Blue Jays Review

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Blue Jays ReviewThere are some CDs that are more difficult to rate than others. Particularly when so many people rave about how great a CD is. You want to say something new, but you also want to be objective and fair to all those people who either don't know the Moody Blues or know the Moodies but not well enough to know esoteric references to members. This album is one of those.
Let's start with the basics. This album was released while the Moody Blues were on hiatus, trying to decide whether they had things to contribute musically individually versus as a group. The album was recorded in the mid-70s, and it sounds like mid-70s soft rock. The music sounds very very much like the Moody Blues, though not quite, since the talents of Mike Pinder, Ray Thomas and Graeme Edge are missing. So while there is no mistaking that this album is by members of the Moodies, it's still not quite the same.
What characterizes the songs on this CD the most are the harmonies. Justin Hayward and John Lodge have always harmonized well, and those harmonies are exploited for full effect on this album. Listen to "You", "My Brother", "I Dreamed Last Night" and "Who Are You Now" and you will see what I mean. These two are masters of mellow rock.
In fact, if you are looking for a romantic evening in front of the fire place with your favorite guy or girl, and a bottle of wine, and are looking for listening music, not talking music, pop this in, turn out the lights, and listen. This music will make you so mellow and feel so good that you'll not want to move, except for cuddling, of course!
This album was recorded with the fully matured voices of Justin Hayward and John Lodge. Their voices alone could have carried any of these songs. The songs are well performed, giving musical credence even to the weakest of lyrics on this album. Conversely, when the lyrics match well with the music and either or both of their voices, the songs are unstoppable. It's almost a good thing that this pair didn't record more albums separate from the Moody Blues because I'm not sure the world was ready for that many blues songs with so much feeling.
Bonus! This album includes Justin Hayward's solo song "Blue Guitar". The tone of this song fits well with the rest of the album, and helps to extend the length of the album to better make use of the time available on a CD, recalling that "Blue Jays" was originally recorded on vinyl. Furthermore, having "Blue Guitar" at the end makes you wish the album wouldn't end, so you have to go back and play it over again. Or pop in a Moody Blues album.
Do you like the Moody Blues, particular from the classic years? Do you like the songs Justin Hayward (who has one of the most unique voices in rock/pop music, ever) and John Lodge sing? Do you like mellow or romantic rock music? Why are you still reading this review? This album is excellent, so my advice to you is,
Go buy and good bye.Blue Jays Overview

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Olympia Review

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Olympia ReviewThis is a review of Bryan Ferry "Olympia" CD/DVD Deluxe Edition. This review is meant to summarize the Deluxe Edition of the album. Hope it helps you decide which edition to get. It doesn't do a track by track analysis because that is really for the listener to experience. But, I will tell you the song titled "BF Bass" basically means Bryan Ferry Bass (just in case you were wondering...I was)...j/k. Now as far as the deluxe edition is concerned: the content is packaged in a nice case with binding similar to a book. The book is a hardcover with a slipcase on the front and back that is glued to the book. Certain to create nice little scuff marks on the discs during frequent use. You may need to bring your own jewel cases to this set. A good example that springs to mind (as far as the "book" presentation) would be the recent Kylie Minogue Deluxe edition of "Aprodite." Inside the book contains the lyrics to the songs, pictures of Kate Moss, a brief two page description of the album that recounts Ferry past/present/future written by Richard Williams (I wasn't too big on the style this was written but whatever, some will think it is cool, it kinda is), and a nice photo of Bryan Ferry by Anton Corbijn. The DVD contained is Region Free NTSC that provides an excellent 27 minute behind the scenes of the making of the album. Shows the cast that made this album come to life. This album has a nice amount guest stars. For those interested in buying this because of guest stars on the DVD. The DVD does show David Gilmour but, no interview. Flea is shown and a very brief interview. Brian Eno is talked about but, not shown or interviewed. Steve Nieve is talked about but not seen. Good footage and interview snippets of Nile Rodgers and Jake Shears and Babydaddy. A brief interview of Groove Armada. Phil Manzanera is on many songs but, not on the DVD same with Dave Stewart. Nice interview of producer Johnson Somerset. Lots of Bryan Ferry interview and footage. Also a nice tribute to guitar player David Williams. Also nice footage of young guitar player Oliver Thompson (whom I wasn't famalair with) and Bryan Ferry's son Tara on drums with Andy Newmark. The DVD is directed by Ferry's other son Isaac Ferry. All in all the DVD is shot with beautiful lighting and really brings the album to life. Also included is the video for "You Can Dance."
Now for the music aspect. It must be known there is a more expensive version of this album coming out at the beginning of November called "The Immersion Edition," with a bigger book and an extra disc of six remixes and one instrumental. So yeah, this package does lack the remixes but, that set is almost as much as a cheap suit.
The CD included in this package is amazing. The music is pure Bryan Ferry. I liked "Frantic" but this is no "Frantic-era" Ferry. This album reminds me of the Bryan Ferry of the Avalon-Boys and Girls era. Words don't do the music justice but, it sounds like the Bryan Ferry of the 80's sting by a bumble-bee of 2010. Every song on this album is really incredible. It's not necessarily the type of album to sample on sound snippets but, really needs to be experienced in full. The regular CD ends with a song called "Tender is the Night" which is an excellent conclusion to the album and really acts a dimly lit candle burning out beautifully. The Deluxe edition CD has two bonus tracks: a John Lennon cover of "Whatever Gets You Through the Night" which is sung and arranged wonderfully and a Smiley Lewis cover (Elvis often sang live) of "One Night" which is sung well too. Both of these songs would have fit well during the album perhaps they were left off to focus more on the Ferry-penned material. The regular CD already has one excellent cover of the Traffic song "No Face No Name No Number" and a cover of the Tim Buckley song "Song to the Siren." The "Song to the Siren" bears little resemblence to the Tim Buckley original nor the This Mortal Coil cover. It sounds like if "Song to the Siren" was thrown into the Avalon-era Roxy Music Bizarro time warp complete but this time with Brian Eno on keyboards and even whale noises.
For the extra few dollars I highly recommend this package. The DVD is top notch (and works on US DVD players) the two extra tracks are not essential to the album but, a nice touch. If you have never liked the style of Bryan Ferry solo or Avalon-era Roxy I don't think you'll be liking this CD. If you only like early experimental Roxy Music you may not be too big on this CD. I was disappointed when I first heard he was making another solo album and not another Roxy Music album. My feelings have since changed because I think this is probably the best CD he has put out post Roxy and one of the coolest CD's of 2010 thus far. Buy it if want something just plain cool.Olympia Overview

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Argus (Exp) Review

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Argus (Exp) ReviewIn the early to mid 70's guitar rock was blues based and if there were two good guitarists in a band chances are that band sounded like The Allman Brothers or some variation.
Wishbone Ash started in blues based songs but had a penchant for English folk and jazz. By this third album they had a loyal following that appreciated their ability to boogie but to be able to play pretty songs. To Wishbone Ash's credit much of this had to do with their stellar playing which was more based in minor key work than traditional blues. Django Reinhart was more of an influence than say Eric Clapton.
On Argus the boys made their progressive album. Several songs were in the six minute plus range and featured multi sectioned arrangements. In particular Time Was, Sometime World, Throw Down The Sword and Warrior brought a mixture of progressive rock and some complex and engaging harmonized guitar work. Besides this guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner had unique qualities that made them easy to identify but were capable of working together in a way that made it hard to figure out who was playing what.
That might seem a guitar geek's kind of compliment but really it had more to do with both guitarists desire to keep their work musicial and within the framework of the song which was not always typical of 70's guitar based music. Not to say there aren't some great solos, there are. They were so compelling that as a young guitar player I spent a great deal of time figuring out what they did because it was so unusual.
A lot of other players must have done the same as the harmonies, phrasing and solo styles in many hard rock bands seem to have adopted this sophisticated style of playing.
Beyond the skill of the guitarists bassist Martin Turner played what can be described as lead bass, often letting the guitar duo hold the rhythm together with drummer Steve Upton (who had a flair for understated jazz oriented playing). The singing is excellent with Martin Turner doing most of the lead vocals along with Powell and Ted Turner on harmonies.
To a minor degree there are moments where the songs may seem dated in spots. This is more to the overplay of many of the ideas heard on this record expoited by bands of lesser quality. Critics were often divided about Wishbone Ash probably because they varied styles on each album. From a historical standpoint this band was making music that influenced other bands but never got the kind of reception their followers had.
Worth checking out if you like classic rock, melodic guitar playing or for historical interest. Almost a five star effort, I wish we could give out half stars. This is album is a solid 4.5Argus (Exp) Overview

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