Rocktrospectiva: The Stronger, Eclectic And Influential "Low-Life" Turns 40

Released on 13 May 1985, "Low-Life" was the third studio album by New Order, it is considered to be among the band's strongest work, displaying the moment they completed their transformation from post-punk hold-overs to dance-rockers. The album shows New Order's increased incorporation of synthesisers and samplers, while still preserving the rock elements of their earlier work. The album spawned two singles "The Perfect Kiss" & "Sub-Culture" and the video for its first single was directed by Jonathan Demme. 

The album's artwork is the only New Order release to feature photographs of the band members on its cover; according to designer Peter Saville, the decision to do this was due to him growing tired of his previous "concept covers." To photograph the band, Saville took portraits of them with instant film, which he saw as more versatile than conventional 135 film, stating that "you could push it and do funny things with it. It was very graphic and very dynamic. The grain and the texture made everything look like a movie film." Saville further stated that the band were initially reluctant to depict themselves in the artwork; however, thanks in part to the rapid turnaround of instant film, they grew to enjoy the photoshoot after seeing the results. The CD version of the album comes packaged with drummer/keyboardist Stephen Morris on the front cover, while inside the case are four photographs and a semi-transparent piece of paper with the band's name, allowing consumers to choose which band member is seen through the sleeve.

The album was preceded by the release of the full-length version of "The Perfect Kiss" as a single (only an edited version appears on the album). John Robie's remix of "Sub-culture" was also released as a 12″ single. Both of these extended versions eventually were included on 1987's Substance, but the album has other great cuts as "Love Vigilantes" a naive self-parody but interesting tune, "Elegia" is danceable and it was included on "Pretty In Pink" soundtrack and "Shellshock" which was later included in the re-edited version of the album, "Sooner As You Think" is quite interesting as well. 

The album is a legendary piece of eclectic sound due its varied menu of soul-pop, techno-rock, delicate instrumental moods, and driving, clattering percussion offers adventure in texture at every turn, its confidence, edgy and imagination suggest that the possibility is still there. The album is found it to be New Order's best work: "the songs are much stronger than usual - not just doomy electronic workouts but memorable melodies with a sense of humour lurking in the words. In every way the band's fusion of rock and electronics became seamless.

 

Low-Life Track List: 

 

1. Love Vigilantes

2. The Perfect Kiss

3. This Time Of Night

4. Sunrise

5. Elegia

6. Sooner Than You Think

7. Sub-culture

8. Face Up

New Music: LA Runaway

           

Taken from The Horrors sixth studio album "Night Life" released last March, now the Britons have shared their latest single "LA Runaway" one of the most vibrant and powerful tracks on the set, the video directed by Neelam Kahn Velais a psichedelic collage in black and white that collected footages taken from an airplane window, nature, scenes from shows and the final result it's too dark and too stylish, the track is melodical but at the same time they never lose their drama, sadness and melancholy so we can say the new tracks is just an emotion contrast 

The Compilation: Complete Danny Wilson

 

Complete Danny Wilson is a brand new 5CD box set that will be released in June.

This brand new box set features the Scottish band's two late 80s albums – Meet Danny Wilson from 1987, which features the hit single "Mary's Prayer", and 1989 follow-up Bebop Moptop. Unfortunately the group disbanded in the early 1990s.

Additionally, the new box set features a generous selection of B-sides, remixes and edits, with two CD's worth. A fifth disc offers a complete live show from London’s Town and Country Club.

This collection includes a booklet with new interviews from the band (who are supporting this release). Complete Danny Wilson will be issued on 6 June 2025, via Cherry Red.

Complete Danny Wilson Track List:  

 

CD 1: Meet Danny Wilson

 

1. Davy

2. Aberdeen

3. Mary's Prayer

4. Lorraine Parade

5. Nothing Ever Goes To Plan

6. Broken China

7. Steamtrains To The Milky Way

8. Spencer Tracey

9. You Remain An Angel

10. Ruby’s Golden Wedding

11. A Girl I Used To Know

12. Five Friendly Aliens

13. I Won’t Be Here When You Get Home

CD 2: Bebop Moptop

 

1. Imaginary Girl

2. The Second Summer Of Love

3. I Can’t Wait

4. If You Really Love Me (Let Me Go)

5. If Everything You Said Was True

6. Loneliness

7. I Was Wrong

8. Charlie Boy

9. Never Gonna Be The Same

10. Desert Hearts

11. Y.C. Shanty

12. Goodbye Shanty Town

13. The Ballad Of Me And Shirley Maclaine

CD 3: B-sides / Edits / Mixes

1. I Won’t Forget – B-Side Davy

2. Pleasure To Pleasure – B-Side Davy

3. Monkey’s Shiny Day – B-Side Mary’s Prayer

4. Mary’s Prairie – B-Side Mary’s Prayer

5. Kathleen (House Mix) – B-Side Davy

6. Living To Learn – B-Side Davy

7. Kooks – B-Side Mary’s Prayer

8. Get Happy – B-Side If Everything You Said Was True

9. Growing Emotional – B-Side The Second Summer Of Love

10. I’ll Be Waiting – B-Side The Second Summer Of Love

11. The Lonesome Road – B-Side If Everything You Said Was True

12. A Girl I Used To Know – Single Mix

13. If Everything You Said Was True – Radio Edit

 

CD 4: B-sides / Edits / Mixes

 

1. A Girl I Used To Know – US Remix With Guitar Solo

2. Mary’s Prayer – Paul Staveley O’Duffy Remix

3. Nothing Ever Goes To Plan – Blix Mix ‘86.

4. Aberdeen (The Way It Should Have Been) – The Strepzil Logic Twelve Inch

5. I Can’t Wait – Remix

6. If You Really Love Me (Let Me Go) – New York Mix

7. From A Boy To A Man – Sweet Danny Wilson Comp

8. Monkey’s Shiny Day – Original Demo Version

9. Steam Trains To The Milky Way – Original Demo

10. Broken China – Original Demo

11. A Fragile World – Portastudio

12. Jude – Portastudio

13. The Second Summer Of Love – The Dundee Demo

 

CD 5: Live @ London Town & Country Club, 1 October 1990

 

1. Never Gonna Be The Same

2. Broken China

3. Davy

4. I Was Wrong

5. Lorraine Parade

6. Steamtrains To The Milky Way

7. Charlie Boy

8. Knowing Me Knowing You

9. Imaginary Girl – Everything You Said

10. Aberdeen

11. I Can’t Wait

12. Mary’s Prayer

13. Loneliness

 

Bonus Tracks

 

14. The Second Summer Of Love – Caird Hall, Dundee, 16 September 1989

15. Don’t Know Who I Am – Live, Studio 5, Tyne Tees Television

New Music: Spirit

           

Mark Pritchard and Thom Yorke are releasing Tall Tales, their debut album as a duo,. And as a reminder, they've released a video for its centerpiece and highlight single, the uplifting, "The Spirit." Directed by Jonathan Zawada—the artist billed as the duo's informal third member, having made eerie shorts for all the prior singles—the new video depicts a limber skeleton delivering sparkling souls across a digital sea.

New Music: Inland Ocean

           

Berninger is sharing his new album's opening track "Inland Ocean" Berninger co-wrote his new song with the Walkmen's Walter Martin, and it's got backup vocals from Julia Laws, otherwise known as Ronboy. The song rests on an echoing, staccato guitar riff and some saxophone that's been absolutely drenched in echo, althought musically it's not so different from what Berninger does with the National. The lyric video has been directed by Dale Doyle for Holotype and the X-Ray photography by Nick Veasey.

Rocktrospectiva: The Darker "High Violet" Turns 15

Released on 10 May 2010 in Europe and 11 May in North America, "High Violet" was the fifth studio album by the National, produced by themselves and featuring the singles "Bloodbuzz Ohio", "Anyone's Ghost", "Conversation 16", & "Terrible Love". 

 

An truly interesting album, a dark affair for a banda with curious reputation for bastardly drama, even though the band never sounded triumphant but they can still be reassuring, with Berninger's lyrics acting as salves for our own neuroses. The National were afforded the opportunity to obsess over High Violet. They could've holed up and recorded an idiosyncratic, expectation-defying mess. Instead they produced an ornate, fussed-over record that sounds like no one other than themselves. Given the amount of flack they take for being a no-frills bore, simply refining their sound was arguably the braver option. 

 

Starting eith the the string-drenched closer, "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks", is too decadent for its own good but mostly, they construct gorgeous, structurally sound vignettes. There are few bands that could craft a song like "Sorrow" in which emotion acts as a character and the band turns Berninger's balladry into a well paced jog without stumbling over their own ambitions. The guitars on "Afraid of Everyone" actually sound nervous; while "England" speaks of cathedrals over properly magisterial drums. These are triumphs of form.

