The Last Shadow Puppets: The age of understatement

Not all side projects work out! and very few turn out to be more brilliant than the participants' work with their main bands.

The Last Shadow Puppets prove that side projects can be great classics. I am yet to listen to the new Arctic's Album released in late 2009 but would nevertheless consider the Last Shadow Puppets' work as arguably the best work Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (Rascals) have ever done and one of the greatest pop albums of the current decade.

The album also proves the future of pop is still bright whilst brilliantly talented musicians like Alex Turner are interested to experiment. The symphonic pop arrangements with their obvious 60s influence (which they fully credit) and the simple yet clever melodies make this album a "Must Have" in any serious music collection.

"Standing next to me" is probably one of the best classic style pop singles of the modern era (after taking into account the very clear musical influences it is based on). It has now been my No 1 suggestion to my friends since May 2008 when I first heard it. My other favourite songs are the fast paced title song "The age of the understatement" and the slower . "My mistakes were made for you". The albums other songs are all great to listen to & the overall flow of the songs is effortlessly smooth.
My rating: 8.5/10 a supurb effort by 2 of the most talented & exciting musicians of the modern era

"Accelerate" by R.E.M: Fans rejoice! REM are back at their best!

Before I start this review, I have to confess: I belong to a very tiny minority of REM fans who actually liked their last album "Around the Sun", an album which drove away the last remaining hardcore REM fans in a final disappointmenting blow as the band continued to experiment in studio at the expense of just about all their strengths. However, I must emphasise even in my case, I like that album as an average pop album & certainly not as a REM album.

REM seemingly fell apart in the 90s once the original drummer Bill Berry left after "New Adventures in HiFi". The great drum sounds & beats, trademark guitar riffs & Michael Stipe's voice all somehow deserted subsequent experimental REM albums & so did fans in droves!

And then, out of nowhere the band decided to reintroduce all of the above & more, in a back to basic album "Accelerate" in 2008. Fans were rightly delighted, the great drum beats, guitar riffs & Michael Stipe's signature voice are all back in this great album which belongs to the Top 40 if not Top 20 best albums of the decade.

The songs are simple & short (the whole album is less than 35 minutes long), and there are many great tracks with the title track "Accelerate", "Houston" and "Sing for the Submarine" the most outstanding of the lot.

Some of the lyrics in the album, like all other R.E.M albums at times lack clarity & can be a little bit weak. But then again I have never been REM's biggest fan as far as their lyrics are concerned!

Overall, a must inclusion in any good music collection & arguably one of the best albums of 2008.

My overall rating: 8/10

David Gray is back at his best with his new Album "Draw The Line"

David Gray came to prominence with the release of one of  "White Ladder" in 1999-2000. The album went platinum on both sides of the Atlantic & across the world. White Ladder was the fourth album showcasing David Gray's down to earth music & personal lyrics. The somehow surprising success of that album brought about the usual pressures & expectations many rock/pop act face after a very successful release.

David Gray's subsequent two albums "A new day at midnight" & "Life in slow motion" both had some worthy songs but stepped away from what David Gray is about. They felt too contrived stepped away from David Gray's down to earth style. The first album was an attempt to produce "radio friendly" hits (a natural reaction by many artists after a major succes) whilst the later was too slow and melancholic.

With "Draw The Line" David Gray has gone back to his early years and what he is simply great at; gritty but melodic piano/guitar songs with lyrics that seem to come from the heart. The opening track "Fugitive" sets the scene with its catchy melody and the next song, the title track "Draw the line" re introduces the listeners to David Gray at his best.

The other outstanding songs are "First chance", and "Harder" and I also personally like "Kathleen". There are a few weeker songs is the album and some reviewers have canned Annie Lennox's performance in the duet "Full Steam" as disappointing.

Nonetheless, David Gray's return to his roots is exciting & his fans should rejoice. If you have not David Gray's music, try White Ladder & this album and you will be hearing him at his best

My Rating: 7.5/10 One of the better albums of 2009