Advantages: Well crafted, unforgettable songs.
Disadvantages: Don't let your fashionable neighbour hear you listening to it!

...James Taylor started writing songs whilst at boarding school in New England during the early sixties, and even at such a tender age, his distinctive soft-toned North Carolina voice blended perfectly with a country inspired acoustic guitar technique. It was no surprise therefore, that on graduation, the young Taylor decided his future lay in a musical direction, and after spending a short and relatively unsuccessful stint with The Beatles’ Apple Records in London, he returned to the US and signed to Warner Brothers, launching a remarkable recording career that spanned from 1968 through to the present day. Taylor’s style of music is folk with a strong country influence, and although it’s never been a fashionable type of music to listen to (he probably stands alongside Mark Knopfler in the ‘Telented But Fashionably Clueless World... Read review

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Advantages: great vocals and songwriting
Disadvantages: a few weaker tracks in the middle, not released in the UK yet

...I first heard of Taylor Swift when I heard "Teardrops on My Guitar" on internet radio and promptly downloaded it. A few months later I heard "Our Song" and read an interview in a magazine as her debut album was to be reissued. Well, here it is, and I certainly wasn't disappointed. For those of you who are not familiar with her, Taylor is quickly making a big name for herself in the country music world - and she's only 18! After setting out to Nashville at the age of 13 from her home in Pennsylvania, she quickly snapped up a record contract and her debut single Tim McGraw was released in 2006, and to date all three of her singles have made not only the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot Country Songs (Our Song reaching number one), but also the Top 40 of the Billboard 100. This self-titled album, first released in 2006 and reissued in late... Read review

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Advantages: Lyrically Perfect, a beautiful sound, leaves you wanting more
Disadvantages: none, except its too short!

...Jane Taylor *****We all Think that her songs are about us…!***** Jane Taylor writes the perfect song. I say this not from a lyrical or phonetically correct standpoint, but simply from the point that she achieves what all artists strive for. Audience connection. It's pretty much instant. She plays a song and every single member of the audience thinks she wrote it just for them. And when you look at the faces around you, you know they are thinking what you are thinking and I think that must be the ultimate buzz for Jane, to look out over her audience and see that. Pretty impressive, I say! I saw Jane Taylor play live for the first time is a very popular Arts Centre in Newcastle called The Cluny. It's a regular haunt of artists and musicians and generally pretty talented people, but I have to say it was the first time... Read review

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Advantages: Great CD, new tunes which are just as great as the old ones!
Disadvantages: A couple of more boring tracks slipped in there.

...Where to start......... I am a big fan. James Taylor's music is all great! Though there are obviously going to be better albums than others. The best by far is Sweet Baby James, so if you're looking for where to start, start there. However, this is a contender. Just because he's not in the hight of youth does not stop James from producing a great album which is even better (in my opinion) than the highly acclaimed "Hourglass", the previous album. This album starts with the classic Jam"es Taylor fingerpicking technique and great songwrting of October Road" which has got to be the best song of the album. "September Grass" is not far off though the cover "Mean Old Man" is less of my cup of tea. I'd say that this album ranks around fifth in my Taylor Collection. Preceed by "Sweet Baby James", "Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon... Read review

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Advantages: Relaxing music with Taylor's characteristic sound
Disadvantages: Some may find it bland

...Beautiful laid-back music. Can be found on Amazon for £6.97, Wea (Audio CD) - April 1984. James Taylor is famous for his acoustic guitar and soothing vocals with laid-back accompaniment (including influential singer/songwriter Carole King on piano). These songs draw on folk, soul, and rock influences. The cover reads: "Built around a winning collection of songs, including the major hit "Fire and Rain," James Taylor's second LP as a solo performer features the country-flavoured musicianship of such notables as bassist Randy Meisner (of the Eagles), steel guitarist Red Rhodes, fiddler Chirs Darrow and pianist Carole King. When it first appeared in 1970, Sweet Baby James thrust Taylor into the forefront of the emerging singer/songwriter movement of the Seventies, achieving Top Five chart status and remaining a best-seller for some... Read review

