Rock & Pop > Progressive Rock Rock & Pop > 2000 to 2005 > Anthologies & Greatest Hits

Advantages: Some all time classics songs
Disadvantages: Format seems out of kilter to me

The Platinum Collection from Genesis is a three CD boxed set of all their best songs. It's really the story of Genesis told backwards. The third CD ends with their first ever release and the first CD begins with their last hit before they stopped recording. It's really quite hard to review this CD, as its 40 odd songs long and takes about 4 hours to listen to properly, and a track by track analysis would take forever to write and be extremely tedious ...
...lots of live albums) went platinum and spawned many chart successes. In 1996, Phil Collins left the band, not through musical differences, it was simply a matter of geography (this was when Collins moved to Switzerland). Rutherford and Banks decided to carry on without him and in 1997, they announced that Collins would be replaced by ex-Stiltskin vocalist Ray Wilson. In September 1997, Genesis released what would be their final studio album "Calling ... Read review

Advantages: Ronan
Disadvantages: Ronans hair

Well they have reunited after all this time and seem to be doing rather well. I use to be a big fan but had my doubts about them reforming as it may be good for some of them but maybe not so much for Ronan. They had a sell out concert and have released several singles and an album. I would have liked to here more new songs from them on the album rather than just their old songs re done though (they already did this in their Best Of before they split). ...
...but cheesy dancing and clothes. Now Im a huge Ronan fan but what has he done to his hair! If I was his wife I would not let him walk out like that especially as he is now into his 30's! On the whole they seem to be doing very well and Im just happy to be able to see Ronan on tv again! ... Read review

Advantages: Superb thrash & punk throughout
Disadvantages: None

Brasil by Ratos De Porao is a true masterpiece, an ideal mix of punk, hardcore and thrash metal with even the nice occasional melodical touch thrown in for good measure, fast instrumental work and outstanding guitar solos to get your fingers moving (particularly on the track Law of Silence) to, to add to the idealistic guitar solos there is also some amazing bass lines and militant hammering drumming throughout. The vocals are spot on for the genre ...
...on how you look at it - it's either an abominal row from the word go or a classic album of thrash fused punk full of anger and energy. It's very hard to select a favourite track as the Brazilian outfit blast their way through regularly visited punk topics like politics, drug overdoses, alcoholism, law and order but some of the most enjoyable tracks are undoubtedly of a native theme - Brasil, Amazonia Never More and Land of Carnival. There are two ... Read review

Advantages: More eclectic than the first, equally as catchy but not as fun
Disadvantages: Dio's voice despite being good becomes a bit wearing

Last in Line is Dio's 2nd album released in 1984 by Vertigo Records, it retains the catchiness and upbeatness of the 1st album but the only issue here is that to some extent it doesn't evolve a great deal, harder and more recognisable bass lines are added as is Claude Schnell's keyboard playing. Dio's voice occasionally goes into overdrive particularly on tracks like "We Rock" where the fact that is so loud could easily soften the effect of the superb ...
...as "The Last in Line" which is one of those Led Zeppelin going nowhere type smoochies which despite an outburst of metal and chorus eventually materialising, it doesn't rescue the track. One of my personal favourite tracks is "Eat Your Heart Out" which is Dio at their best but also posseses a truly excellent riff worthy of earlier glam rockers. The track Egypt is much acclaimed, initially musically similar to Alice Cooper's Brutal Planet album but ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent songs and vocals, nice unexpected bonus track
Disadvantages: None

Finally after a year of waiting Take That has released their new album. This one is called The Circus which does seem a little strange to me as nothing on the album has anything to do with the circus but hey ho it is still a great album and is packed full of a great mix of tracks. The cover of the album is blue and has a picture of all the men standing on tightropes holding their arms and hands out. The title is above this in white lettering. The ...
...The tracks on this album are as follow:- 1. The Garden - This songs starts off with Mark doing the vocals. The song starts off as a ballad and Gary then joins in with the chorus and it then has more of a pop theme but overall I would say this is a definite ballad. Jason's vocals are great and it is nice to here him singing again when he sings a verse. The others are also heard on this track and all the vocals really work well. 2. Greatest Day - ... Read review