25/04/2018 - Manic Street Preachers @ SSE Hydro

The only time I have ever seen the Manics was at T in the Park on the main stage which must have been about 2012. I really enjoyed it and they played all the hits. Campbell is a massive Manics fan and fancied going to this gig and after hearing the new material I was quite keen on going too. Although I have never been the biggest Manics fan I have always liked their hits.

So the lineup for this gig was Campbell, Craig and myself. We met early and got some food, then managed to time it so we were walking into the arena and the support act for the night, the Coral came on to the stage. I have got the early albums by the Coral but I have to admit I did lose track of them.  Early on they played such hits as "Pass it on" and "In the morning" and although these are great tracks, I did begin to wonder if their latest albums were not as good and I rightfully "forgot" about them. Well turns out I really should have paid more attention as they played some songs off their last album "Distance Inbetween". These songs are a lot more rocky than their indie/jangly past. One song even had a guitar solo at the end!  The new song off the new album which is coming out later this year I thought was quite weak, it just ambles along. One thing is for sure though, no one forgot about "Dreaming of you" which was off their first record and still by far their biggest song.  A great start to the night and set things up nicely for the Manics.

During the build up to the Manics coming on their was quotes appearing on the screen behind the stage. I didn't understand any of them and different ones popped up throughout the gig. When the Manics did come on they stormed right into "International Blue" which sounded amazing live.  The set really did have it all. From the new album, to B-sides, to the classics and even a wee acoustics set in the middle.  There was something to please everyone really. To be honest I was slightly frustrated they opted for some of the b-sides rather than playing some of the more well known tracks they missed out. I can understand bands playing b-sides on tours where they only have 1 or 2 albums and have to fill the set list. But the Manics have 13 albums now. But on the other hand if you have fans that have been following you and going to gigs for the last 20 years. Would you not want to reward them with something different and also these guys are probably hardcore and know all the words to the b-sides too.

I think what this night emphasised to me once again was though is how good their new stuff is.  For me they didn't play enough of it and I think they only did 5 tracks. But they were sounding fantastic. The acoustic set was ok. It was a bit weird that James was getting the crowd to sing the chorus of a b-side where most of the crowd probably didn't know it. But at the same time the acoustic part was a nice change of pace and let the rest of the band have a rest as they were playing for 1 hour 45 minutes.  I did love hearing the likes of "Motorcycle emptiness", "You love us" and "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next".  And of course to finish with "Design for life" which really is an absolute classic.

Overall it was a good gig and I did enjoy it. I have a few issues with the set list but I can't complain about it as I've said the hardcore fans deserve something different. I would go and see them again at a festival as you are guaranteed to get all the hits non stop. And if their next album is as strong as "Resistance is futile" I don't think I would need much persuasion to see them at their own gigs too.

Shinedown - Amaryllis

This is a flashback review of the 2012 album Amaryllis by Shinedown. It's a flashback review because even though Shinedown have been around since 2001; It feels like I have been living under a rock for the last 17 years as they have only come to my attention in the last few months or so.  But I have listened to this album enough now and it deserves a review.

This was very much a transition album for the band in terms of their sound. Before this album they were very much in the classic rock category and there are many songs in this album which still fall into that category. I will start with what I think is not just the best track on the album but out of all the stuff they have released up to 2018 and that is title "Amaryllis".  It is the perfect rock song. The soaring vocals, the nice wee guitar solo even has some violin which adds so much to a very moving song. This is followed on the album by another cracking track "Unity" which although lives slightly in it's shadows is still a great song and is quite similar in ways to the title track.

When I talk about this being a transition album, the one track which really sticks out compared to anything they have done previously and what they went on to do in "Threat to Survial" and the upcoming "Attention, Attention" album is "Enemies". This is such an aggressive, really shouty, beast of a track.  The video for this is quite funny as the four of them are sitting down facing each other in a band meeting. Basically end up beating each other up.

I would say this is the most complete album I've heard so far from Shinedown and that is saying something as I do rate all the albums highly. But because of the transition there are different sounding songs on this album to give it balance and variety.  There is the heavier, rocktastic "Nowhere kids" to the fantastic piano driven power ballad "Follow you" which also has a fantastic solo in it.  They really do have it all and I have no idea how the seemed to have kept producing so many great tracks over the years.  Another track worthy of a mention is "Miracle" but as I say this album from start to finish is brilliant.

Overall I would thouroughly recommend this album. They have built up some back catalogue now which I am gradually working my way through. At this point I have just reviewed "Threat to Survial" and this one and I would say this is better. Although "Threat to Survial" along with the other albums are worth checking out too.

Manic Street Preachers - Resistance is Futile

Welsh rockers the Manic Street Preachers return with their 13th studio album; Resistance is Futile. I have to admit I have never been the biggest Manics fan. I would call myself a passive fan at best during the "Everything must go"/"This is my truth"/"Know your enemy" era. Those albums had some absolute classics on them. But after that I really did lose track of them and it was only when "International Blue" came out as a single earlier this year I actually stood up and paid attention to the Manics again. I'm sure they have released some good music in the last 15 years but it just hasn't come to my attention.

But this album really has made me sit up and pay attention again. When "International Blue" came out I thought it was such a good song. In particular the sound of the guitar during the bridge is so pure sounding. The next single "Distant colours" I thought was even better.  The chorus is so catchy and I can see this song becoming a permanent fixture in the Manics live set which must be becoming a more and more challenging task with their ever increasing back catalogue.

I think one of things the Manics have been particuarly good at over the years has been collaborations. Like with Nina Pearson on "Your love alone is not enough". This album again provides a classic collaboration with the Anchoress on "Dylan and Caitlin". This is a fine track and the vocals between Dean and Anchroress compliment each other so well.  "Hold me like Heaven" is another classic track on the album. It is one of the less rockier tracks on the album and is more ballady rock.  One track which I did think was a collaboration but isn't is the "The left behind" as its Nicky Wire singing on it. Don't get me wrong it is a nice track but it just doesn't sound like the Manics and for me doesn't really fit on to the album.  Maybe it is the position of the track being last. The album flows really well up until this point and then you are hit at the end with a completely different sounding track to the rest of the album. But that really to me is the only down point to the actual album.

I think the one track will stand out from this album for people is "Liverpool Revisted". Not because it is the best song on the album. In my opinion the tracks I have previously mentioned are better tracks but don't get me wrong it is still good. But for the actual meaning behind the track and what it is about. This is about the Hillsbourgh disaster back in 1989 where 96 Liverpool fans died due to overcrowding at a football match in Sheffield. The lyrics are straight to the point and you can feel the emotion throughout the song as James blurts out "there are angels in theses SK I I I I I ES". It's obviously something which is close to the Manics hearts as they have sung about the tragedy before and taken part in a benefit concert. I say its not the best song musically, although it does have a fine guitar part too, but in these circumstances its more about the meaning behind it. And I imagine to the people affected by the tragedy it will mean a lot that they are being thought of.

One thing which slightly annoyed me about this album was the deluxe edition. Now I didn't buy it, I just got the normal edition. But this was because the deluxe edition is just the album again but demo versions of all the tracks plus 2 new tracks.  I just don't see the point in this. The reason they are demo versions is because they need to be done again in a more polished way to get on to the actual album. And to call this deluxe is like an oxymoron. I mean they are saying its deluxe but these are the versions of the tracks that are not as good and had to be re-done to make it onto the album. I wouldn't really understand people who would listen to the demo versions more than once when they have the actual album where the versions of the tracks are a lot better.

Anyway overall, despite my rant there the actual album itself is a very good effort by the Manics. I am not going to sit here and compare it to their albums over the last 15 years which I haven't heard. But in terms of the albums I have heard, from "Everything must go" to "Know your enemy". This album is right up with them. And for me anyway the Manics are right back on the music map.

Kacey Musgraves - Golden hour

Kacey Musgrave is a 29 year old country singer/songwriter from Golden, Texas. "Golden hour" is Musgrave's third album released in March 2018. The preceeding albums were "Same Trailer Different Park" in 2013 and "Pageant Material" in 2015.  Those albums were very much country albums and it seems like she has grown quite a following since her debut was released now having over 400 thousand followers on Twitter. I came across Musgrave after watching a review on you tube of the album on ARTV. Jon who is the presenter of the chanel was so enthusiastic about "Golden hour" and made me want to check this album out.

And I have to say I was totally blown away by it. After 2 listens I was telling my mum about her and looking to get tickets for her concert.  I loved the way my mum described her by saying she is like Taylor Swift but better.  Now if that is not a compliment of the highest level of compliments I don't know what is!   The thing is while I would compare Kacey's previous albums to Taylor Swift's earlier albums.  This album is more in the direction of people like Katie Melua or Norah Jones.  What I mean by this is that it's more showing off her voice and her range. Rather than being country, for the large part of the album I would say it's more easy listening. And when I say easy listening I really do mean it. This album will make you feel like you are on a sailing boat, relaxing in the calmist of waters.

The first track "Slow Burn" is the first track on the album and the first track I heard by Musgraves.  This track instantly drew me in as her vocals were just so pure and even after many many listens I still get the same buzz when I hear this song. I love one of the lyrics in this song as she sings about when the sun is going down in Tennessee, the people in Beijing are just getting up for work.  Like she must have actually done the research for that lyric.  I appreciate the effort anyway. :-)  Kacey is well known for her lyrics though and this album like her others still has Kacey's views of the world.

