America - Modern Talking

Advantages: Better than "Leisure"
Disadvantages: In retrospect, feels like a practice run for ParkLife

...After the so-so "Leisure" album, which showed only brief sparks of promise, came this MUCH more substantial offering... This was the first in the trilogy of Blur albums which explored Britishness in all its frolics and follies - the fashionable boredom of "For Tomorrow", the Great British Sunday in "Sunday Sunday". It also pinpointed the British infatuation with Americana in "Miss America" - a theme the band would return to with "Magic America" and "Look Inside America" on Parklife and Blur respectively. They also began a more playful experimentation with styles and instrumentation, with the stop-start rhythms of "Chemical World" and the juddering guitar tratments on "Oily Water". Plus they introduced the brief tradition of silly, smile-inducing instrumentals, with the glorious "Intermission" and the seaside nostalgia of "Commercial... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Brilliant debut album, high quality songwriting, good variety of songs
Disadvantages: None!!

...This is a stunning debut album from the innovative and talented band from Cambridgeshire. The album starts with the teen angst anthem 'Human Punk'. It's filled with anger and energy and Seymour Glass sings with such sincerity that one listen to this song and you'll be hooked. The best song on the album is without a doubt 'Talk Hard'. It's a great, and incredibly catchy song about achieving what you want out of life. Another song you must hear is the self-titled Miss Black America, the crowds favourite if you're ever fortunate enough to see them live. The theme that runs throughout this album is independence and freedom. It is specifically aimed at teenagers and projects the message 'do what you want with your life'. If you're a troubled teen, or can remeber what it was like to feel trapped as one, this album is for you. Go buy... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Excellent debut, catchy songs, meaningful lyrics
Disadvantages: No extra 'features' on the CD such as videos

...Miranda Lambert is one of the latest voices to emerge in contemporary country, and this album shows precisely why she's shot to fame - and why she deserves it. One of the most noticeable aspects of this album is that for such a young star, she sings with a maturity utterly beyond her years. Her vocal ability is unquestionably excellent, but the lyrics are what really makes this album for me. Deep, catchy, and undoubtedly heartfelt - this album is well worth listening to. The style of this album is definitely modern country, with a flavour of honky-tonk. It's hard to describe as while this is definitely a contemporary country album, some of the slower songs especially show her traditional country influences. Several of my flatmates have overheard this album playing in my room, and asked who/what it was - and have then been... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful