Distant Thunder [CD On Demand] - Aswad

Advantages: The best of British rock
Disadvantages: Maybe a little cliched

...! Unlike with some cover versions, you can like the original and like the cover. “Distant Thunder” Which came first, the band name or the song title? It’s OK, I don’t know either, it was a rhetorical question. This goes back to the electric guitar intro, with the vocals entering before the rest of the band, giving the song quite a laid back, toned down bluesy feel to it that the subject matter doesn’t really deserve. Maybe that’s what makes this so effective. It’s a lament on the way the world’s going on a downward spiral. I don’t think I can say any more about it than that. “As we race towards the future/We’re not learning from the past/From the minefields of excess/you can hear the devil laugh” Quite simply put, this is a great album. Yes, it’s steeped in 1980’s soft rock clichés, lyrically and musically. Even Danny’s hair... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: True roots style, fine sound quality, concious lyrics and that great bouncy live feel.
Disadvantages: Too short, too few tracks. No lyrics with CD.

...Possibly Aswad's finest album, 'Live And Direct' has a deep rootsy feeling with every track and includes some of the more popular tracks such as 'Roots Rocking' and 'Drum & Bass Line'. The tracks were recorded at London's Notting Hill Carnival in 1983 and provide 45 minutes of smooth, rolling, roots reggae. Apart from track #7, which has a carnival/Trinidad influence of fast drums, the rest is slower with more of the deep flowing bass line and conscious lyrics that fans will enjoy if they like Aswad's other studio albums. Personally, I find tracks #5 and #8 the most enjoyable to listen to, with track #8 being a medley of four songs put together, but it's hard to fault any of the tracks. As a conclusion, I feel this album is one for every fan of UK reggae and beats some of Aswad’s studio recorded albums. The sound quality... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: That happy feel good feeling you get when listening
Disadvantages: If you hate good music, I dunno. How can there be disadvantages to this?

...Thunder, Lightning, Strike; the debut album by The Go! Team, is a exceptionally pleasing hybrid of funk, indie and dance that just makes you want to dance. Defining this brand of music is hard, the best approximation I can come up with is that it's strongly the New York sound in the late 1970s, very Sesame Street meets Fame. It's no surprise the previous Ciao reviewer made that comparison as well. It's certainly not dance as we know it now, or not quite indie, but it has its roots in funk. Almost all the tracks on the album are musically perfect, a variation on a theme of drums and samples, coupled with keyboard, piano and/or vocals. Track Listing: 1. Panther Dash 2. Ladyflash 3. Feel good By Numbers 4. The Power Is On 5. Get It Together 6. Junior Kickstart 7. Air Raid Gtr 8. Bottle Rocket 9. Friendship Update 10... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful