Archive for the ‘POP’ Category

World Gone Crazy – The Doobie Brothers | CD review

(Eagle/Shock) 3 stars The Doobie Brothers epitomise the laidback sound of ’70s California, with soulful, gospel-inspired harmonies and guitar-driven melodies underpinned by muscular rhythms. They’ve continued to perform live over the years, in various incarnations and got together again recently for ‘World Gone Crazy’. Aided by veteran producer Ted Templeman who helmed hits like ‘Listen […]

Car Tape 2 – Lisa Miller | CD review

(Raoul) 3.5 stars Lisa Miller’s first ‘Car Tape’ CD started out as a covers side project in 2002 during a career lull, but became the Australian singer’s most successful recording. Eight years later, although the cassette tape concept now seems even more retro (when iTunes playlists are the go) Miller embarked on her follow-up with […]

The Distance Between Two Truths – Mark Sholtez | CD review

(Warner) I had Mark Sholtez slotted neatly into a ‘‘cocktail jazz’’ pigeonhole and, when he opened for a concert by US jazz trumpeter Chris Botti, I expected more of the same. Wrong. The Brisbane singer delivered a spellbinding set of pop ballads laced with a few jazzy standards.

Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin | CD review

(Disney/Universal) Cover albums are suddenly in vogue, including Phil Collins’s faithful Motown tribute, Goin’ Back, and Marcia Hines’ more convincing reprise of Carole King’sTapestry. But the absolute standout is Brian Wilson’s “reimagining” of the George Gershwin repertoire. The former Beach Boy reveals his deep admiration for the great American composers melodic sensibility but the most […]

Life Goes On – Gerry Rafferty | CD review

(Hypertension/Planet) In 2009 rumours circulated about Scots-born singer Gerry Rafferty’s lapse back into alcoholism. Eventually the elusive muso reported in from Tuscany, saying he’d been working on his first album for a decade, the aptly-titled Like Goes On. This, it turned out, was mostly a compilation of 12 favourite songs he re-edited from CDs recorded […]

See My Friends – Ray Davies | CD review

(Universal) I’ve always related to Ray Davies’ Anglophile nostalgia, having lived in his north London neighbourhood at the time the Kinks’ music began to be heard. Fast-forward 45 years and Ray has succumbed to the inevitable, late-career duets album (a Kinks’ greatest hits variation). I originally viewed the line-up on ‘See My Friends’ with trepidation, […]

The Union – Elton John & Leon Russell | CD review

(Mercury) Leon Russell and Elton John first met 40 years ago and briefly teamed up for a US tour. But while Elton soared to global stardom Leon, in the aftermath of his success with Joe Cocker’s ‘Mad Dogs and Englishmen’ tour movie/album, gradually reverted to a career as journeyman-producer and session player. Leon, of course, […]

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