Back Porch Bluegrass/Live Almost [Remastered] - Dillards (The)

Advantages: interesting very very interesting
Disadvantages: too "interesting" in places

...track "Almost Medieval" comes crashing in with chaotic drum machines and a synth set to "organ"and a repetitive chorus but already revealing early signs of the Leagues economic pop style,this makes way for the early single "Circus of Death" which mentions Steve McGarett,narcotics ,and of course clowns ,set against a more sinister backing as Phil Oakey warns us "the circus of death is approaching ",a confident start as well being lyrically intriging and slightly eccentric. Early single and nearly hit "Empire State Human" from the summer of 1980 displays the first real signs of of the groups pop potential whilst still retaining their obscure focal point ,in this case a song about a boy who willed himself to become taller and grew as "tall as a wall ",i did say it was interesting . Most of "Reproduction"maintains an intimate small... Read review

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Advantages: inteligent varied original
Disadvantages: their last record as a group

...warning set to the tune from a Spaghetti Junction western,and probably defines the spirit of the record more than any other song ,a range of musical styles move the album along from Mexican bar room to the social club disco on "I cant stand it " around the world in a couple of plays ,the sheer variety of form continues on "Holidat Fortnight" a vibrant conga ,evoking the shambles of a Spanish package holiday ,imagine sombrero,s and sunburnt mother in laws and your half way there. The albums most ambitious and stylistically radical track "International Jet Set" almost closes "More Specials",a predominantly instrumental track which once again harks back to the uncomfortable and the nightmarish ,themes which haunt the entire record in one guise or another ,themetically it takes the package holiday a step too far into the realms... Read review

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Advantages: ABBA hallmarks of affecting musical hooks, lyrics; sophisticated harmonies, musical structures; most mature work.
Disadvantages: This was ABBA's final studio album. Boo hoo. :(

...The many musical strengths that made ABBA one of the finest and most beloved pop bands ever are most definitely present on ‘The Visitors’ ; namely, those irresistible melodic hooks, devilishly infectious rhythms, exhilarating back-up harmonies and overdubs, and that distinctive ‘bigness’ of sound (although ‘smaller’ here than on previous albums) produced through clever sound engineering. However, ABBA’s music rose to a more mature level on this album, which eschews a heavy discofied tempo, uses synthesizers more liberally, lightens the instrumental backing and brings the women’s vocals out in front and centre. Alas, ‘The Visitors’ would turn out to be their last recorded outing as a group, even if the quartet had planned to continue working together after finishing the album. The result... Read review

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