We’ve discovered a great way to use our thousands of accumulated Nectar Points (Supermarket Loyalty Card points)…we can use them to buy CDs!
We recently got three in this way that I’ll just give a little write up of. I’m not the best music reviewer, but here are my thoughts.
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black
I confess that it was Sally that wanted a Winehouse album, not me, and so I’ve not heard it much. I also confess that I’m strangely prejudiced against Winehouse’s music because of what I hear about her in the news.
I was surprised, therefore, to find myself thinking that her songs, music and voice were all very good. Certainly not what I’d normally listen to, but pretty cool stuff none the less.
I’ll maybe write more when I’ve heard the album some more.
Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations – The Best Of
Sally and I went to the cinema a while back and an advert for this “Best Of” came on. At the end of the advert we turned to each other and at the same time said, sheepishly, “I’d quite like to get that”.
And so we have a classic Dad-rock album. A load of tunes that we mostly already know really well but never realised were by Dire Straits. Some awesome guitar solos, some classic lyrics, and a great variety of music too, from upbeat rock and roll through blues, to some lilting ballads, but all done with great style and a very high level of musical skill.
Oddly, it gets boring quite quickly, but we’re glad to have it in our collection.
Newton Faulkner: Hand Built By Robots
We’re not really very up-to-date with new band and artists. For some reason that neihter of us could pin down, we wanted to give Newton Faulkner a try.
And we’re glad we did!
Mostly low-key, bluesy, indie guitar music, there’s a lot of variety on this album. It reminds me, at times, of plently of other artists – from the swinging accoustic guitar and laid-back melodies of Jack Johnson, to the cheeky pop-rap of Barenaked Ladies.
The album meanders slightly and seems a bit aimless at times, but it’s a good, summery, feel-good pop record.