Blink-182 - Greatest Hits

Blink-182's Greatest Hits was released in 2005, at the start of their 3 year breakup.

Audio quality, you ask? From terrible (early stuff) to adequate (later stuff)... as one would expect for a frat-boy punk-rock back.

Starting with Carousel, the sound is so immature that it seems like the band were still in nappies! M+Ms shows glimpses of future brilliance; the instruments still lack any power whatsoever, but lyrics have that brilliant Blink-182 immature comedy. Aliens (the bonus track) is a similar story.

Dammit is where it all comes together nicely. The lyrics are crude as ever, but with a great narrative. Meanwhile, the music hold its own much better- with a nice big sound and enough structure to be interesting. From the following album, What's My Age Again also uses this combination to great effect. Also, I really dig the revelation at the end that it is everyone else who has the problem, not him!

Josie ranks highly one of my all-time favourite love-songs. Seriously! The lyrics are beautiful poetry (although the chorus lets the team down a bit), and are wonderfully contrasted by the thrashy punk musical backing. All the Small Things is another "soppy" favourite as mine. Leaning more to the drunk singalong side of things, it's one of few songs I somehow never get sick of. A minor quibble is that I wish it were a bit faster. But that chorus is drunken singalong perfection, as has been proven many times.

Before moving on to the newer songs, I must admit something. A "serious" Blink-182 is a concept I just can't grasp. For better or worse, this means that Adam's Song, Man Overboard, I Miss You, Down, Always, Not Now and Another Girl Another Planet are lost on me. But I won't hold any punches on Feeling This, since it is just a poor imitation of Good Charlotte's hardcore influences. Yuk! On a brighter note, there's some good headbanging to be had with Stay Together for the Kids.

Perhaps The Rock Show and First Date are a millenium version of the 1950s rock'n'roll teenage love songs? Either way, their catchy beats and goofy lyrics still work for me!

Favourite songs

Dammit, Josie, What's My Age Again, All the Small Things, The Rock Show, First Date

Worthwhile?

Despite my narrow view of Blink-182's accomplishments, I still get a lot of (immature) enjoyment out of this album.

AFI- Decemberunderground

In 2006, AFI released Decemberunderground. It is their seventh album, and most commercially successful.

Before we dive into the album, it is interesting to note that AFI don't refer to themselves as "emo" (perhaps due to the stigma attached?). I would go with goth-punk, however the band also don't like this tag, and refer to themselves as "post-hardcore".

Let's get the bad news out of the way first. Goth-punk ballads aren't my cup of tea, so that rules out The Interview and Kiss and Control. Similarly, when this music takes on an electro edge, ala 37mm, I find it emotionally distant.

The songs that I do like are probably much to the annoyance of real AFI fans! Love Like Winter is nicely catchy pop-rock. The chorus is great, however the verses are feel like they're only there to fil the gaps. Miss Murder is similar, but in another league. Pop-rock perfection! Particular highlights are the swinging beat, guitar riffs and uplifting chorus.

A quick mention of the recording quality: it's quite highly processed, but a fine example of polished electro pop-rock, much like Garbage's Bleed Like Me.

I really like the energy of their high-tempo songs (Kill Caustic and Affliction). Unfortunately the trade-off is some screamo vocals, however its occasional enough that I can overlook it.

Summer Shudder works for me on a superficial level as mid-paced rock background music. Closer listening would probably reveal a generic and over-produced song, but let's not go there! The "under the solar rain" refrain is a highlight for me.

The lyrics for many of the songs on this album don't give me any sense of narrative, they are merely a collection of phrases tied together with music. A prime example is the pop-rock The Missing Frame. Lyrics don't speak to me at all. The Killing Lights is also quite superficial, but it is super catchy and energetic.

Endlessly She Said is a ballad that I actually like, which is a huge achievement. I think its appeal is due to the lyrics of the chorus and the nice contrast provided by the female singer at the end.

Favourite songs

Miss Murder, Love Like Winter, Endlessly She Said 

Wortwhile?

Yes, in a strange way. It's probably quite insulting to consider emo/goth-punk/post-hardcore as background rock "muzak", but that's how I enjoy it this album.

Bodyjar- Plastic Skies

Bodyjar's fifth album is Plastic Skies. It was released in 2002, a few years after the compilation Singles and Stuff.

(By the way, yes, my genre labels on this blog are broad enough that this punk rock album can share a pigeonhole with The Cat Empire!)

With an album as un-varied as this (not a criticism), subtle differences in songs become highly magnified. I've found it interesting and challenging to try to find differences between the songs I like and those which leave me cold. Is It a Lie and Underwater are prime examples. Both are fast-paced angsty songs. But while Is It a Lie features a great catchy chorus, the rest of the song doesn't appeal to me at all. Yet Underwater is punk-rock goodness from start to finish. What's the difference? I don't know! Similarly, whatever makes Not From Where I Stand, So Negative, Make a Difference and Emmaline just "solid" songs in my eyes, is a complete mystery to me.

One thing I can say with certainty is that I like my Bodyjar to be fast. Therefore Tortured Life and Dry Gin are songs I'd rather skip.

The recording quality is also quite poor. There is almost no "thump" from the kick-drum and the bass guitar also lacks bottom-end punch. Even worse is that many of the songs have a strange muddy/distorted edge at high frequency, sounding a bit like poor compression.

While Don't Trust Anyone is a bit "emo" (sorry!), it features a very nice pre-chorus and chorus. Feel Better is also outstanding in these sections, and features nice crunchy guitar work in the verses, therefore combining to make a great song from start to finish. Too Drunk to Drive's inclusion of Adalita from Magic Dirt is a masterstroke. Normally I don't dig duet's, but somehow this punk duet works a treat. Soaring guitar parts are also a highlight of this song.

Favourite songs

One in a Million, Too Drunk to Drive, Underwater, Feel Better

Worthwhile?

To be honest, whenever I'm in a Bodyjar mood, I'll probably reach for Singles and Stuff instead. There's a couple of songs that make this album enjoyable, but in the end I'm gonna go with "I like your old stuff better than your new stuff".

The Cat Empire- Cities

The Cat Empire's third album, Cities, was released in 2006.

And it's an album that is all over the shop (although that's probably situation normal for a Cat Empire album...), not least because the great high-impact instrumental opener Jungle is buried down at track 8 of the album.

The actual opening tracks (Cities and Boogaloo) don't really do it for me. Perhaps it's because soul music isn't my cup of tea, nonetheless I find them a bit emotionally detached. However the chorus of Cities is quite catchy and its abrupt ending is a novelty.

While I'm in ranting mode, Siente has a fantastic bridge but the song is too chaotic. Similarly, there are song great sections in Motion, but as a song its very disjointed. Funk, motown and waltzes aren't my thing, hence my disinterest in  Side to Side and Waltz. Also, the lyrics in many of the songs are pretty banal. Speaking of the lyrics, their recording quality... hmmmm... it's another victim falling victim to that stupid "distorted vocals" effect. Very disappointing. 

In general though, this album sounds very good; they did a fine job balancing all the instruments in the mix whilst retaining excellent character for each of them.

Song For the Day also suffers pretty banal lyrics, but it's ska, so I'll forgive most sins! And such a fantastic ska groove, too. Down at the 303 is the opposite situation in my opinion: thoughtful lyrics but quite a twee song musically.

Song for Elias is a very nice jazz ballad, with great vocals (no distortion effects on this track). The horn line might be *cough* recycled from The Lost Song off their debut album, but it remains an excellent song and provides great contrast to the album.

Favourite songs

Song For the Day, Song For Elias, Jungle

Worthwhile?

Despite some fun songs, overall I'm not really into the styles that influence this album (ie funk, motown, soul). Having said that, kudos to The Cat Empire for pushing the envelope and not just remaining in their stylistic comfort zone.

