Europe - Bag Of Bones

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It's very easy to take Europe for granted.  A couple of years ago, I was blown away by their stage show and the album "Last Look At Eden".  Despite this, it's taken me a while to catch up with this new album.  If anything it's stronger and more consistent than its predecessor.  The band are fairly traditional and sometimes sound a lot like Led Zeppelin or Whitesnake without the cock rock hilarity.  There are eleven tracks here, and the album clocks in at just 41 minutes.  In a sense, this is a strength and the album doesn't peter out towards the end like so many. 

The album kicks off with "Riches To Rags" a cool rocker, and it must be autobiographical to some extent.  Next up is "Not Supposed To Sing The Blues", the first single from the album.  Here is the video, so that you can judge the quality for yourself:

Third track is the new single "Firebox", reviewed here before.  Just to recap, this is built around a Zep-type riff and has the most amazing psychedelic break mid-song.  Check out the video here:

Title track "Bag Of Bones" is an interesting bluesy number, and features guest Joe Bonamassa on slide guitar.  "Requiem", a short instrumental courtesy of keyboard player Michael Michaeli, leads into another bluesy track "My Woman My Friend".  "Demon Head" is another rocker and "Drink And A Smile" has a more acoustic feel with Joey's vocal sounding rather strange.  "Doghouse" is a fun rocker track which may be familiar from the Shepherd's Bush live CD/DVD/Blu-Ray (of which more soon) but sounds rather more together here.  An even better riff kicks off "Mercy You Mercy Me" which has a guitar tone to die for, courtesy of original guitarist John Norum, now firmly back in the fold.  Final track is the ballad "Bring It All Home".

So, all in all, a great album mixing rockers and bluesy numbers to devastating effect.  While writing this review, I came across the interview below in which Joey explains the album in detail, and is quite honest about the influences on the band.  Joey is an anglophile, and his command of our language is second to none.
This album is an essential purchase and is available on vinyl, CD and as inferior download mp3s.  Get a copy now, and give some thought to the upcoming shows.  The band's website is at http://www.europetheband.com/home.html and is well worth a visit.

Show Off!

Borrowed with thanks from the excellent "Vintage Scans" blog.  Here is the link for it:
http://vintagescans.blogspot.co.uk/

Dodgem-X - After The Horse Has Bolted EP and Free Download

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Another great release from Welsh rockers Dodgem-X.  It features six of the best, hardest-hitting punk songs you will hear in a long, long time.  I am particularly fond of the euthanasia rant "Operation Dignitas" but that's probably because it's the song I'm most familiar with, as they played it live when I saw them.  A recording of the song from the gig has been on YouTube ever since.  Here is a band with wit and intelligence.  I think they'll go far.  And now for the best news of all:

The release is available as an Amazon download and totally free, gratis, for nothing courtesy of the band at:
http://dodgem-x.moonfruit.com/  - the band are also giving away their full album "If You Don't Want To Know The Score, Look Away Now" as reviewed here at the same download location!  Wow!  Thanks guys!

John Foxx - Metamatic Deluxe 2CD Edition

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I first saw John Foxx leading the original Ultravox! back in the '70s.  I think they were supporting Supercharge at the time!  I saw them again as headliners only a few months later and was totally blown away by how much they had improved and by their amazing stage show.  John was a true pioneer, imitated by Gary Numan and the Midge Ure incarnation of  Ultravox. 

Metamatic was a terrific debut solo album following his departure from the band.  It featured the singles "Underpass", "No-One Driving" and US release  "He's A Liquid".  The gorgeous fat analog synths are on every track here.  The original 10-track album is supplemented by a bonus CD of unreleased versions, B-sides etc.  You get later single "Burning Car" but only the B-side to successor "Miles Away."  There is even "My Face" originally a flexi-disc with some teen magazine.

So why only 4 and a half stars?  Well, the transfers, while very good do lack the bloom and glow of my vinyl copies.  It's still an essential purchase, though.

Europe - Firebox single

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Europe have a new single out now.  It's called "Firebox" and is the second single from their new album "Bag Of Bones".  It's a tough rocker built around a Zeppelin-style riff and features an unlikely psychedelic break right in the middle.  Something that could appear derivative is thus transformed into a really special number.  I really must get my hands on a copy of the album!  Earlier Europe material is reviewed here.