Category: Album Reviews

I bought this album to help complete my NIN collection but I’m not sure that I’ve listened to it all the way through. NIN albums that I’ve had for a long time have all been listened to quite comprehensively. I’ve got this on while I perform some admin on the computer, I’m backing up my Minecraft world and creating a map, and it’s ok. I think I would say that the sound isn’t as rounded as other NIN albums. This is perfectly good NIN stuff.

Communication number 1915 requires some information about what happened in that year:

• US House of Representatives rejects giving women the vote.
• “Typhoid Mary” infects 25 people while working as a cook.
• Pluto is photographed for the first time.
• The Ottoman Empire genocides the Armenians.
• The US occupies Haiti until 1935.
• Theory of Pangaea published.

I really like Rob Zombie’s music, there is a definite feel about it and he was great when I saw him live at M’era Luna. Could I tell you what is on this album? No. But I can tell you it’s a good album and worth having. You know you are going to like whatever is on here.

This is communication number 1913 and so as with recent tradition here are some things that happened in that year [AD yes, I know that term excludes many around the world]:

• Tibet declares independence from China.
• Igor Sikorsky is first person to pilot a four engined aircraft.
• Stainless steel is invented.
• The Great Lakes Storm claims more than 250 lives.

OK, now this is a great album. I don’t know the individual songs and I can’t put the correct names to the correct rhythm but I can tell you that this album ROCKS. The signer’s voice really adds to the overall theme and you can tell that if he wasn’t there it would be mediocre. I’d be interested to see this band live and I nearly did but the tickets were too expensive for a trip to Wembley Arena where this band were the support. It would be nice to see them at a festival, when festivals are happening again. Go and get this album, you’ll love it.

This is communication number 1907, so as with my recent trend here are some things that happened in 1907. Clearly, these aren’t the most important things to happen but they are things that stand out to me:

• The “mud march” takes place in London with women fighting for the right to vote.
• 19 women are elected to the assembly in Finland.
• A peace conference happens in the Hague.
• A mining explosion kills 362 in West Virginia.

I got this album when Satyricon were meant to play Alt-Fest in 2014. I have to say I listened to some bits of some songs and pretty much hated it.

As this is communication 1906 here are some of the things that happened that year [common era]:

• The pope didn’t like France’s law declaring a separation of church and state, but fuck the pope.
• A mine explosion in France kills 1060.
• Women get the vote in Finland.
• The BCG vaccine is developed.

This album, this debut album is shocking. It’s a collection of noises from the collective called Throbbing Gristle. This album was so influential with artists producing electronic music along with the rest of their back catalogue. When you listen this album you become hypnotised by the noise and curiosity of what is going to happen. The track listing is as follows:

• Industrial Introduction
• Slug Bait
• Slug Bait
• Slug Bait
• Maggot Death
• Maggot Death
• Maggot Death

There’s an utter fascination that draws over me whenever I listen to this band. I think a part of it is the horror of the sounds. Then there’s the wondering what’s going to come next and finally there’s the intrigue of who and what created these sounds. When you listen to Throbbing Gristle you might not enjoy it [I do] but you end up knowing you have experienced. If you can, it’s worth the listen, but be warned.

This is number 1904 and so here’re a few things that happened in the year 1904 when the year 1 is what some people consider to be when JC was born but it wasn’t and that kinda messes everything up:

• Roger Casement publishes an account of Belgian atrocities in the Congo.
• The British defeat Tibetan troops.
• The SS Norge sinks killing 635.

I have tried with Muse. I have tried to listen to it and feel good things about the music. But I have failed every time. I can’t stand it. I think it’s the singer voice. I’m not really sure. It just leaves me cold.

So, this is communication 1902. So, what happened in that year of the common era?

• A snowstorm in Japan kills 199 during a military training exercise.
• A stampede at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham Alabama, kills 115.
• The first Borstal opens in Borstal, Kent, UK.

I bought this because a big part of me wants to really like Faith No More. But, it doesn’t quite do it for me. I’m not sure why. This is a solid album but not one I would play too often. I’m not even sure if I’ve played past the first two songs, I’m writing this review on reputation alone!

As this is the 1898 communication here’s a few things that happened in 1898:

• Henry Lindfield is the world’s first automobile fatality on a public highway in Purley.
• Bava Baccaris massacre.
• The Curies discover radium.
• Establishment of the Republic of Negros.

Blow Up Your Video came along as my awareness of AC/DC grew and I really liked the album. I seem to remember being in Jersey and having it on tape although I mostly bought records, music cassettes were a popular portable method for listening to music. The Razor’s Edge was the second album released by AC/DC after my consciousness was raised. It’s an excellent album and has a number of great songs.

• Thunderstruck – everyone knows this song. It’s a great song. The video is excellent. A great opener and worth the hype.
• Fire You Guns – another high speed brilliant song.
• Moneytalks – It does doesn’t it, but also another single and a great song.
• The Razor’s Edge – brilliant, well crafted.
• Mistress For Christmas – a fucking terrible song made for the xmas market but it’s kinda cheeky also and makes me laugh. I suppose you have to be good at song writing to be able to write this stuff.
• Rock You heart Out – proper high speed rock.
• Are You Ready – a live classic and classic AC/DC. I’m running out of superlatives.
• Got You By The Balls – not the best AC/DC song with balls in the title but still a great song.
• Shot Of Love – not sure about this one.
• Let’s Make It – AC/DC songs are pretty much all about sex. All of them.
• Goodbye and Good Riddance to Bad Luck – it’s ok.
• If You Dare – fantastic riff work.

There’s an awful lot of good on this album and not a lot of shit. It’s well worth owning and playing. Everyone sings along with AC/DC right?

Mr O bought this for me and it’s very different but also very excellent. Radio sounds and news items and speeches set to wonderfully gentle music. Very different from what I would normally listen and quite fantastic.