Cherry Poppin' Daddies- Soul Caddy

Having bored themselves to tears with all the swing of Zoot Suit Riot, in 2000 the Cherry Poppin' Daddies returned to cross-genre experimentation with this album.

If you're expecting more wall to wall rock-swing, Diamond Light Boogie quickly sends a message that it ain't gonna happen! I kinda like how over-the-top tacky this weird electro-country song is, although the chorus is a bit too experimental for me.
On the topic of genres I don't really dig, full credit for pushing their boundaries  with Stay Don't Stay, Grand Mal and My Mistake. Alas, the genres of soul, experimental rock and funk aren't really my cup of tea. However, my dislike of Saddest Thing I Know is the song's fault, not mine! While jazz ballad's don't often appeal to me, the vocal style doesn't at all suit the genre.

Swingin' With Tiger Woods is a very silly vaudeville song which is well executed. Soul Cadillac is a catchy little number that I thoroughly enjoy. Stylistically, it sits in a brilliant space, halfway between swing and ska. So of course I like it! End of the Night is a bouncy fun ska song.

Similarly, So Long Tuts is cheesy, fun swing. Uncle Ray has a similar feel, with a dollop of country music added. It is also very catchy and the storytelling is very heartfelt:
Uncle Ray is gone,
A relative they couldn't find.
Finally free of his insanity,
They covered him with lime.

The punk influences come through for the remaining songs. God is a Spider is one of few glam-rock songs I dig. Its unique sound is great headbanging fun, with horns filling out the sound nicely. A highlight is the bridge lyrics, which paint a vivid post-apocolyptic image. Bleeding Ceremony is another good headbanger, but it is totally let down by the recording quality, which robs it of power. Nonetheless, it is a solid Rage Against The Machine song from a swing band!

Irish Wiskey is also let down by the recording quality. This angry punk song would have so power if it were not for the overly cheese-cutter guitar sound and the muffled drums. It's such a shame. The lyrics are poignant and the instruments get the blood pumping. Also, the chorus is fist-pumping brilliance.

When I first listened to this album, I assumed it was from their early days of youthful experimentation. Especially compared to the slickness of Zoot Suit Riot. However, time has proven this very oddball collection of songs to have some great moments.

Favourite songs

God is a Spider, Soul Cadillac, Irish Wiskey, So Long Tuts, End of the Night, Uncle Ray 

Worthwhile?

Yes, a nicely oddball part of the collection.

Cherry Poppin' Daddies- Zoot Suit Riot

This 1997 album is basically a compilation of the bands 3 previous albums. Interestingly, while these albums were a mix of ska, funk, punk and swing, the compilation is exclusively swings songs.

To mix things up a bit, I will review the songs in order of the album they first appeared on...

Dr Bones, Master and Slave, Drunk Daddy, No Mercy For Swine, Cherry Poppin' Daddies Strut and Shake Your Lovemaker are all from their debut album, Ferociously Stoned. Let's start with Master and Slave, which is relatively experimental due to the unusual beat and quite chaotic horn lines. I find the ending a bit drawn out, but the inclusion of the hammond organ works a treat. The lyrics are similar in theme to Drunk Daddy and just as brilliantly evocative. My highlight of the song is this phrase:
But I can still see the stars
Through these red, white and blue prison bars.

Drunk Daddy is a brilliant rock-swing mini-opera. The faster parts have a wonderful driving energy and the chorus is perfectly suited. The song has many changes in tempo, and handles them very well to create an experience that ebbs and flows nicely. Like Mr White Keys the climax is epic- an explosion of the whole band's energy, with the piano adding yet another dimension. Also, a particular highlight is the brilliantly intricate instrumental section. It's a bit strange to be bouncing around to a song about child abuse- but somehow this song pulls it off. The music is great and the story is very well told.

A quick interlude to discuss audio quality. Objectively, it's probably fine... buuuuut... personally I'm not a fan of the plasticky horn sound in some songs, the random smattering of instruments across the sound-stage (a personal bugbear is when the drum kit is split across your ears) and the very prominent snare.

Similar to Brown Derby Jump, the song No Mercy for Swine is a simple song with an infectious beat. Like many songs on this compilation, it's fantastic that the vocals take an extended break to allow the highly talented horn section to shine. Cherry Poppin' Daddy Strut is an amusing vaudeville ditty, although the lyrics are very wrong!

Dr Bones features a very cheesy ska/swing beat- I love it! While the vocals are a bit nasally, they do match the song. Yet another example of great lyrics and a top notch instrumental sections. Shake Your Lovemaker is an R-rated Minnie the Moocher, so of course it is brilliant! Some minor quibbles are that the cymbals and snare are too prominent and the chorus gets a bit old towards the end. But the sleazy vaudeville style works a treat, and the lyrics paint the picture wonderfully:
The blonde bombshell, destroying men
Her blue eyes are smoking like opium den.
But she giggles, and blows you a kiss
Then she'll whisper sweet nothings like a serpent's hiss 

Moving onto songs from the album Rapid City Muscle Car, first up is Ding-Dong Daddy of the D-Car Line. In isolation it's a good song, but here I feel it's a poor cousin to Mr Bones, perhaps due to being not cheesy enough! As an aside, I find the structure, topic and style all remind me of The Louisville Sluggers' Masterplan.

The start of Mister White Keys leaves me cold. Each section is good in isolation, but together the song is too stop-start and eclectic. Thankfully, eventually it settles down... and then... wow! The climax is brilliant, with the whole band absolutely slamming it out.

If Come Back to Me were a song by Royal Crown Revue song, I'd probably be praising it as a solid swing tune. But for a Cherry Poppin' Daddies song, I expect more tongue-in-cheek. Pink Elephant is also a bit hit and miss; it features wonderful storytelling for this tale of a broken life, but personally I find the song a bit stop-start.

Here Comes the Snake is the only song from the album Kids on the Street. Thank goodness it wasn't overlooked, because this song is so over-the-top sleazy it's fantastic. An example of the hilariously sleazy lyrics is "I'm here to eat your apple to the core". This debauchery is perfectly accompanied by crash'n'bang rhythm section and swirling horns. Soooo dirty!

Now for the "new stuff". I have mixed feelings about the song Zoot Suit Riot. On one hand it's a simple pop-swing song which I've heard a million times. It's also a lot less "dirty" than the rest of the album (which lead to shocked reactions from many prudes as they started getting deeper into this album!). On the other hand, it is very energetic and catchy.

Like Indigo Swing's "Violent Love" song, the lyrics of When I Change Your Mind are a great twist on the usually saccarine swing genre. Also, the tuba is a great novelty.

Just by coincidence, my favourite song of the album is last to be reviewed here. Brown Derby Jump has a brilliantly infectious swing dance beat and fantastic sharp breaks. Musically it is quite simple, but there's nothing wrong with that. All the elements come together perfectly. The lyrics are wonderful storytelling to poetically tell the tale of a sordid situation. I could quote the whole song, but here's just one example:
I've come a long way and now I'm me,
The darkest river that meets the sea.
And all those lights on the harbour seem
To be spark-e-ling in bittersweet.

Favourite songs

Zoot Suit Riot, When I Change Your Mind, Here Comes the Snake, Mr White Keys, Brown Derby Jump, Dr Bones, Master and Slave, Drunk Daddy, No Mercy for Swine, Shake Your Lovemaker 

Worthwhile?

Zoot Suit Riot is probably the quintessential album of the neo-swing style. And it thoroughly deserves this honour.

99% Fat- Thankyou and Goodnight

A live recording from Mr Coffee's album launch, I believe this is 99% Fat's final release. It contains mostly songs from Recipe For Disaster. The album can be downloaded from here.

