Sylvie Vartan - Sylvie Vartan

Advantages: Fantastic selection
Disadvantages: None

...me of the information booklets that you used to get with LPs back in the good old days of Hi Fis and dodgy needles. Did I say good old days?! It reveals that Mick Jones, the powerhouse behind Foreigner, was a guitarist in an instrumental group called Nero and the Gladiators. After some gigging in France with the group, Mick had stayed behind in France to become involved with the legendary French rock and roller Johnny Haliday and his singer-wife, Sylvie Vartan. Eventfully he became Johnny's musical director. So Foreigner cannot be dismissed as a nothing more than a slick, soulless band of poseurs. As you would expect, the music is as good as ever, and the CD cleverly shows the many shades of Foreigner. But Foreigner excels at one thing above all else. Being a band that lovingly crafts fantastic rock ballads and then lovingly performs... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: trance, appeals to Van Dyk or St Etienne fans
Disadvantages: weak vocals,

...Sarah Cracknell from St Etienne's vocals have always done it for me. From He's on the Phone through Sylvie to Avenue, I always thought she was great. However I just think they don't quite fit on this trance track from Paul Van Dyk. The trance backing is good (it's no 'For An Angel' though) but Sarah's rather weak voice just doesn't fit. It is worth buying if you're a Van Dyk or a St Etienne fan, though I don't think the 2.99 price tag would lead to many impulse buys. I think a stronger opening single from his new album would have been preferable.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: Tankian/Malakian twin vocal assault, guitar work nothing short of exceptional, Rubin's production
Disadvantages: ....that the second half of the album isn't out til' the Autumn

...Malakian, 'Mezmerize' shows off a band that don't care to be alike, don't want to be alike, and quite frankly, have the aim of delivering a stiff middle finger to the corporate music world. Interestingly enough, the albums fine artwork, resembling something along the lines of Salvador Dali, was designed by Daron's father, Vartan…..some completely nonsensical information there. Lead single 'B.Y.O.B' crashes along like a runaway train - manic vocals, intriguing instrumentals and pure ingenious mayhem - "Blast off, It's party time, And we don't live in a fascist nation. Blast off, It's party time, And where the fuck are you?" - they're a band that have never been afraid to voice their opinions on the US political scene, and in Mezmerize, the band voice their concerns on more than one occasion. 'Revenga' incorporates the vocal talents of guitarist... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful