CLASSIC ALBUM REVIEWS

ARETHA – Lady Soul – Album Review

December 12, 2023

ARETHA - Lady Soul - Album Review

DAY 5 OF 50 REVIEWS ON THE LEAD UP TO A RECORD STORE OWNER'S 50TH BIRTHDAY in 2021

I have a long time love of the female soul voice and it would be impossible of me to compile such a collection of my favourites and leave out my absolute Queen.

It may even seem obvious to include this in my 50 but i really don’t care as the collection of songs contained within this album are nothing short of sublime.

"Lady Soul" is a timeless piece of musical artistry that perfectly showcases the incredible talent and soulful voice of the legendary Aretha Franklin. Released in 1968, this iconic album solidified Franklin's status as the Queen of Soul and became one of her most influential and celebrated works.

One of the standout tracks on the album is her iconic hit "Chain of Fools," which grabs your attention with its infectious grooves and Franklin's commanding presence. Her rendition of "Natural Woman" is equally spellbinding, showcasing her unique ability to convey raw emotions through her unique voice.

Another highlight of the album for me is the intense and passionate ballad "Ain't No Way," where Franklin's vocals soar to incredible heights, which continue to leave lasting impact on me everytime i listen to this day.

And how could anyone forget the monumental anthem "Respect," which became a signature song for Franklin.

This album, in my opinion is a must-listen for any true music enthusiast or anyone who wishes to obtain an entry level into classic soul music. It is an extraordinary testament to Aretha Franklin's brilliance as an artist and a true representation of her complete essence as the incomparable Queen of Soul.

Offstage, Franklin was well respected for her philanthropy and activism. She supported a lot of very important causes and offered her stunning voice to many movements seeking equality and justice. Her dedication to her causes and the world in general further reinforced her status as a true legend.

This woman’s voice has the power to lift your soul, to reassure, to inspire, to console..and a whole host of other emotions. I will never tire of listening to this album.

55 years ago this album was released - it will still sound amazing in another 55.

RIP

CHECK OUT THE OFFICIAL ARETHA FRANKLIN WEBSITE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7s4h88BeOo&list=PLNPGM2D7aODc0fzxnf2icnkvRrT6KBWd5

https://youtu.be/QObdI2o8teM?si=se9DejvDSVoapCht

JUSTICE – Cross – Album Review

December 11, 2023

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JUSTICE - Cross - Album Review

DAY 4 OF 50 REVIEWS ON THE LEAD UP TO A RECORD STORE OWNER'S 50TH BIRTHDAY

Day 4, and its Ed Banger time in my top 50 fave albums.

This electronic music album completely re-wrote the music production text book and fails to accept a genre pigeon hole.

This is an album that could have only ever been written by the French.

Justice’s self titled first album has attitude in truckloads. Anyone else who attempted writing this kind of music at the time risked falling by the wayside miserably.

This is a sound that I love so much and the French excel at. This production masterpiece features the craziest digital distortion, stripped back (but filthy) chords throughout its entirety and just that distinct sound that is so native to their land. The guys are renowned for their use of hundreds of clips from other artists work, twisted, filtered, reversed and crunched into such obscurity that they very rarely require sample clearance.

That to me is one of the many genius aspects of electronic music.

From the sinister opening chords of ‘Genesis’ this album squeezes every last ounce out of the equipment used to produce it.

In 2003 when the Roule and Crydamore record labels stopped releasing, it left a huge hole that Ed Banger records filled and then in 2007 these guys once again brought the French sound into the mainstream. Their subsequent 2 original albums have also stood up 100% against this and we often use them as a benchmark in studio recording sessions.

This debut album Is funky, it’s noisy, it’s fun, it’s moody, it just doesn’t give a fuck what you think of it.

Absolute hands down, 100% classic. Get the BBQ lit and crank this up!

CHECK OUT THE JUSTICE WEBSITE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb7cTUwPG-A

https://youtu.be/QObdI2o8teM?si=se9DejvDSVoapCht

Album sleeve artwork for Linkin Park Hybrid Theory

Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory – Album Review

December 10, 2023

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Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory - Album Review

DAY 3 OF 50 REVIEWS ON THE LEAD UP TO A RECORD STORE OWNER'S 50TH BIRTHDAY

Day 3's choice for my 50 finest albums is just a plain and simple 'monster', there is no other one word that sums this record up better. I wanted to drop one from the slightly more intense end of my collection as it's the weekend.

This album screams attitude, emotion and the full force of Chester Bennington's angst. Every track is a 100% bonafide KILLER. There are just so many standout moments combined with some of the largest rock & metal hooks in history. 'One Step Closer' actually was in my top 20 most listened to Spotify streams of 2020..still after 20 years.

This guy was known and respected for his powerful and emotional performances. Through Linkin Park, he channeled many of his inner struggles and expressed his deepest angst in a raw and heartfelt manner.

To this day Chester Bennington's authenticity in sharing his struggles continues to help break down barriers and help many people with mental health issues bring their own sufferings to light.

If you leave this album and come back to it in 5 years time, it will still sound fresh. That is the mark of a strong LP in my book.

Call it Nu Metal, skater rock, alternative hip hop..whatever your preference..its just one of the finest modern rock albums of all time.

One of the few albums that i still own on Vinyl, Cassette and CD

R.I.P

CHECK OUT THE LINKIN PARK WEBSITE

https://youtu.be/k8SbrLmzCR4?si=oTTKi9B5XelKajZ7

Lots of ups and downs this week

December 9, 2023

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Another week for the humble little record store

Another week draws to a close for the humble little record store. This week had it's share of ups and a LOT of downs, but i managed to keep things together until the end and shall enjoy a nice relax now as reward. I met a few lovely new music enthusiasts this week and each day was filled with many twists and turns, but most importantly, that unmistakable aroma of vinyl (mostly peoples roof-spaces and garages to be fair)

From Monday's quiet hum to the finale of Saturday's usual frenzy, every day brought its own rhythm (pardon the crap pun) and energy. Customers flipped through stacks of records, seeking gems from all genres and eras.

And, most importantly for me, i gained some more skills and learned a bit more about web development. You should notice the formatting of my posts hopefully becoming a bit more steamlined over the coming weeks. There is such a feeling of achievement when you fix any problem by yourself, without having to pay an expert.

Today in record sales

Today saw quite an eclectic selection of music flying out the door. A lot of Drum & Bass from the likes of Roni Size, Goldie and Ed Rush were in demand and also some great titles from a favourite label of mine, Compost Records from Germany. Some gems from the downtempo & lounge section also sold, alongside the usual spread of big dancefloor fillers and full on anthems! Bangers and blissful beats living together perfectly.

Had our Royal Mail collection this afternoon which is proving incredibly handy and it also makes it a race against time to get as many orders packaged and ready to go before our friendly postie arrives. This has further increased productivity.

Top 50 albums as selected by myself.

DAY 2 OF 50

Back in 2021 on the 50 days leading up to my 50th Birthday, i posted a daily review of my 50 favourite LPs of all time. This rundown was a varied selection of everything from acoustic folk music to dark metal and French electronica.

Today, day 2 of 50 Is a beautiful, emotional masterpiece from a true goddess of the music world.

KATE BUSH - 50 Words For Snow

Read the review here

Until tomorrow folks, have a lovely evening.

MUSIC & MEDIA EXCHANGE SCHEME

TURN THE RECORDS THAT YOU DON’T USE ANYMORE INTO CASH OR EXCHANGE THEM FOR FRESH VINYL THAT YOU WILL USE.

WE believe that lurking in everyone’s attic / roof space is a dusty old box of vinyl records or at the bottom of your shelves there’s a ton of records that you bought years ago and your taste may have changed and you no longer like.

We buy and trade those records that you may have grown out of or have double copies of. These unloved pieces of plastic could be generating serious cash for you and offering a well needed financial boost on the lead up to Christmas.

Cash is paid on the spot for records of ALL styles OR an exchange rate of 1.5 times the amount is offered

FOR EXAMPLE

If we value your collection at £100. We offer you a choice of either £100 in cash OR £150 in store credit to use either in-store or online. This credit option is particularly useful if you want to refresh your collection.

Get in contact with details of any records, CDs, instruments, equipment that you wish to offload..

Chat on WhatsApp

RECENT ADDITIONS TO SHOP

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Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow – Album Review

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DAY 2 OF 50 REVIEWS ON THE LEAD UP TO MY 50TH BIRTHDAY BACK IN 2021

Another sneaky peek inside my soul.