Berninger is still, for the most part, a socially obsessed claustrophobe. He has upper-class guilt on "Lemonworld", no "Bloodbuzz Ohio"'s magnificent chorus. It seems that he's best when he tones down the angst in favor of reflection or confusion. High Violet seems less likely to engender the personal connections of Boxer, but it's also bigger and more engaging a possibly offputting combination for a band following the footsteps of Echo and the Bunnymen, Wilco, and Arcade Fire.

High Violet  was the sound of a band taking a mandate to be a meaningful rock band seriously, and they play the part so fully that, to some, it may be off-putting. But these aren't mawkish, empty gestures; they're anxious, personal songs projected onto wide screens. Even if you don't consider yourself an upwardly mobile stiff with minor social anxiety, the National make it sound grand, confusing, and relatable.

The album received widespread critical acclaim. hailing the album as the National's "finest disc to date" and ", "the sound of a band taking a mandate to be a meaningful rock band seriously." definitely the album was carefully considered without being labored and richly detailed without being fussy"

 

High Violet Track List:  

 

1. Terrible Love 

2. Sorrow

3. Anyone's Ghost 

4. Little Faith

5. Afraid Of Everyone

6. Bloodbuzz Ohio

7. Lemonworld 

8. Runaway

9. Conversation 16

10. England 

11. Vanderlyle Crybably Geeks 

The Reissue: The Bluebells' "Sisters" Album To Be Reissue

The Scottish indie-pop band The Bluebells‘ 1984 album Sisters gets the full reissue treatment in June with expanded and remastered CD and vinyl editions available.

Signed to London Records, the band – according to Will Hodgkinson, who pens sleeve notes for this re-release – “were the very essence of indie – they helped define its jangling, guitar-led sound – while maintaining an accessibility that went to the heart of their working-class roots“.

The album reached a modest No 22 at the time despite delivering four UK top 40 singles, including the beloved "Young at Heart", which peaked at No. 8(it would reach No 1 in 1993 when re-released due to its inclusion in a VW Golf advert). Despite the success, it would be the group’s only album and they disbanded a few years later.

Formats for the new reissue are a 3CD+DVD box set which offers B-sides, non-album tracks, live and extended versions, previously unreleased BBC sessions and early takes, music videos and TV performances. A 2LP vinyl edition offers the album on the first LP and highlights from the CD bonus tracks on the second.

Sisters is reissued on 27 June 2025, via London Records. The Bluebells will perform on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury Festival a day after the release date, and will tour around the UK throughout the summer and autumn.

Sisters Track List:  

CD 1: The Album, Plus Bonus Tracks

 

1. Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Alternative Version)

2. Young At Heart

3. I’m Falling

4. Will She Always Be Waiting

5. Some Sweet Day

6. Cath (Longer Version)

7. H.O.L.L.A.N.D.

8. Red Guitars

9. Syracuse University

10. Learn To Love

11. The Patriot Game

12. South Atlantic Way (Full)

13. Aim In Life

14. Forevermore (7” Version)

15. Sugar Bridge (7” Version)

16. All I Am (Is Loving You) (12” Version)

17. The Ballad Of Joe Hill

18. Forever Yours, Forever Mine (Dub Version)

19. Cath (US Remix)

 

CD 2: B-Sides And Single Mixes

 

1Forevermore

2. Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Original Album Version)

3. Cath (12” Version)

4. All I Ever Said

5. Fall From Grace

6. Sugar Bridge (Extended Version)

7. Happy Birthday (Turn Gold)

8. I'm Falling (US Edit)

9. Young At Heart (Extended Version)

10. Tender Mercy

11. Wishful Thinking (Will She Always Be Waiting)

12. Smalltown Martyr

13. All I Am (Is Loving You) (7” Version)

14. Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Original April ‘82 Version)

15. Happy Birthday (Turn Gold) (Alternate Version)

16. All I Am (Is Loving You) (Robert’s Edit)

17. Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (No Strings Version)

18. Young At Heart (Club Remix)

 

CD 3:

 

1. Goodbye And Good Luck (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)

2. Happy Birthday (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)

3. Oh Dear (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)

4. You're Gonna Miss Me (Kid Jensen Session, 1981)

5. Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)

6. Some Sweet Day (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)

7. Sugar Bridge (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)

8. Wishful Thinking (Kid Jensen Session, 1982)

9. Learn To Love (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)

10. Red Guitars (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)

11. Smalltown Martyr To Love (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)

12. Young At Heart (Kid Jensen Session, 1983)

13. Sugar Bridge (Early Version, 1982)

14. East Green (Early Version, 1981)

15. Lifeboat (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

16. Honest John (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

17. Forevermore (Early Version, 1981)

18. Cath (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

19. I'm Falling (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

20. All I Am (Is Loving You) (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

21. Sugar Bridge (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

22. Young At Heart (Live At Camden Palace, 1985)

 

