VA - Next Stop Soweto Vol 1 (Strut 2010)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. I Sivenoe - Amaqola

2. Maphuthi - Mgababa Queens

3. Kuya Hanjwa - S. Piliso & His Super Seven

4. Wenzani Umoya - Big Four (The)

5. Umkhovu - Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens

6. Inkonjane Jive - Zed Nkabinde

7. Ingoina Le Nyathi - Intombi Zephepha

8. Take Off - Tempo All Stars

9. I'smodeni - Boy-Nze Na Maqueens

10. Zwe Kumusha - Mahotella

11. Emuva - African Swingsters

12. Umaduna Omnyama - Ibhekitshe Namajongosi

13. Mr. J.S. Mpanza - Lucky Strike Sisters

14. Sikhwele - Aba-Lilizeli

15. Soul Chakari - Reggie Msomi's Hollywood Jazz Band

16. Jabulani Balaleli, Pt. 2 - Amaqawe Omculo

17. Nomacala - Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens

18. 10 to 11 - Sammy Boy

19. Awufuni Ukulandela Na? - Izintombi Zasi Manje Manje

20. Happy Africa - Iza Wena

I get to procure items from all three of the Afro-centric record labels I have mentioned recently with this first volume of Strut's 'Next Stop Soweto series'. I already have volume three which is the best but this first volume of this South African black pop music, created during a time when the white government were trying to eradicate black musical expression, is a joy to the ears. South African music has its own unique characteristics that set it apart from the funk inspired beats of West Africa, that I love so much and the production and recording are also much more advanced thus making a very high quality set of recording even though some are quite old. 20 tracks of inspired South African pop of a high quality makes for a great listen from start to finish and if you like your African music more polished and jazzy than the primal Afro-funk I mostly listen too then get into this.Rating 4.5/5.

VA - Legends Of Benin (Analog Africa 2009)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Dadje Von O Von Non - Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band

2. Feeling You Got - El Rego et Ses Commandos

3. Honton Soukpo Gnon - Antoine Dougbé

4. E Nan Mian Nuku - El Rego et Ses Commandos

5. Tin Lin Non - Honoré Avolonto & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

6. Okpo Videa Bassouo - Gnonnas Pedro et Ses Panchos

7. Ya Mi Ton Gbo - Antoine Dougbe & Orchestre Poly-Rythmo

8. Nou Akuenon Hwlin Me Sin Koussio - Antoine Dougbé

9. Djobime - El Rego et Ses Commandos

10. Na Mi Do Gbé Hué Nu - Honoré Avolonto

11. Vimado Wingnan - El Rego et Ses Commandos

12. Dou Dagbé Wé - Honoré Avolonto & Black Santiago

13. Kovito Gbe De Towe - Antoine Dougbé

14. La Musica en Verité - Gnonnas Pedro & His Dadjes Band

Analog Africa's compilations of Afro centric funky rock are second to none along with Strut and Soundway Records and fortunately my favourite CD shop happens to stock quite a selection from all these labels. This one has been on my list to purchase for some time and although I did have a digital copy, I hadn't had the time to give it much attention. Listening to the new CD copy, I knew some of the tracks already but the rest are new to me and only after a couple of listens the Wow factor is firmly in place and Analog Africa has hit the jackpot again. A fantastic compilation and most worthy of a 5/5 rating.

The Funkees - Dancing Time (Soundway UK 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

The Funkees - Ole

The Funkees - Akpankoro

The Funkees - Onye Mmanya

The Funkees - Abraka

The Funkees - Point Of No Return

The Funkees - Akula Owu Onyeara

The Funkees - Acid Rock

The Funkees - Ogbu Achara

The Funkees - Slipping Into Darkness

The Funkees - Dancing Time

The Funkees - Baby I Need You

The Funkees - Break Through new dub

The Funkees - Life

The Funkees - Mimbo

The Funkees - 303

The Funkees - Dancing In The Nude

The Funkees - Salem

The Funkees - Dance With Me

Ahh! Time for some funky Afro-Rock again with another exciting release from the magnificent Soundway Records out of the UK. I first heard The Funkees on one of the play-lists on the Voodoo Funk Blog and their songs have turned up on several Afro-Funk and Rock compilations that I have, so I knew very well what I was getting into when I finally procured a copy from my local CD emporium. A compilation covering their short but seemingly prolific recording career in Nigeria back in the 70's this lot is an outstanding brace of deep African funk and groovy rock that just blows your mind. Essential listening and get my highly unequivocal rating of 5/5.