And the world is quite a common topic. She just seems overawed with her surroundings, the album just oozes happiness and just being grateful for her situation.  One of the stand out songs on the album which really sums this up is "Oh what a world".  The song starts of with an electronic voice over which I have only ever heard used on Linkin Park's album "A thousand suns". Bet you never thought you'd hear Linkin Park written in the same sentence as Kacey Musgraves!  There are probably other artists which use this technique too.  It works well as an introduction and when she starts singing "Northern lights....." , again total goosebumps. But I think the actual chorus is the best part.  "Oh what a world........and then there is you" , then this amazing bit of acoustic guitar kicks in.  This really does sum up the album and as I said before exactly how happy she is with her life at the moment.

"Lonely weekend" is another track I really like and follows a great list of artists such as the Bluetones, Craig David and the guys who wrote the theme song to "Happy Days". How does she follow this list of random artists. This song goes through the days in the week!  A great track.  "Space Cowboy" and "Velvet Elvis" are other worthy mentions. There is a song though which destroys the label of this album being easy listening but in a good way. "High horse" is a really upbeat pop number.  Even if the lyrics are about someone being full of themselves and killing the party kind of a person.  It shows a different side to Kacey and is song that proves if she wants to go more in the direction that Swift went down she is more than capable of doing it.

Overall this is an absolutley cracking album and it's one of those albums when you do ratings out of 5 you have to re-think other albums you gave 5 stars too. As this is one of the best albums I have listened to this year.  I am looking forward to really getting into her 2 previous albums more. But I think the thing about this album showed which the other 2 didn't as much is just how good a singer Kacey is and it is exciting to see what the future holds for her.

Nosound - Scintilla

Scintilla is the 5th album by Italian alternative band Nosound. The way I got into Nosound was a bit random.  I was in a record shop and came across a Kscope records section. I knew of the likes of Steven Wilson and Blackfield were attached to this label. Then "LightDark" came across my eye which was Nosound's second album. I had never heard of them but it had nice packaging and I figured if it was they were on the same label as Steven Wilson they must be doing something right so I bought it. I instantly liked it and all of a sudden I was buying Nosound's discography including this album "Scintilla".

Nosound is the brain child of front man, Giancarlo Erra.  During earlier albums it was just him. But as Nosound grew in popularity and the demand came for live performances, the band formed and would also appear on records to this date as well as in live performances.  I think one thing the band would hate is to be pigeon holed into a genre. I've seen various musical outlets do this, coming under prog rock, alternative rock, post rock, electronic, ambient and probably many more. In particular I would struggle to call this prog rock or post rock. Prog rock would put them in a category with the likes of Porcupine Tree and Yes etc. This doesn't really have the same feel to it as to me rock means you are rocking and this is to me is not a rock record.  Also the song lengths are shorter with only 3 out of the 10 songs on this album over 6 minutes. I would say for a band to be considered prog 50% of the songs or over need to be over 6 minutes. I realise some folk may argue that prog is not just about length but being progressive in terms of being different to what is out there. But I disagree with that. To me that is experimental rock. And then Post rock to me is purely instrumental music with guitars. This record has got singing on every song so I wouldn't put them in this category either.

The category I would put them in, which I don't think is really even an offical genre is ambient music. Scintilla really is a nice listen. I wouldn't put this on through the headphones as I'm going to work as I need something more hard hitting and catchy. But see when I am just chilling out at home or even working in the house. This record is excellent for it. Erra's vocals are just so soothing and relaxing. For example on Sogno E Incendio, he actually sings in Italian for the only time on the album. I often find with artists that I find it difficult to connect with a song if it's in a different language even if I don't have a connection with the lyrics. But it's the mesmorising vocals that do it for me. Another highlight of this track is the majestic guitar work which is so pure sounding.

I think it's the use of various instruments that really set Nosound apart from other bands and keep them interesting. The cello used on the likes of  "Last Lunch", "Little man" and "Emily" especially are superb and its nice to see a band using this instrument so prominantly on these tracks.  It gives them an extra dimension to their music and makes the album more deeply layered. As well as violins and the obvious guitars, they also use keyboards. I think the best use of this and my favourite track on the album, is album closer and title track "Scintilla". The keyboards are used throughout and come to life about half way through the 6 minute track and along with what sounds like a trumpet builds upto a climax for an absolutley wonderful finish to an album.

Overall this is a well put together album from start to finish. There is a mixture of short and long tracks which are mixed up to make the album flow well. I have emphasised the different use of instruments on this album which all come to the foreground at different points to really make this album come alive and means at no point are you thinking that track was the same as the last track. Having listened to many of Nosound's albums now, they all seem to be of a very high standard and this one is no exception.