Back catalogue: Rock

Review: Nena's second album, released in 1984 and now reissued on striking red vinyl, was a shift from the assertive sound of their debut, presenting a more romantic and introspective approach. The album cover, featuring a shadowy band photo against a black backdrop and a simple question mark as its title, hints at its deeper emotional themes. While the opening track 'Rette Mich' carries forward the energy of their first album, the overall mood embraces love and longing, with Nena's voice revealing a touching vulnerability. The music leans toward 70s Baroque rock, combined with the catchy simplicity of 80s pop, as all band members contribute to the songwriting, ensuring a rich tapestry of melodic sophistication. The title track, initially released as a mellow single, captures the emotional complexity of desire and resonated deeply with fans, further solidifying Nena's status in the German pop scene. Following the unexpected success of '99 Luftballons', which became a worldwide hit, this album helped elevate Nena and her band beyond the constraints of the Neue Deutsche Welle movement, marking them as a unique force in pop music history. Its timeless appeal ensures that Nena remains a classic in German music.

Review: One of the most divisive rock bands gigging today, Nickelback are easy targets and quite unfairly lampooned in the media. Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic famously came to their defence, stating that he loves them, which is a great endorsement and one we're inclined to agree with. They are a great power pop band. 'How You Remind Me' is - fact - one of the catchiest rock singles of the past 30 years and the band have endured and matured into one of the biggest rock bands of all time. This live album comes two years after the release of their chart-topping album Get Rollin'. They were touring in support of that album when they decided to professionally film and record one of the dates - their sold-out show on 1 August 2023 in Nashville. And it's a hit-laden feast: 'Photograph', 'Burn It To The Ground', 'Hero' and more. What's more: they brought out an array of guests; including: Bailey Zimmerman for 'Rockstar' and Chris Daughtry for 'Savin’ Me', making for a truly special evening.

Review: What you see before you ranks among the most mythologised live albums (n)ever released. Like the title suggests, it was originally recorded in 1972 at Parisian rock institution Le Bataclan, a legendary venue which would later gain notoriety after a group of armed gunmen opened fire on a crowd in 2015, killing 90 people. But that grisly recent history belies its status as one of the most respected concert halls in the French capital, and this not-quite-Velvet Underground show has contributed to that legacy. Showcasing the stop-you-dead qualities of Nico's staggering (and unique) vocal timbre, the surreal, immersive qualities of the Cale and Reed's legendary art-rock tones, this time capsule had been bootlegged and bootlegged until 2004, when it finally got an official release. Now it's back.