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This August's hottest albums to hand are as follows...
THE STRANGLERS 4240 (SonyBMG) is an album issued to celebrate the punky boys' 42 Top 40 hits since 1977. It's out as a single CD but if you move fast there's a Limited Edition CD/DVD, featuring all of the Epic promo videos on DVD for the first time plus clips from their 2007 show at London's Roundhouse. They're playing – or have played - a series of major UK festivals in the next/last few weeks, including T in the Park, V Festival, Isle of White, Hyde Park, Oxegen and Liverpool Pops which should help shift some units. Virtually all their mucho macho classics are present here, from the fast 'Go Buddy Go' and the aggressive 'No More Heroes' to the sexist 'Peaches' and the sublime 'Golden Brown'. Chuck in 'Nice 'n' Sleazy', 'Something Better Change' and 'Strange Little Girl' and fans really can't complain. 7/10
VARIOUS ARTISTS: DUB SAMPLER ORIGINAL 70s DUB
For those hot Summer nights - when you want to hear loud music but also chat – there's nothing better than dub reggae with it's high hats, low bass and acres of mid space. With contributions from Max Romeo, the Wailers, Shorty The President and Johnny Clarke, this is one of the better compilations drifting around. Also available on vinyl for those of us who are hi-fi fans or DJs (or both).
MOCKINGBIRD, WISH ME LUCK Days Come And Go (Blow Up) Mockingbird are a new 8 piece 'pop orchestra' from Sweden about whom I know very little – except that this effortlessly charming post-Sixties disc is well worth hearing. To be found in the lost Bermuda Triangle between Scott Walker, Unit 4 + 2 and the Divine Comedy. Pleasantly tuneful. 8/10
THE ISLEY BROTHERS 3+3 / Go For Your Guns
(Yellow/SPV) This contain some of the ultimate Summer soul anthems - 'That Lady' and 'Summer Breeze' – as well as some raw versions of 'If You Were There' and the future Doobie Brothers' smash 'Listen To The Music'. The turbo-bass of 'What It Comes Down To' keeps things hot before the touching 'Highways of My Life' brings re-release Number One to an end. The 'Go For Your Guns' album isn't quite as strong but does have the dance-floor friendly 'Pride' and the
poignant 'Footsteps In The Dark'. 8/10
Copyright Phil Strongman © 2008 |
