15 Years Jubilee - Bad Manners

Advantages: Lyrically strong. Not simply a re-tread of the previous album
Disadvantages: Not quite as tight as 'Scarecrow'

...Following on from the mid-west tales of 'Scarecrow', The Lonesome Jubilee moves Mellencamp's writing to the city. The acoustic roots of the previous album seep through at times, but this is a harder-edged record with the emphasis on rock rather than folk/country. A key to the sound of the album is the introduction of the fiddle and accordion which provide a unique blend with the electric guitars and give the record it's signature. Mellencamp's recurring lyrical theme of people impacted by a greedy and naive society is mixed with uplifting songs that border on pop. Downbeat tales of unemployment sit side by side with reflections on the best years of youth. The album created a number of hit singles in the States, where Mellencamp is far better known than in the U.K. Still a cut above the output of most other artists in the mid to late... Read review

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Advantages: A Good Different Sound
Disadvantages: A Couple Of Album Fillers

...This album is probably Blur's most noticeable album, and a complete contrast to the previous two. The adding of the synth sound is a great addition and you have got some memory lasting songs because of it. Here's the playlist: 1. Girls & Boys 2. Tracy Jacks 3. End Of A Century 4. Parklife 5. Bank Holiday 6. Badhead 7. The Debt Collector 8. Far Out 9. To The End 10. London Loves 11. Trouble In The Message Centre 12. Clover Over Dover 13. Magic America 14. Jubilee 15. This Is Low 16. Lot 105 As you can see a lot of tracks although Lot 105 is an instrumental. This album was totally over hyped upon it's release, and perhaps justifiably so, lyrics and guitar rifts are some of the best written by Albarn/Coxon, most notably lyrics to London Loves and Parklife and rifts on London Loves and Jubilee. So overall this is a valued addition... Read review

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Advantages: Some great music on the tracks
Disadvantages: but some not so good ones - and quite expensive

..., but worth the money spent on it, and some of the tracks are nearly too long, reaching 10-11 minutes in places but the music is good for most of that time. Tracks on this CD include: 1. Lament from the Castle - This is a haunting lament played by a lone piper from the castle walls and is really to just calm the audience down before the show starts. There is nothing very special about this track, its just a lament and they dont get very exciting but its a good enough start to the CD. 2. Fanfare - This is a great piece of music composed expecially for the opening of this Tattoo by the Director of Music for that years Tattoo. The only 'bad' thing about this track is the spoken introduction by the commentator - but that doesnt last long. 3. The Massed Pipes and Drums - 15 different pipe bands are represented and are playing in this recording... Read review

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