VA - UNZIPPING THE ABSTRACT LP (UK1980)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

1. Bathroom Renovations - Intensely Henned  (2:29)

2. Cajun Cutie - Black Man's (2:53)

3. Dislocation Dance - You can't beat history (2:29)

4. God's Gift - Creeps in (3:07)

5. If Only - If Only (4:13)

6. Outer Edge - Old Wive's Tales (3:31)

7. Performance - Natural Equilibrium (3:34)

8. The Enigma - Play with fire  (2:27)

9. The Hoax - World War III (3:17)

10. The Liggers - Pretty Girl (2:59)

11. The Mekon - Must have Wheels (3:19)

12. The Spurtz - Boyfriends or you money back (2:14)

13. The Still - 9.5 (2:13)

14. Undercovermen - Of no fixed abode (2:12)

15. Vibrant Thigh - Walking Away (3:33)

And here is another ultra rare post punk, jangle pop compilation from Manchester via the Mutant Sounds Blog. They have hundreds of these compilations on their blog and this one was rated as one of the best by the blog author. After several listens I must disagree, I found some of the very lofi songs here quite amateurish and uninspiring and I have preferred the other compilations I recently listened to above this one. There are some interesting tracks here and its not all bad but overall I am disappointed and will rate this set 2/5. 

Howlin Rain - The Russian Wilds (USA 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Self Made Man (8:00)

2. Phantom In the Valley (7:17)

3. Can't Satisfy Me Now (6:19)

4. Cherokee Werewolf (5:26)

5. Strange Thunder (8:53)

6. Plex Reception (0:37)

7. Dark Side (5:18)

8. Beneath Wild Wings (4:16)

9. Collage (5:01)

10.Walking Through Stone (6:53)

11....Still Walking, Still Stone (3:09)

A frequent group on the Uncut CDs this latest album offers us some quite impressive 70s inspired classic rock with plentiful guitar pyrotechnics put to good effect in the longer songs and good vocal melodies. A very good album that does everything right and will no doubt appeal to most classic rock fans and although I enjoy it quit a bit, there is just something missing to push it into the must have album stakes and I do find it difficult to stay connected with it throughout its 60 minutes.Rating 3.5/5.

Montrose - Montrose (USA 1973)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

I was gonna include the review for this in my Uncut Take 180 post due to the fact that that issue included an obituary for Ronnie Montrose, who passed away earlier this year. When they talked about the first Montrose album, I had a vague inkling that I had heard of them and that I may even have had one of their albums hidden away on the hard drive. Sure enough, it turns out I have several Montrose albums all posted over at Rare MP3 .com and after hosting this on the Ipod for several days I have to agree that this is one of the best early hard rock albums I have heard. One of the first things that becomes so obvious right from the beginning of the first track is the Van Halen comparisons, and that's not just because Sammy  Hargar is the singer on this set. Ronnie's guitar and the production paved the way for the hard rock scene of the later 70s. The awesome guitar imitation of a souped up sounding vehicle on "Bad Motor Scooter" is classic Eddie Van Halen sounding and The opening riff on the excellent "Space Station #5 sounds very much like the opening riff of a certain Stiff Little Fingers number from several years in the future, before sliding into more Led Zeppelin  territory. You gotta like the lines"I gave love a chance and it shit back in my face..." from the barnstorming "I Don't Want it" which has parallels with ZZ Top from this period. Plenty of shallow good time lyrics here which suit the music well as this ain't about thinkin' but about having a rockin' good time. lots of fun and without any obvious weak songs gets a Roddus rating of 4.5/5

VA - A Manchester Collection (UK 1979)

An Uncle Roddus album review

A compilation album of the bands playing in the 'Manchester Musicians Collective' during 1979 at the Band on the Wall Club which still exists today.

GROW-UP - You are the one

GROW-UP - Night Rally

I.Q.ZERO - I'm in love

I.Q.ZERO - I must obey

FAST CARS - Why

FAST CARS - What can I do

MEDIATERS - Monotony

FIREPLACE - Fireplace

FIREPLACE - Dutchman

PICTURE CHORDS - First floor exercises

PICTURE CHORDS - Levitating Ladies

MANCHESTER MEKON - The cake shop device

PROPERTY OF.. - Property of...

VIBRANT THIGH - Wooden Gangsters

F.T.INDEX - Working on the line

SLIGHT SECONDS - Double face

SLIGHT SECONDS - New me

Yet another very obscure compilation of local lofi indie and post punk bands from the Mutant Sounds Blog and like some of the other comps of this very obscure music, the songs sound pretty underwhelming on first listen but after repeated plays as they become more familiar, they reveal them selves to be quite interesting  and enjoyable. Nothing here that will set the world on fire or any long lost classics of the genre but I do like this type of music and its quirky idiosyncraticacy. Rating 3/5 

Elephant Micah - louder Than Thou (USA 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Tin Foil Continent (5:56)

2. Won These Wings (7:24)

3. My Cousin's King (4:28)

4. If I Were a Surfer (5:35)

5. Rooster on the Loose (6:47)

6. Airline Living (6:21)

This indie "band" were recently on one of the Uncut CDs and have been spoken of highly in Uncut on several occasions. This underground folk/lofi alternative music is painfully slow in places as we have some gentle vocals and improvised sounding guitar picking over backing rhythms. "My Cousin's King" is the song I was already familiar with and is a lovely semi acoustic pop ditty and the most accessible number here. Although the album is well constructed and has a nice Americana vibe about it, over the length of some of the longer tracks, the slowness and so laid backness of the tracks almost puts me to sleep. I can appreciate some of the superlatives used in relation to this music but it's not something that inspires me all that much. Rating 2.5/5

Jack White and Little Willie John

One of the best tracks on Jack White's new album, "Blunderbuss" is the wonderful cover of Little Willie John's "I'm Shakin". Jack does an excellent version with some wonderful  embellishments from his female backing singers and his guitar but stays fairly faithful to the original. A great effort from this modern master and the track I have been coming back to the most from this album. Check it out.

At first I didn't know that "I'm Shakin" was a cover(I rarely read my CD selves) but Uncut Magazine included the original Little Willie John version on their Jack White Covers CD and frankly it blows Jack's version off the planet and that's not an easy thing to do. Unbelievable. 

Dawes - Nothing is Wrong (USA 2011)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

1. Time Spent in Los Angeles (4:28)

2. If I Wanted Someone (4:39)

3. My Way Back Home (6:25)

4. Coming Back to a Man (3:51)

5. So Well (5:31)

6. How Far We've Come (2:59)

7. Fire Away (6:23)

8. Moon in the Water (3:54)

9. Million Dollar Bill (4:12)

10.The Way You Laugh (3:48)

11.A Little Bit of Everything (5:39)

12.Rest Easy (Bonus Track) (4:06)

13.Strangers Getting Stranger (Bonus Track) (4:19)

Another quick review so I can move on to something else. This second effort from this American indie pop  outfit from California leans some what towards Americana in places and is a fairly mellow and laid back affair and somewhat light weight. Kind of reminds me of a far inferior "Fire and Ashes", the latest Ryan Adams album that has so impressed me lately. I think it could be a grower if one is willing to give it more attention, but for me I feel unmoved by this and will move on to other music after rating it 2/5.

The Dirty Three - Towards The low Sun (Australia 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

1. Furnace Skies (4:43)

2. Sometimes I Forget You've Gone (3:49)

3. Moon On The Land (4:52)

4. Rising Below (5:47)

5. The Pier (4:53)

6. Rain Song (3:50)

7. That Was Was (4:01)

8. Ashen Snow (5:13)

9. You Greet Her Ghost (4:49)

A recent release that was highlighted in a recent Uncut magazine with a full page review and given a rating of 8/10. I just can't get into this album at all. There is very little in the way of melody on any of these tracks and they never seem to go any where. Kind of like a Rock version of European jazz, quite experimental and not really easy listening. That doesn't mean that music like that is all bad but this particular one does nothing for me. Rating 1/5.

Beth Jeans Houghton and The Hooves Of Destiny - Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Sweet Tooth Bird (2:10)

2. Humble Digs (2:53)

3. Dodecahedron (3:14)

4. Atlas (4:06)

5. Nightswimmer (3:42)

6. The Barely Skinny Bone Tree (4:01)

7. Liliputt (4:07)

8. Veins (2:55)

9. Franklin Benedict (3:18)

10.Carousel (2:37)

11.Harlequin (2:09)

12.Prick AKA Sean (0:51)

Another debut album reviewed positively in Uncut and also included one of their songs on a recent Uncut CD. A well constructed debut with plenty of well crated indie pop cum chamber pop tracks. I found myself loosing interest though with Beth's high falsetto not really my scene and although I appreciate the quality of their art I am not much inspired by it. My rating 2.5/5

Cotton Mather - Kontiki (Delux Edition) (USA 1997/ 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Camp Hill Rail Operator (3:21)

2. Homefornt Cameo (3:10)

3. Spin My Wheels (3:28)

4. My Before and After (2:53)

5. Private Ruth (3:03)

6. Vegetable Row (5:01)

7. Aurora Bori Alice (2:37)

8. Church of Wilson (2:00)

9. Lily Dreams On (2:47)

10.Password (3:12)

