Victim Of Love - Dee Dee Bridgewater

Advantages: Excellent music and songs, a truly great album
Disadvantages: none at all.

...of mortality, despair and disillusionment and was the victim of those things. Here on "Love And Theft" it's as if Dylan is saying that yeah those realities are harsh but hey they are realities and you can't change them so you may as well get on with life and have a good sing and dance along the way. No longer is he going to lie back and be a mere victim, it's inspiring, it's remarkable. The album sets about revisiting all manner of American music, through country, rockabilly, ragtime, vaudeville, deep blues, cocktail-lounge corn and more. And as Andy Gill said in his review in The Independent: "It says much for the seemingly limitless renewability of Bob Dylan's creative gifts that Love and Theft, his 43rd album, should sound as distinctive and intriguing in 2001 as his debut did nearly 40 years earlier." He must be the only artist to have got... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great vocals, good musicianship
Disadvantages: Didn't receive their due rewards

...OK, here's an easy target: a sixties pop band with a silly name, a bit of froth, a bit of fun, a five-minute wonder, pop puppets dangling on a string, a bass player called DOZY? Oh dear of dear, here's another load of crap not worth the paper it's printed on. Right? Actually, ye who sneer and carp, wrong. Let's have a bit of history. As Dave Dee and the Bostons, this band had already built up a reputation for crystal-clear vocals and tackle-threatening harmonies long before they had a sniff at a contract. Like the Beatles, they did that thing in Germany, and were already old hands on the circuit before Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley saw something extra there and, basically, took over. In those days, bands did not expect to have one no. 5 single and then be allowed to embarrass themselves and the audience on the main stage... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Good collection of hits
Disadvantages: 2 newer songs

.... Track 10, "The One", was a hit in 1992. I love it. I'm not sure what it's about but it means something to me. It's a song you can put your own spin on. I especially love the pianos and the lines "in the instant that you love someone, in the second that the hammer hits, reality runs up your spine and the pieces finally fit". Track 11 is a rather personal track for Elton. It feels almost intrusive. Track 12 was a hit in 1994 for Elton and Kiki Dee. Rather bland but hey, it was Christmas! Track 13 is taken from the 1994 Disney film, "The Lion King". Elton wrote the music and Tim Rice did the lyrics. It's good in the context of the film but perhaps it's not one to listen to on its own. I certainly skip it. Track 14, is again a "Lion King" track. It's slightly better than the previous song and the chorus make me tingle... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful