A Year In Music - 2019 - Karl Whitney (Author)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/31/a-year-in-music-2019-karl-whitney-author/

A Year In Music - 2019 - Pat Barrett (Hedge Schools)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/31/a-year-in-music-2019-pat-barrett-hedge-school/

A Year In Music - 2019 - John Caddell (Today FM)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/30/a-year-in-music-2019-john-caddell-today-fm/

A Year In Music - 2019 - Jamie Cameron (The Last Dinosaur)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/30/a-year-in-music-2019-jamie-cameron-the-last-dinosaur/

Lou Reed - Lou Reed

Lou Reed's debut album, released in 1972, is a strange album.  And, let's face it, kind of a failure.  After the heights of the Velvet Underground, who across four albums released some innovative and resonant music, this is... well, pedestrian at best.  It opens with I Can't Stand It, one of several (at the time) unreleased Velvet Underground songs he chose to record for this album.  A big problem here, and across the album is Reed's vocal.  It sounds like he was told to 'try and sing', rather than his sing/speak style which suits him so well.  The band are ok, but not great at confronting any subtleties.

Some songs here appear to have come from a random Lou Reed song title generator, Going Down, Wild Child, Walk It and Talk It.  The last of these sounds like an attempt to ape the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar and doesn't suit Reed at ALL.  Oddest of all is Berlin, reprised for his excellent 1973 album of the same title.  Here it sounds very much like 'cocktail party music', a whispered Reed vocal, over pleasant sounding soft rock.  It's not bad at all, but again, doesn't really suit Lou Reed.  I Love You is a charming little song, and one of the stronger ones here, and it's followed up by Wild Child, which is probably the song that works best on this album.

Worst of all is the final song, Ocean.  The band of session players assembled here cannot cope at all with the pacing of this song and smother it in instrumentation, while Reed sings it TERRIBLY.  Don't listen to this version, go seek out the Velvet Underground version, found on their collection of outtakes V.U., which is excellent.  Overall this is a skippable album in Lou Reed's back catalogue.

A Year In Music - Zoë Howe (Author)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/27/a-year-in-music-zoe-howe-author/

A Year In Music - 2019 - Cormac Gahan (Boa Morte)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/27/a-year-in-music-2019-cormac-gahan-boa-morte/

A Year In Music - 2019 - Robert Baker (The Crayon Set)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/24/a-year-in-music-2019-robert-baker-the-crayon-set/

A Year in Music – 2019 – Josh Haden (Spain)

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/23/a-year-in-music-2019-josh-haden-spain/

A Year In Music - 2019 - Nadine O'Regan (Business Post Journalist)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/20/a-year-in-music-2019-nadine-oregan-business-post-journalist/

Boa Morte - Before There Was Air

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/19/boa-morte-before-there-was-air-album-review/

Mark Lanegan – Button Factory – Live Review – 17-12-19

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/18/mark-lanegan-button-factory-live-review-17-12-19/

A Year In Music - Paul Page (ex-Whipping Boy)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/18/a-year-in-music-paul-page-ex-whipping-boy-2/

A Year in Music – 2019 – Niall McCann (Film Director)

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/17/a-year-in-music-2019-niall-mccann-film-director/

Top 20 albums of the decade

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/13/top-20-albums-of-the-decade-killian-laher/

Fontaines DC – Vicar Street – Live Review – 08-12-19

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/09/fontaines-dc-vicar-street-live-review-08-12-19/

loscil - lifelike - Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/09/loscil-lifelike-album-review/

Top 10 Albums of 2019

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/12/06/top-10-albums-of-2019-killian-laher/

Hammock - Silencia - Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/11/20/hammock-silencia-album-review/

Tindersticks - No Treasure But Hope - Album review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/11/06/tindersticks-no-treasure-but-hope-album-review/

Omni – Networker – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/11/05/omni-networker-album-review/

A Winged Victory for the Sullen – The Undivided Five – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/11/04/a-winged-victory-for-the-sullen-the-undivided-five-album-review/

Lloyd Cole – Vicar Street – 30/10/19 – Live Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/31/lloyd-cole-vicar-street-30-10-19-live-review/

Neil Young and Crazy Horse – Colorado – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/25/neil-young-and-crazy-horse-colorado-album-review/

Cigarettes After S€x – Cry – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/25/cigarettes-after-sex-cry-album-review/

Slow Meadow – Happy Occident – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/21/slow-meadow-happy-occident-album-review/

Mark Lanegan Band – Somebody’s Knocking – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/11/mark-lanegan-band-somebodys-knocking-album-review/

Wilco – Ode to Joy – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/10/wilco-ode-to-joy-album-review/

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Ghosteen – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com 

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/10/09/nick-cave-and-the-bad-seeds-ghosteen-album-review/

Bill Callahan – Vicar Street – Live Review – 29/09/19

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/30/bill-callahan-vicar-street-live-review-29-09-19/

Chastity Belt – Chastity Belt – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/30/chastity-belt-chastity-belt-album-review/

Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam released their (to date) only self-titled album in 2006.  It was an album that came out four years after their previous studio album, but very much 'after their moment had passed'.  And on the first few listens it really makes little impact.  Shouty songs like Life Wasted and Worldwide Suicide just show that Eddie Vedder can still shout but little else.  Parachutes, which arrives six tracks in, is a jaunty strum that sounds nothing like a Pearl Jam song.  At this point, you begin to worry for this album.

But from here on the album improves distinctly.  Unemployable is definitely Pearl Jam doing The Who but it really works, while Gone starts off all pouty and broody but turns into a big old PJ rabble rouser.  Penultimate track Come Back is a sparse soulful ballad of reaffirmation which would have been a good note to end the album on.  However the actual last song, Inside Job, is nothing like the rest of the album.  It feels like a throwback, all the way to debut album Ten.  Vedder sings "how I choose to feel is how I am", he means it, just like he sang on Black or any classic Pearl Jam ballad.  

So an album unlikely to be any Pearl Jam fan's favourite, but given time and persistence, not a bad album by any means.

DIIV - Deceiver - Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/27/diiv-deceiver-album-review/

Boduf Songs - Abyss Versions - Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/26/boduf-songs-abyss-versions-album-review/

Wives - So Removed - Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/24/wives-so-removed-album-review/

Veruca Salt - Resolver

Veruca Salt's third album, released in 2000, saw Louise Post go it alone, without Nina Gordon.  After a piano opening (The Same Person), the album kicks into gear with the heavy guitar grind of Born Entertainer.  The song appears to be directed at the departed Gordon, with Post singing unsubtle lyrics "she didn't get it so fuck her".  The album is a bit of a mixed bag.  There are 'Alanis-Morrissette-goes-heavy' tracks like Best You Can Get, Wet Suit and the pointed Used To Know Her.  There are plenty of heavy pop songs like Officially Dead, and slightly generic ones like Only You Know.  We also get whispery, brittle pop in the shape of Imperfectly and slow burn blowouts Disconnected and Hellraiser.  The album is a bit long and all over the place to really connect, but not a bad effort.

Steve Gunn – Lost Lane – 16/09/19 – Gig Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/17/steve-gunn-lost-lane-16-09-19-gig-review/

Iggy Pop – Free – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/09/06/iggy-pop-free-album-review/?fbclid=IwAR31-7-cQEqvFQsA666Ny5OdnwO4bQoVjeAlwmrrO2KOLQJOoGE2cjURU3M

Loscil – Equivalents – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/08/19/loscil-equivalents-album-review/

The Murder Capital – When I Have Fears – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/08/19/the-murder-capital-when-i-have-fears-album-review/

Veruca Salt - Eight Arms To Hold You

Veruca Salt came back in 1997 with a second album.  If anything it rocks even harder than their debut.  Straight opens it up with pounding drums and belting guitar riffs and sets the tone for the album.  Volcano Girls is the catchiest moment here, it's like a slightly heavier Seether, with a tiny bit of early Nine Inch Nails thrown in.  Even songs that seem relatively 'fluffy' such as Awesome and With David Bowie have a hard edge.  

They can dial down the intensity on One Last Time and Benjamin, staying just the right side of radio ballad.  One complaint, 14 tracks if anything dilutes rather than enhances the album, they might have been as well off to edit the album somewhat.  Still, it's well worth your time for the numerous highpoints.

Modern Nature – How To Live – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/08/13/modern-nature-how-to-live-album-review/?fbclid=IwAR2U2T9ENOFswngcER2al-mI94Yg7se6NeBQdjeLPG6YJMTsgftfYtsAlxE

Ride – This Is Not A Safe Place – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/08/12/ride-this-is-not-a-safe-place-album-review/?fbclid=IwAR2ORS_M66aAswiNb-3hYRYXF-te5CEgl4dw0aJd7NfbGm0vjgLx24rwJCI

Possible Humans – Everybody Split – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/08/07/possible-humans-everybody-split-album-review/

Not Waving & Dark Mark - Downwelling - Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/08/06/not-waving-dark-mark-downwelling-album-review/

Lloyd Cole – Guesswork – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/07/29/lloyd-cole-guesswork-album-review/

IDLES - Joy As An Act of Resistance

Idles released their second album in 2018, to considerable hype.  Late to this one, I'm happy to report that the hype is justified.  The band pack bucketloads of energy and intelligence into these 12 songs.  Opening with Colossus, the song befits its title as it lurches in on a foreboding repeated chorus, with singer Joe Talbot crooning "forgive me father I have sinned, I drank my body full of Pimm's", which is actually brilliant.  The first half sounds liek a great, forgotten Protomartyr song, then the music falls away before barreling back in on an amped up Iggy Pop-style rave up.  Highlights are all over this album, from the brilliantly-titled Never Fight A Man With A Perm which is one of several songs to take an old lyric and reappropriate it "these boots are made for stomping... one of these days these boots are gonna stomp all over you". 


Danny Nedelko is one of the few 'pop' moments, with its positive message: "My blood brother is an immigrant, a beautiful immigrant ".  Love Song's dirge-like guitars become a call to arms with Talbot exclaiming "I fucking love you, look at the card I bought, it says I love you".  The saddest moment on the album is June, channelling the sad loss of a child in the lyrics ("baby shoes for sale, never worn").


The stomping Samaritans cleverly references Nirvana: "I love myself and I want to try".  Clearly the band are students of music, but these clever references would amount to little without Mark Biden's pile-driving riffs.  They even find time to fit in an irreverent cover of Solomon Burke's Cry To Me, displaying little reverence for the original.


Definitely one of the most exciting albums I didn't get around to last year.  This, combined with their live shows, establishes this band as one that matters.

IDLES – Iveagh Gardens – Live Review – 12-07-19

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/07/12/idles-iveagh-gardens-live-review-12-07-19/

Damien Dempsey - Iveagh Gardens - 06-07-19 - Live Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/07/08/damien-dempsey-iveagh-gardens-6-07-19-live-review/

Eddie Vedder/Glen Hansard - 3Arena - Live Review - 03/07/19

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/07/05/118809/

Interview with Karl Whitney – Writer of Hit Factories – Part 2

Article for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/07/04/interview-with-karl-whitney-writer-of-hit-factories-part-2-2/

Seamus O’Muineachain – City of Lakes – Album Review

Review for www.nomoreworkhorse.com

https://nomoreworkhorse.com/2019/06/28/seamus-omuineachain-city-of-lakes-album-review/