Advantages: Superb indie pop/rock
Disadvantages: Perhaps not as musically arresting as previous work

...The very title of this fourth album by American unclassifiables The Decemberists sets the tone for the whole record - their love of the unconventional and original is evident in every note. This is what is so fantastic about this band - they make no concessions their major record label, choosing instead to make an album that focuses principally on an obscure Japanese folk tale. Lyrically, The Crane Wife is built around two different narrative ideas: a re-telling of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and the Japanese folk tale of the ‘The Crane Wife’. Musically, anything and everything goes. Twelve-minute epic ‘The Island’ features the band’s predilection for storytelling through their lyrics, rather than resorting to the clichéd angst and melancholy favoured by other contemporary bands. A bold choice as the second track, this song... Read review

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Advantages: Life invigorating rebellious country music
Disadvantages: contemporary country lovers may not like

...Title: In Pieces Performer: Garth Brooks Genre: Country Sub Genre: Contemporary Country Release Date: 04/03/2002 Original Release Year: 1993 Garth Brooks is an American country singer/songwriter from Yukon Oklahoma and for those that have seen that constant annoying advert for Who Wants to be a Millionaire, his first name is Troyal. Garth Brooks' success is legendary with several albums going diamond he has sold between 100 and 200 million records, and that is just the tip of the iceberg on his achievements. What Gave Garth this amazing success and made a fan out of me is that he pushed the boundaries of Country music, breathing new life into it and creating a new style of music uniquely his own. Elements of rock, southern rock, swing, country, folk and much more combine giving an almost unbelievable intensity as well as Garth Brooks... Read review

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Advantages: Broad range of excellent music
Disadvantages: Not long enough

...If you like Bob Harris on Radio 2 on Saturday nights, why not stretch your ears a little and go “one step beyond” to Late Junction on Radio 3? This programme is a refuge for the aurally indiscriminate, those folk who just want to relax, undisturbed by labels, commerciality, or typecasting. Where else can you hear a fine mix of world music, contemporary classical, plain-chant, electronic, folk, jazz, blues – dare I use the word “eclectic” without sounding trite? The good thing about Late Junction is its predictability in terms of time slot (Monday to Friday, 10.30ish to five past midnight), and its complete unpredictability in term of what you will hear when you tune in. One moment you’ll be listening to a Jewish Kletzmer band with fiddles and accordions ripping up a storm , then the next track... Read review

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Advantages: Excellent debut, catchy songs, meaningful lyrics
Disadvantages: No extra 'features' on the CD such as videos

...Miranda Lambert is one of the latest voices to emerge in contemporary country, and this album shows precisely why she's shot to fame - and why she deserves it. One of the most noticeable aspects of this album is that for such a young star, she sings with a maturity utterly beyond her years. Her vocal ability is unquestionably excellent, but the lyrics are what really makes this album for me. Deep, catchy, and undoubtedly heartfelt - this album is well worth listening to. The style of this album is definitely modern country, with a flavour of honky-tonk. It's hard to describe as while this is definitely a contemporary country album, some of the slower songs especially show her traditional country influences. Several of my flatmates have overheard this album playing in my room, and asked who/what it was - and have then been... Read review

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Advantages: Giving country a well deserved facelift
Disadvantages: -

...The term country these days has achieved the same status as the term folk when applied to music, derision, beligerance and dismissal. One envokes images of cowboys and linedancing, the latter beards, pipes and arran sweaters. Well for those that dig deep enough in the fringes of these genres there are some unexpected rewards to be found, and none moreso than Steve Earle. Earle seems to have grown up back to front, most artists begin as boistorus young tearaways full of angst and calm down to a quieter period in there later years. What you have with this man is an artist who has become more pushy and rebellious with age, to the point where by the time of Copperhead Roadthe young country guitarist had been replaced by the Harley riding, leatherclad, tattooed troubadour. Image aside, what do you get for your money. Well the style... Read review

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...Everyone has to love this country based soap – it has to britains best soap. Watch all the locals go about there every day life and all their ups and downs. The Dingle family who never seem to mange to stay out of trouble – the family of the manor the Tates – who seem to have a say in nearly everything in this tidy village. And how could I forget Lady Tara who has just returned to stir a bit of life into this sometimes sleepy wee village . Tara bring a sexy , young attitude to the some what sleepy and country folk.... Read review

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Advantages: it's Beck only more mellow
Disadvantages: You can dance to it....except Tropicalla

...This album, not the official follow up to Odelay is more of a side project. It doesn't have any of the over produced and mixed sound of either Odelay or Midnite Vultures. Beck's influences come out here more obviously than ever. You can here the country singer in him, with his folk song and modern blues. It is very mellow and relaxed, perfect soundtrack to a lazy afternoon - that is if you don't go too deeply into the lyrics which are more personal on this album than on any of his other albums. Beck is a man of many talents, and this album is not one that should be left on the shelves.... Read review

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Advantages: Enlivens the soul-which is always a bonus
Disadvantages: He doesn't do many gigs in England

...Dougie Maclean is considered by many to be Scotland's pre-eminent singer-songwriter. He writes beautiful songs which are contemporary yet timeless and yet whenever I ask anyone if they have ever heard of him they say "Who?" My husband and I first discovered Dougie Maclean on a BBC2 program called 'Trans-Atlantic sessions'in 1996. This program was filmed in remote Scottish hotel and consisted of some of the biggest names in folk and country music getting together for acoustic sessions. These included Emmy-Lou Harris, Kathy Mathea, Danny Thompson and Iris Dement to name but a few, just them and their music and instruments-brilliant. We were so impressed with Dougie Macleans music that we spent ages trying to find one of his C.D's and finally found one whilst on holiday in a little shop in Totnes. It was a compilation album of some... Read review

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...the whole scene was in two camps. You either loved him or hated him, there were not many in-between. Guitar Town was scene as a revolution within the safe and ordered world of country music at that time, part country, part folk and part rock and it didn't hurt that Bruce Springsteen, a man he was often compared to, was seen buying his album. The first five tracks on the album are from the debut. The opening track, Guitar Town, like most of his work, contains a lot about the man himself, his road lifestyle, his drive to succeed and it opens in good old country style before picking up the beat and rocking off in its own direction. If not a reinvention of country music it certainly revisits the older styles and lyrical content. Richard Bennetts heavy "twang" to his guitar gives it what Steve himself would have called a "hillbilly sound" as distinct... Read review

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Advantages: gripping and hilarious
Disadvantages: Probably not very historically accurate

...of the programme shows these retellings, with the Young casanova played by David Tennant (who is now the 10th Doctor in Davies' version of Doctor Who) Rather than staging a standard costume drama had, Davies chose to give the whole thing a more contemporary feel. While the characters dress in period dress they act in ways that are anything but. They all speak english regardless of supposed nationality -- a running joke being that a native of any country that he visits, would compliment him on his flawless use of the language, but remark on his preposterous accent. It is the fast flowing witty dialogue that gives the miniseries its flair. The philosophy, if there is any, that is shown is that it is possible to have a good time seducing women, if you treat them with respect. And he does, with many many many women (well this is Casanova, would you expect... Read review

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