Dennis Brown - The Crown Prince - Dennis Brown

Advantages: The first and probably the best folk rock album
Disadvantages: The line-up never recorded together again

...Fairport Convention’s groundbreaking 1970 album “Liege and Lief” is not just a seminal album it can be argued to have launched the whole concept of folk-rock. It is above all still a hugely enjoyable and relevant work which as a listener I return to time and time again. The reason is simple, it is the work of highly skilled musicians at the height of their careers. The band had started as a West Coast and Dylan admiring band who put out a first eponymous record with singer Judy Dyble, mildly interesting without setting anything alight. The second album “What We Did On Our Holidays” was rather more interesting. Having been joined by Sandy Denny, surely one of the best singers the pop/rock scene ever spawned, an inspired songwriter and boasting one of the most “English” voices imaginable. Richard Thompson, still a highly... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: large range of styles of track
Disadvantages: a few duff songs

...After the first self titled Gorillaz album I was looking forward to the releas of Demon Days. Ive always followed Damon Albarn's career with distaste as I dislike the droning sound of the Britpop scene. But whith the creation of Gorillaz im now converted. The album starts in a bit of a mish mash with the first three songs not adding up to much but then with "O Green World" starts a trio of base lines only paralelled by a three track run of Billy Jean, Beat it and Thriller on Michael Jackson's definitive album (in my opinion anyway!) "Feel good inc" is super funky as is "Dare" which features an appearance from wacked out Shaun Ryder. Crowned by the spoken word track "Fire coming out of a monkey's head" featuring the unmistakable voice of Dennis Hopper. All round a good album ....enjoy monkeying on down with Noodle, 2D and co. .....I do!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: James Brown before he went global
Disadvantages: Very dated, none of his big hits

...and DJs began sampling his funky grunts, soulful beats and brassy stabs. This acceptable theft ensured hip hop moved out of the ghetto and into the charts at the end of the 80's. This new-found commercial sound was, of course, supplied by much of James Brown's 60s and 70s output. OK, so this is a generalisation and I'm suggesting that James Brown virtually invented all black music of the last forty years (except reggae). He didn't, of course, but it's not that much of an exaggeration to cite Brown as an influence on every important black artist of the last 40 years: Prince, OutKast, Public Enemy, Sly Stone. WHAT'S THIS ALBUM ALL ABOUT ----------------------------------------------- It's a concert, recording in Harlem at the world famous Apollo on 24.10.1962. As a historical document it's fascinating. It's rated by "critics" as the best... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful