Michael

Franz Ferdinand – The Human Fear (2025)

Posted on February 16, 2025February 15, 2025 by Michael

Franz Ferdinand returned early in 2025 with their first release in seven years. A different entity than the one that was putting out anthems in the early aughts, the band is now down to two original members – singer/guitarist Alex Kapranos and bassist Bob Hardy. New additions include guitarist Dino Bardot and drummer Audrey Tait.

Unlike the band of old, synths and keyboard from Julian Corrie dominate several songs including the catchy “The Doctor” and “Tell Me I should Stay” that starts with a gorgeous somber piano but then turns into one of the album’s most musically varied song. Writing about his Greek heritage, Kapranos sings in that language for several lines on “Black Eyelashes” and intriguingly, the song has a Greek lute that adds a middle Eastern flair.

First track and single, “Audacious” is infectious bit of indie rock and “Hooked” does double duty as a song about Kapranos’ young son while also being a call to the dancefloor. In 2025, Franz Ferdinand is a different beast but with a few more hits than misses, The Human Fear is a decent bit of slick guitar rock for fans of the Scottish band.

7/10

Album Reviews

The Doors – Morrison Hotel (1970)

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Michael

Upon release in 1970, Morrison Hotel from The Doors was hailed as a return to form after two middling albums. The album is split with the Hard Rock Café first side and Morrison Hotel second side. “Roadhouse Blues” kicks off the album with a stellar guitar riff from Robby Krieger. Barroom blues played to excellence, over a rolling piano Jim Morrison belts out “I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer” before imploring the audience to “let it roll, baby, roll”.

“Waiting For The Sun” is a more atmospheric track that is zen like in the beginning but as it goes on, the Morrison mantra of the word “waiting” becomes harsher, more demanding. Closing out the first side, “Ship Of Fools” sounds lighthearted before Morrison sings the first line, “the human race was dyin’ out”. Side two gets is off to the races with “Land Ho!”, driven along by the drumming of John Densmore and organ of Ray Manzarek. “Queen Of The Highway” is notable for sounding like a track that could have been released in the 90s by a hip indie rock band with an organ.

One of the finest tracks on the album was never released as a single and seldom appears on compilation albums. Co-written between Morrison and Krieger, “Peace Frog” is instantly recognizable with it’s wah wah guitar. The funk boogie swing sounds like the ultimate party song until you tune into the lyrics with Morrison singing of blood in the streets of Chicago and New Haven. The track then segues into the crooning love song of “Blue Sunday”. Often played together, this passage is a highlight of their catalogue. The critics and fans 50+ years ago were correct, Morrison Hotel is an excellent return to form for The Doors.

9/10

Album Reviews

Michael Kiwanuka – Small Changes (2024)

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Michael

In late 2024, Michael Kiwanuka released his fourth album and third produced by Danger Mouse and Inflo. The soulful release received widespread acclaim from critics. Legendary producer Jimmy Jam appears on three tracks, adding organ on the jazz inflected “Rebel Soul” and “Lowdown (Part I)” where Kiwanuka sings that “I’ve been wrong half the time/gotta wonder how I survived”. Later on, “Follow Your Dreams” has the inspirational message to “Follow your dreams/fear no danger”.

At 11 songs, there are not any that particularly stand out as it all smoothly runs together. The musicianship on the tracks are simple but extraordinary at the same time. Kiwanuka’s bass playing is really impressive, especially on first track “Floating Parade” that takes the soul to the sun dappled beach. It’s a lovely album where Kiwanuka lyrically tackles personal topics with his warm voice and terrific production.

8/10

Album Reviews

Joni Mitchell – Song To A Seagull (1968)

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Michael

By the time Joni Mitchell’s debut album came out in March of 1968, her songs had already been recorded by the likes of Judy Collins, Dave Van Ronk, and Fairport Convention. Produced by David Crosby, Song To A Seagull is mostly Joni with just her acoustic guitar. The albums starts with a highlight in “I Had a King” that looks back at the breakdown of her marriage to Chuck Mitchell, “I can’t go back there anymore/You know my keys won’t fit the door”.

The album is broken up into two sides, the first being “I Came to the City” and the second side being, “Out of the City and Down to the Seaside”. On the first side, “Michael From the Mountains” can barely contain Mitchell hitting the high notes and “Night In The City” has swooping vocals in the chorus with the added bass playing of Stephen Stills to help uplift the tune.

The second side is mostly made up of pleasant folk songs with the ambitious lyrics of “The Dawntreader” being a standout and later concludes with the heavier “Cactus Tree” that sees the guitar get strummed a little bit harder. Noted as not being the best recorded album, Mitchell would later take over the producer chair as her songs and career start to take off.

7/10

Album Reviews

Gene – Olympian (1995)

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Michael

Formed in 1993, it wasn’t long before the band Gene lead by singer Martin Rossiter became a buzz band in the UK press the following year. After a few well received singles, the band released their debut album Olympian in the spring of 1995 which took them into the top 10 of the UK charts. The black and white cover picture and melodramatic lyrics saw the band draw wide spread comparisons to The Smiths. “Haunted By You” about a broken relationship is set to a happier tune and handclap percussion. The single was their second top 40 hit.

With Rossiter’s slight vocal, he doesn’t quite capture the emotion quite like Morrissey or Bret Anderson from Suede, and equally, the music doesn’t break new ground. Yet, what the band does really well are choruses for the now 50 year old kids to jump around to. The soft rock of “A Car That Sped” sees the guitar get turned up on the chorus. A trick that “Your Love, It Lies” does as well. “Sleep Well Tonight” has the non-threatening lyric of “sleep well tonight/tomorrow we fight”, an anthem for the introverts.

“Still Can’t Find the Phone” slightly changes the style to a light, country/folk feel that is really quite good. The softer title track adds a bit of strings as Rossiter sings, “I wanted to be there with you/For I, can only be normal with you”. A lyric that teenagers and twentysomethings, and even those of us older, can relate to as we try to figure out the world with our partners. Listening 30 years later, Olympian is a fun romp through some fine second tier literary guitar pop.

7.5/10