lets read more about music

Mg 4-28-9

Robbie Robertson

I’d forgotten just how good Robbie Robertson is. Whether it be The Band, or this cd he just writes good music. Here he surrounds himself with great people, the del feugo guys, peter Gabriel and it works. Grand epic songs, and atmospheric ballads they are all here. Hell even hearing Rod Stewart butcher Broken Arrow every day I still like the tune.
3.5

Boomtown Rats
Its funny but Bob Geldoff musically will always be remembered for two songs, one he wrote, one he didn’t. But forgotten will be just what a nice little band The Boomtown Rats were. Part Oingo Boingo, part Brit Pop, they put out decent discs regularly but in the end are probably a better greatest hits band than individual cd band. Tonic for the Troops is their best how ever and the cd is good throughout. Good not great. Some quality instrumental play that let us the listener show that yes the band did have chops.
3.0

Blue October
Now here is an angry individual who know how to spit venom at the people who have cause him pain even if it is him self. I really liked this band. The singer sounds like Fish and the band has that early Marillion feel. Just a bit more pissed, and a bit heavier. Love the single especially the bee comment. Unfortunately there seems to be a problem brewing. As the cd plays the guitars disappear a bit replaced by keyboard and violin. Not good. Although the last songs anger clears that up pretty quick.
3.5

Chris Isaac
Another quality outing. However what tends to bother me is he has a tendency to build a song but never gives us the crescendo that would really make the song over top. Instead he relies on his voice to slowly bring back to the song. That being said he has some good songs here especially the duets and the straight pop tunes. 3.0



Spin, when it was owned by penthouse and guicione jr didn’t give a shit. Got it free for about two years when they went out looking for bands rolling stone would give any press to

Kerrang a magazine named after the sound of guitar strings being hit. Focused on metal when it was still interesting although a bit clichéd now. Three of my favorite critics came from here and when the graduated the magazine suffered.

Q it’s a brit pop magazine nuff said
CMJ just for the reviews and the free disc

Classic Rock Where my favorite writers have landed. A magazine with its foot in the past but a toe looking towards the future. Championed Dirty Sweet Two Cow and Damone and still loves to point why Lizzy and UFO are relevant. Above all its focus is on guitar-based music. What’s not to like?

Favorite reviewers

There was a writer/ reviewer in the early days of spin that would use song titles from the artist as he wrote about the artist. No clue of his name but his style and taste were something I found to be necessary reading.

Dave Ling, Malcome Dome, Geoff Barton. All came out of the early Kerranng magazine and started promoting the NWOBHM flag. All could take something that was audio, put down in words that left you a picture of what the cd sounded like. That is something special. Of the three Dave ling is probably my favorite because his tastes are closer to mine. But either of them giving a good review means I am probably going to check out the cd.