Gold Star Sessions Vol.2 - Lightnin' Hopkins

Advantages: Better than The Beatles!
Disadvantages: Encourages making ludicrous statements that people will laugh at

...feeling that if REM had come from Swindon this is what they would have ended up sounding like, and there are a couple of tracks on their recent "Reveal" record that remind me of XTC. I could recommend just about any XTC record to you as an introduction to the band, they’ve been that consistent over the years but if I had to narrow it down the shortlist would contain "English Settlement", "Oranges and Lemons", "Skylarking" and this, "Wasp Star – Apple Venus Vol. 2", their latest. This is the second album recorded with new label, Cooking Vinyl, having gone nearly a decade without recording any music, waiting out their label, Virgin, because they didn’t want to record for them anymore. For some reason, Virgin refused to release them from their contract, despite the fact that they never promoted their records to any great... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Quick and Easy to use
Disadvantages: Still have to download

...the album Between the Buttons this song reached number 1 in the US charts and number 3 in the UK charts. Written about a groupie. 26. DANDELION The lyrics being based on nursery rhymes this song was released in the summer of 1967. It is from the album Through the Past Darkly (Big Hits Vol 2). It reached number 8 in the UK charts and number 14 in the US charts. 27. SHE'S A RAINBOW This song was once used in adverts by Apple for iMac computers. It reached number 25 in the US charts and was from the album Their Satanic Majesties Request. 28. WE LOVE YOU This song was written as a thank you to all fans who supported Mick, Keith and Brian when they were arrested on drugs charges in 1967. It reached 50 in the US charts and 8 in the UK charts and was from the album The Singles 1965-1967. 29. 2000 YEARS FROM HOME In 1967... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Restores your faith in honest songwriting
Disadvantages: May not suit all tastes

...great about the rest of the album – a good lively opener but one I always skip past in favour of track 2. Too much organ, too (steady girls). TRACK 2 – Firecracker Ah, how can you go wrong with a harmonica-led intro? Similar in tone to the previous track but far more satisfying. Ryan lets go a bit more, with a good-times rock ‘n’ roll love song. The lyrics are fantastic – “broken bluesy whisper/sing to me tonight” and accessorise the honest musicianship of Adam’s band to perfection. It’s less than 3 minutes long like any true rock ‘n’ roll song, and uses every second to make your hairs crane themselves upwards. TRACK 3 – Answering Bell Wishing you knew a girl better is a rock standard – and this track makes no exception of that fact. It does so with glorious style and superb lyrics again – “let your tears fall and touch my skin... Read review

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