Blind Dog - Norman And Nancy Blake

Advantages: Beautiful songs, lot of variety
Disadvantages: A couple of songs don't meet the standard of the rest

...As a longtime fan of Nanci I rushed out and bought this CD on the day of release. Although I was a bit unsure of it at first, it's now one of my favourites. The mood is varied from the opening title track, a sad lyric about life drifting by through to the closing cover of a "In the wee small hours" a song made famous by Frank Sinatra. Between these two there are songs about the Vietnam war, photographer Dickie Chapelle, Nanci's mother and my personal favourie, "Shaking Out the Snow". This slightly bizarre number sees Nanci employing an unusual vocal technique as she sings about her frozen heart. No-one listening to the rest of the album will really believe she's the cold character she portrays but it's still a great song. All in all, Nanci Griffith fans will have this CD already - if you haven't had the pleasure of hearing her... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Gives Normans fans an idea of how his musical taste and talent has developed
Disadvantages: May not be to everyone's taste

...Norman Cook really first arrived on the music scene by developing his dj'ing skills on Brightons club scene at the early age of 18 whilst he was studying at the University of Brighton. A little while on in 1985 a friend of Cook's named Paul Heaton had a new guitar group called the Housemartins, but unfortunately they had just lost their bass player, so Heaton then contacted Cook who agreed to be their new bass player. The Housemartins had a few big hits such as Happy Hour and Caravan Love but by 1988 they had split up, this is where Cook then wen't off and his career started to get going. The album "The Fatboy Slim/Norman Cook collection" gives an insight into how Cook's career has progressed along with his musical tastes, for example after the split of the Housemartins Cook soon formed the group Beats International which... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: 5 great songs
Disadvantages: Only an EP, we want more tracks!!

...'The Blinding' is an excellent release from Babyshambles and their first release since joining new record company Parlophone. All five songs included on the EP are very catchy. 'I Wish' is defiantly the best track on the EP, a catchy ska inspired track. With lyrics such as 'Piping almost everynight, watch my dreams float by, out of sight. I wish to God I'd just been stabbed' gives us an insight into the mind of Pete Doherty and listening to the EP on a whole gives a real taster of what we can expect from Pete Doherty in future, and if the next Babyshambles album is anything like this release Doherty may start to receive some of the recognition he deserves. I recommend 'The Blinding' to everyone. The title song 'The Blinding' offers fans a real jaunty, upbeat anthem to listen to, in the same sort of way that previous release 'F*** Forever... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful