BMG レコード& CD

Review: Seven strong San Francisco rock band Counting Crows have always walked a fine line between intimate storytelling and grandiose soundscapes. This time - taking the four tracks from their Butter Suite pt 1 Ep and adding five more new tracks - they sound like a band utterly in control of their own narrative. Adam Duritz's lyrics reflect a certain self-assurance as they weave through themes of reinvention and regret. Musically, the band brings a tighter, more focused intensity, merging rock, folk and even hints of alt-country with the ease of a band at their peak. 'Spaceman In Tulsa' takes its time, unfolding languidly, savouring every detail before pushing forward. And in moments like 'Boxcars,' it's clear this is the most cohesive they've sounded in years, with every instrument serving the story rather than competing for attention. They've done the work, and now, it's all paying off.

Review: Counting Crows' sequent 2021's Butter Miracle: Suite One with The Complete Sweets! Now expanding on the themes of its predecessor, the record hears all four tracks from Suite One alongside five new songs, blending this heartsick Berkeley, CA band's signature storytelling with sweeping melodies and raw emotion. Leading the charge is 'Spaceman In Tulsa', a striking single that not only marks their first new music in nearly five years, but appropriately concerns itself with the theme of metamorphosis - "the way music breaks down who we were and spins us into something new. It's about broken lives becoming something better," in the words of frontman Adam Duritz. The record coincides with a fresh tour kicking off in Nashville in Spring 2025, with stops across North America and Europe.

Review: There's something timeless about the way this veteran UK singer carries himself and this 2010 album, now reissued on striking red vinyl, makes that all the more clear. It feels like a continuation of the Roxy Music legacy in spirit, mood and style, with that familiar air of suave detachment and immaculate detail, with a production styler that's lush and forward-thinking, bridging classic lounge-pop stylings with modern textures that still sound fresh over a decade later. The sleekness is no accident - every element is meticulously placed, from the glossy synths to the hushed guitars and orchestral flourishes. 'Shameless' is one of the more adventurous tracks, pulling in electronic flourishes courtesy of Roots Manuva. It's a bold move that actually works, blending suave vocals with a beat-driven framework that never feels forced. The real surprise, though, is the version of 'Song to the Siren' - a haunting, fragile take on the track made famous by Tim Buckley and This Mortal Coil alike, that shows just how much weight his voice can carry with minimal backing. Easily one of the most affecting covers in his catalogue. 'Tender Is The Night' rounds out the highlights with a melodic, romantic glow. There's an added layer of interest with Brian Eno - a Roxy member in its early days - contributing, creating a sense of full-circle collaboration. The sound of a seasoned artist evolving gracefully, without losing the qualities that made him magnetic in the first place.

Review: Led by Edinburgh-born Los Angeles-based 90s superstar Shirley Manson, Garbage have emerged from dark, troubling times to present a new album. The follow up to 2021's No God No Masters was originally intended for release in 2023, but got put back, reportedly due to Manson's surgeries, writer's block and the death of her pet dog. Those who've kept patient, however, are in for a treat: it's a life-affirming record that stands tall in the transatlantic group's storied oeuvre. Ever the sharp critical thinker, the lyrics to lead single 'There's No Future In Optimism' remind us to grab life by the horns and feel unburned by darkness for a moment - it's a message we need from our popstars and it's a nice respite from the cranky punk music that's saturated our radio waves over the past few years.

Review: This is the first album in four years from Scot-fronted Los Angeles band Garbage and their eighth studio album total. The previous album, No Gods No Masters, delved into some heavy sociopolitical themes, which were given a lot of attention because it came out amid Covid. With this album, as the title gives away, there is a shift towards more positive thinking, even if some seriousness remains. The single 'There's No Future In Optimism' reminds us to grab life by the horns and feel unburned by darkness for a moment - Shirley Manson clearly remembering the joy of pop and the hope it can bring, despite geopolitical uncertainties. Sonically, they've crafted very powerful electronica-tinged rock, with a brilliant emphasis on rhythm, the joys of a well constructed beat and some gritty bass.

Review: Fifty years after its original release, and over 20 since its first reissue, the quiet Beatle's landmark solo record All Things Must Pass has been punctiliously expanded once more, offering a complete sonic and archival overhaul. Spearheaded by Dhani Harrison and Grammy winner engineer Paul Hicks, the collection is a deluxe format-multiple, with one Uber Deluxe Box Set coming housed in a bespoke wooden crate and featuring 70 tracks. Alas, this CD edition is but a mere optical truncation, offering the humble and prudent listener a much sublimer curated experience: rooted in George Harrison's growing frustrations within the Beatles and a desire for artistic autonomy, 'Isn't It A Pity', 'Let It Down' and 'I'd Have You Anytime' still lie among the most enduring songs of Harrison's Tibetan Buddhist era, and with none other than compression master Phil Spector at the mix controls, you can be certain of a well-smoothened sonic experience from front to back.

Review: Originally released in 1982, Upstairs At Eric's marked the arrival of a duo as timeless as they were era defining, capable of capturing the very essence of an emerging, tech-driven music scene while also writing tracks that still sound incredible today. Many of which have been repurposed, sampled and remixed to the ends of the Earth and we're still not bored. Produced by the two band members, Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke, alongside Daniel Miller, boss of Mute Records, the legendary British label that first carried this, we shouldn't need to namedrop tracks here - Upstairs At Eric's is, frankly, the landmark synth-pop record. Just in case, though, think 'Don't Go', 'Goodbye 70s', and 'Only You'. And that's before we get into the lesser radio-played gems.