Posted in Album Reviews

David Bowie – Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture Soundtrack (30th Anniversary Edition)(2003)

Posted on by Michael

Recorded just over 50 years ago, the soundtrack to the D.A. Pennebaker live concert, Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars: The Motion Picture, didn’t see release until 1983.  The concert from the Hammersmith Odeon is famous for being the one where David Bowie announced to both the crowd and band that this would be the last ever show by his alter ego – Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars.

The album has several songs in common with Live Santa Monica ’72 including the guitar bursting “Hang on to Yourself” and of course “Ziggy Stardust”.  The first sound of a blip gets a warm reception from the audience as the band plays, “Space Oddity” and Bowie again includes his cover of Jacques Brel’s “My Death”. “Suffragette City” ends the main set on a high note.

The album swaps out a few tracks from the Santa Monica concert.  Instead of The Velvet Underground’s “Waiting For the Man” you get a joyous cover of “White Light/White Heat”.  “Life on Mars” gets replaced by an abridged version of “Oh You Pretty Things” that appears in a medely with the Bowie penned “All the Young Dudes” and “Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud” that gets a big ovation from the crowd.

The 30th Anniversary edition includes 5 songs not on the original including the full 16 minute version of “Width of a Circle” that sees the band let loose and jam. It also includes the symphonic introductions that sound like they are played on a small record player to a theatre full of Bowie fanatics. “Cracked Actor” from the recently released Aladdin Sane album is a highlight on both versions. The night closes with Bowie making his famous speech that the Ziggy band will never tour again before they play the fitting “Rock N’ Roll Suicide”.  It was a historical rock and roll night that sees the band in electric form before the curtain closes and the rug gets pulled out from underneath.

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Slowdive – everything is alive (2023)

Posted on by Michael

In 2017, the 90s band Slowdive had a very successful return with their self titled album that ranked high on our list of favourite albums that year.  Five years on, the band return with their second release since reforming.  Neil Halstead wrote all the songs and produced then mixed with Grammy award winner Shawn Everett.  A darker, synthesized sound envelopes many tracks including first song “shanty”.  “Skin in the Game” adds distorted guitar with a haunted voice.  As Halstead sings, “skin in the game”, his voice sounds disembodied.

One of the hallmarks of the band is the vocals of Rachel Goswell who sings the opening lines on the warmer sounding “Alife”, a song that feels like sitting in a whirlpool when the jets come on. “Kisses” is more pop oriented, one that could fit on many indie dance playlists.  “Chained to a Cloud” rides a synth arpeggio that is reminiscent of Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy” before the album closes with the intense “The  Slab” and it’s buried vocals. everything is alive is not as immediate as it’s self titled predecessor, it shoots for inner rather than outer space. The oceans of guitar are a bit colder and darker on this return.

7/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Liam Gallagher – MTV Unplugged (Live at Hull City Hall) (2020)

Posted on by Michael

In the history of Oasis, there are countless stories of debauchery, drunkenness, missed gigs, arguments, etc. One of the most famous occurred in 1996 when the band was due to perform on MTV’s very popular Unplugged series. Instead of performing with the band, a very drunk Liam Gallagher sat in the balcony drinking and heckling the band. For whatever reason, 20+ years later Liam went to Hull to perform a set of 15 MTV Unplugged tunes, 10 of which were later released as an album.

His only live album that does not start with “Hello” and instead works in the solo number “Wall of Glass” that is pleasingly heavy on the organ. Dedicated to his daughter Molly Moorish, album highlight “Now That I’ve Found You” is a lovely ballad that gets pumped up in mood by the backing vocalists. “One of Us” gets boosted by strings on the melancholy track that declares, “act like you don’t remember/you said we’d live forever”.

Broken up between five solo and five Oasis songs, the earliest 90s classic appears with “Some Might Say” in a performance that shows the tune holds up remarkably well without the guitar bluster of the original. The most surprising selection is the inclusion of Definitely Maybe extra track “Sad Song”. The original is performed by Noel so nice to have a Liam sung version. “Stand By Me” gets a wistful run through with an abbreviated “Champagne Supernova” closing out the show. Liam is on fine vocal form throughout the 40 plus minutes on a set that contains a handful of gems.  

7.5/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Liam Gallagher – Down by the River Thames (2022)

Posted on by Michael

In the deepest, darkest COVID days of late 2020, Liam Gallagher threw music fans a lifeline when he released a live streamed concert of him and his band sailing down the Thames playing a selection of solo tracks and Oasis classics. The beautifully shot video was a much-needed respite for those not able to attend concerts.  Not to mention the site of much loved Bonehead on guitar.

Opening with “Hello”, the younger Gallagher then plays three solo tracks including “Halo” whose piano intro get obliterated by a wall of sound by the first verse. “Greedy Soul” from Gallagher’s first solo album is a driving rock song, a bit daft but all attitude before “Once” slows things down for a few minutes while looking back at the good old days.

Concentrating on the punkier, sneering tracks from his back catalogue – Liam throws the heads in the crowd a few looks with Oasis b-sides “Fade Away” and “Headshrinker” along with the psychedelic swirl of “Columbia”.  “Champagne Supernova” appears in a shorter, lovely piano led style as he wishes all a Happy Christmas.  Gallagher closes the set with a tender new song, “All You’re Dreaming Of” that had just been released the week before. Whereas a DVD of the event would be a welcome addition, the CD is a reminder of a fun night had by fans across the world who could hear some much missed live music.

7/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Liam Gallagher – Knebworth 22 (2023)

Posted on by Michael

With just three solo albums under his belt, Liam Gallagher has also released three live albums since the dissolution of his two previous bands – Oasis and Beady Eye. In early June of 2022, Gallagher returned to the scene of one of Oasis’ greatest triumphs when he headlined Knebworth for two shows, equaling that of his pervious band. As with most Gallagher solo shows, Oasis songs feature prominently in the setlist and on this collection, nine songs are included including “Hello” that starts off the main set followed by the anthemic “Rock n Roll Star”.

Gallagher then goes into three solo tracks including “Wall of Glass” and last year’s single “Everything’s Electric”, both of which keep the energy up.  One surprise of the album is the inclusion of Standing on the Shoulder of Giants closer, “Roll It Over”. It’s a welcome addition of being recognizable but not a smash single so carries with it an element of surprise. The main set closes with four more solo tracks including the choir of “More Power”.  It’s this closing set where his previous band is missing. While Gallagher has several upbeat rockers to add to his setlist, he’s lacking that one big anthemic ballad to bring the crowd home.

Coming back for an encore, the disc ends with five Oasis classics including their first number one single “Some Might Say”, the world beating “Wonderwall” and the guitar tones of John Squire on “Champagne Supernova”.  Comparing this to the Oasis Knebworth release from 2022, the sound is crisp and Liam’s voice is in fine form.  The listener will miss the guitar heroics of brother Noel, not to mention the banter that he adds between songs.  Still, Knebworth 22 does a fine job of playing the greatest hits of Liam Gallagher’s nearly 30 year recording career.

8/10