Cutting the album some slack for being a live recording done in a local pub, the recording quality is passable (just). The horns sound quite strained (understandable considering they are competing to be heard over a raucous rock band...) and the snare has a distracting echo, but on a positive note the musicianship is very good for such fast and intricate ska songs. The sharp breaks and the crispness of the vocals are also highlights.

The list of Favourite Songs below is only songs where I particularly like this live version. Many of the other songs (Das Ist Muncher, Boar and Wine, The Right Mind, Chode, Creamy Dreamy, Why Carrot) are fine renditions but without anything particular to prefer them over the album version.

Much of the appeal of this live album is to do with the silliness associated with a live ska gig. For example, one of my favourite moments on the CD is in the instrumental break of Retreat Mafia, where the singer slips into the song with a heavy eastern-european accent:
Why for you kick my dog?
I call him Fark-Off
...completely immature and non-sequitur. Similarly, the banter about a place called "Stonehaven" at the end of Creamy Dreamy is fun silliness. As is the discussion about Oversized Novelty Setlists at the end of Forgotten Years.

Of the two covers on this album, Forgotten Years is an absolute cracker. Sometimes a live recording can be emotive than polished studio perfection, due to the rawness and spontaneity. This cover is a brilliantly gutsy and honest rendition of the Midnight Oil classic.

(Embarrassingly, I must admit that I don't enjoy any version of the song Holy Grail at all... I can't explain this shameful fact!)

The live energy of Gone Fishin is incredible, with the singalong parts being infectious even years later just listening to the CD.

The two original songs not on 99% Fat's other releases are Make No Mistake and Yeah. The funk-influenced verses of Make No Mistake are not to my taste, but the chorus is great bouncing fun. Yeah is quite similar to The Right Mind and the chorus is another example of live singalong greatness.

Favourite songs

Retreat Mafia, Forgotten Years, Gone Fishin, Yeah

Worthwhile?

This CD is exactly what makes a great live record- something that can be listened to years later and take you back to a fantastic evening. Also, many of the tracks are highly enjoyable in their own right.

Waikiki- I'm Already Home

Released in 2002, this is Waikiki's only album before the band reformed as Howling Bells.

Believe it or not, I don't enjoy writing train-wreck reviews at all! However, I'm not gonna lie, I don't really like this album.

Most of the verses, chorus, bridges, etc are decent musically, but they feel awkwardly shoehorned together into songs (for example Did I, Ms Universe, Enough, Already Home). Even worse is that many of the songs somehow lack conviction, as if the band is playing whatever is expected to be commercially successful. The electro-pop of Complicated is awfully generic and the "heavy sound" of Lucky is terribly contrived (similar to if Michael Buble wore a spikey leather jacket to instantly become "punk").

On the bright side, New Technology is a great pop/rock song (aside from the awfully twee bridge). Particular highlights are the catchy riff and the chorus which perfectly fits the songs structure and mood.

I also enjoy the recording quality of this album. All of the instruments sound great, the layering works a treat and the character of the vocals is perfectly conveyed. Also, the raw "jangly" sound of the cymbals is a nice treat.

A Drunken Laugh feels very inspired by The Whitlams. I really enjoy this simple and moving song, a particular highlight of which is the great interplay between the main and backing vocals in the chorus.

Favourite songs

New Technology, Here Comes September, A Drunken Laugh

Worthwhile?

There's a couple of highlights here, but the Howling Bells albums are vastly better.

Casino Rumblers- Black Holiday

This 2006 release is Casino Rumbler's second EP. It follows their debut EP, released about 3 years earlier.

While I'm generally a fan of all things rock'n'roll, somehow psychobilly doesn't often do it for me. So it's a tough ask for this CD to earn a rave review. I actually quite like it went the band is slamming away at full noise. However, all the breaks and contrasting sections somehow kill the groove of Black Holiday and Baby It's Time For a Dry Martini for me. Also, I somehow find the songs a bit contrived, like a caricature of themselves.

