Torquay/Campusology - Fireballs (The)

Advantages: A brilliant compilation of this bands only two albums.
Disadvantages: Poor album cover, could have used the originals.

...", for instance, sounds like The Move (the chords and rhythm are similar to "Blackberry Way") fronted by John Lennon.and "25 O'Clock" sounds like a mixture of Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd and The Electric Prunes. Want more information? "Mole From The Minstry" is The Beatles "I Am The Walrus" and The Moles "We Are The Moles" put through a blender and "You're A Good Man Albert Brown" is a pub singalong amalgam of The Kinks and The Small Faces (Remember "Lazy Sunday Afternoon"?) But you can play spot the influences till the cows come home. I spotted Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Yardbirds, Tomorrow, The Pretty Things, and loads more. And not only is the music spot on, but the lyrics hit the target too. As with much of the wordplay from that era, the lyrics are just silly, trippy and plain daft, the only difference here being that Partridge and band... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great lyrics, superb vocals and some great guitar work
Disadvantages: Mixed quality of tracks

...Lack of Communication is the debut album from the Von Bondies, a four-piece group hailing from the heart of garage rock, Detroit, Michigan. Like so many others the Von Bondies exploded out of Detroit in that giant fireball of noise that also gave us such garage-rock luminaries as The White Stripes and The Detroit Cobras. While The White Stripes have gone on to achieve notable fame The Von Bondies have been somewhat left behind. Their debut album was met with a mixed reaction from the press and only received that attention due to the fact that Jack White (The White Stripes) produced the album. The Von Bondies are made up of bassist Carrie Smith (the quiet member), guitarist Marcie Bolen (the unwitting trouble maker), drummer Don Blum (often described as the nicest man in Detroit) and last but definitely not least singer Jason... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Everything they did up to 1986
Disadvantages: None

...") foreign versions (the italian "One Step Beyond") , demos ("My Girl"), and oddities ("Fireball XL5", "Carols on 45", "The National Anthem"). Also included are various promotional radio jingles for the likes of Terry Wogan and David Hamilton. The tracks are often introduced with comments by various people involved with the band, and this provides an insight into how the whol thing worked. This is not your everyday greatest hits package. It's a fabulous insight into the most productive part of the career of one of the greatest singles bands ever. The only thing thats missing is a complet set of their videos, but thats another story. It cost me £14.99 from HMV no less, so you should be able to pick this up at certainly less than £20. Even at that price it's still an absolute steal.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful