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Category: Music Review

  • George Michael Live in London DVD Review

    Live in London DVD cover

    First off I have to say I’m a huge George Michael Fan so there is no way this is going to be an impartial review.

    Live in London went on sale here in Ireland on Friday December 4th. I popped into the nearest HMV store to find Live in London had a prominent display point and it was €14.99 – great value I was expecting it to be more.
    It’s a two disc set with disc one featuring the live shows filmed in Auguest 08 in Earl’s Court. Disc two features a behind the scenes documentary ‘I’d Know Him A mile Off’ filmed by long time friend and collabrator David Austin and three bonus tracks.

    Having seen God, sorry George six times on his last tour I was hoping that the DVD wouldn’t disappoint. I can still feel the bass of Flawless kick in the first time I heard it live.. no feeling like it in the world as the bass grabs you inside and out.

    Disc One goes through 23 live tracks, starting with the song Waiting (Reprise) sung from behind the stage. George then kicks into Fastlove and I got a kick when he then proceeds to do the Lisa Moorish version of  I’m Your Man which appeared on the Fastlove single. Not to pee off fans, the band then launch into the Wham! version.

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  • Frantic Jack ‘Free’ single review

    I wrote this for MusicReviewUnsigned when I get a direct link I will update.

    Just as they are announced as MusicReviewUnsigned artist of the month for December 09, Frantic Jack release their second single Free. Free follows a month after their debut single ‘Firefly’ entered the charts at number 23.

    Free is an uptempo track with a nice lead in. The chorus might be a little short but the hook is memorable and leaves lots of room for live singalongs. Its a good track with a driving rhythm section. Lead singer Daragh seems to be growing in confidence and gives a great vocal performance.

    The second track on the CD release is called Fallen Heroes. It’s a heartfelt song not dissimilar to Daughtry’s style. Good lyrics, good vocals nice guitar licks not bad for a ‘B’ side.

    2010 should be a great year for Frantic Jack as they took the end of 2009 by the scruff of the neck. Kudos to them for following up their debut ‘Firefly’ so quickly. As long as they can keep a good momentum going 2010 is theirs for the taking.

    5 out of 6

    www.myspace.com/franticjack

    Update: 12/12/09
    Many Congratulations to Frantic Jack – they scored their second chart hit and their first Top 20 when Free entered the Irish Charts at Number 20 yesterday.
    Here’s the Charts in Full: http://irma.ie/aucharts.asp

  • The Aftermath: The Power of Love Review

    The Aftermath

    I wrote this for MusicReviewUnsigned. When I get a direct link I will update.

    Its not necessarily a good idea for band trying to ‘make it’ to release a cover version. The Aftermath though, have just sent a radio only single to media. The band have already notched up three top twenty singles and a top twenty album with their own original music.What makes this different is its a cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s classic ‘The Power of Love’ but more importantly, its bloody brilliant.

    The Aftermath stay faithful to the original but singer Johnny Cronin brings a tenderness and frailty to this version that hasn’t been felt in the original song in a long time.

    The production is clear, and crisp, and often quite haunting as the band have recaptured the essence of this 1984 classic.

    You can’t buy it, I haven’t seen it or heard it online, the only way you can is to request it from your local radio station.

    After The Aftermath having a great ‘noughties’ this is an immense way to finish off the decade and they show they are comfortable in their own skins by not being afraid of conquering this magnificent cover.

    Can I give 10 out of 6?

    www.myspace.com/theaftermathband

  • La Roux at The Academy Dublin Review

    The Academy venue is gaining a good reputation for hosting great acts, when I heard La Roux was playing I jumped to grab a ticket. I moved even quicker when I learned that Ou Est La Swimming Pool were opening.

    The UK trio have adopted a second vocalist for live shows.. Good idea. The synth 80’s like soundscapes entertain the growing audience.

    The guys sounded great but I thought it quite funny the two singers didn’t seem to know what to do with themselves, in a complete blokey kind of way. So the resort to walking to and fro across the stage. I really like these guys, I’m an eighties kid 🙂

    They finished with Dance The Way I Feel, the main frontman throwing in lines from the recent hit ‘I left my heart in Tokyo’. Good Times!

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