The horns cop a raw deal; they only get cameo appearances and the sound is over-processed and lacking top-end bite. Otherwise, though, the recording quality is very good, with meaty bass, crunchy guitars and crisp vocals.

The news is much better for the instrumental Dia De Los Muertos. I find it to be brilliantly moody and seamlessly transitioning between aggressive and mysterious and aggressive. It would fit perfectly on a Tarrantino soundtrack- which is another way of saying it's fantastic!

Favourite songs

Dia De Los Muertos

Worthwhile?

No.

Fire Underground- Untitled

Back then this EP was released, the rock band Fire Underground was consisted of vocals, drums, guitar and clarinet. Do you spot something unusual here? No, not that! (clarinet) It's actually the lack of a bass guitar, so the sound is quite unique.

The way I received this CD is a story in itself. Standing outside the venue at the end of a Living End concert was a young guy giving out free CDs saying "come see our band". Seems like a great way to spread the word about your band. I wonder if the equivalent these days would be something like a bluetooth transfer of a free song onto your iPhone?

So, anyway, I will now proceed to look a gift horse in the mouth...

Big band swing and early rock'n'roll are cited as Fire Underground's influences, but to my ears it's closer to The White Stripes and The Vasco Era. 

As for the recording quality, it's a tough ask on a small budget with 50% of a typical rock band missing. There's always going to be compromises trying to achieve a full sound, but for me it's mainly that the lack of a bass guitar becomes obvious once the drummer switches from the boomy toms. Overall, I think it's a fine effort to make the most of what's available. In fact, after acclimatising to it, it's just something different and allows the drums and guitar more "space" to have a characterful sound. Also, the sound is refreshingly unprocessed, which perfectly suits the garage-band style.

Chase Scene heavily relies on a couple of simple riffs, but the driving energy carries it through well. And the clarinet is a nice touch. Speechless is more of the same goodness.

Due to the style of simple repeated riffs, I find the songs need interesting lyrics to hold my attention. Therefore the verses of Bam Bam Pt 1 don't work for me. The chorus, however, is brilliantly catchy and energetic. On the other hand,
School's Out has much more interesting verses. The only area it falls short of garage rock perfection is that the chorus doesn't really stand out. Perhaps combining the two songs would be a recipe for an instant classic...

Apologies to the band, but my favourite song on this EP is a cover. Can't Judge a Book is an excellent interpretation of the Bo Diddley classic. The original's excellent lyrics work a treat alongside Fire Underground's raucous garage-rock delivery.

Favourite songs

Chase Scene, Can't Judge a Book, Speechless

Worthwhile?

Far from being a stepping stone for an up-and-coming band, this CD is a unique and enjoyable listen in its own right.

Rebirth Brass Band- Rebirth for Life

This recording was released in 2004, shortly after the band's 20th anniversary.

The live energy or a New Orleans brass band makes for wonderful gigs. Similarly, this CD makes for a great vibe as background music at a party. However, for me it is social music, not designed for chin-scratching listening in an armchair. Therefore I don't really enjoy concentrated listening to it, such as a review like this requires.

All of this means that a clinical analysis of this CD would not be doing it justice.

The Knockabouts / The Vaginals - Split EP

In 2006, local Australian ska bands The Knockabouts and The Vaginals pooled their pocket money to record this "split EP". As far as I am aware, this was the only recording either band produced in their career.

Let's start with a quick comment on the audio quality: thin horns, instruments smeared together, lack of any sense of envelopment... it's terrible, in almost every way possible. To enjoy this CD, one must be able to ignore the sound and focus on the music.

First up are The Knockabouts, whose style often reminds me of The Pietasters, which is a very good thing. Unfortunately, many songs also reminds me of early No Doubt, in that the composition is a mish-mash of too many contrasting ideas awkwardly thrown together. Offender and Three Piece Suit feature great verses, but the contrasting choruses are a letdown.

