Monthly Archives: August 2012

Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot III. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 25th 2011.

L.S. Media rating *****

If you are going to have the tag “Super group” hanging round your neck for all too see then its best to live up to the hype, the moniker and the musical ideal by delivering music that’s accessible and above reproach from critics and fans. Black Country Communion have done just that in the last couple of years, and now Chickenfoot follow superbly in that fashion and have delivered another impressive album that holds dear to the ideals of excellent riffs and well placed lyrics.

Doctor Who, The Silver Turk. Big Finish Audio Play 153, A Review.

picture from Big Finish.com

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 26th 2011.

Cast: Paul McGann, Julie Cox, Gareth Armstrong, Christian Brassington, David Schneider, Gwilym Lee, Claire Wyatt, Nicholas Briggs.

L.S. Media rating **** Stars

From the opening moments of The Silver Turk, Big Finish’s October release of Doctor Who audio plays, you can’t help but notice the changes. For a start the music, though obviously the Doctors unmistakable theme, is different from anything that has accompanied Paul McGann’s incarnation of the time travelling detective. It has a more sinister feel to it and fits in well with the premise of the story arc and where listeners of Big Finish left the Doctor at the end of Paul McGann’s stand-alone series four, the ominous and brooding To the Death.

Julian Cope, Stanley Theatre, University Of Liverpool. Gig Review

Julian Cope in concert at the University of Liverpool. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 29th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

There’s only one to describe Julian Cope when he is on form and that’s just stunning. Knowledgeable, eloquent and charming are more platitudes you could bandy around in his company but he might just give that wonderful shrug of the shoulders, pretend to glare at you from behind the dark glasses, but ultimately beam graciously at you before having enough and going back to playing music.

Next!, Theatre Review. Unity Theatre, Liverpool

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 29th 2011.

Written and performed by Graham Hicks

L.S Media Rating ****

An hour; it’s not long, 60 minutes in a life of say 70 years but what happens if in that hour you are awaiting the call that could change your life? Graham Hicks explores this in the utterly absorbing and off the wall Next!

U2, Achtung Baby. Album Review. 20th Anniversary Edition.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 31st 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

In a typical grandiose style that you would expect from one of the premier Irish Rock bands of the last thirty years, U2 celebrate the 20th anniversary of their 1991 album Achtung Baby with the re-release of one of the band’s finest albums.

Manic Street Preachers, National Treasures-The Singles Collection. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. October 31st 2011.

L.S.Media Rating ****

Perhaps the best way to look at the career of the Manic Street Preachers is not by the albums the band have released, all in their own way a testament to triumph over adversity, but perhaps in the singles the Welsh group have notched up in the time that they have been going.

Megadeth, Th1rt3en. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 1st 2011.

L.S. Media Review *****

The number itself may unlucky for some but for Megadeth its proof, if any were needed, that they remain the best and most consistent Thrash Metal act of all time. Th1rt3en continues the excellent work by the band that in recent years has seen them deliver notable and in some cases exceptional pieces of work that to compare them to the so called appointed other Big three of Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer is to belittle the achievements of Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick.

Tori Amos, Gig Review. Manchester Apollo.

Tori Amos on stage at the Manchester Apollo. Photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 6th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating * * * *

Tori Amos has long been touted as one of the best female performers of the last 20 years, her albums have touched millions of fans, all of whom share some infinity and connection with the Cornish based, American born singer, so much so that her live shows are keenly awaited and strongly attended by all cross sections of society.

Midge Ure, Gig Review. Pacific Road, Birkenhead

Originally published by November 6th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

The last time Midge Ure stood on the stage at the Pacific Road, Birkenhead, could be considered surreal, no audience, just lights, music and his three band members of the 80’s New Wave Avant-Garde group Ultravox for company as they rehearsed their set for their sell out tour last year.

Mike Peters, Gig Review. o2 Academy, Liverpool.

photograph by Ian D. Hall

Originally published by L.S. Media. November 11th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating *****

For the third time this year, Mike Peters returned to a venue and a city that holds his presence very dear to the collective hearts of all who attend his shows. Whether it’s in the form of his band of 30 years standing, The Alarm, his magnificent tenure as the lead singer for Big Country or in his guise as one man and an acoustic guitar, Mike Peters gives a show that resonates with his audience and can make the shiest person sing at the top of their voice as they join in with Mike’s rage against injustice and half-forgotten social issues.