Like the finest of wines this lady’s voice only gets better over the years and her aged huskiness completely blows me away on this album. I consume a LOT of music but there’s barely a week goes by that i don’t listen to a song from this masterpiece.

"50 Words for Snow" is the tenth studio album by Bush. Released in 2011, the album is a beautiful journey through a winter wonderland, showcasing her completely unique, rich musical style and thought provoking storytelling.

One of my personal faves on the album ‘Misty’ is 13 minutes of pure, beautiful genius and one of the finest songs written, in my humble opinion. If you skip through a song like this, you run the risk of overlooking it’s brilliance. Everything about this song is pure perfection.

Nobody else on earth has such a unique talent of creating lush atmospheres that blend beautifully with such an enchanting voice and the most haunting of piano melodies.

The album also features a brilliant duet with some bloke Elton John on the stunning track "Snowed in at Wheeler Street."

I love music that makes us question and reorganise a lot of the chaos that goes on inside our heads. Nothing else in life does that for me. The power to uplift, console or support.

This album does all of this for me, and more.

CHECK OUT THE KATE BUSH WEBSITE

https://youtu.be/MlX7JeMgi8Y?si=vxiAxjjDZcoh6QOq

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Album artwork for Henry Jamison The Wilds LP

Henry Jamison – The Wilds – Album Review

December 8, 2023

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DAY 1 OF 50 REVIEWS ON THE LEAD UP TO MY 50TH BIRTHDAY

So Derry DJ legend Brendan Tracey suggested that I do an album a day for the 50 days. I know this is old news and loads of people were doing it ages ago, but back in 2021 i decided to give it a whirl as part of a 50 day mid life crisis and the lead up to my 50th birthday. There’ll be a few blatantly obvious titles in there, a few that will probably confuse and some that you’ll hopefully have never heard.

Today’s title is an album by a guy called Henry Jamison who I discovered a few years back just at the time when I needed this kind of song in my life and every hour in the car on the way home was an escape from the grind.

"The Wilds," see's Henry taking us on a very American journey through beautifully crafted and sometimes haunting folk melodies and poetic lyrics that you can feel are penned from the heart. Each track is a personal reflection on life, love, and the human experience in general. The production on the album is sublime and the way that the harmonies breeze in on such a subtle level are absolutely beautiful.

Without doubt one of my favourite finds in recent years.

Find it on your preferred streaming platform and give it a whirl.

CHECK OUT HENRY ON FACEBOOK

Henry Jamison - The Wilds

https://youtu.be/B1RexapAxaQ?si=CIy5utdgutTvwNtR

Linkin Park Hybrid Theory Album Review

June 17, 2021

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Linkin Park Hybrid Theory Album Review

This album is just a plain and simple ‘monster’, there is no other one word that sums this record up better.

This album screams attitude, emotion and Chester Bennington’s angst. Every track is a 100% bonafide KILLER. So many standout moments and some of the largest hooks in history. ‘One Step Closer’ actually was in my top 20 most listened to Spotify streams of 2020..still after 20 years.

Leave it and come back to it in 2 years time and will still sound fresh.

Call it Nu Metal, skater rock, alternative hip hop..whatever your preference..its just one of the finest modern rock albums of all time.

One of the few albums that i still own on Vinyl, Cassette and CD

R.I.P

Justice Justice Album Review

May 24, 2021

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Justice Justice Album Review

This is an album that could have only ever been written by the French.

Justice’s self titled first album has attitude in truckloads. Anyone else who attempted writing this kind of music at the time risked falling by the wayside miserably.

That to me is one of the many genius aspects of electronic music.

From the sinister opening chords of ‘Genesis’ this album squeezes every last ounce out of the equipment used to produce it.

In 2003 when the Roule and Crydamore record labels stopped releasing, it left a huge hole that Ed Banger records filled and then in 2007 these guys once again brought the French sound into the mainstream. Their subsequent 2 original albums have also stood up 100% against this and we often use them as a benchmark in studio recording sessions.

This debut album Is funky, it’s noisy, it’s fun, it’s moody, it just doesn’t give a fuck what you think of it.

Absolute hands down, 100% classic. Get the BBQ lit and crank this up!