Blase/Live At The Pan-African Festival - Archie Shepp

Advantages: A variety of gorgeous songs, fine musicianship, sublime blend of voices
Disadvantages: Not to everyone's taste, one or two weaker tracks

...-ups the Macs have been touring for over 40 years, and in 2006 won Live Act of the Year award at the Scots Trad Music Awards in Fort William. They know what they're good at - and yet after 40 years they're still willing to take risks. Flames on the Water is one such risk. There are no traditional songs here. Most McCalmans albums give the listener a couple of tracks written by Scottish songwriters. Here everything is by a Scottish songwriter, and penned within the last 20-30 years or so. This gives the album far more of a political edge - the title Flames on the Water itself is a line from the track "Who Pays the Piper", Nancy Nicolson's sad and bitter response to the Piper Alpha disaster of 1990. From an entertaining swipe at the nuclear industry in "Ah'm E Man At Muffed It" to the harsh irony of "Devolution Anthem" to the more... Read review

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Advantages: Fresh new style mixed with occasionally classic Charlatans tracks
Disadvantages: New style doesn't always work well - too much filler, not enough killer

...After 16 years of putting on a variety of baggy jeans and sporting an equally consistently different style of the same genre of music, the Charlatans have gone for a new style yet again and its one of those albums you're either gonna love or hate. It is hard to criticise Blackened Blue Eyes, their released-as-single opener; it fuses with the Mancunian swagger we have come to know from singer Tim Burgess, even if he is living across the pond in LA nowadays. Sitting right in the days of Tellin' Stories with a little more structure, it is easy to see why it is an opener when the remainder of the album pans out. A distinctly reggae beat pervades through the album as Burgess adds his hometown touch over the top of Bob Marley's chosen beat and, to an extent, it works. The Charlatans have never been the most polished band around... Read review

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Advantages: On CD
Disadvantages: ?

..., 1969 Woodstock. To date the band has been awarded 10 platinum & 9 gold Grammies. In 1987 the band attended the Rock & Roll summit a joint US - Soviet rock concert. The Santana band was the 1st band to ever earn CBS records crystal globe award for the sale of more than 5 million records. ***DISCOGRAPHY*** Ceremony 2003, The Essential Santana 2002, Shaman 2002, Divine Light 2001, Supernatural 1999, Best of Santana 1998, Santana 1998, Santana 111 1998, Santana 1998, Abraxas 1998, live at the Filmore 1968 (1997), Dance of the Rainbow Serpent 1995, Milagri 1992, Spirits Dancing in the Flesh 1990, Viva Santana 1998, Freedom 1987, Beyond Appearances 1985, Shango 1982, Zebop 1981, Marathon 1979, Inner Secrets 1978, Moonflower 1997, Amigos 1996, Festival 1976, lotus 1975, Borbolette 1974, Welcome 1973, Caravanserai 1972, Santana 111 1971... Read review

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