DVD: Promotional Videos And BBC TV Appearances

 

Music Videos

 

1. Cath

2. I'm Falling

3. Young At Heart

4. Cath (Remix)

5. All I Am (Is Loving You)

 

The Old Grey Whistle Test

 

1. Forevermore

2. Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool

3. Red Guitars

 

Top Of The Pops

 

1. I'm Falling

2. Young At Heart

Rocktrospectiva: The Underrated "Theodore And Friends" Turns 40

Released on May 1985 "Theodore And Friends" was the debut album from the Northern Irish rock band the Adventures, released in 1985. The album spawned four singles "Another Silent Day", "Feel The Raindrops", "Two Rivers" and the brilliant "Send My Heart". 

The Adventures were a rock band formed in Belfast in the 1980s who moved to London where they had hits in the UK Singles Chart during the 1980s.  Released back in 1985, "Theodore and Friends"was an album that proved The Adventures were one of the most underrated bands around at that time.  

 

The first single from the album "Another Silent Day" peaked at No. 71, "Feel The Raindrops" peaked at No. 58,  "Two Rivers" peaked at No. 96,  but the superb "Send My Heart" - a top quality 80's single which made it into the UK top 40 and became a hit in Italy and Germany, this helped the single to be featured on the soundtrack to the horror movie Demoni the same year. The album reached #65 in Germany, but did not chart in the UK. In the US, the album was released under the title The Adventures with a modified track listing and different cover artwork. 

During promotion for the follow-up album, member Pat Gribben stated that he wasn't fully happy with Theodore and Friends stating that "You could hear the production problems". In 1990 he commented favourably on the track "When the World Turns Upside Down" saying that unlike the other tracks it remained fresh whereas the rest of the album relied too heavily on current production and musical trends. 

 

The single "Feel The Raindrops" that was a massive radio and chart hit also in certain areas, this was a sparkling 80s guitar pop of the highest order, one of the best songs on here, which are many, will make you come back to it and leave a strong first impression, definitely the strenght on this record was the sound of the guitars whos had a nice shimmer, not over done, but enough to let the songs breathe. the album after this is good, but this album is stellar. another silent day is an awesome song and can be seen and heard on youtube. 

 

There were many great tracks on this record but unfortunately they were just another band with so much potential, but a combination of poor marketing and underexposure doomed them to relative obscurity outside, even thought "Theodore and Friends" is striking and of course "Send My Heart" was a masterpiece, the album didn't had the recognition it deserved. 

Theodore And Friends Track List: 

1. Always

2. Feel The Raindrops

3. Send My Heart

4. Two Rivers

5. Don't Tell Me

6. Another Silent Day

7. When The World Turns Upside Down

8. Love In Chains

9. Lost In Hollywood

10. These Children 

Rocktrospectiva: The Smart And Accesible "Wilson Phillips" Turns 35

Released on 8 May 1990 "Wilson Phillips" was the debut studio album by the US Band "Wilson Phillips" the album was full of smart, accessible songs, and peaked at No. 2 on Billboard 200, selling over 5 million copies in the USA and 8 millions worldwide. Five singles were released from the album, with "Hold On", "Release Me" and "You're in Love" all reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Impulsive" reached number four, and the fifth single, "The Dream Is Still Alive", peaked at number 12. The album and its singles earned the group five Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. 

Wilson Phillips seemed to have arrived out of nowhere, though it was actually the result of several years' hard work by three young, Los Angeles-based vocalists and songwriters with a distinguished Californian heritage. Chynna Phillips was the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips, formerly of The Mamas And The Papas, while the Beach Boys’ legendary Brian Wilson was the father of Carnie and Wendy Wilson.The trio's collective pedigree meant that Wilson Phillips' music inevitably attracted scrutiny. 

However, Chynna, Carnie and Wendy were determined to stand or fall on their own merits. Crucially, the trio's collective decision not to rush-release music also worked in their favor. They wrote the songs for Wilson Phillips over a three-year period, with Chynna Phillips telling the Los Angeles Times the group took that time to evolve – the more we practiced, the more we sang together, the easier it became, and we began to have our own sound.

Overseen by producer Glen Ballard and featuring an all-star musical cast including the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, and Little Feat keyboardist Bill Payne, Wilson Phillips was a highly consistent collection – and a timely reminder that well-crafted pop songs illuminated by sparkling harmonies and catchy melodies will never really go out of style. With almost every song sounding like a potential hit. The lyrics based in part on Chynna Phillips' own personal struggles with drugs and an abusive relationship, struck a chord with listeners worldwide, something which didn't entirely surprise Wilson Phillips. “It’s funny, because I knew when the song was being written that it was inspired by something greater than myself,” Phillips told the Los Angeles Times. “I knew that it was going to touch a lot of people, and it did. And that’s a wonderful feeling.”In the wake of “Hold On,” the Wilson Phillips album also touched music fans worldwide, yielding multi-platinum sales and a series of Grammy nominations as the record decamped inside the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 for a whole year.

The critics were mixed but highlighted the record as a pleased album that taken 'em away from their "Mamas And Papas" influence,  an engaging high-gloss album of pop-rock songs that deal mostly with the complications of young love, but the slick production and the fact the gals harmonize nicely can't mask a shallowness so profound.

 

Wilson Phillips Track List:  

1. Hold On

2. Release Me

3. Impulsive

4. Next To You (Someday I'll Be)

5. You're In Love

6. Over And Over

7. A Reason To Believe

8. Ohh You're Gold

9. Eyes Like Twins

10. The Dream Is Still Alive

Rocktrospectiva: The Good Crafty Pop On "Goodbye Jumbo" Turns 35

Released on 8 May 1990 "Goodbye Jumbo" was the second studio album by Welsh-British band World Party. The album received generally positive reviews from critics and peaked at No. 73 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 36 on the UK Albums Chart. The album spawned three singles "Way Down Now", "Put The Message In The Box" & "Thank You World". In the case of "Way Down Now", the album's lead single, spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and follow-up single "Put the Message in the Box" reached No. 8.

Definitely 1990 was a pretty good year in rock and pop, and this rare-ibis emerged out of nowhere to coquer the radio airwaves, the album was curiously enough one of the best albums of that year according to Q magazine and dozens of critics.  Karl Wallinger, formerly of the Waterboys alongside Mike Scott, had embarked on a promising solo career with his band World Party

He confirmed his particular gift for late-period Fab Four-inspired music on Goodbye Jumbo, an album of effortless melodicism and adult pop with allusive lyrics about God, the green revolution, love in many forms and much more. With a tidy 12 tracks, potentially huge hits in the trippy pop of "Put The Message In The Box" and the rocky "Way Down Now", Goodbye Jumbo was the great album that went past just about everyone. Wallinger wasn't a man for swagger: his lyrics were cleverly crafted and his music - which he wrote and often performed almost every part himself in the studio - was subtle, discreetly referenced in his role models sometimes the Stones as much as the Beatles and he could cleverly incorporate a line from Iggy Pop as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Goodbye Jumbo bristles with musical ideas, but they are all contained within the pop-rock format. The gritty "Way Down Now" cuts right back for an intimate central section and the lyrics offer bewildering post-psychedelic confusion; "Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready" is a sly nod to soft psychedelic Curtis Mayfield-soul; he fades up "When the Rainbow Comes" just as the Beatles did with Eight Days A Week and it hits its peak in ringing chords and an optimistic invitation to "step out of the open door . . . build a new house down by the sea". But definitely "Put The Message In The Box" is gentle power pop and slightly prescient in its lyrics if you think that Oasis were on their way

This was an album of the old style where every note in every song mattered, and where each song was memorable and distinctive. It moves easily through different styles but every one is within Wallinger's confident grasp. And it didn't sound overly studied or too clever-clogs. Whether it be a piano-framed ballad like "God on my Side", the studio-funk of "Show Me To The Top" or the trippy "Thank You World", Karl Wallinger proved he had what it took.

Wallinger and World Party made other albums, none as good but his finest hour still stands today with this record, no wonder why, this album was named the best for many critics and media, called it a "winning opus" and applauding Wallinger's unabashed enthusiasm and ability to craft killer pop tunes also because the album displayed an ambition as broad as the emotional range of its music

 

Goodbye Jumbo Track List: 

1. Is It Too Late?

2. Way Down Now

3. When The Rainbow Comes

4. Put The Message In The Box

5. Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready

6. And I Fell Back ALone

7. Take It Up

8. God On My Side

9. Show Me To The Top

10. Love Street

11. Sweet Soul Dream

12. Thank You World