All Star Show - Smurfs (The)

Advantages: Bright music, listener friendly
Disadvantages: The odd weak track, lacking imagination

...And now for your reading pleasure, a band that I can be certain that 99% of you will not have heard of?Augustana?with their debut album ?All The Stars And Boulevards.? Released on Epic Records in 2005, this quartet are, by first listen anyway, the nearest style the Americans have to a ?Brit-pop? band?but saying that means they are nothing like Oasis/Blur/Suede/Pulp/Supergrass etc. Instead they represent a slightly pessimistic view on life?the fact that Americans only sing about the bad times shows they are oh so miserable people!! Opening track ?Mayfield? shares a sound not to far away from the likes of Snow Patrol, Train or Mercury Rev from this side of the ?pond? if you will ? there you go, you?ll feel as if you?ve known this band for years now! A loud, vibrant voice from vocalist Dan Layus on top of progressive rock music, that... Read review

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Advantages: Great Upbeat Album
Disadvantages: Leaves you wanting more

...I was handed this album and told to have a listen. Unsure of who the group were I was apprehensive. The album cover gives nothing away as on the front it shows a desert scene with the group name, 'Smash Mouth' in the top corner and an electronic scrolling sign post with the words, 'All Star Smash Hits'. On the rear of the cover there are photos of the group performing at a live venue, which initially I thought meant that album had been recorded 'live' - it hasn't. As the title of the album suggests, 'All Star Smash Hits', this is a greatest hits album cleverly named after the groups best known hit, 'All Star'. Don't know it? You will if you've ever seen the movie 'Shrek'. There are 20 tracks on the album, which was a surprise as I wasn't sure that this relatively fringe band had produced so much music - but they have and the 20... Read review

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Advantages: Staying on the Disney estate
Disadvantages: Pricey and Crouded

...the parks ? definitely worth while considering.  Preferential early entry into the parks on specified days ? now this really does make you feel like a star, you turn up an hour or so before the opening time, the queues are already forming and you show your special little ticket, and almost with a little bow they respectfully let you through. Great stuff. But for me that pretty much covers the upsides. The problem with the all stars hotel is precisely that it is the budget end of Disney?s hotel offering. The rooms are ok, pretty much standard for American hotel rooms so a good size for a family. They are decorated in Disney themes; we were staying in the All stars music, so there were musical instruments everywhere. However, the cleanliness in the room wasn?t the best I?ve experienced, on arrival there were dirty cotton buds... Read review

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