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Advantages: Very easy on the ear
Disadvantages: A little lightweight

...to believe, it'll be alright again", surely a "Save A Prayer" for the 21st Century. Astronaut: John Taylor is here, with a good driving bass line, with some nice synth work that holds down a somewhat lightweight if pleasant tune. Bedroom Toys: the old Duran are back with a vengeance on this track, that echoes "Skin Trade" off of their Notorious album. "oh my god what's this?" no doubt what this is about but it's done with their uncanny knack of humour. Nice: another uplifting tune, good chorus, good synth work on the bridge too. Taste The Summer: opens up with a "doo-doo-doo-doo-doo" line that comes in at regular intervals. Another pleasant enough song that threatens to explode into noise but doesn't. Finest Hour: Slower track than the ones before. Reflective lyrics, but sorry this is rather dull. Chains... Read review

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Advantages: Classic Folk Albums
Disadvantages: None

...by potential lover; "The Boy And Mantle" - a story of fidelity in the King's court. A pleasant album for sitting down with a glass of wine and relaxing in front of the fire. You will be pleasantly wooed by Allan's voice, his beautiful, thought provoking lyrics and his guitar playing ability, supported by tasteful backing from some of the best musicians in Britain. Basically, you are buying one and getting one free with this CD and it is a wonderful introduction to his music if you were not aware of Allan Taylor before now. A must for your collection as well as pocessing two classic and influential albums from the folk genre... Read review

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Advantages: Driven by musical passion. Great Jazz structures (+ lack of)
Disadvantages: All tracks are very similar (no variation)

...A must have for all JTQ fans. This album incorporates acid jazz with the classic James Taylor quartet sound. Opening with Joe's Diversions, the hammond organ sound takes lead throughout the album. Vocals from new singer Yvonne Yanney bring new light to the quartet - the most prominent track being 'It's all over'. For all jazz, and especially acid jazz fans, this album provides complex melodies and harmonies, whilst capturing the unusally simple structures of acid. The album is well produced, and the selection of tracks (11 in total) are well chosen. I would recommend this album to all fans of JTQ and jazz, and to those who are willing to try something new in their musical tastes. Truly a great album, full of musical passion.... Read review

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Advantages: Ground breaking collection of soft folk/rock classic songs
Disadvantages: None

...for his fans during live concerts, even though he's been singing it for 30 years. He knows his fans will be disappointed if they don't hear it. James says seeing the reaction of his performance on his fans faces helps to keep the song fresh for him. This is an incredible song, it's very quiet and gentle, but it has such strengh. Taylor's clever finger-picking guitar technique lends itself beautifully to the track. The lyrics are heartbreaking and full of sad reminders of a difficult past for James. The first verse and chorus of Fire and Rain: 'Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone. Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you. I walked out this mornin', and I wrote down this song; I just can't remember who to send it to'. 'I've seen fire, and I've seen rain. I've seen sunny days that I thought would... Read review

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Advantages: One of the best late-period Queen albums.
Disadvantages: Some might find the concept behind the album distasteful. Not me.

...the artistic and ethical arguments involved, one thing is clear. In the case of Freddie Mercury, there’s no question of consent to address. For Mercury, uniquely, knew he was going to die; from the late ’80s, he was aware that he had contracted the incurable fatal disease, AIDS, and was able to prepare for his passing. Part of this preparation involved giving his bandmates permission to use his recordings to construct a posthumous release; another part involved working – literally – until he dropped, in order to provide them with as much vocal material as possible. Four years after the final Queen studio album recorded as a four-piece, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon released Made In Heaven, an album assembled from fragmentary demo recordings, reworked Mercury solo pieces and old studio rarities. Given the less... Read review

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