Advantages: Speaks to everyone, mix of different styles, great vocalists
Disadvantages: May not appeal to those who dislike blues rock

...tunnel you have been following. This is a theme which again crops up in Deacon Blue's work and reminds us that there is always hope, whatever our circumstances and that we must not give up our dreams of a better life. ♣♣♣ IS THIS FOR YOU? ♣♣♣ Well, I hope I have managed to share a little of what makes this group special. Someone said to me recently that they considered Deacon Blue to be "the poor man's 'Texas'". While I grant that there are similarities between the two I think this is doing something of an injustice to Deacon Blue. Lorraine McIntosh is every bit the strong vocalist that Texas' Sharleen Spiteri is and for me Texas have always been that bit more country-influenced than Deacon Blue. "Our Town" really has something for everyone I think, whether your taste lies in fast blues rock, slower... Read review

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Advantages: superb songs, lyrics and vocals
Disadvantages: takes a few listens

...Here it was. The long anticipated second album after the world wide smash of their debut album, Hot Fuss. Released in the UK in October 2006 on the Lizard King label the critics were sharpening their knives in anticipation due to Brandon Flowers, the lead singer, describing the album as "one of the best albums in the past twenty years" and that it would be "the album that keeps rock & roll afloat." The amazing success of Hot Fuss, hype surrounding the second album release and claims of grandeur by Flowers made for a heady mix of both excitement and trepidation when Sam's Town was released. The album takes its name from the Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, a hotel-casino in Las Vegas, the hometown of the band. Sam's Town is nothing like I was expecting. Whereas Hot Fuss was influenced by 80's New Wave with the end result being... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant collection covering the peak of Van Zandts' career
Disadvantages: None that I can think of

..., it is interesting to hear the songs played out on a grander stage, and hushed backing vocals help add depth to the more plodding songs such as 'Many A Fine Lady', which is all but crushed under its banal and needless band arrangement. The tracks re-recorded later will be improved; of the rest, 'The Velvet Voices' has an orgasmic opening of choral voices, before landing in a pleasant country groove (this is probably TVZ's most obviously 'country' album, due to the instruments used), and 'All Your Young Servants' fails to distinguish itself from the other contemplative cuts. Townes wrote many 'Talking Blues' in his career, popular with live audience due to their humorous words, but the only properly recorded one here is 'Talkin' Karate Blues', not the most politically correct song ever, but he tries his best: "'Yankee don't like my race'/I said, there... Read review

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Advantages: A compilation of great songs from a great musician
Disadvantages: Disadvantages?!

...When James Marshall Hendrix died in September 1970 at the age of just 27, the world lost a great, talented musician who was a definite icon and innovator in music...and here comes a "definitive" greatest hits album of Hendrix's work - "Experience Hendrix". Released in the UK in 1997, the two-disc edition includes one CD of twenty of Hendrix's releases from numerous years of work... "Purple Haze" - 2:52 "Fire" - 2:43 "The Wind Cries Mary" - 3:20 "Hey Joe" - 3:30 "All Along the Watchtower" - 3:59 "Stone Free" - 3:36 "Crosstown Traffic" - 2:19 "Manic Depression" - 3:42 "Little Wing" - 2:25 "If 6 Was 9" - 5:34 "Foxy Lady" - 3:19 "Bold As Love" - 4:11 "Castles Made of Sand" - 2:47 "Red House" - 3:50 "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" - 5:12 "Freedom" - 3:25 "Night Bird Flying" - 3:50 "Angel" - 4:22 "Dolly... Read review

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Advantages: more coherent and musically interesting than the first album
Disadvantages: none!

...the wonderful things that makes the killers one of the best bands around at the minute. It all starts with the title track- 'Sam's town' which is a vibrant use of synthesiser, guitar and brandon flower's distinctively lightly straining vocals. it's fast paced and energetic, and verging on anthemic (the 'i see london, i see sam's town' lyrics should go down well at concerts anyway!) But that was just the prelude- the official welcome to the album is provided by the enterlude- yes it's a gimmic really- there's an exitlude the second song from the end as well, but i quite like the way it pulls the album together at both ends. and now we're into the familiar territory with 'when you were young' which oddly to me sounds even better on album than on the radio. 'Bling (confessions of a king)' is a strong song to follow with- with a darker feel... Read review

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Advantages: Another great Saw Doctors album
Disadvantages: Could have done with a few more faster tracks

...a lot of the background music, maybe a quiet guitar in the background worked a lot. With their albums this is my favourite after “The Cure” and it does not seem at all dated by the fact that this was done in 1996. I liked the pattern on the CD which has the album cover printed on it. The inlay cover is very good with all of the lyrics inside with pictures of the Saw Doctors and a bit of info on the back about putting the album together. The Saw Doctors are: Davy Carton – Vocals, Guitar Leo Moran – Guitar, Vocals Fran Breen- Drums Anthony Thistlewaite – Bass guitar, Harmonica Record label – Sham town records www.sawdoctors.com I hope you have all enjoyed this and if you can listen to one of their albums you will not be disappointed. Ian.... Read review

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Advantages: ALL NEW KILLERS SOUNDS!
Disadvantages: HIDING IN THE SHADOW OF 'HOT FUSS'

...Be Alright' revisited? A pop at being Lou Reed or David Bowie never hurt anybody, so to hear 'Exitlude' is a forgiveable and a welcome brief distraction. Again, failing to realise it's potential. 'Where The White Boys Dance' is back to latter day 'The Cure'. As a bonus track, its digestible. 'All The Pretty Faces', the 2nd bonus track and LP closer, is stronger and a much better choice for the last touch on 'Sams Town', bringing us more of that trustworthy Killers sound. To summarise, I think that the promise this album starts with, is bled dry throughout the course of the LP, and that 'Hot Fuss' is still, unsurprisingly, far superior. No doubt, this will fly out of the shops and all over every hair gel advert and MTV nightmare that we're subjected to. It's all new Killers, so I'm not complaining, but in comparison... Read review

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