http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/ Read CD reviews from the Sunday Mercury. Great in-depth album reviews of both new and best of music collections. en-gb Sunday Mercury http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/southside-johnny-grapefruit-moon-66331-21672860/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:03:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/southside-johnny-grapefruit-moon-66331-21672860/ HE was once reckoned to be a rival to Springsteen but these days Southside Johnny and his Asbury Dukes play sweaty venues like the Robin in Bilston to the fiercely loyal faithful. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/various-rock-n-rolla-66331-21672818/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:59:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/various-rock-n-rolla-66331-21672818/ IT is criminally good, the coolest soundtrack of the year. But then what would you expect from Ian Neil, the man who selects the songs for Guy Ritchie’s gangster Britflicks? http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/michael-jackson-king-of-pop-66331-21672780/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:52:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/michael-jackson-king-of-pop-66331-21672780/ TO mark his 50th birthday, here’s a shameless re-hash of Jacko’s hits all of which the faithful will already own, either from first time round or in the definitive History set. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/gomez-bring-it-on-10th-anniversary-edition-66331-21672754/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:43:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/gomez-bring-it-on-10th-anniversary-edition-66331-21672754/ FRIGHTENING to think it’s 10 years since we were swept up in the enthusiasm engendered by Gomez’ cocktail of rootsy Americana and electronics. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/the-verve-forth-66331-21672719/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:40:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/the-verve-forth-66331-21672719/ IT'S known as Lead Singeritis. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/brian-wilson-that-lucky-old-sun-66331-21672718/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:37:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/brian-wilson-that-lucky-old-sun-66331-21672718/ HE is one of popular music’s most deeply revered figures, a legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer of some of the most cherished music in rock history. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/chris-rea-the-ultimate-collection-crimson-66331-21672715/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:35:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/chris-rea-the-ultimate-collection-crimson-66331-21672715/ CHRIS Rea was born and raised in Middlesborough in 1951, of Italian and Irish parents, and broke onto the scene in 1978 with Fool If You Think It’s Over (a hit again four years later for Elkie Brooks). http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/aretha-franklin-aretha-spv-blue-label-66331-21672681/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 07:30:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/09/04/aretha-franklin-aretha-spv-blue-label-66331-21672681/ ARETHA Franklin is recognised as the Queen of soul, with close to 100 hits on the American Billboard Hot 100 and a string of Grammy awards. This fascinating album, recorded in 1960, shows us where her illustrious recording career began. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/original-soundtrack-the-dark-knight-warner-66331-21553569/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:52:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/original-soundtrack-the-dark-knight-warner-66331-21553569/ WHEN called upon to write the soundtrack to the darkest Batman movie yet, Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard decided to dispense with a hummable hero theme, instead building densely layered cellos and double basses to reflect the complex character of the caped crusader and his Joker nemesis. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/chemical-brothers-brotherhood-66331-21553553/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:49:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/chemical-brothers-brotherhood-66331-21553553/ ODDS are you’ll already have most of this compilation, either on the original albums or the Singles 93-03 collection. Galvanize, Block Rockin’ Beats, Star Guitar and Hey Boy Hey Girl are among familiar faces as Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons play this weekend’s V Festival. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/irma-thomas-simply-grand-66331-21553549/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:47:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/irma-thomas-simply-grand-66331-21553549/ SHE may be in her 60s now but Irma Thomas remains one of the finest R&B singers ever to emerge from New Orleans, and this cleverly titled set finds her keeping it simple in the company of a dozen pianists ranging from Randy Newman to Dr John. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/thin-lizzy-uk-tour-75-mlp-66331-21553546/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:46:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/thin-lizzy-uk-tour-75-mlp-66331-21553546/ THIN Lizzy’s hallmark album is widely reckoned to be 1978’s Live And Dangerous, which caught the band at the peak of their powers. So why bother with another live set? Well, this album – recorded at Derby College three years earlier – offers a fascinating glimpse of Lynott & Co on the brink of greatness. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/pete-greenwood-sirens-heavenly-66331-21553537/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:44:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/pete-greenwood-sirens-heavenly-66331-21553537/ LOOSE Salute folkie Pete Greenwood was terrified when he enrolled in a songwriting class two years ago, then amazed when he came top of the class. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/the-maybes-promise-xtra-mile-66331-21553520/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:39:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/the-maybes-promise-xtra-mile-66331-21553520/ THEY’RE hidden way down the bill of this weekend’s V Festival but expect Merseyside marvels The Maybes? to take centre-stage once their debut album starts picking up airplay next month. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/katy-perry-one-of-the-boys-66331-21553512/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:36:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/katy-perry-one-of-the-boys-66331-21553512/ IGNORE the demure 50s glamour shot on the cover – chart-topper Katy Perry is a Californian ladette peddling the latest resurrection of girl power with punky pop, shopping mall chic and sugary street sass. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/dionne-warwick-all-the-love-in-the-world-66331-21553423/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:27:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/dionne-warwick-all-the-love-in-the-world-66331-21553423/ DON’T go buying this double-CD collection expecting all of those brilliant Bacharach-David composed 60s hits from Dionne Warwick. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/michael-bolton-touch-you-the-very-best-of-66331-21553377/ Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:07:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/18/michael-bolton-touch-you-the-very-best-of-66331-21553377/ GRAMMY winner Michael Bolton is one of America’s most successful ever balladeers, with more than 50 million albums sold worldwide. Love or hate his music, it’s hard to argue with statistics like that. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/07/bobby-darin-commitment-rare-darin-edsel-66331-21486713/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:30:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/07/bobby-darin-commitment-rare-darin-edsel-66331-21486713/ DODD Darin, Bobby Darin’s son from his marriage to actress Sandra Dee, was recently quoted as saying: “You better believe that my father was a man on a mission – he had not a moment to waste. http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/07/billy-paul-the-best-of-music-club-66331-21486714/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:30:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/07/billy-paul-the-best-of-music-club-66331-21486714/ PHILADELPHIA’S Billy Paul had half a dozen top 40 UK hits during the mid-70s. Only two of those recordings are on this 15-track collection – Gamble and Huff’s Only The Strong Survive and Let ’Em In (which is even worse than Paul McCartney and Wings’ version). http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/07/motorhead-motorizer-spv-66331-21486698/ Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:19:00 GMT http://www.sundaymercury.net/entertainment-news/pop-music-news/cd-reviews/2008/08/07/motorhead-motorizer-spv-66331-21486698/ MOTORHEAD’S 24th album is “full of surprises” if you believe the record company blurb. And, yes, they’re right. It’s surprising that they’re still churning out tosh like this, and it’s even more surprising that people still buy it.