Beauty To Fight For, A - Shadow Project

Advantages: brilliant, amazing, soulful hip hop without aggression
Disadvantages: cant think of any just now

...This has to be one of the most original hip hop albums of all time. Ironic then that the entire album is built out of samples, the only live playing is the scratching performed by DJ Shadow himself. No guest MC's appear to disjoint the flow of the album. There is no cursing or reference to hoods and projects, this is just about pure soulful music. Some may find the influence to druggy whereas others know that it will make a perfect contribution to an evening in. Don't expect to see Snoop Dogg and Eminem appearing with DJ Shadow at the MOBO awards, this guy is elusive but when he needs to say something he locks himself in his studio and does what hip hop DJ's and programmers with heart do best. Says it with beats.... Read review

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Advantages: A mellower side to Marilyn Manson
Disadvantages: Some songs sound a bit samey.

...When the latest Marilyn Manson album, Holy Wood (In The Shadow of the Valley of Death) was released last year, I could not believe it. The style adopted by the band has gone through tremendous changes with good albums such as the techno mad "Mechanica Animals" and their worst effort "Smells Like Children" (let us never speak of that album again!) This album is by far more mellow than previous records before it. However, there is still that heavy rock punch that come alongside tracks such as "Disposable Teens" and "The Fight Song" (which rocked live!). The album's more mellow contrast to the norm is found in songs such as the acoustic version of "The Nobodies" and "In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death" which both in their own right are amazings songs. This unique side to Manson, never before seen is an interesting and exciting... Read review

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Advantages: A great album for all 'early' Cliff & The Shadows fans.
Disadvantages: None whatsoever!

...Arguably this has to be the definitive Rock-'n'-Roll album by Cliff and The Shadows during his 'Elvis' years. Performing with the original Shadows line-up of Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, this album typifies what the combo was really about. Originally recorded in 1960, this album contains 16 songs, 5 of which had songwriting contributions from one or other of The Shadows. Basically the album can be split into two genres - Rock and Ballad. Five for the first, and 11 for the second. The album begins with the 'foot-stomping 'I'M GONNA GET YOU', and ends with an equally feverish 'WORKING AFTER SCHOOL'. In between these two are some beautiful ballads such as 'EVERGREEN', with Bruce Welch playing an acoustic guitar over Cliff's vocals. A track called 'LAMP OF LOVE' is credited to 'Tepper/Bennett, and it makes... Read review

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