Electric Years, The - Django Reinhardt

Advantages: Easy listening, nice to relax to
Disadvantages: Some may find the style of music very dated

...albums you might class as jazz) but I find this CD quite enjoyable to listen to. I picked it up quite a few years ago from the bargain bin, (I forget the exact shop and price, but it's likely to have been HMV or Virgin and I'm sure I paid less than £4 for it), but it is now available from Amazon for £5.99. This is perhaps a little expensive by a pound or so, especially if you're not sure you'd like the music, but it's certainly not extortionate. If you keep an eye out I'm sure you could probably pick this up for a couple of pounds less in the bargain bin. I have seen several other Django Reinhardt albums by the same name, though featuring different tracks. As I've not heard these other albums I cannot really comment on the differences, but if you do choose to buy the album reviewed here, be aware that the name is used elsewhere... Read review

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Advantages: Great Trad Jazz
Disadvantages: None

...Jean Baptiste "Django" Reinhardt was one of the first important jazz musicians to be born in Europe. He spent most of his youth in the gypsy encampments close to Paris, France, playing banjo, guitar and violin. At an early age he started playing professionally at dance halls in Paris. When he was 18, he was injured in a fire in his caravan loosing the use of his 3rd and 4th fingers on his left hand. After this he focused on the guitar and developed an original style of playing that emphasized his undamaged fingers. The man is nothing short of the original guitar god influencing everyone from the Beatles, Tony Immoni, B. B. King, Willie Nelson, and myself. I lost the use of my left forefinger due to an accident. I decided that if Django could do it with 2 fingers then I could do it with 3 fingers!!!!!! Stéphane Grappelli is quite... Read review

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Advantages: A fine work by the Deathstars
Disadvantages: Perhaps a little formulaic

...it's quite slow in tempo, but it's certainly got me trying to move in time as I listen. It glides along to a faster finish. A most satisfying start to the album. 7/10 2. "Night Electric Night" The second song is faster in tempo, although does alternate between faster and slower sections building up to a fast finish, which is something I demand and appreciate from the Deathstars. I love the finish of this. It also satisfies and makes me chair-dance. 7/10 3. "Death Dies Hard" I will deny you This world belongs to me This is apparently the first single from the album. It seems a pretty solid choice. To me, it feels like a James Bond theme, and the title certainly sounds Bond-ish. I like it. The keyboards remind me of a-ha, too. But it's still all very reassuringly Deathstars-ish. 8/10 4. "The Mark of the Gun" But... Read review

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