the hi-hat of the drum is next to you. Vocals are crysral clear and the audiences applauses sounded pretty much live. Should be a test CD for audiophile enthusiasts. Even better they are touring Britain this summer and I have my tickets.

Artist: Enya
Title: Watermark
Ref: Reprise (# unknown)
Music:
New Age vocals with beautiful acoustic and electronic accompaniment. Very nice for relaxing or just when you want to listen to something different.
Sound:
These recordings are very intimate. Enya's voice was sampled so she could be her own backup singers (those massive choirs are ALL HER!). The mids are pleasently warm and the highs are never too shrill. And the bass is amazing, synthesizers go below 30Hz on many occasions.

Artist: Donald Fagen
Title: The Nightfly
Ref: Warner Bros 23696-2(US)/923696-2(Eur)
Music:
When it comes to matching artistic quality and superb sound quality, let's not forget this all time classic Gary Katz production, featuring the best musician's around in the 80's. This is pure gold.
Sound:
This record makes it crystal clear that digital sound recording in the early eighties was as good as it is today.

Rating (8/10)

Title:Know Your Enemy

When the Welsh trio's third album was released a big fuss about this being the return to their 'punk'
roots after the mildly disappointing, yet still a commercial success, "This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours". Ironically the best songs on Know Your Enemy are the not at all punk in any way shape or form tracks Ocean Spray (James Dean Bradfield's first attempt at writing the lyrics to a Manics song) and Let Robeson songs. The punk songs are there in the shape of Found That Soul and Introvenous Agnostic. The sneering element of the Manics seems to be back, taking a swipe at The Beastie Boys (Freedom Of Speech Won't Feed My Children), Marilyn Manson (The Convalesent) and mainly America (Baby Elian, Let Robeson Sing, among others. Kiss those Grammy's away lads) Other songs worth a mention are one of the double singles So Why So Sad, a piece of Beach Boys-esque perfect pop and My Guernica aka If You Tolerate This... II, being as it is about the Spanish Civil War. There also seems to be some changes in the Manics camp, with Bradfield writing his first song and Nicky Wire singing his. Overall it isn't perhaps the amazing return to form that we expected, no songs match Design For Life or You Love Us in terms of quality but this still is a more than compotent album.

Rating (8/10)

Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Title: Surfacing
Ref: Arista 07822-18970-2
Music:
A somewhat more upbeat effort (compared to her last studio album 'fumbling towards ecstasy' from one of the finest singer songwriters around. Her ability to mix heartbreakingly beautiful melodies with lyrics that speak of longing and unfulfullment, yet offers hope make this an album of unusual beauty, yet reaches those emotions that often define who we are. Highlights include the tracks 'Angel', a song about people who turn to drugs to deal with lifes problems and 'I love you', a song of yearning that touchs your very soul. An artist at the height of her powers. Highly recommended.
Sound:
Very dynamic, yet very natural sounding acoustics make this a sonically exceptional album. The warmness and intimacy suit the style and content of the album perfectly, sound stage and imaging is up there with the best, and the overall package provides for a very rewarding listening experience.

Artist: Sarah McLachlan
Title: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
Ref: Network W2-30081
Music:
Alternative/pop? Kind of like Tori Amos.
Sound:
Very dynamic and full range recording. I can listen to this talented Canadian performer without listening fatigue.

Title:Definitely Maybe

When it was released Definitely Maybe was the fastest selling debut of all time, until those Hear'Say lot came along anyway. Its rather easy to understand why. Oasis were exactly what music needed at that time. Nirvana were no more. We needed a band that had a) great songs and b) arrogance. Oasis had both in abundance with lead singer Liam Gallagher and song writer, brother Noel. It's hard to know where to start when reviewing this album, due to the many highlights. Live Forever and Rock N Roll Star remain two of Oasis's finest moments. The only complaint that could be made is perhaps a slight lack of variety - most of the songs seem to be a combination of Beatles melodies and lyrics, entwined with vocals in the style of Ian Brown from that other Madchester band the Stone Roses. Still a good albumm and perhaps the only thing that keeps Oasis fans going is the hope that they'll soon remember how to write great songs like Colombia and Shakermaker again.

Rating (8/10)

Title:Whats The Story (Morning Glory)

Just to prove that Defintely Maybe was no fluke Oasis decided to release an even better album , which went on to become the biggest selling of the Nineties in Britain. Whats The Story came out at the height of Britpop, and the battle with Blur for chart supremacy and remained in the UK Top 10 Albums Charts for over a year. No mean feat. Don't Look Back In Anger is a brilliant record, and one of the few Oasis songs which Noel sings himself. It features a piano led intro (which sounds a bit too much like Lennon's Imagine, but we'll let it go) fantastic lyrics (So I start a revolution from my bed/ Cos you said the brains I had went to my head) and is one of the defining moments of Indie music in recent years (along with the Verve's The Drugs Don't Work). Wonderwall is another fantastic record and proves the theory that the best records only get to Number 2 in the charts (Pulp's Common People, Manics Desing For Life, Underworld's Born Slippy, Beatles Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane. I think thats enough evidence) Other higlights include Some Might Say and the fantastic Champagne Supernova. The only complaint is that the album is far too short. While their is 12 tracks 2 of them are just 30 seconds long. But thats not too take away from the fact that this is a fantastic album, and stands proud is a lot of record collections all over Britain.

Rating (9/10)

Title:Be Here Now

All bands know that the third album is without a doubt the hardest to make. The first album is too show how great you're songs are and how much talent you've got. The second is in order to prove the first wasn't just sheer fluke, and the third, well where to you go? Radiohead went down the expiramental route, and credit it too them it worked. Anyone wanting to know how to make the third album should probably not ask Oasis, because clearly they haven't worked out the formula. Thas not to say this album is one complete piece of junk not worth the CD's it has burned on to. It was after all the fastest selling album of all time (660,000 album sales in the first week of release. Kerrrrrrrrrrching!) It features good songs such as Stand By Me and All Around The World (which is far as I'm concerned is just a complete rip off of Hear'Say's Pure & Simple. Honestly when will these rock stars learn) This album just goes to show that in 25 years time Blur will be considered a better band than Oasis because Blur expiramented and changed their style. Oasis churned out the same old album time and time again, which patently wasn't as good as the original. I mean could you see Liam Gallagher forming a band like the Gorillaz. As much as I can see Limp Bizkit making a good record.

Rating (6/10)

Artist: Ooberman

Title:The Magic Treehouse

Sadly it looks as if Ooberman are one of these fantastic indie bands who divide opinion on whether they are a) the best band ever or b) pants, promise so much but never quite crack the mainstream. After one top 40 single in the shape of Blossoms Falling, the next single was expected to go top 20 and spectacularly failed to chart. Subsequently they were dropped from Independiente, and it all went rather pear shaped. Despite its lack of success this is one fantastic album from a band who promised much, the Magic Treehouse more than lived up to the hype that surrounded it. It contains moments of sheer genius which other bands could only contemplate getting near - the pause before the chorus (the only thing that beats handclaps on records) on the wonderful, uplifting Million Suns (easily the best single of 1999), the manic shouting on Bees (My mind is like an angry swarm of BEES! HOT BEES BORN IN THE TREES). This album has everything from melancholic, contemplative tunes (Roro Blue, Shorley Wall) instrumentals (the title track itself), short 20 second songs (My Baby's Too Tall And Thin), long overblown songs (Silver Planet), crazy songs with French truck drivers swearing at melon sellers (Sur La Plage) and even rather wacky lyrics (Going down to talk to the cows - Tears From A Willow). Try as you might its hard to find faults with this album. Ooberman - the greatest band you've never heard of.

Rating (10/10)

Artist: Rebecca Pidgeon
Title: The Raven
Ref: Chesky, CRJ115
Music:
Reflective, yet contemporary, her enchanting voice rings with honest, unpretentious confidence and vivid tenderness. While her celtic melodies set the mood, her lyrics tell stories, full, rich, textured, and openhearted.
Sound:
High resolution technology.

Title: Title:Pablo Honey

It's that old story: unknown British band gets an American hit single, gets huge off the back of that one song, and the success ends up destroying them. Fortunately, Oxford quintet Radiohead were the exception that proves the rule. Radiohead's hit was "Creep"--a titanic anthem to paranoia, self-hatred and self-obsession, possibly the best guitar riff ever recorded and a chorus line that any who has ever been rejected will feel akin to "I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo What the hell I am doing here I don't belong here". Pablo Honey, though, is much more than filler. "Anyone Can Play Guitar" is certainly as good as "Creep"; swathed in walls of feedback, it races blindly into a apocalyptic chorus, frontman Thom Yorke proclaiming he wants to be Jim Morrison. Certainly, indie-rock does get better than this, and elsewhere "Vegetable" and "Prove Yourself" proved Radiohead were certainly not one trick pony's. Pablo Honey was later surpassed by first The Bends, and later OK Computer, but it's certainly much more than a curious debut.

Rating (7/10)

Title: The Bends

In Q Magazines poll to find the greatest albums of all time, The Bends reached the dizzy heights of No. 5. After just one listen you'll understand why. It starts off with the eerie Planet Telex, but the first sign of its brilliance comes in the title track. This is swiftly followed up with High and Dry and then the beautiful Fake Plastic Trees, which would move the most cynical person to tears. One of the most underrated tracks comes in the shape of Just. A Kick up the backside to all those who say Radiohead are depressing . The album continues off in this direction, and reaches many more highs in its 12 track course (Black Star being worth a special mention) Just when you think its over, you reach the final track, Street Spirit (Fade Out) in all its haunting beauty. At the time it was Radioheads biggest hit, and deservedly so. In years to come, bands will look upon on this album and strive to even get halfway to its genius. Good luck to them, it won't be easy. This is perfection.

Rating (10/10)

Title: OK Computer

Anyone who expected The Bends II should look away now. Radiohead have shown time and time again that they are capable of making huge shifts in musical direction, with every album, and this is no different. From the opening track you know they're hit something special. You wouldn't realise how special until Paranoid Android hits you full force between the eyes. Thom Yorke takes Freddie Mercury's "three songs in one idea" that was used so successfully in Bohemian Rhapsody, and makes it his own. Strange lyrics (ambition makes you like pretty ugly/ kicking squealing gucci little piggy) and unusual tunes provided Radiohead with their biggest ever hit (number 3). The album continues with Subterranean Homesick Alien, of the weaker tracks, and continues with the most depressing song ever, Exit Music (For A Film). Let Down brings it back a bit, and the album is saved by the genius that is Karma Police. Radiohead show us they are on the verge of disappearing up their own backsides with Fittier Happier, featuring Thom using a Steven Hawking style vocoder and dispensing advice, an inspiration for Baz Luhrman perhaps? Doubt it. One of the most underated tracks is Electionering, featuring loud distorted guitars, and is slang at politicians. No Surprises proves to be the best song ever with a glockenspiel intro (they played it to the baby in the Royle Family don't you know). It also reveals Radioheads anti-capitalist tendencies (Bring down the government, the don't, they don't speak for us). The album then concludes with Lucky ( a song about aircrashes) and then has a slightly weak finish in the shape of Tourist. This slgihtly spoils OK Computer as a whole, but there is no doubting that it is one of the most important albums of the 90s.

Rating (9/10)

Title: Kid A

When a band nearly splits up over the running order of an album, you know they are 4 Real. Despite the album having almost no promotion (no singles were to be released) the album still topped the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic. However it proves to be Radioheads most disappointing album. It starts off quite promising with Everyting In Its Right Place, but then the title track proves to be a complete disaster. Distorted inaudible vocals are not good things. The best track on the album however is National Anthem, starting with a throbbing punk bassline, and ending up as a jazz-infested frenzy. In How To Disappear Completely, the band seem to remember what they did with their guitars, but even this song cannot compete with anything on their previous two albums. The instrumental Treefingers is a self-indulgant piece of nonsense and is without a doubt the low point of the album. Things can only get better. Fortunately they do. Optimistic is the most commercial song on the album, and In Limbo, along with Morning Bell aren't bad at all. Radiohead go dance with Idioteque and suceed very well indeed. Like The Bends, Kid A finishes on a high, Motion Picture Soundtrack is a beautiful piece of moving music. After two albums of brilliance Radiohead show us that they are only human after all. Hopefully they'll be back with Amnesicac when its realised later this year.

Rating (5/10)

possibly the strangest official band site... ever www.radiohead.com

Artist: RICKIE LEE JONES
Title: TRAFFIC FROM PARADISE
Ref: GED24602
Music:
Relaxing jazzy, ambient, female vocal. Superb. Mostly solo with piano etc.
Sound:
Sound Quality - WOAH! Truly awesome recording, dynamics wil bloww you away! Gets better every time you listen.

It was great to see the Verve getting the commercial success they deserved before they split. The year 1997 will be remembered for two things musicically. Radiohead's OK Computer and The Verve's Urban Hymns. It features two number singles, one at the start of the summer and the other at the end. Bittersweet Symphony featured lyrics written by Richard Ashcroft aka the lead singer aka The Messiah (according to him anyway) and music written by Jagger & Richards or they are better known Mick & Keef of Rolling Stones fame. As a result the band lost all royalties from this record. The at the end of August

Artist: Jennifer Warnes
Title: Famous Blue Raincoat
Ref: Cypress Records /Bmg International 1987
Music:
"Jenny sings Lenny". On this album Jennifer Warnes sings songs by the GREAT Canadian author & songwriter Leonard Cohen. The album covers many of his most popular songs in a brand new packet. Just listen to "Bird on a Wire" and "Joan of Arc" as examples.
Sound:
It's a DDD recording with an extremely dynamic and open sound. It's been used as a demo record in HI-FI circles for years