HTD Years, The - Albion Band (The)

Advantages: encouraging continuation of a diverse form of indie/alternative
Disadvantages: tough cookie to crack

...This album is quite simply an ironic insight into what people sound like when they are writing and performing music simply for the personal satisfaction, and for the satisfaction of the many adoring fans who wish to thrust themselves 'pon Pete Doherty and his band of merry men: "Down In Albion" uses an intelegant mix of quiet and subtle songs such as "merry go round" and "loyalty song", along with stark and harsh tones that really put some punch into the CD, almost to a predicatble levle, in order to create some auidiable aesthetics, from this principle, there are 2 elements of this album that really make it stand out: 1) the lyrial content. Those who were fans of The Libertines will know Pete Doherty is a man who posesses a way with words, and this is demonstrated, with no exception, in "Down In Albion". This is obviously only... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: An interesting albion band line-up
Disadvantages: Nothing too exciting

...I wish I liked this album more than I do. Ashley Hutching's' latest combo to fly the Albion Band banner features the ubiquitous songstress Kellie While and the multi-talented Joe Broughton on fiddle, mandolin, keyboard and guitar. The trouble is, the album doesn't hang together. Sure it sounds like the band were having fun, but this is an album woefully short on quality. Two songs stand out: the soulful When My Son is Grown and She Still Waits. The majority of the album is humdrum and certain tracks like Cookery is the New Rock'n'Roll risk taking the Albions into Barron Knights territory. Even the excellent She Still Waits has its impact lessened by a spoken sub-Coney Island into, pretentiously titled It is That Window of Time. Road movies is a student film at best, and only of interest to die-hard Albion fans. Punters new to the group... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Incredibly moving swansong for my fave band ever
Disadvantages: Faith No More are No More

...This was it, the final in a gripping instalment of challenging and satisfyingly diverse albums released by this incredible band of gifted musicians. Faith No More were never a band to follow trends, but they did always grow with their audience. If 'The Real Thing' was for the teens, 'Angel Dust' for the smart twenty-somethings, and 'King for a day...' for a more mature age-group again, then this is the middle-age Faith No More. That is, incredibly challenging and mature. Although it should appeal to any with an ear for timeless music. A year after this, the band called it a day, and their ilk will not be heard of again. They were a unique band in that, unlike a lot of bands today who chase fame and notoriety, FNM were classically-trained musicians, death metal fans, thrash fans, pop music fans, visionaries and masters... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful