Banjo Album, The - Douglas Dillard

Advantages: clever lyrics, banjo/piano harmonies, broad range of song themes
Disadvantages: too short

...I bought this album because "The Man Who" monopolised my cd player for most of last year. "Invisible Band" is a superb album - every track has meaning and there is a broad range of emotions, from the power of being in love to the pain of betrayal. They've introduced a banjo on some of the tracks, which works really well. 'Sing' and 'Flowers in the window' are feelgood tracks, definitely designed for singing along. At the opposite end of the scale is 'Last train' with the depressing theme of "what's the point?". The harmonies on all the tracks are superb and whatever mood you're in, this album is sure to match it. The downside: it's too short. The upside: the clever lyrics ('Humpty Dumpty Love Song), the intricate harmonies and the unique sound that is Travis.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great DVD
Disadvantages: Not great artwork front cover

...What can i say about this great album. Im a mad fan anyway but this is the Strongest album since Achtung baby. I would say that all but 2 tracks are total clasics and even though the track vertigo is nearly a year old now, i still dont get tired of listening to it. The DVD is great for behind the screens stuff and a very funny video for Vertigo played on the banjo by Edge. If you are a mad fan then get the version that comes withe DVD and book as it has a collection of art done by the band and hand written lyrics. If your not a mad fan i would stick with the slightly cheap version of this album that comes with out the Book. Enjoy, i sure have.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: More varied influences.
Disadvantages: Not as good as earlier releases.

...Dinosaur Jr's swansong LP is good, if not one of their best. I'd say it vies with Without A Sound for the position of 2nd weakest album after Green Mind, but it's by no means a failure. J Mascis's influences seemed to have expanded between the arrival of this album and the last, and you can hear it in the cheerful bugle accompaniment on "I'm Insane" and the lone plucking of the banjo on "Gettin' Rough". Kevin Shield's also lends his guitar FX wizardry to tracks such as "Loaded", for which we can only be truly grateful, and the lyrics also seem more poignant than usual, as if J had reached a particularly happy turning point in his life. I wouldn't recommend this album to Dino virgins but it's definitely worth getting around to once you've checked out some of the other stuff.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful