13 March 2010
By Lyov
In Blues, Jazz
Simplified
The UK pop/soul act Simply Red maintained a fairly low profile in the United States during the first few years of the 21st century, but that changed with the 2005 release of SIMPLIFIED. Issued on the Verve Forecast imprint, the album presents vocalist Mick Hucknall and company easing into new arrangements of their most well-known songs, including “Holding Back the Years,” which gets a gentle, flamenco-inflected rendition. Hucknall’s distinctive voice is in fine form here, and though the red-haired frontman unveils a more subdued approach on some tunes, he showcases his passionate singing on a number of tracks, most notably the previously unreleased single “Perfect Love,” which coasts along on Cuban-influenced rhythms and a celebratory Santana-like vibe....
Go To Listen
80s, Blues, blues rock, british, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Simplified, Simply Red, Soul
20 January 2010
By Lyov
In Pop
Sacred Love
On the day that the second live album of Sting’s illustrious solo career (and third if you count the Police’s 1995 LIVE set) was to be recorded in Tuscany, Italy, the widely respected singer/songwriter/bassist was beset with one of the world’s worst horrors of all-time. The show was to be recorded and broadcast live on the web on September 11, 2001, the day of the World Trade Center tragedy. Instead of canceling it altogether, Sting went on with the recording (although the web broadcast was scrapped except for a single song), resulting in the release of the 15-song ALL THIS TIME, just two short months later. Featured are a trio of Police-era classics inventively re-arranged (“Roxanne,” “Don’t Stand So Close To Me,” and “Every Breath You Take”), plus renditions of such solo selections as the expansive “(If You Love Somebody) Set Them Free,” “Brand New Day,” “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You,” and the poignant folk-like ballad “Fields of Gold.”...
Go To Listen
british, classic rock, Pop, Rock, Sacred Love, singer-songwriter, Sting
15 January 2010
By Lyov
In Jazz, Pop
The Pursuit
Now officially anointed as the new Dudley Moore, being a talented British pianist about to wed a much taller blonde, Jamie Cullum returns after a four year break with The Pursuit, his fifth and best album yet. A gleeful and deft big band version of Cole Porter’s classic “Just One Of Those Things” kicks off proceedings with a new Cullum-composed introduction, an indicator of his current confidence. And on this evidence it’s warranted. First single, the soft-rocking “I’m All Over It” deserved greater success, while the jaunty “Wheels”, inspired by the credit crunch, neatly encapsulates the varied moods of The Pursuit. A funereal reading of “If I Ruled the World” owing far more to Elvis Costello than Harry Secombe, is followed by “You and Me Are Gone”, a tribute to Louis Prima’s turn on the soundtrack of The Jungle Book that’s as much fun as its inspriation. A cover of Rihanna’s hit “Please Don’t Stop The Music” is as vulnerable and full of longing as the original even as he makes it his own, yet “Mixtape”, a tribute to the varied music Cullum loves, is an upbeat, even extravagant pop song not miles from Ben Folds. “We Run Things” is slighter–Cullum can’t really do threat–but the concluding “Music Is Through”, effectively a house tune anchored by his brother’s stand-up bass, neatly combines several genres to great effect. The playing is great throughout, the songs well chosen and arranged, the result entirely satisfying. If marrying pop and jazz without contrivance was the target, then The Pursuit has succeeded perfectly....
Go To Listen
british, Jamie Cullum, Jazz, piano, Pop, singer-songwriter
08 January 2010
By Lyov
In Pop
Hall of Mirrors
Her debut album, Hall of mirrors, is a declaration of love, an exchange “all that I’ve learned on my life path, I now try to give it back as best I can” she says again. – a beautiful way about her and a collection of 14 gem songs like “Imagine One Day”, “Bang Bang”, “Lost” plus a very nice cover of Ike Turner’s “Working Together”....
Go To Listen
british, dance, Grace, Hall of Mirrors, indie, trance, vocal trance
09 December 2009
By Lyov
In Jazz
I Dreamed A Dream
Susan Boyle, 48, from Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland, was a contestant on the 3rd series of Britain’s Got Talent. She surprised the judges with a strong performance of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables in the competition’s first round, aired on 11th April 2009....
Go To Listen
awesome, british, female vocalists, I Dreamed A Dream, Susan Boyle, talent
29 November 2009
By Lyov
In Soul
Rockferry Deluxe Edition
International ‘Deluxe Edition’ 2-CD set – Comprising the UK #1 10-track CD album featuring the massive hit singles ‘Rockferry’, ‘Mercy’, ‘Warwick Avenue’ & ‘Stepping Stone’; plus a Bonus CD containing 7 brand new previously unreleased recordings including the smart & sophisticated ‘Rain On Your Parade’ which pairs irresistible strings with one of Duffy’s trademark soaring vocals. Also includes new artwork....
Go To Listen
british, Deluxe Edition, Duffy, female vocalists, Pop, Rockferry, singer-songwriter, Soul
26 November 2009
By Lyov
In Jazz
Betcha Bottom Dollar
In a witty and energetic updating of mid-20th century vocal groups such as the Andrews Sisters, the U.K. trio the Puppini Sisters perform close-harmony swing-style backdates of contemporary pop songs, such as their Italian wedding reading of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and a slinky version of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.” Also featured are 1940s and ’50s pop classics such as their a cappella “In the Mood” and the Andrews Sisters’ own “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B.”
In a witty and energetic updating of mid-20th century vocal groups such as the Andrews Sisters, the U.K. trio the Puppini Sisters perform close-harmony swing-style backdates of contemporary pop songs, such as their Italian wedding reading of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and a slinky version of Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights.” Also featured are 1940s and ’50s pop classics such as their a cappella “In the Mood” and the Andrews Sisters’ own “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B.”...
Go To Listen
50s, Betcha Bottom Dollar, british, female vocalists, Jazz, swing, The Puppini Sisters
Stacey Kent
Ayoe Angelica 
Dido
Elton John
Mariza
