Ponce: Chamber Works

Advantages: Good example of early 20th century French/European music. Cheap price
Disadvantages: Not distinct or ground-breaking enough

...--- INTRODUCTION --- -QUICK FACTS- Nationality: French Born: Paris 1899 Died: Paris 1963 Specialist genres: Stage works, concertos, piano music. Francis Poulenc had a relatively well-supported life, being born into a family of pharmaceutical manufacturers he never had to earn a living. Like many famous composers he began learning his skill at a very young age, at five he started the piano. He specifically tried not to in his learning process to be influenced by other major composers, so to keep his music as much his own as possible as stated by his self-description "I am a musician without a label". Influences which did affect him though were the immediate post-ww1 years which in certain parts of France had created a new atmosphere of hope and vision away from the horrors of war. Additionally the Parisian street life of cafe... Read review

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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

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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

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