Jazz & Blues > Camden Jazz & Blues

Advantages: A step away from the world into listening.
Disadvantages: Not known enough today.

...that seemed to be changing very quickly. The pace stepped up, fashion went haywire, and somewhere amidst the cloudy passage from childhood to adulthood, there were those who, like me, reached out to find something that we really did feel comfortable with, idealistic views perhaps, people that cared enough to stand up on a podium and sing their hearts out about things that mattered. When I first heard Melanie, I was instantly attracted to the voice ...
...saying that, they are still very listenable and haven't dated. This girl sang her heart out, put everything she was into the songs that she sang and made people believe that even the smallest individual could make a difference. The message doesn't change, only the time in which it is played does. The first time that I heard "I don't eat animals", I remember smiling because it's a fun song giving her reasons to chosing not to eat meat, and very valid ... Read review

Advantages: Amazing Jazz improvisation, great sound and beautiful harmony
Disadvantages: None.

Jazz in Africa is an excellent example of complex swing rhythms and fruitful harmony combined with witty and playful melodies. Instruments of a classic Jazz setup with a drumkit, double bass, piano, Saxophone and Trumpet. This Album is a personal favourite with some really special tracks on it. Track 2 Yardbird Suite is a great introduction to jazz, its full of life with a controlled expressive saxophone solo. Track 12 Gafsa Gypsies, a piano solo ...
...another culture? I think with Jazz in Africa Volume One I can really vouch for this album. Fair enough some of it may sound like a bit wild, wandering off the point. (Cosmic ray) For me it is just part of the original real sound of the music. Real solos aren't perfect there are funny notes. Talented musicians and definately worth the exellent bargins I can see on these sites. If you want a high quality taste of something unusual this is the album ... Read review

Advantages: He is Not Eric Clapton
Disadvantages: He's Dead, and Clapton isn't

A lot can be said about the late great Rory Gallacher, the most obvious is that he is dead. He died in 1995 after complications from liver transpant surgery, and unlike a lot of his electric blues playing peers I was sorry to see him go. Eric Clapton has not done anything decent since cream split up, why couldn't he go and Gary Moores Blues stuff is just plain awful. Rory was one of the few guitarists that played a Fender Stratocaster that I liked, ...
...is middle aged mediocrity and snobbery. Ok I am a reverse snob but do I sound like I care. Ok this is a best of album with 14 trackd from 14 classic albums?, starting off with lone shark blues from 1987, which is a fairly relaxed bit of proper R & B and sort of remind me of a more laid back Dr. Feelgood. The playing is relaxed but not without urgency, and unlike a lot of stuff recorded by established artists at the time it has not dated at all. ... Read review

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

I have a deep rooted love of late 1960's American music, with flaky front men singing soppy love songs over heavy basslines and scratchy guitars. When some of these bands, like the Turtles and the Beach Boys among others, began to leave the chords ringing out, with the bass player wandering all over the fretboard, a new style of "heavy" music appeared; from there it was but a short step to psychadelia and heavy rock. This album comprises all three ...
...who had a massive hit with "Green Tambourine" in 1967 and folded up barely two years later. This is a CD comprised of the two albums that the band recorded for that old hippie label Buddah Records in their short career, Green Tambourine (1967) and Jungle Marmalade (1968). Together with Buddah labelmates 1910 Fruitgum Company and Ohio Express, the Pipers were classified as a "bubblegum" act. The expression came about due to the prevailing style of ... Read review

Advantages: Blues with a modern twist and great muscianship
Disadvantages: A very mixed bag and doesn't know what it wants to be

"Unpossible" is The Hoax's follow up to their brilliant debut album "Sound Like This". Unfortuanely, this recording does not live up to the standards set by their first album. This is may be due to the fact their label Warner Bros insisted that they come up with a commercial hit. Well, the Hoax are a blues band and that is not an easy thing to do. Judging by their first album, the boys love the blues and and they played it with aplomb. But this ...
...on here but compared to their debut and final album "Humdinger", this is a pretty weak offering. "Turn it Upside Down" opens proceedings and is a filthy blues shuffle and very much in the Hoax style, and whilst it puts a refreshing spin on the blues formula, it seems tired in comparison to the energy of "Much 2 Much" off their first album. The next track is "The Emperors new clothes", which is a pretty decent song, but does not at all sound like ... Read review