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| RECORD ARCHIVE |
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| The latest record from Birmingham-based band Ocean Colour Scene had been on the Modfather's "to buy" list for some time. After only a few listens, it is easy to see why this band has become one of the most well respected groups in Britain. "North Atlantic Drift" is, in my very unbiased opinion, one of the records of the year so far. It is brimming with the confidence of songwriters who know what they are after, and musicians who know how to get it. "N.A.D." presents us with a band who sound like old pro's, who have somehow managed to hold on to that elusive youthful enthusiasm. Almost every song on this record has struck somehting of a chord with me, from the rollicking chorus of album opener and hit single "I Just Need Myself", to the alluring beauty of closer "When Evil Comes". The title track is breathtaking, "Golden Gate Bridge" stunning, and the string-laden "Make The Deal" one of the band's finest moments. And so it continues, each track offering another slice of OCS's craftsmanship. "The Song Goes On", "On My Way", "She's Been Writing"... all worthy of mention. When the free world is wetting themselves over tormented garage rockers, it can be easy to overlook something we have, but never should have, taken for granted. Ocean Colour Scene have plodded along without the headlines or the haircuts, and achieved something that is so often overlooked these days. They have made a damn fine record. And yeah, Australian radio won't play it... what's new? Who needs 'em? Not me. Just play me another tune boys, you know, like Jimmy heard the day he caught the train... |
| Aussie rock n roll stalwarts You Am I have followed up the recent release of their "The Cream and The Crock" best-of CD with its namesake in the DVD department, and although I resisted purchasing the CD version, I quickly snapped up a copy of the DVD. It's really no secret that the quality of output You Am I have delivered recently is not a patch on the masterpieces we became accustomed to in the heady days of the early to mid nineties. This DVD, then, offers the viewer the chance to revisit those days in all their glory. So what's on it? Well, there's every video clip to start with. There's also 16 assorted concert and TV live performances, spanning the length of the bands' career. Throw in a 13 minute documentary, a couple of bonus clips and performances, and a TV interview, and you've a fair chunk of You Am I to deal with. Probably the most interesting aspect to the DVD is the audio commentary provided by the band that can run over the clips. They are an entertaining insight into the stories behind the videos. The only drawback, I felt, was that the live clips were a little thin on the ground. DVD technology has offered us the chance to cram hours of material onto a single disc, so why not make the most of it? At around $27, this is pretty much a must buy for officiandos of the band, and well worth the price of admission. For complete tracklisting, visit www.youami.net/dvd.htm. |
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| OCEAN COLOUR SCENE NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT |
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| YOU AM I THE CREAM AND THE CROCK (DVD) |
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