Reviewed this weeks are the latest musical offerings from Duffy, Tom Petty's Mudcrutch, Glasvegas and the live CD and DVD from HIM.
Duffy - Warwick Avenue
Another lovely song from the mighty Duffy. She is the girl everyone loves right now, and when she makes music as good as this, it’s easy to see why.
Soulful Sixties pop for the 21st Century, this oozes class and a simple sophistication that makes the album this is drawn from one of the must-have musical highlights of the year. 4/5
Rikki Wright
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Tom Petty and others, including his long time guitarist Mike Campbell, make an album that took ten days to make and has a freshness that is rarely heard on disk.
Tracks range from traditional American folksongs to those in the vintage Tom Petty vein. Standout tracks are the Gimme Shelter-esque Lover Of The Bayou, American Girl-like The Wrong Thing To Do, and the excellent House of Stone. Ultra cool and charismatic, Tom Petty brings wildly different genres together here, and it all works beautifully to make an interesting and enjoyable album. 4/5
Rikki Wright
Glasvegas – Geraldine
Ringing guitars from Paul and Rab and evocative singing from James bring bands like James, and The Killers to mind, while the production has something of the Bunnymen to it. Tight percussion from Caroline, the band’s cool female drummer, gives a solid foundation for this single to soar far above the ordinary. 3/5
Josh Green
HIM – Digital Versatile Doom - Live CD and DVD
Ravencovered darkfest from HIM, undisputed masters of mean and moody Finnish Gothlovemetal. Howly growly demon haunted Metallica–ish music offset by angel voiced Ville Valo in a performance of thrilling, high voltage songs that are beautifully captured on this live CD and DVD. Fans will absolutely cherish this, and it may even win some converts from those who have long since dismissed this sort of music as being immature or depressing. 3/5
Jessie Allison