Bass Drum Bone - Mark Helias & Gerry Hemingway/Ray Anderson

Advantages: The will to live when you're feeling down (not that I am)
Disadvantages: None whatsoever

...Alas, as is the case in the present day, bands in the sixties who were clearly head and shoulders above their contemporaries were often overlooked for no plausible reason. One listen to The Sonics debut LP, “Here are The Sonics” and you’ll be wondering exactly the same thoughts. The Sonics were simply a band who’s music hits the listener like the dropping a nuclear bomb, and a big one at that. Lead by Gerry Roslie, singer and organist, The Sonics produced one of the dirtiest, roughest sounds around, all of which was played very LOUD. Even if you turn the music down real low, the sheer magnitude of the sound still penetrates to the bone. Some quotes… Bob Bennett (drums): “We were a wild, dirty, kickass band” Larry Parypa (bass): “We were nasty. Everything you’ve heard people say... Read review

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Advantages: Some good songs - fabulous cover art. The lyrics make more sense than is typical
Disadvantages: : Not classic Tull - overarranged with too many sounds fighting for space

...in for electric feel to the album. Finally, we have Gerry Conway - drummer and percussionist. Last time I saw Fairport Convention, he was playing drums with them. There was a point where you could call the groups “Fairport Tull”, or “Jethro Convention”, there was so much overlap between the two! Unsurprisingly, Ian Anderson wrote the music and lyrics, although Peter-John Vettese is credited with ‘additional material’. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Songs – Side One - Beastie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Beastie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The original album (as with all vinyls) was on two sides. The sides (and the first track on each side) had titles that are themed with the album title. Side one is Beastie, and side two, Broadsword. The instrumentation of Beastie begins vaguely fantasy-like (keeping with the album cover). This song... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent guitar rock, Brett Anderson
Disadvantages: Some lyrics disappoint

...I have always been surprised at the lack of commercial success which Suede have had. For me they were one of the best bands of the 1990’s mixing excellent musicianship with some reasonably good songwriting. Add to this Brett Anderson’s vocal style and presence and they should have dominated the charts. The problem for Suede has been that they were kept in the shadows by the Oasis/Blur media dominance though I felt both bands were inferior and by Pulp who had everything Suede had perhaps with more humour and quirkiness. The opening track is called Trash but is far from it. It sets the tone of the remainder of the album with strong drumming of Simon Gilbert and jangling guitars of Richard Oakes ably supported by bass player Matt Osman and keyboard player Neil Codling. Of course more than anything Suede are defined by Brett... Read review

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