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New Order is still rocking out and showing us they can still put on a rocking concert displayed on DVD. This concert film captures the band New Order performing over twenty songs during a show in Glasgow. The setlist includes such favorites as Love Will Tear Us Apart, Bizarre Love Triangle, Perfect Kiss, These Days and my personal favorite Regret. New Order was never really known as much of a live band due to the fact that the four-piece embarked on relatively few tours. But when they did, the shows were often hit-or-miss. This being the case, Live in Glasgow may be the closest that many fans will get to seeing the band post-punk/dance act live. I can certainly tell you if all their shows looked like this they would do fine.
Running 217 minutes, the DVD features dazzling performances, creating a document that attests to the live power of one of the ‘80s’ most accomplished bands. Filmed of two nights at Glasgow’s Carling Academy in October 2006, disc one presents us with a fairly straightforward concert. There are interviews in-between but if your not cool with that then there is also an option to watch the film straight through. I love the idea nowadays where the concerts are presented like a film and not just a straight through concert. It makes it more enjoyable and breaks up the monotony. It’s the crisp 5.1 surround sound and the lights and the overall footage shot that makes the music rock. It’s nice to see a recent DVD of the band and not a release of an older concert. The band is getting up there in age, since the days of forming Joy Division, which some of their songs are even included in this set list spanning their 23 year career. The years have been kind to the band and they can still display their edge of pop dance rock.
From the moment the DVD starts the band proves they are unmistakably one of the best bands out of the 80;’s and probably one of the most underrated. They are one of those bands where you pop in the greatest hits CD and go “Wait, I know this song, I never know it was New Order though.” The hits displayed in the DVD feature guitars blazing, snares popping very crisply and Peter Hook’s bass emitting a low rumble. Now the DVD could be doctored up a little bit like most bands nowadays but I honestly think there probably wasn’t too much done. The bands use all what they have on the records and more in this performance.
A little ways in we get to the more arsenal of synths and drum machines inquiring their straight forward Dance music. Bernard Sumner’s voice is as rich as it ever was flowing over the infectious pulsating beats and shimmering synths. You’ll just have to get over the fact that he looks more like a dad now than a rock star. It happens. True Faith, which was notably one of their biggest hits has a new life and doesn’t sound like its from the 80’s. A very modern rock sound and amazing DVD for anyone that likes the band, or just music DVDs in general. A great addition to your DVD collection. I will say the same thing I usually do, More bands need to release something like this! |
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New York City Smoke is a band led by Howie Statland that was a member of RCA artists Thin Lizard Dawn with 2 releases in 1996 and 1999.
Especially the 2nd album "Go" is worth recommending for all powerpop fans, now guitarist/vocalist Howie Statland has formed a new band where he has written and produced the album "Musique noir" himself.
NYCS is a fun band to listen to, they´re really entertaining the listener from the intro to the 14th track "The cyclone".
This 5-piece takes the straight ahead rock of Tsar and embraces the soaring melodies of The Vines with the coolness of Lou Reed, just listen to "Secret machines" or "The Cyclone" and you will see what I mean.
The rocker "Stay" is super catchy and probably the track The Strokes always wanted to write but never did, NYCS has shared the bill with such acts as Interpol, The Bravery, Jet, New York Dolls and They Might Be Giants - expect them to be just as big in a near future.
Good stuff! |
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100% AOR all the way from the toes up to the head,it
can?t be more AOR than this new album from the British
band Newman which more or less is one man,namely Steve
Newman on Vocals,Guitars and Keyboards plus that he
writes all the songs and does it like it could be
huge 80?s anthems all the way through the record.
"Sign of the modern times" is the 4th album from
Newman but it was the 2nd one "One step closer" that
introduced me first to this adorable keeper of faith
and I am so pleased about that Steve makes this kinda
music that ruled the world back in the 80?s and does
it with class too,put on the 2nd track "Last know survivor" and get carried away by his pink and fluffy
melodic hooks just the way AOR folks want it.
My mind goes to singer Torben Schmidt in the Danish
super AOR group Skagarack that had it?s heydays
over a decade ago,ofcourse the songs are very traditional on this new album but when it comes to
clean and simple AOR-I just love it the way it sounds
on songs like "Masquerade" or "You should be gone"
with a wall of keyboards and typical AOR refrains.
There was only a year between the great "One step
closer"(99) and the third album "Dance in the fire"(2000)
which didn?t reach the same high standard as OSC, so it was only a good thing that he took 3 years to work on this new one and you can tell the difference
directly on the opening track "Save me tonight" that
sounds just like FM on their classic "Tough it out".
And speaking of FM,the drummer Pete Jupp also
plays on SOTMT so we got fullhearted AOR drumming on
all the tracks,maybe this one aint as good as Skagarack?s Hungry for a game which Newman doesn?t
sound too far from,but it?s close! |
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Steve Newman has been around since 1997 when he released the debut album and "Heaven Knows" is his 5th album to date.
This new album was almost recorded by Steve Newman himself, with the help of Rob McEwen on drums and they have really managed to create a very good sounding album.
Those that are familiar with his previous album will recognize the sound at once. Yes, he plays a very typical British melodic rock/AOR in the same vein as Heartland. But I must say that Newman has better songs and a couple of them are really good. I must admit that this is a very even album and I can?t find many fillers. The start of the album is nice with rockers like "Heaven Knows" filled with great riffs, strong melodies and a hookladen chorus. "Higher" has a Def Leppard vibe over the song done with nice arrangements and with good background vocals in the chorus.
I would say that he don?t use as much keyboards compared to before but he has managed to get a great mixture of both keys and guitars, there is enough of both.
"Move On" is another strong guitar oriented AOR tune,"Never Meant To Fall In Love" is a brilliant AOR-rocker with strong hooklines and a powerful chorus.
"Sport Of Kings" is the only song that I feel is average and don?t stand the test of time but otherwise this is an album that every fan of British melodic rock/AOR should check out.
Newman has come up with his strongest album so far and he knows that melodies are important and you will find them on Heaven Knows. |
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| British AOR artist Newman is back with a brand new album and this time he has released it on his own. Last year he released Heaven Knows that was a fine album. But on Primitive Soul he has come up with a outstanding AOR/Hardrock album and his best do date. Yes, this new albums sound better and bigger than before with catchy songs with big hooks, melodic melodies and the production is crystal clear. Like before Steve has done almost everything on his own but he has got help from Tommy Denander that plays guitars on one track called Cold Day In Hell and Mark Thompson-Smith(released a good solo album 1998) on background vocals. This album took me by surprise and I would have never thought that it would sound this good. If you own some of the 5 albums Newman has released then you will recognize the sound but this albums sound just better and with stronger songs. I don´t know if Mr. Denander has done or helped Steve more on this album but it sound a lot like Radioactive on places. The album opens up with a Journey kind of intro and follows by the fantastic Heading For Your Heart that sets the standard for this album. The riffs and keyboards are just outstanding in the start and the whole song just rocks with a huge chorus with powerful background vocals. This is a song that could have come from the stunning Frederiksen/Denander album. Primitive Soul has a Van Halen feeling in the bottom with great riffs and melodies. Last Flight a pure up-tempo AOR-rocker with riffantastic guitars that follows by a great pre-chorus and chorus with powerful background vocals, this is a song that will hook you up right away. I love the chorus on Falling Like Stone, this a straight ahead rocker but turns out to a wonderful AOR-song with impressive harmony vocals in the chorus, superb stuff. For The Man I Am reminds of Giant, yes this is a great song with harmonies and melodies that makes me think of Giant. The songs in filled with strong melodies and catchy hooks. On Cold Day In Hell you can hear imminently that Mr. Denander is involved. Yes, the guitars shouts Tommy all the way and the song has Radioactive vibes over it even if this is a heavy tune but still very melodic. The mixture of heavy guitars and melodic keyboards gives this song a amazing sound. If you dig the Frederiksen/Denander album then check out Give It All You Got. This is a brilliant rocker with a awesome chorus with big background vocals. The guitars on this track will give you a hard time to sit still. If you into AOR with a rockier edge then this new album from Newman is something you should check out because this is a album filled with huge and melodic AOR songs with a top-class production. |
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British melodic rock/AOR artist Steve Newman is here with a double CD with 34 songs. Decade is an album where Steve wants to give something back to his fans and has re-recorded songs, both released and unreleased from the first 10 years of Newman.
The first disc features 17 songs from the first 5 albums, from the self titled 1998 debut album to 2006 Heaven Knows album. I think the songs has got the right treatment this time and they sound a lot better than the originals with better and powerful production and they sound huge. Just listen to One Step Closer, Every Moment, If It’s Love, Save Me Tonight, The Call, Dangerous and Burned that is a fantastic AOR-song with big hooklines, keyboards and choruses. Those are just few of the great songs that Steve delivers on the first disc.
2nd disc features another 17 songs, some that were written and even recorded but not included on any albums and some songs which were works in progress but were never completed but now you hear the results. Sure you can hear on a couple of tracks why they were left out because they don’t hold the same high quality that Newman usually offers. Then on the other hand you get to hear some new fantastic songs that easily should have made it to some of his albums.
Tell It To My Heart is a strong AOR-rocker with great keyboards, riffs and a melodic chorus. Change features a chorus that reminds of Giant meets Dan Reed Network. Hands Around My Heart is a great mid-tempo rocker with a chorus that made me think of the Christian rockers Idle Cure with great harmonies. Don’t Ever Say Forever is a strong guitar rocker with great hooks and a strong chorus. Love Never Dies sounds like a ToTo song. When I Look In Your Eyes is a amazing AOR-song with dut-dut keyboards and riffantastic guitars.
This is AOR by numbers with glorious hooklines and a brilliant chorus. He also has done 2 songs from his latest album as alternative and acoustic versions.
Decade is a MUST if you´re into AOR and even if you got his 5 first albums already I think this is worth the money because the old songs has never sounded this good and if that’s not enough you get 14 new songs with very good quality. Fans of FM, Heartland, Foreigner, Idle Cure and Atlantic don’t hesitate buy yourself a copy of Decade. Thanks Steve for this great release. |
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| Steve Newman strikes back with a brand new studio album. In 2008 he released the double CD called Decade with re-recorded versions of some old tunes and unreleased tracks. The Art Of Balance is a great AOR/MHR album and I must say that Newman sounds tougher than before and I think it’s because of the strong production. The production sounds top-notch and powerful. Steve sings faultless and the songs are filled with strong riffs and keyboards. The sound is typical Newman with a mixture of the first Ten album and Magnum influences. Edge Of The World is a great rocker with a powerful chorus filled with layers of melodies. The Miracle is great that reminds of TEN and the chorus is good. Stay With Me is the AOR-song of the album with a Giant feel over it, brilliant chorus with great background vocals. Wish You Will is a hook laden AOR-rocker with strong riffs and with lovely keyboards but the chorus is just OK. Your Surrender is a great mid-tempo rocker with strong chorus, this is another song that has some Giant influences. Forever is a strong ballad that starts slow but has a powerful chorus. Stronger ends this album is a fantastic way with riff strong guitars and a catchy chorus. Steve has done a great album and has done almost everything on his own with some help from Rob McEwen on drums and with Mark Thompson-Smith and Geoff Wootton helping out with the background vocals. If you own albums with Newman then this is a sure buy and if you haven’t discovered him yet then this is a album you should check out. This is the strongest album that Newman has done and it’s filled with quality AOR/MHR. Recommended. |
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Steve Newman is here with his 9th studio album and I must say that it’s his best so far. Earlier this year he released an album together with former Praying Mantis singer Mark Thompson-Smith under the name Big Life. That was a good album, but Under Southern Skies is better and it’s filled with fantastic AOR/Melodic Rock with stunning melodies and hook laden songs. The production work on this album is top-notch and I have to say that a Newman album has never sounded this good.
Killing Me open up the album in a great way with layers of keyboards and crunchy guitars that runs into a great Magnum sounding chorus. If He Loves You is wonderful mid-tempo rocker with a Toby Hitchcock feel over it. Strength To Carry On is a fantastic power ballad with a slow start, but blows up to a powerful chorus. Ghost In The Night is AOR by big numbers and it even has dut-dut keyboards and the chorus is something extra with a Survivor meets Foreigner touch over it. I have to say that this is one of the best Newman songs ever. She’s Gone is another lovely AOR-song with great melodies and a strong chorus and the arrangements are superb.
The album ends with the pompish Montserrat with twists and turns and could have been written by Jim Peterik because it reminds of Pride Of Lions very much.
Newman has done it again and recorded a strong AOR/Melodic Rock album and I have always been weak for his music and this time he has really nailed it. The song variation is great and fans of his early work and Big Life mixed with some traces of Magnum, Heartland, FM and are into well crafted AOR/Melodic Rock, will have a treat with this one. Don’t miss Under Southern Skies because it’s a damn fine album. |
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They are back!?the christian poprockers Newsboys. This time they took a big bowl, threw in some happy uplifting and upbeat poprocksongs (?Wherever we go?, ?Go? and ?Secret Kingdom?), some danceable tunes with even hints of techno in them (?Something beautiful? and ?Your love is better than life?), some ballads (?The letter?, ?Gonna be alright? and the powerballad ?Let it all come out?) and of course some catchy rocksongs (?The Mission? and my fave ?I am free?). After this the product was mixed by Tedd T. and Peter Furler and baked in the oven into this delicious pie called ?GO?.
It?s obvious that these are veterans in the Christian musicbusiness, but they sound fresher than ever. The lyrics are thought-provoking but, as usual, there is plenty of room for some fun moments.
This is a band that has a heart for people and they want to show the world what Jesus is all about.
Are you hungry now? This delicious pie will be served on the 31th of October.
Bon appetit! |
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This is the first ever official live album from Australian band Newsboys, the CD/DVD set was recorded during their 2007 sell out "Go" Tour featuring 5 songs off their latest studio album "Go" (2006) and several classics from their 23 year career.
Grammy nominated Newsboys is one of the biggest Christian bands in the world, lead singer Peter Furler is the only remaining original member but keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and drummer Duncan Phillips has been with the band since 1993.
The latest addition to the band is Paul Colman who replaced guitarist Bryan Oleson in 2006, Bryan left Newsboys to focus on his own band Casting Pearls.
Newsboys has released 12 studio albums and the band gives the audience great versions of old hits like "Entertaining angels" (my favorite), "Shine" and "He reigns" on this live album.
The songs off their 2006 album "Go" are in majority here but fits in perfectly well with the classics, I especially like "Stay strong" that was one of 2 new studio tracks off their 2007 Greatest Hits record.
Live albums from Christian bands are always a pleasure to listen because they live up and the crowd is always singing along, I´m thinking of great releases like Petra - "Farewell" from 2005, Delirious? - "Now is the time" from 2006 and David Crowder Band - "Remedy Club Tour Edition" from 2008.
Expect a new studio album in 2009 from this excellent band but "Houston we are go" will make the wait much easier to live with. |
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?It?s been a long time since I heard rock and roll that I liked. This is a hit!? Those were the words of Grammy-nominated artist/producer/songwriter Wyclef Jean when he heard the music of Next Big Thing.
Well,this is good but it?s not the Next big thing if you know what I mean,this New York City quartet plays something between britpop-garagerock and Cheap Trick kinda powerpop.
The production is too messy for me to like it but they have a positive sound so it?s never boring to get through the whole album but singer Shawn Moynihan
has a weak voice that doesn?t hold in their more rocking moments.
"I think I definitely love you" features a great string arrangement and I would love to hear that song on a major label production. |
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| Nichole Nordeman grew up in Colorado and was working as a waitress in Los Angeles when she entered a contest sponsored by the Gospel Music Association?s Academy of Gospel Music Arts, winning with her song, "Why," in which the crucifixion is viewed by a child. This led to the release of her first album, Wide Eyed, which produced four hits on the Christian adult contemporary charts ? "To Know You," "Who You Are," "I Wish the Same" and the title song ? sold 130,000 copies, and brought her Dove nominations for Best New Artist in 1999 and Best Female Vocalist in 2000. Nordeman followed with her second album, This Mystery, in May 2000. She has always been a favourite artist here at the melodic.net combining a sense for melodies and a cool almost Tori Amos-sort of production landscape added to the sound that is quite close to Sheryl Crow, Kelly Clarkson and Vonda Shephard?s. The new album is no exception even if I think that it?s not as strong as ?Woven and Spun? which was a mighty fine album. But with songs like the title track ?Brave?, ?Hold On? and ?No More Chance? she is without any doubts one of the best girls on the Christian music market. High quality delivered by Nicole once again. |
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This is what I´m talking about!
A cool modern rock band with the same attitude as a L.A hairmetal band from the 80´s and AOR choruses, Nick Black´s debut "Hollow" takes the listener through a journey of modern rock bands like Papa Roach and Trust Company but also the melodic hardrock/AOR of Harem Scarem and even glamrock.
There are several choruses on this album that would make any modern rock band full of envy, I especially like their crunchy guitar sound and the hardhitting cover of Heart´s "Barracuda" is way cool.
The opening track "It´s over" could easily have been featured on Prime Sth´s first album and the following "Fall to pieces" has a similar sound to Trust Company, ohyeah!
The upbeat "Something real" rocks just as good as anything from Papa Roach, "Beside you" will satisfy fans of Harem Scarem and the super chorus of "Sorry" is nothing but a true modern rock pearl.
Great album! |
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| Its a pity when old AOR-heroes like Nick Bold (well he played in Virginia Wolf which I though was a killer AOR band in the 80s) fails like he has with his new solo-album. I cant really say something good about this album. It has a weak production, the songs arent any good and his vocals are really poor. Its a damn shame. Cant he hear it himself? I mean if he listens to a Virginia Wolf album and compares the stuff to what hes doing now, he must have the self-distance and stop the project. But he hasnt. Dont bother folks. |
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| Now to a very pleasant journey into modern rock heaven. With their magical single "How you remind me", they have been on top of the Billboard modern rock chart for a while and this record is also going well on the album list. Their previews record "The State" was a quite good modern rock album, but on this one the level is a couple of steps better. In style Nickelback is playing melodic modern rock with a little touch of grunge here and there(Just a little bit).10 songs, 5 smashes and 5 good makes this record interesting and highly recommendable. |
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Did you know that?
When the Slits opened up for The Clash in ´77, Joe Strummer taught chords to Ari Up while Mick Jones helped the band tune their instruments.
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latest reviews
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