Bass Is Maternal - Smith & Mighty

Advantages: God
Disadvantages: None

...best. TBM: "Don't feel so ashamed to have friends" Mark: 7/10 9. My Love Life (1991) More acoustic jangliness starts this mid tempo track off. It's possibly the nearest this album has to the spirit of the Smiths with its deft chord changes and repeatedly sung title. This song seems to go on forever but somehow manages to not outstay its welcome as Morrissey wibbles and croons and adlibs to the end. TBM: "I know you love one person so why don't you love two, love?" Mark: 6/10 10. Interesting Drug (1989) This is fabulous. Recorded and released in 1989 at the start of the dance-drug culture it's a real snipe at that scene. Where the Smiths' Panic had a go at dance music, this track attacks the culture. It's beautifully jangly and the bass is almost taking the piss out of the heavy bass used in most dance tracks of that time. The "la... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: The songs, the sound, the faceless boys
Disadvantages: None

...I used to seriously love the Cure in their heyday, back in 79, 80, 81 time and Seventeen Seconds is them at their absolute peak in 1980, before Robert Smith discovered make up and hair lacquer. They kicked off in 1979 with Three Imaginary Boys, but a year later Michael Dempsey, the bassist from the original trio, was gone and we had the first real four piece BAND. There were a million introspective teenagers who hung on every one of Smith's words and they would shut themselves way in their bedrooms drooling over the Cure sound. Here you have moody atmospheric sound schemes like A Reflection, Secrets, In Your House and the wondersful smash hit single A Forest with its flanged bass lead lines. Go on, think bakc, everyone loved the Cure and this is EPIC... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Brix is back
Disadvantages: She left

...This is an album that welcomed back Brix Smith to the Fall line up. Mark Smith's ex wife really adds to the charm of this album. The opening track 'The Joke' takes a swipe at political correctness gone mad and is a powerful social comment. "Don't Call Me Darling' featured screaming American vocals from Brix as she spits and snares the songs title in the catchy aggresive choruses more akin to the riot grrrl era than previous Fall tracks. My favourite tracks on this album are "Pearl City" a powerful post punk tight drum and bass affair. "Life Just Bounces" is a rockabilly classic. This is far also features some great quirky moments such as "North West Fashion Show" and "Rainmaster". I saw The Fall live at the Pheonix Rock Festival and it started raining during that track. Ironic and it could only happen at a Fall gig.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful