Glinka: Orchestral Works

Advantages: A welcome return to form
Disadvantages: A little short

...While Queen showed an uncanny ability to stay abreast of changing musical fads and fashions most of the time without falling flat on their faces, by the early 1980s it was starting to look if they had had their day. Blondie and the Boomtown Rats both made mediocre bandwagon-jumping albums in 1982, the same year that Queen came up with the similarly ersatz funk-influenced 'Hot Space', their weakest ever. Thankfully they redeemed themselves with 'The Works', by and large a return to what they did best. Though it has its faults, it certainly remains their best album of the later years. Several tracks were potential singles - and in fact, within a year of the album's release, all nine cuts had also appeared on the A- or B-side of new singles (albeit with differences, for which read on). 'Radio Ga Ga' was... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: None to mention
Disadvantages: Feel let down

...I never really got Bruce when he was in his prime, he was always one of Mum's favourites so it couldn't be cool to like him right? In recent years however I have come to appreciate 'The Boss' and his work especially his early work - singles such as Dancing in the Dark, Born in the USA, Born to Run, Streets Of Philadelphia (great song, brings a tear to my eyes), Glory Days... the list is endless. Now I totally get it! I thought Working on a Dream (his 24th album so I am told) would become a classic album in years to come and having missed out in the early days thought 'hey I'll have some of that' Oh dear, oh dear. 'The Boss' is showing his almost 60 years vocally, sadly he can't pelt them out like he used to (he is almost 60 though fair play!) but its a dissapointment. The opening song Outlaw Pete is one paced and very repetitive... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Comprehensive collection
Disadvantages: A few space fillers

...[First of all: I dedicate this opinion to the wonder that is theediscerning, because he and I share a passion for this particular brand of 80s electropop. Theed, I salute you. xxx] The opinion, then. Once upon a time, 16 year old Andy McCluskey sat in his Liverpool bedroom, dreaming of making different music. Kraftwerk-inspired electronic pop, with meaningful lyrics was his game, and he wanted to call his band, eventually consisting of himself and skinny blond turned fat blond with mullet Paul Humphreys with a few regular supporting types, "the most pretentious thing I could think of". And so Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark - OMD - were born. They lasted almost 20 years, despite a Morrissey and Marr style rift which left Andy carrying the banner alone, and finally gave up the ghost in 1997, although rumour has it that all is... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful