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Albums of the week - Tiscali Music News
Albums of the week
2003-04-21
For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here
Madonna - American Life
Madonna has sold hundred of millions of albums (140 million to be exact) and is truly the biggest and most iconic solo artist in the world. Now her tenth studio album looks set to add another illustrious chapter to the Madonna success story. Hailed as her most personal and accomplished work to date, 'American Life' features eleven new compositions, including the stunning Bond theme 'Die Another Day'.
Recorded in Los Angeles and co-produced with Mirwais Ahmadzai, 'American Life' follows on seamlessly from 2000's dance-centric 'Music'.
Awash with vocoders, stylish neo-electro beats, acoustica and dense, lush orchestration, standout tracks include the intricate, sensual, folk-psych 'Nothing Fails', the eerily seductive 'X-Static Process' ('Jesus Christ will you look at me/Don't know who I'm supposed to be'), and the thumping title track.
Buy this album here
Various Artists - Reborn In The USA
If you loved the TV show, you'll certainly love this.
15 unique songs from the hit ITV1 show.
Featuring: Haydon Eshun, Tony Hadley, Gina G, Sonia, Leee John, Dollar, Elkie Brooks, Michelle Gayle and Peter Cox, all singing their hearts out.
The star performance? Probably Tony Hadley's 'To Love Somebody'. But then you knew that, right?
A great buy if you fancy a re-run.
Buy this album here
Aim - Means Of Production
With an attitude that means he floats effortlessly between hip-hop flavas and late night breaks, Aim has made some of the most innovative breaks music of the last few years.
'Means of Production' is a collection of his early work – 12” singles that disappeared in the blink of an eye and that have now been allowed to resurface on this album.
"The Soul Dive 12" is one of the best things I've put out, a club favourite and one of a handful of tracks we've added to the set for the live shows in March" - Aim
Buy this album here
MJ Cole - Cut To The Chase
Nominated for the 2000 Mercury Prize, MJ Cole's 'Sincere' album cemented his already potent reputation as one of the most innovative garage producers on the UK scene.
2003 and Cole (aka Matt Coleman) returns with his second set, 'Cut To The Chase', on Talkin' Loud. Matt presents some beautiful and diverse tunes that effortlessly combine his trademark production techniques along with the vocal talents of some of the UK's finest male and female artists.
Whilst instantly recognisable as MJ Cole's creations, the range of artists that he has worked with reflect his desire to push the boundaries of the garage sound with which his name was synonymous.
From the undeniably soulful sounds of Sean Escoffrey, the mad rhymes of Elephant Man and the glorious vocals of US diva Jill Scott, Matt has created music of the highest calibre.
Although some of the names are well-known within and beyond their own genres, Matt was also keen to work with organic up-and-coming UK talent, opting away from purely big name collaborations.
New artists featured include Vula, who's nectar sweet vocals feature on the album's first release 'Wondering Why', and Niara who sang with Roots Manuva on the magnificent 'Sword In The Dirt' track.
Buy this album here
Arab Strap - Monday At The Hig & Pint
'Monday At The Hug And Pint' finds Aidan and Malcolm returning to Arab Strap after their respective sabbaticals with Lucky Pierre and Malcolm's solo debut.
Bolstered by the full time involvement of of Stacey Sievwright and Jenny Reeve on violin and piano, the album navigates a journey which many of us have travelled; an album of love, loss, depression and hope; more musically diverse and schizophrenic than anything they've done before.
Joined in the pub by Conor and Mike fromBright Eyes, Bill Wells from the Bill Wells trio and Barry Burns from Mogwai, Arab Strap steer us through club disco, piano ballads, pitch black, spiteful guitars, wistful Scottish folk and glassy eyed bar-room sing-a-longs in a seamless 46 minutes full of musical quirks and shot through with an individuality that is truly unique.
Buy this album here
Caesars - 39 Minutes Of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)
'39 Minutes Of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)' is the Caesars debut UK album.
It is a carefully compiled collection of songs taken from the band's three original Swedish albums (released as Caesars Palace), 'Youth Is Wasted On The Young' (1998), 'Cherry Kicks' (2000), and 'Love For The Streets' (2002), all of which have been certified Gold.
Their sound combines the Farfisa organ-drenched sound of 60's era garage rock with the contemporary pop thrust that has served them so well in their native land.
But while 60's referencing power-pop bands are a dime a dozen, what sets the Caesars apart is their reliance on creating as much an infectious groove as adrenalin pumping rock.
'This is straight from the garage; bran-mashed guitars, moonshine organs and enough inbred rock 'n' roll to make Jack and Meg [The White Stripes] blush' - NME
'All hail the Caesars for injecting joyful diversity intoa dying scene' - Kerrang!
'Swaggering Swedish rock that's tinged with country, psychedelia and shouty garage' - Q
Buy this album here
Harry - Trouble With Harry
Harry, rock's new Brigitte Bardot, brings you her electrifying debut album.
Three years in the making, this collection has involved many talented and diverse collaborators - not least Youth, who found a muse in Harry with her love of dark 80's synths and heavy guitar riffs.
Together they wrote what was to become the basis of 'The Trouble With...', a quaking slab of futuristic rock'n'roll that's bold brash and pop, personal powerful and poignant, heavy dark and uplifting. Includes the singles 'So Real' and 'Imagination', the much in-demand soundtrack to the current Rimmel TV/cinema ad featuring Kate Moss.
Buy this album here
Hope - The Album (War Child)
Keep hope alive" - Jesse Jackson, Hyde Park, March 2003
After 12 years of sanctions, a lifetime of oppression and now the effects of war, the crisis for Iraq's 13 million children is on-going.
Children in Iraq today face an uncertain future, traumatised by war and demoralised by the slow, dull ache of grinding poverty.
Iraq's healthcare system is in tatters. Primary school attendance is at an all-time low.
Infant mortality is in free-fall.
Chronic malnutrition is already affecting every fourth child under five years old.
Up to half a million children have died since the first Gulf War ended.
And that was before the second Gulf War even began - a conflict, which like all conflicts, will affect children more acutely than anyone.
This album of exclusive tracks has been recorded against the clock as the war in Iraq is being fought.
In just three weeks, some of the greatest names on the British music scene have altered their schedules and crammed into studios across the world to be a part of Hope.
Each artist involved, has selected a track, that means something to them at the present time of crisis.
You will find hope, love, anger and confusion both in the lyrics and in the music.
Iraq's real hope is its children.
By investing in them you are investing not only in the future of Iraq but in all of our hopes for a peaceful world.
All proceeds from this album will go to children in Iraq.
War Child's CEO, Norman Sheehan is currently conducting a needs assessment in the conflict zone.
If there is a food emergency then funds can be diverted there, but the expectation is the USA and Europe will meet much of this need.
War Child's key aim is to fund psycho-social programs for children traumatised by war (similar to their pioneering work in Bosnia).
Buy this album here
Marc et Claude - You Own The Sound
'You Own The Sound' is the debut album by Positiva's longest standing artists, Marc Et Claude.
They released their first single on the label, 'La', in 1998, which was a massive dance anthem at the time, and gave them their first top 30 hit.
Over the last couple of years, more singles have followed, including the top 20 hit 'I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)', which paved the way for trance pop covers to take over the charts these days, 'Loving You' and their mostrecent hit 'Tremble', which made the top 30 in early 2002.
All of those releases are included on the album, 'Loving You' by way of a new mix for 2003, along with the original version and massive Riva remix of 'Tremble', and the previously unreleased in the UK 'History Of Acid House', which was a big club track on import last year.
A Tiscali Music user's point of view:
"Marc et Claude: You Own the Sound: All the original tracks, no remixes and no Ne, the original follow up to La (the debut single). Typical fayre from a dance band. The old faves still sound good, the others don't sound decidedly different (if it works, don't fix it) and definitely some cheesy numbers to boot. Better than some other artist albums, but no great shakes." SBF - London.
Buy this album here
For this week's albums, read on, but for this week's singles, please click here
Madonna - American Life
Madonna has sold hundred of millions of albums (140 million to be exact) and is truly the biggest and most iconic solo artist in the world. Now her tenth studio album looks set to add another illustrious chapter to the Madonna success story. Hailed as her most personal and accomplished work to date, 'American Life' features eleven new compositions, including the stunning Bond theme 'Die Another Day'.
Recorded in Los Angeles and co-produced with Mirwais Ahmadzai, 'American Life' follows on seamlessly from 2000's dance-centric 'Music'.
Awash with vocoders, stylish neo-electro beats, acoustica and dense, lush orchestration, standout tracks include the intricate, sensual, folk-psych 'Nothing Fails', the eerily seductive 'X-Static Process' ('Jesus Christ will you look at me/Don't know who I'm supposed to be'), and the thumping title track.
Various Artists - Reborn In The USA
If you loved the TV show, you'll certainly love this.
15 unique songs from the hit ITV1 show.
Featuring: Haydon Eshun, Tony Hadley, Gina G, Sonia, Leee John, Dollar, Elkie Brooks, Michelle Gayle and Peter Cox, all singing their hearts out.
The star performance? Probably Tony Hadley's 'To Love Somebody'. But then you knew that, right?
A great buy if you fancy a re-run.
Aim - Means Of Production
With an attitude that means he floats effortlessly between hip-hop flavas and late night breaks, Aim has made some of the most innovative breaks music of the last few years.
'Means of Production' is a collection of his early work – 12” singles that disappeared in the blink of an eye and that have now been allowed to resurface on this album.
"The Soul Dive 12" is one of the best things I've put out, a club favourite and one of a handful of tracks we've added to the set for the live shows in March" - Aim
MJ Cole - Cut To The Chase
Nominated for the 2000 Mercury Prize, MJ Cole's 'Sincere' album cemented his already potent reputation as one of the most innovative garage producers on the UK scene.
2003 and Cole (aka Matt Coleman) returns with his second set, 'Cut To The Chase', on Talkin' Loud. Matt presents some beautiful and diverse tunes that effortlessly combine his trademark production techniques along with the vocal talents of some of the UK's finest male and female artists.
Whilst instantly recognisable as MJ Cole's creations, the range of artists that he has worked with reflect his desire to push the boundaries of the garage sound with which his name was synonymous.
From the undeniably soulful sounds of Sean Escoffrey, the mad rhymes of Elephant Man and the glorious vocals of US diva Jill Scott, Matt has created music of the highest calibre.
Although some of the names are well-known within and beyond their own genres, Matt was also keen to work with organic up-and-coming UK talent, opting away from purely big name collaborations.
New artists featured include Vula, who's nectar sweet vocals feature on the album's first release 'Wondering Why', and Niara who sang with Roots Manuva on the magnificent 'Sword In The Dirt' track.
Arab Strap - Monday At The Hig & Pint
'Monday At The Hug And Pint' finds Aidan and Malcolm returning to Arab Strap after their respective sabbaticals with Lucky Pierre and Malcolm's solo debut.
Bolstered by the full time involvement of of Stacey Sievwright and Jenny Reeve on violin and piano, the album navigates a journey which many of us have travelled; an album of love, loss, depression and hope; more musically diverse and schizophrenic than anything they've done before.
Joined in the pub by Conor and Mike fromBright Eyes, Bill Wells from the Bill Wells trio and Barry Burns from Mogwai, Arab Strap steer us through club disco, piano ballads, pitch black, spiteful guitars, wistful Scottish folk and glassy eyed bar-room sing-a-longs in a seamless 46 minutes full of musical quirks and shot through with an individuality that is truly unique.
Caesars - 39 Minutes Of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)
'39 Minutes Of Bliss (In An Otherwise Meaningless World)' is the Caesars debut UK album.
It is a carefully compiled collection of songs taken from the band's three original Swedish albums (released as Caesars Palace), 'Youth Is Wasted On The Young' (1998), 'Cherry Kicks' (2000), and 'Love For The Streets' (2002), all of which have been certified Gold.
Their sound combines the Farfisa organ-drenched sound of 60's era garage rock with the contemporary pop thrust that has served them so well in their native land.
But while 60's referencing power-pop bands are a dime a dozen, what sets the Caesars apart is their reliance on creating as much an infectious groove as adrenalin pumping rock.
'This is straight from the garage; bran-mashed guitars, moonshine organs and enough inbred rock 'n' roll to make Jack and Meg [The White Stripes] blush' - NME
'All hail the Caesars for injecting joyful diversity intoa dying scene' - Kerrang!
'Swaggering Swedish rock that's tinged with country, psychedelia and shouty garage' - Q
Harry - Trouble With Harry
Harry, rock's new Brigitte Bardot, brings you her electrifying debut album.
Three years in the making, this collection has involved many talented and diverse collaborators - not least Youth, who found a muse in Harry with her love of dark 80's synths and heavy guitar riffs.
Together they wrote what was to become the basis of 'The Trouble With...', a quaking slab of futuristic rock'n'roll that's bold brash and pop, personal powerful and poignant, heavy dark and uplifting. Includes the singles 'So Real' and 'Imagination', the much in-demand soundtrack to the current Rimmel TV/cinema ad featuring Kate Moss.
Hope - The Album (War Child)
Keep hope alive" - Jesse Jackson, Hyde Park, March 2003
After 12 years of sanctions, a lifetime of oppression and now the effects of war, the crisis for Iraq's 13 million children is on-going.
Children in Iraq today face an uncertain future, traumatised by war and demoralised by the slow, dull ache of grinding poverty.
Iraq's healthcare system is in tatters. Primary school attendance is at an all-time low.
Infant mortality is in free-fall.
Chronic malnutrition is already affecting every fourth child under five years old.
Up to half a million children have died since the first Gulf War ended.
And that was before the second Gulf War even began - a conflict, which like all conflicts, will affect children more acutely than anyone.
This album of exclusive tracks has been recorded against the clock as the war in Iraq is being fought.
In just three weeks, some of the greatest names on the British music scene have altered their schedules and crammed into studios across the world to be a part of Hope.
Each artist involved, has selected a track, that means something to them at the present time of crisis.
You will find hope, love, anger and confusion both in the lyrics and in the music.
Iraq's real hope is its children.
By investing in them you are investing not only in the future of Iraq but in all of our hopes for a peaceful world.
All proceeds from this album will go to children in Iraq.
War Child's CEO, Norman Sheehan is currently conducting a needs assessment in the conflict zone.
If there is a food emergency then funds can be diverted there, but the expectation is the USA and Europe will meet much of this need.
War Child's key aim is to fund psycho-social programs for children traumatised by war (similar to their pioneering work in Bosnia).
Marc et Claude - You Own The Sound
'You Own The Sound' is the debut album by Positiva's longest standing artists, Marc Et Claude.
They released their first single on the label, 'La', in 1998, which was a massive dance anthem at the time, and gave them their first top 30 hit.
Over the last couple of years, more singles have followed, including the top 20 hit 'I Need Your Lovin' (Like The Sunshine)', which paved the way for trance pop covers to take over the charts these days, 'Loving You' and their mostrecent hit 'Tremble', which made the top 30 in early 2002.
All of those releases are included on the album, 'Loving You' by way of a new mix for 2003, along with the original version and massive Riva remix of 'Tremble', and the previously unreleased in the UK 'History Of Acid House', which was a big club track on import last year.
A Tiscali Music user's point of view:
"Marc et Claude: You Own the Sound: All the original tracks, no remixes and no Ne, the original follow up to La (the debut single). Typical fayre from a dance band. The old faves still sound good, the others don't sound decidedly different (if it works, don't fix it) and definitely some cheesy numbers to boot. Better than some other artist albums, but no great shakes." SBF - London.
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