Big Band Theory - Carla Bley

Advantages: Emily Haines' astonishing, mesmorising voice; the backing
Disadvantages: The plainness of a few songs, towards the end especially, be bad

...fantastic. Sure, everyone loves "Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl" - it's a brilliant song (why don't you know what I'm talking about? Go download it!) But aside from that and the odd song from her time as front woman of Metric, she hasn't got that much on her side in terms of quality. It's also quite a departure from her previous music, throwing out the electric guitars and replacing them with piano and hushed orchestration. As a result, "Knives Don't Have Your Back" is a haunting, ethereal album. It's dedicated to her father, the Canadian poet Paul Haines, as evidenced by the plain album cover which references his work as a songwriter with Carla Bley, on the album "Escalator Over The Hill". This isn't a depressed, angry sounding album in any way though, and it surprisingly doesn't focus on the death of her father, or death in general... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Fantastic display of Jazz composition
Disadvantages: Jazz isn't for everyone

...Charles Mingus - In a Soulful Mood. Charles Mingus, also known as "The angry man of Jazz", is a fantastic jazz bassist and composer. He was born in 1922 in Arizona and picked up the Double Bass in high school. He had previously learnt to play the cello and trombone so many of his cello skills were converted to double bass. In his early years he was composing incredibly advanced jazz pieces, some of which to be recorded later on. Over his career Mingus recorded in excess of 70 records with various musicians passing through his often unconventional bands. He tended to focus on the personality, as well as the ability, of a musician to see how he would fit into the band. He ran a jazz workshop that included around 8 members and shaped musicians into unconventional ways that explored their improvisational talents. Pieces of Mingus... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: new fresh style
Disadvantages: to commercial

...Why the hell would you buy anything other than this. This band are new on the scene and are amazin. This album has a mix of songs, from the rap/rock of one step closer to the soft rock of in the end. this album is ground breaking. if u like bands like papa roach you will love this. the good thing about this is that it is chart music but little girls dont go out buying it and sticking posters on there wall. The only bad thing about it is that it basicly sounds the same. the sort of songs on the album are the kind that stick in your head. and not bug u BUY THIS... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful