Daily Express :: Music Feed

CD reviews

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Emeli Sandé Our Version Of Events (Virgin) The Brit Critics' Choice of 2012, Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé hasn't looked back since walking away from her medical degree although, with songwriting credits for Cheryl Cole, Susan Boyle and Leona Lewis to her name, it probably didn't feel too risky. Her signature sound weds soul and string-laden beats with echoes of Massive Attack's Unfinished Sympathy (to brilliant effect on single Heaven) but there is also a sequence of lung-busting Adele-style ballads. CH

Valentine's treat is Mead in heaven

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Lee Mead: Love Songs 3/5 (Roggers Records) He's the dashing young curly-haired singer who won the BBC's Any Dream Will Do to play Joseph in the West End and here he is with a well-timed album of love songs ready for Valentine's Day.

CD Review: Rory Gallagher

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BORN in Ballyshannon County Donegal, Rory Gallagher played in show bands before forming Taste: the original, blues-influenced heavy-rock trio.

CD Review: Various: Chimes Of Freedom

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

It's a mark of how prolific Bob Dylan is as a songwriter that organisers of this box-set tribute to the man, in celebration of 50 years of Amnesty International, had no trouble in rustling up 76 songs or getting world-class artists to give those songs their own spin.

CD Review: Giuliano Carmignola and Orchestre des Champs-Elysées: Haydn

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

GIULIANO Carmignola is rightly regarded in the classical music world as "the prince of Baroque violinists".

CD Reviews: Paul McCartney: Kisses On The Bottom

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

NO, Sir Paul has not gone all cheeky with that title, it's actually a line from I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter, just one of 14 classics on this collection.

CD Reviews Various: Chimes Of Freedom

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

CD Review: Pet Shop Boys: Format

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IF more artistes' A-sides were half as good as Pet Shop Boys' B-sides the world would be a much more interesting place.

CD Review: Goldfrapp: The Singles

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE duo that is Goldfrapp has built up quite a body of work as displayed on this gorgeous little collection.

CD review- Barry Adamson

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

BARRY ADAMSON 5/5 I will Set You Free (Central Control) Utterly fearless in his exploration of everything from bluesy soul to full-on, swampy psychedelia, Adamson is one of the most fascinating figures in current British rock.

CD Review- Ringo 2012

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

RINGO STARR 1/5 Ringo 2012 (Hip-O/Ume) Ringo finally strikes the bottom of the barrel with quite the lamest solo album any Beatle has ever released.

CD Review- Lana Del Rey

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

LANA DEL REY 3/5 Born to Die (Polydor/Interscope) There's a grim, hypnotic power to the suffering of Lana Del Rey, tipped for greatness in 2012.

Mervyn Conn's rootin', tootin' life with the stars

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IF Mervyn Conn tells you a show is worth going to, pay close attention. This veteran promoter has form when it comes to launching and developing talent on our shores, having toured with everyone from Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton to The Beatles and Jerry Lee Lewis over the course of a 45-year career.

A Rey of sunshine

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

LANA DEL REY: BORN to DIE 4/5 (Polydor) Saddled with almost impossible expectations Lana Del Rey, flavour of the month/coolest thing on the planet, can't fail to disappoint.

Ringo Starr to release new album to mark joining The Beatles

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Whatever happened to Billy Joel..?

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 20 years after the American star's last album, Terry Staunton investigates the unnofficial retirement of one of the world's biggest selling musicians and asks whether he could ever be tempted back into the charts

Sister act's on track

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

VARIOUS: BE MY BABY 5/5 (Sony) The track listing on this fantastic budget three-CD set of tracks by female singers from the Sixties is a roll call of simply the best pop songs ever written.

Frank Sinatra: The Concert Sinatra

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SINATRA fans should be drooling at the prospect of this 1963 humdinger being remastered.

Il Volo: Il Volo

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IT'S hard to believe as you listen to the sublime recordings on this collection that this new trio of world-class tenors are all still teenagers.

Ani DiFranco: Which side are you on?

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AMERICAN married bisexual feminist icon Ani Difranco is not as tricky a proposition as some people think she is, as is proved by this collection of very modern folky songs.

Anthony Hopkins: Composer

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

THE French have an expression for it: le violon d'Ingres, meaning the second skill of someone beyond the one for which they are mostly known.

Miklos Perenyi: Britten/Bach/Ligeti (ECM)

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

WHEN it comes to the cello there is no man finer with a bow than Hungarian Miklós Perényi, which makes it especially delicious that we have him giving interpretations of three greats with no interference from other instruments.

FRANK SINATRA: THE CONCERT SINATRA (CONCORD)

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

SINATRA fans should be drooling at the prospect of this 1963 humdinger being remastered.

IL VOLO: IL VOLO (GEFFEN)

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

IT'S hard to believe as you listen to the sublime recordings on this collection that this new trio of world-class tenors are all still teenagers.

ANI DIFRANCO: WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? (RIGHTEOUS BABE RECORDS)

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

AMERICAN married bisexual feminist icon Ani Difranco is not as tricky a proposition as some people think she is, as is proved by this collection of very modern folky songs.