Accordeon Diatonique - Riccardo Tesi

Advantages: Songs well up to standard
Disadvantages: Unadventurous instrumentation

...'ve always enjoyed Richard's work not just for his writing but also for the colourful, imaginative instrumentation which breaks down the barriers between pop, rock and world music, and if you want to hear him pitting that expressive mournful voice and biting lead guitar against a backdrop of saxophone, accordeon and hammered dulcimer, you'll listen in vain here. This really is one for the fan who has already got several of his others.... Read review

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Advantages: Unerringly good songs and playing
Disadvantages: Total playing time a little on the short side

...of accordeon and steel guitar. Four of the songs were original, the best-known being another collaboration with classical guitarist Martin Quittenton. "You Wear It Well" followed the "Maggie May" template without sounding like a pale copy, and the fact that it also made No. 1 as a single in the UK (albeit for only one week) suggests that fans agreed - remember, the album was also No. 1 at around the same time. The other Rod originals were written with guitarist Ronnie Wood, and they're all pretty neat. My favourite of the lot is "Italian Girls", which really sounds like two songs tacked together, the first part being a typical Faces-style rabble rouser with tongue-in-cheek non-PC lyrics ('she was tall, thin and tarty/and she drove a Maserati'), the second a moody lament with violin and mandolin augmenting the acoustic guitars. If you loved... Read review

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Advantages: Fifteen rarely less than first-rate songs
Disadvantages: Some critics say it sounds dated (if you call that a disadvantage!)

...in her private life and come out the other end a little stronger. Not only has she written some damn fine songs for this album (seven tracks here are all her own, and she co-wrote the other eight), she’s also produced everything. And she’s no slouch on guitars, bass, keyboards or accordeon either, let alone as a vocalist. Musically and lyrically, there’s also more than meets the eye. You’ll know ‘Soak Up The Sun’, in my opinion the best single of 2002 so far, inside out (except the version on this album has an extra verse). A nice summery single to join in on the chorus while cruising down the dual carriageway with the windows open, right? Well yes, but it's not a one-dimensional, frothy pop tune. It's full of odd, quirky, ironic lines – ‘I'm stuck here watching TV, I don't have digital... Read review

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