It all comes together nicely for City Lights. The consistent feel throughout the song and appropriate chorus, makes for great ska listening.

The Vaginals bring more punk into the mix. At times it feels like a punk self-parody, although perhaps this is due to the woeful recording quality. Our Forum (perhaps actually called "Knockdown", despite the track list) is a fantastic punk song. The riffs are all simple yet powerful, the composition very good and the ska sections provide nice contrast. The chorus is the highlight of the song- brimming with energy and fist-pumping emotion.

City Runs Deep is very nearly a cover of Buck-o-nine's "My Town". But it's very well executed, so that's fine by me. Continuing the pseudo-covers, The Police Don't Like You screams The Porkers' "Skankin Carpark Blues" at times but it's a bit too frenetic and the instrumental breakdown all over the shop.

Party Reggae lives up to the promise of its title: a great feelgood ska track.

Back in the day, I found The Vaginals to be all aggression and lacking in musical substance. But nowadays I'm quite digging their half of this CD. Perhaps I've de-matured over the years!

Favourite songs

City Lights, Our Forum, City Runs Deep, Party Reggae

Worthwhile?

Absolutely. An oddball third-wave ska gem.

Fats Domino- The Essential Fats Domino

This Greatest Hits album, released in 2003, covers the peak of Domino's career through the 1950s and into the early 1960s.

Although I appreciate the huge of influence Fats Domino in many of the rock'n'roll bands I enjoy today, personally I find much of his music very dated. Blueberry Hill, Ain't That a Shame (basically the same song at a faster tempo...), So Long, etc sound too "homely" these days. And much of the later songs are cheesy throwaway pop songs- such as I'm in Love Again, I Want to Walk You Home and Whole Lotta Loving- with generic lyrics and tacky horn lines. The worst offender is Walking to New Orleans, thanks to its awful tacked-on strings.

Surprisingly, it's better news regarding the audio quality. The CD doesn't mention remastering, but most of the songs are nicely crisp (with the strange exception of The Fat Man).

Now for the good stuff! You'll see a long list below of energetic rhythm and blues (or perhaps early rock'n'roll, seems like a grey area to me) songs. For me, the boogie woogie piano and countermelody lines from the saxophone are highlights. Let the Four Winds Blow is a bit simplistic, but has a very catchy chorus. Blue Monday features a fantastic groove and a bit more experimentation than usual. And the supporting horn lines in Jambalaya (on the bayou) work a treat.

Favourite songs

Going to the River, Please Don't Leave Me, Blue Monday, I'm Walking, I'm Ready, Be My Guest, My Girl Josephine, Let the Four Winds Blow, Jambalaya (on the bayou)

Worthwhile?

Compared with the range of Fats Domino's songs, my window of enjoyment is quite narrow. However, within this window, there is lots of fun to be had.

Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here

This album is the 1975 follow-up to the classic concept album Dark Side of the Moon. The particular version being reviewed is the remastered 1994 edition.

I'd better admit from the outset that prog rock isn't really my cup of tea, and the psychedelic influences don't resonate with me either (perhaps I've never taken the right drugs to appreciate it!). Therefore, Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Welcome to the Machine are basically entrées to Wish You Were Here for me.

Speaking of prog-rock styling, personally I find that the sound has a daytime TV "soft focus" to it, with the vocals, drums and bass having a echoey and smoothed-off feel to it.

The funk-inspired groove of Have a Cigar is awkward and lumbering, however I do like the chorus (which is ironic, since the song is a protest about the superficiality of the pop music industry!).

So the whole reason I bought the album is for the song Wish You Were Here. It is a timeless classic, which gently drifts into and out of your life with the extended guitar opening and ending. The wonderfully poetic lyrics are perfectly complemented by their humble, gravelly delivery. And the guitar riff is hauntingly beautiful.

Favourite songs

Wish You Were Here

Worthwhile?

Although I only like one song, its sheer brilliance makes the whole album worthwhile.