Razzle Dazzle - Harry James

Advantages: Some great performances of a fun set of songs
Disadvantages: Bonus tracks which are anything but a bonus

...of celebrity and justice) but are often ironic. 'All I Care About is Love' sings lawyer Billy Flynn for example, when all he really cares about is money, and lots of it. The 'big' numbers are the opening 'All That Jazz', sung with appropriate sultriness by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger's 'Roxie' and Richard Gere's 'Razzle Dazzle', which does exactly what it says on the tin. Though these are the take home tunes, as it were, the rest of the songs are highly enjoyable. My personal favourite is the 'Cell Block Tango', sung and danced by six murderesses (well five murderesses and one accused but innocent woman) about how they killed their partners for various reasons (chewing gum, bigamy, infidelity). It is akin to 'Big Spender' from 'Sweet Charity', but much more strident and exciting, building to a thrilling section in counterpoint... Read review

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Advantages: infectious, anthemic songs. one of the best albums of the year?
Disadvantages: hard to find, and a few minor flaws (no major ones though).

...Little-known cult band Johnny Panic are one of those Bands That Should Be A Bit Bigger Than They Actually Are. Despite having a style like Green Day with a touch of the Manic Street Preachers, they have been largely ignored by magazines such as Kerrang!, which is surprising as you'd expect them to feature this kind of band all the time. Debut LP "The Violent Dazzling" is not perfect but it is still an excellent album, and it is better than certain over-hyped albums that have been massively successful recently (cough... "X&Y"... cough...). Twelve tracks stuffed with power-pop harmonies but also enough riffery to please the rockers, topped off with choruses to lift the lids off stadiums, catchy hooks and a radio-friendly melodic rock sheen, and it's surprising they're not massive yet. Opener "Minority Of One" (I think the title... Read review

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Advantages: Relaxing music with Taylor's characteristic sound
Disadvantages: Some may find it bland

...Beautiful laid-back music. Can be found on Amazon for £6.97, Wea (Audio CD) - April 1984. James Taylor is famous for his acoustic guitar and soothing vocals with laid-back accompaniment (including influential singer/songwriter Carole King on piano). These songs draw on folk, soul, and rock influences. The cover reads: "Built around a winning collection of songs, including the major hit "Fire and Rain," James Taylor's second LP as a solo performer features the country-flavoured musicianship of such notables as bassist Randy Meisner (of the Eagles), steel guitarist Red Rhodes, fiddler Chirs Darrow and pianist Carole King. When it first appeared in 1970, Sweet Baby James thrust Taylor into the forefront of the emerging singer/songwriter movement of the Seventies, achieving Top Five chart status and remaining a best-seller for some... Read review

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