11.Animal Show Drinking Song (1:16)

12.Prophecy for the Golden Age (0:55)

13.She's Only Cool (2:30)

14.Autumn's Birds (3:37)

15.Homefront Cameo (4 Track) (3:12)

16.Pine Box Builder #1 (2:40)

17.Camp Hill Rail Operator (Acoustic) (2:41)

18.Little Star (5:33)

19.Baby Freeze Queen #1 (1:18)

20.Altar Boy (Live at the Hit Shack) (2:41)

21.Flying Annie's Kite (3:06)

22.Innocent Street (Acoustic) (3:10)

23.Spin My Wheels (Electric) (3:31)

24.Church of Wilson (4 Track) (1:51)

25.Private Ruth (Acoustic) (2:30)

26.The Gold Gone Days (2:37)

I was rather impressed with "My Before and After" which I discovered on one of the very early Uncut compilations and so managed to track down this recently reissued deluxe 2 CD version of their original 1997 second album. The first thing that just keeps kicking me in the face on this album is the singer's uncanny vocal resemblance to John Lennon and some of the vocal harmonies are  therefore also very Beatlesque. A collection of well crafter powerpop songs with plenty here to keep discovering and one interested over repeated listens, although not as instantly catchy as the Beatles were. I have enjoyed this set but don't find it compelling enough to actually want to buy it myself. Rating 3/5. 

Beirut - The Rip Tide (USA 2011)

An Uncle Roddus album review

1. A Candle's Fire (3:19)

2. Santa Fe (4:14)

3. East Harlem (3:58)

4. Goshen (3:20)

5. Payne's Bay (3:48)

6. The Rip Tide (4:26)

7. Vagabond (3:18)

8. The Peacock (2:26)

9. Port of Call (4:20)

A very quick review of this recent release I read about in Uncut and I thought I'd check it out as I had heard their last album back in 07'. A quick review because I want to move on to other music as this melodic indie pop really isn't doing any thing for me and although these guys are good and the music is quite good, I don't really enjoy it, so my rating is only 2/5.

Battles - Gloss Drop (USA 2011)

An Uncle Roddus album review

1. Africastle (5:48)

2. Ice Cream (Featuring Matias Aguayo) (4:36)

3. Futura (6:17)

4. Inchworm (4:52)

5. Wall Streeet (9:03)

6. My Machines (Featuring Gary Numan) (3:55)

7. Dominican Fade (1:48)

8. Sweetie & Shag (Featuring Kazu Makino) (3:50)

9. Toddler (1:11)

10.Rolls Bayce (2:06)

11.White Electric (6:14)

12.Sundome (Featuring Yamantaka Eye) (7:47)

I had enjoyed the debut album by Battles back in 07' after reading a favourable review in Uncut magazine and after I discovered that this, only their second album, had been recently released I was eager to sample its  aural eccentricities. This new album of experimental quirky indie pop numbers doesn't disappoint and I am thoroughly enjoying the excellent creativity of the mostly instrumental music conceived by this talented and wonderful band. All sorts of music have been incorporated into these ditties to coalesce into a unique sound. Most enjoyable. Rating 4/5

VA - East Of Croydon (UK 1981)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

A1 Janet Armstrong Inadequate

A2 Heartbeats, The Funny Anymore

A3 Flips, The Schitzo

A4 Big Combo, The 21 Girls

A5 Local Heroes SW9 Another Modern Romance

A6 Big Hair Over You

A7 Bobby Henry Next Move

B1 Calling Hearts In the Jungle

B2 Kan Kan Phone Call

B3 Sir James The Selection

B4 Spöön Fazer Fly on The wall

B5 A Circle Charmed Henrietta Missing

B6 Greenfield Leisure Leisure

B7 Normil Hawaiians Dark World

This very obscure early indie pop/post punk compilation was posted very early on over at Mutant Sounds blog and although I could't possibly rant and rave about the outstanding quality of the songs here as they do, I am finding after several listens on the ipod over the week that there is some strong material here and some of the songs are growing on me as I get more familiar with them. For a bunch of local groups supposedly all coming from around the same general geographical location and probably totally unknown outside of that area, there are some well crafted alternative pop songs happening here. There are some more amateur sounding numbers here reminding me of some of the local bands we use to see live here in NZ that never recorded, but overall after a few listens, this is an interesting and enjoyable compilation. Never heard of any of the bands at all before, of course. Rating 3.5/5 

Diabel Cissokho - Kanabory Siyama (Senegal 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

West African kora music on this very recent release and although it sounds like many other contemporary African albums I have heard, that is not a bad thing. A pleasant record with its complex multi instrumentation and makes wonderful soothing background music. On closer contemplation these is plenty here to keep one interested and the foot tapping. Not a record that is totally inspiring, so not something that I feel is essential to my collection probably because this is more traditional African music than the Afrofunk I usually listen to. Overall a nice album and I will rate it 3/5.

Technical Space Composers Crew - Canaxis 5 (Germany 1969)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

Boat-Woman-Song 17:40

Canaxis 20:21

Mellow Out 2:12

Getting back to some of the very early posts from the formidable Mutant Sounds Blog with this very early ambient sounding collaboration from Can's Holger Czukay and some bloke named Rolf Dammers. "Boat Woman Song" is a very cool extended soundscape that sounds way ahead of its time with its electronic ambience combined with some indigenous sounding chants, I really like it. Canaxis is more of the same although I don't like it quite as much it is still quite cool. Music of this type can very easily end up a pointless boring drone but these two have managed to produce something unique, interesting and enjoyable. Believe me not too many others will agree with me.Rating 3.5/5

Kindness - World, You Need a Change of Mind (UK 2012)

An Uncle Roddus album review

1. SEOD (6:30)

2. Swingin' Party (3:57)

3. Anyone Can Fall in Love (4:22)

4. Gee Wiz (3:16)

5. Gee Up (1:52)

6. House (3:37)

7. That's Alright (4:46)

8. Cyan (4:27)

9. Bombastic (3:12)

10.Doigsong (5:04)

This down-tempo electronic pop was reviewed in Uncut a couple of issues back and as it was one of the few reviews to get 9/10 I thought I should check it out. There are some catchy numbers here but some others just get a bit to soppy for me. Overall today listening on the iPod I wasn't really captivated buy these songs but on the headphones tonight there is some worthwhile stuff here that sounds a bit better on closer inspection. Still not something I will want to spend much more time with.Rating 2.5/5

Julia Holter - Ekstasis (USA 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

1. Marienbad (5:24)

2. Our Sorrows (6:16)

3. In the Same Room (3:58)

4. Boy In the Moon (8:19)

5. Für Felix (4:10)

6. Goddess Eyes II (6:23)

7. Moni Mon Amie (3:31)

8. Four Gardens (6:12)

9. Goddess Eyes I (3:40)

10.This is Ekstasis (8:54)

And another Uncut recommended recent release and another sample of  the high quality of so many recent releases. Uncut reviewed this with an 8/10 rating and put one of the songs on that issues CD. This is a very adventurous album from this angle voiced chanteuse, mixing atmospheric soundscapes and Electronica with ethereal pop and avant style compositional pieces. Starts off well with some creative and unusual tracks which I enjoy before it all gets a bit more ambient on the extended "Boy In The Moon". A very experimental album with several cool avant pop pieces like "Fur Felix". Some of the other longer tracks I start to lose interest in but I feel with more concentrated repeated listening they will become more rewarding. Something a little different, which is what good music is all about.Rating 3/5.

Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit (USA 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Empty House (3:55)

2. Tear It Up (3:24)

3. California (3:40)

4. Idaho (3:27)

5. Home (4:07)

6. Otherside (4:08)

7. Tellin' the Mind (2:47)

8. Time Bomb (4:20)

9. Into the Darkness (4:35)

10.Money Saves (4:24)

11.Yamaha (4:24)

Yet another album that I decided to check out from reading a review in a recent Uncut Magazine and this one is a slightly above average indie pop album of catchy well crafted songs. Nothing ground breaking or exceptional here but certainly an enjoyable set and maintains that quality throughout and I have enjoyed listening to it.Rating 3/5.

Various Artists - Chimes Of Freedom - The Songs Of Bob Dylan - Honoring 50 Years Of Amnesty International (2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

Disc 1

01. Raphael Saadiq – Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat

02. Patti Smith – Drifter’s Escape

03. Rise Against – Ballad of Hollis Brown

04. Tom Morello The Nightwatchman – Blind Willie McTell

05. Pete Townshend – Corrina, Corrina

06. Bettye LaVette – Most of the Time

07. Charlie Winston – This Wheel’s On Fire

08. Diana Krall – Simple Twist of Fate

09. Brett Dennen – You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere

10. Mariachi El Bronx – Love Sick

11. Ziggy Marley – Blowin’ in the Wind

12. The Gaslight Anthem – Changing of the Guards

13. Silversun Pickups – Not Dark Yet

14. My Morning Jacket – You’re A Big Girl Now

15. The Airborne Toxic Event – Boots of Spanish Leather

16. Sting – Girl from the North Country

17. Mark Knopfler – Restless Farewell

Disc 2

01. Queens Of The Stone Age – Outlaw Blues

02. Lenny Kravitz – Rainy Day Woman # 12 & 35

03. Steve Earle & Lucia Micarelli – One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)

04. Blake Mills – Heart Of Mine

05. Miley Cyrus – You’re Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

06. Billy Bragg – Lay Down Your Weary Tune

07. Elvis Costello – License to Kill

08. Angelique Kidjo – Lay, Lady, Lay

09. Natasha Bedingfield – Ring Them Bells

10. Jackson Browne – Love Minus Zero/No Limit

11. Joan Baez – Seven Curses (Live)

12. The Belle Brigade – No Time To Think

13. Sugarland – Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You (Live)

14. Jack’s Mannequin – Mr. Tambourine Man

15. Oren Lavie – 4th Time Around

16. Sussan Deyhim – All I Really Want To Do

17. Adele – Make You Feel My Love (Recorded Live at WXPN)

Disc 3

01. K’NAAN – With God On Our Side

02. Ximena Sariñana – I Want You

03. Neil Finn with Pajama Club – She Belongs to Me

04. Bryan Ferry – Bob Dylan’s Dream

05. Zee Avi – Tomorrow Is A Long Time

06. Carly Simon – Just Like a Woman

07. Flogging Molly – The Times They Are A-Changin’

08. Fistful Of Mercy – Buckets Of Rain

09. Joe Perry – Man Of Peace

10. Bad Religion – It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue

11. My Chemical Romance – Desolation Row (Live)

12. RedOne featuring Nabil Khayat – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

13. Paul Rodgers & Nils Lofgren – Abandoned Love

14. Darren Criss featuring Chuck Criss and Freelance Whales – New Morning

15. Cage the Elephant – The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

16. Band of Skulls – It Ain’t Me, Babe

17. Sinéad O’Connor – Property of Jesus

18. Ed Roland and The Sweet Tea Project – Shelter From The Storm

19. Ke$ha – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

20. Kronos Quartet – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

Disc 4

01. Maroon 5 – I Shall Be Released

02. Carolina Chocolate Drops – Political World

03. Seal & Jeff Beck – Like A Rolling Stone

04. Taj Mahal – Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream

05. Dierks Bentley – Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (Live)

06. Mick Hucknall – One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)

07. Thea Gilmore – I’ll Remember You

08. State Radio – John Brown

09. Dave Matthews Band – All Along the Watchtower (Live)

10. Michael Franti – Subterranean Homesick Blues

11. We Are Augustines – Mama, You Been On My Mind

12. Lucinda Williams – Tryin’ To Get To Heaven

13. Kris Kristofferson – Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)

14. Eric Burdon – Gotta Serve Somebody

15. Evan Rachel Wood – I’d Have You Anytime

16. Marianne Faithfull – Baby Let Me Follow You Down (Live)

17. Pete Seeger – Forever Young

18. Bob Dylan – Chimes Of Freedom

This mammoth set was reviewed in Uncut a couple of months ago and although it only got 3 stars I was quite keen to check it out. I have other compilations of Bob covers and all have been good. I spotted this at the Warehouse a few weeks back but didn't get it at the time as I was looking for other stuff. I was still keen to get my hands on it and so when the opportunity came up yesterday to pop into the Warehouse I was hoping they still had a copy. I duly arrived home with my copy yesterday after lunch and got to spend the afternoon working my way through its completely full 4 discs. Today I am on my second listen and with an enormous array of diverse talent across many forms of contemporary popular music, makes for a  wonderfully eclectic listening experience. With such a powerful back catalogue of songs to choose from and such a successful pool of musicians involved in this project it should be difficult to go wrong and so far what I hear is a successful project with a bunch of versions of which many will get better as I get familiar with these takes. There are bound to be some duds on a project of this size and with some artists whose music I normally wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole, but I haven't as yet heard anything I detest. The best thing of all is that by indulging myself in this cool music I also get to support Amnesty International as all profits go to that wonderful organisation. Rating 4/5.

Django Django - Django Django (UK 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

1. Introduction (2:12)
2. Hail Bop (4:03)
3. Default (3:05)
4. Firewater (4:49)
5. Waveforms (4:26)
6. Zumm Zumm (5:19)
7. Hand of Man (2:36)
8. Love's Dart (3:49)
9. Wor (4:31)
10.Storm (3:14)
11.Life's a Beach (3:05)
12.Skies Over Cairo (3:32)
13.Silver Rays (3:50)

This new group was brought to my attention because one of their songs, "Wor", was on the last Uncut CD and it captured my attention enough to check out this debut album. Catchy and imaginative indie pop and Electronica, this set has wormed its way into my current favourites rather quickly and stays enjoyable throughout its 50 minutes. Another that's been added to my essential purchases and gets a rating of 4/5.

Eugene Carnan - Eugene Carnan (Wales 1972)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

Stumbled across thus super obscure item recently and thought it worth checking out. This looks like a recent CD reissue of this self recorded album from this Welsh hard rock group. I enjoy this hard rocking early 70s stuff and there was plenty of potential in the songs on this album if they had ever got into a proper studio to flesh out the songs and polish up the sound. Some good guitar parts on what is pretty much a demo recording and so although interesting and quite good in places, not essential and I would have liked to hear these songs properly recorded. Rating 2.5/5

Paul Weller - Sonik Kicks (UK 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

This was something that was reviewed in Uncut Take 179 and I had been checking it out to see what Paul was putting out these days. Uncut was generous with this album giving it 8/10 and nearly a two page spread for the review. Weller has always been well regarded in the UK and as I was a big Jam fan back in the day I  am always curious to hear his new music. On first listen this is a good album and I was starting to think I might have to actually buy a copy but after several weeks or it popping up on my playlist but I am finding that I am loosing interest. It is a good album with plenty of catchy well constructed songs and I am sure most Weller fans will enjoy it and it appears to be his strongest in a while. Most of Paul's influences are represented in these tracks and I think the best is "Study in Blue" with a great bass line and a nice duet with female vocals. Overall pretty good but I am not gonna rush out and buy it.Rating 3/5.

Igor Wakhevitch & Salvador Dali - Etre Dieu (France 1974)

An Uncle Roddus album review

Having a clean out of some stuff that's been in my "to check out" box but haven't yet got to round to it. This one has come up on the playlist a couple of times and I thought I would quickly review it before I delete it. This very long winded work is a semi classical/operatic adaptation of a poem by Dali. Six parts at well over 20 minutes each, with lots of spoken parts(in French) with some operatic vocal parts over various electronic and orchestral backdrops. I really don't get into this very much.It doesn't help that I don't understand French and although there are some interesting experiments going on musically, it gets a bit tiresome, especially over its prodigious  length. Rating 2/5

Bobby Brown - Enlightening Beam Of Axonda (USA 1971)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

This is the Bobby Brown Album that was posted over at Mutant Sounds blog and it is marginally better than the later "live" album I reviewed below. A kind of operatic folk on the vocal side and the hippy dream gone weird with the music.Still an acquired taste and something I am not willing to spend any more time with so I can move on to better music. Looks like another DIY job with the album cover and probably the recording as well, although the sound quality is better than the "Live" album also. Roddus rating 2/5.

Bobby Brown - live (USA 1978)

An Uncle Roddus album review

This totally obscure surfer dude was posted on Mutant Sounds Blog, although not this particular album. A sort of DIY muso, this "Live!" album was actually self recorded in the back of a van apparently.

This is an unusual album, mellow and laid back with lots of different instrumentation all played by Bobby. Pretty lofi stuff here and although I wouldn't say this is bad stuff, I don't really connect with it. The guy had some talent and put in a proper studio with a real producer maybe could have produces something more accessible. An interesting voice though but only get a Roddus rating of 2/5. 

John Zorn - Templars-In Sacred Blood (USA 2012)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

1. Templi Secretum (5:33)

2. Evocation of Baphomet (5:26)

3. Murder of the Magicians (4:14)

4. Prophetic Souls (6:20)

5. Libera Me (3:20)

6. A Second Sanctuary (5:06)

7. Recordatio (3:53)

8. Secret Ceremony (9:15)

I thought Zorny might be mellowing a bit as he approaches his 60th birthday,with a lot of his recent releases sounding more like conventional modern jazz releases(albeit very good ones). This album veers more towards the rockier stuff he did with Naked City. Mike Patton's vocals aren't easy listening as he growls and screams over the jazzy rock backing tracks. Not an easy listen, but as with almost anything Zorn releases I like it enough to add it to my large Zorn collection, although not one I will go back to a lot.3/5.

Taste Of Blues - Schizofrenia (Sweden 1969)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

Stumbled upon this recently and after being really impressed by the "Essence Of Swedish Prog" Box set, thought I might check out what this lot sound like. The Blog entries on these rare and little known underground records usually rant and rave about how fantastic they are and how they should not be missed. The reality is that usually the reason they weren't known to a larger audience is that their music wasn't all that fantastic after all. This particular album of psychedelic/jazz/blues/fuzz rock kinda falls in that category. It is an enjoyable album with some interesting music, but not some lost classic like some have mentioned.Side one is taken up by the 17 minute title track and consists of a repetitive Can like rhythm overlaid by some Jazzy psychedelics and is a pretty good jam. Side 2 gets a bit more bluesy and fuzzed out. "A Touch Of Sunshine" is a slow Cream-like psych blues and is one of the highlights, as is the last track "What Kind Of Love Is That" a more up tempo fuzz rocker."On The Road To Nidaros" is a nice little prog like instrumental and quite catchy. The album is a bit lofi and "Another Kind Of Love" suffers a bit for that, being the weakest song here."Another Man's Mind" is the other lesser track on this side but like its predecessor has some good psych guitar. So although not a lost classic, a pretty good effort and I did enjoy it quite a bit. I hope the re-issued CD has better sound than this version I have. Rating 3/5

Steve Miro and the Eyes - Rude intrusions and Second Sentence (2 LPs) (UK 1980-81)

An Uncle Roddus album review

And yet another obscure early post from Mutant Sounds and things are much better on these two quirky indie pop albums. Lo-fi guitar and organ driven, well written songs from Steve that I am finding most enjoyable. Not overly commercial but quality tracks that are consistently good across both albums. Steve's singing is a little deadpan but for something a little off beat and obscure, I recommend these.Rating 3.5/5 for both albums.

Trek with Quintronic - Bi Plane and Landing (2 LPs) (USA 1980-81?)

An Uncle Roddus Album review

Very obscure minimal synth duo apparently from Lansdale, Pennsylvania but they sound more English than anything. Another very early post from the Mutant Sounds Blog and although this sounds exactly like a cross between Gary Newman and David Bowie, the material is far weaker than either of those two. I really don't get into this much at all.Rating 1/5.

laura Allan - Reflections (USA 1980)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

Getting back to the very first posts on the Mutant Sounds blog with this astral outing from Laura Allan. This lass plays something called a Zither, sounds like a sort of harp, very medieval sounding and she vocalises melodically over her picking. Very Spiritual sounding and very new age. Not a lot  of structure here but this music is quite beautiful in a way and rather sickly in another. Not really my sort of thing but far superior to much of the other new age tosh I have heard. Not a keeper though. Rating 2.5. 

The Black Belles - The Black Belles (USA 2011)

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

Something fresh from this all female quartet who were brought to my attention because I believe one of them played on Jack Whites new album and also this album was released on Jacks Third Man Records. This is a great alt-rock album with an excellent guitar sound and real catchy numbers. Jack's influence is apparent in this music but a better comparison would be the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. A straight ahead rock set without to many additional instrumentations and all the better for it. I haven't connected so enjoyably with a new album like this for quite a while. Loved it from first listen. Stand out tracks are the opener, "Leave You With A letter", Wishing Well" and the excellent "Howl at the Moon", but the whole album rocks and is much more fun than the Queens 60th jubilee concert on the TV at the moment as I listen to this and write this review. This album will be added to my shopping list. Rating 5/5

Passport - Passport - Handmade - Looking Through - Cross Collateral - Infinity Machine (Germany 1971-1976) -

An Uncle Roddus Album Review

This is the other 5 CD budget reissue set that I scored from The Warehouse the other week along with the X box set. This was a great score as I was surprised to see this stuff here, although these CDs are still available on Amazon. Again, this set consists of this groups first 5 proper albums and consists of what is probably their strongest material, no giving us one or two classics and then fobbing us off with some other crap they released later in their career.

Although I reviewed the debut album below separately, I will just touch upon the rest briefly in one statement as lack of time and so many other albums to review is preventing me from giving these individual attention.
I like the first album the best, but the rest of these are close behind and the music is consistently good across the whole bunch. They stick pretty much to the same style over all four releases but it doesn't get too repetitive, as there is plenty of experimentation within the context they set them selves. Overall rating 4/5.

As usual, blogger didn't load the scans in the order I wanted so the first album is a the bottom of the post and I can't be bothered to get them in the right order.

This first album from 1971 is the one that got me interested in this German Prog/funk/jazz fusion group and the opening track "Uranus" is worth the asking price of the whole box set itself with the brilliant sax rif from the leader of this ensemble, Klaus Doldinger. The atmospheric sax intro on track 2 sounds familiar to me from the Audience album "House On The Hill". I wonder who borrowed from who? This whole set is just chock full of excellent sax blowing across these instrumental tracks and should impress most fusion fans and may appeal also to Deodato fans. Rating 4.5/5.