Blue Breakbeats - Lou Donaldson

Advantages: a couple of decent songs
Disadvantages: too much avearge material and average production

...Arguably the least regarded Lou Reed album, Mistrial just seems to receive indifference from most people. It doesn't upset anyone, like Metal Machine Music did, nor does it excite audiences in the way that Transformer did. Mistrial consists of ten average songs, played competently, sung ok, and produced ok. And that's about it. There's nothing that really stands out, the resolutely 1986 production utilises very basic drum machines for the first and last time in Lou's history, and everything sounds rather boomy and upfront, but hollow and lacking in substance. The ttle track at least features a cracking melody, but Mama's Got A Lover, whilst not a bad song, sounds like a bad Lloyd Cole copy. A rather bizarre achievment sounds like a bad copy of someone who sounds like a bad copy of Lou Reed. "Video Violence" has a sparky sound but... Read review

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Advantages: Totally original
Disadvantages: none

...Tracklisting 1. Berlin 2. Lady Day 3. Men Of Good Fortune 4. Caroline Says I 5. How Do You Think It Feels 6. Oh, Jim 7. Caroline Says II 8. Kids, The 9. Bed, The 10. Sad Song I wouldn't recommend this album to anyone who has just bought Transformer because they like Perfect day or Walk on the Wild Side or anyone with just a passing interest in the man. This is not an easy listen - its Lou Reeds concept album about the breakdown of a marriage between Jim & Caroline and the mental collapse that follows. It was produced by Bob Ezrin - a legendary producer who has worked with everyone from Lou to Pink Floyd to Janes Addiction - and the album sounds like it was recorded in Reeds head. Opening song Berlin sets the tone with its creepy opening bars and its sparse lyrics about how they met by the Berlin Wall... Read review

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Advantages: Great adventure, lovely story, great illustrations
Disadvantages: Not sure what age group it targets

...much he is needed, no matter what his size. I don't want to spoil the story for those of you who haven't read it, but one day while the snail and the whale are going along their merry way, disaster strikes and the whale becomes beached in a bay. As is to be expected, it is the wee snail who manages to save the day by rescuing his travel companion. About the Author/Illustrator Julia Donaldson is understandably one of the most popular and successful Children's writers of today and has enjoyed recognition for her work. The Snail and the Whale won the Blue Peter Best Illustrated book to read out loud award and her well-known Gruffolo books have earned her the best pre-school award from the Book Trust as well as the much sought after Gold Award. She excels at creating simple rhymes which kids can easily follow and chant with you and writing... Read review

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