Tale To Tell - Mummers (The)

Advantages: Great introduction to Bennett.
Disadvantages: Quite pricey for a short book.

...?Telling Tales? by Alan Bennett does exactly what it says on the cover? Alan Bennett, one of the country?s best loved wordsmiths, tells ten tales about his childhood in Leeds, a provincial city in the West Riding where life generally tended to avoid. In several of the tales Bennett details the causes of his frustration as a youth ? he knew that his family was very ordinary (not working class, but certainly not middle class), yet at the same time being much different to all others. His mother, too, assumed that life for everyone else was much different to hers and that the cocktail party lifestyle she read about in Woman?s Own was the norm and attainable by a move to the hallowed ?down South?. We learn much about Bennett?s ?Mam and Dad? (so good to see the word Mam, I feel I?m one of the few who still uses it). Their real names were... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Amazing vocals, brilliant instrumental, and catchy rifts.
Disadvantages: -

...I have been a fan of Funeral For A Friend for the past couple of years, which has allowed me to follow their musical development through two previous albums ('Casually Dressed In Deep Conversations' and 'Hours'). Now I have had the chance to listen to their newest creation - 'Tales Don't Tell Themselves'. I have to say, this album wasn't what I was expecting from them. Only two of the songs remind me of their previous work - 'Into Oblivion' and 'Out Of Reach'. This might be a disappointment to some fans - but not to me. I keep listening to the songs over and over, and they all have catchy tunes you want to listen to again, and lyrics you want to learn just so you can sing along. Their new album shows how far the band have come since the start of their career, and it couldn't be better. My particular favorite tracks are 'The Great... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: expansive, mature
Disadvantages: a distinct step away from the bands' old sound

...They say time brings change, that nothing ever stays the same. And it's true, just ask Welsh rock mob Funeral For A Friend. The band have continued to grow ever since their startlingly brilliant debut Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation, so much so that frontman Matt Davies forayed effectively into alt-country land as part of side project The Secret Show just a mere couple of months ago. It's s a progression that's seeped whole-heartedly into the bands latest release, the battle-ready, all hands on deck ride that is Tales Don't Tell Themselves. It's safe to say many would - and doubtless will - scoff at the mere idea of a concept record based upon a lonely fisherman, lost at sea miles away from his wife and kids. But the Valley boys make it work, and work reasonably well too. This is Funeral For A Friend stepping outside... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful