A week in Ft Lauderdale, swimming and faffing about in the evening, left me rather relaxed. Not that I didn’t spent time listening to lots of review music while on holiday.
Then again it's always fun for me to review stuff that other people would not necessarily think go together. As I was on holiday, the fare is a bit less dark and broody this week.
The Kentucky Headhunters: Live/Agora
Yes, it's those rock-country guys giving it all at a gig to support their platinum selling debut Pickin' on Nashville. It's an aw shucks kind of release that is great fun to listen to and never gets old. They chuck in a few covers too, one of which is a great version of “Spirit in the Sky” that bizarrely brings to mind the Doctor & the Medics version (Norman Greenbaum having done the original). Their version of Bad Company’s “Wishing Well” is damn good as well. Both these tracks ended up on their second album. Course I am partial to their cover of Robert Johnson’s “Crossroad”, that blues classic.
The CD was recorded in 1990 and you can tell that everyone is having a blast. Along with the covers you get nine of the ten tracks of their debut. You can tell why they won so many awards in their heyday and achieved Platinum status. The fact that the band, minus only one member, still trawls the boards today is testament to what a great band they are. If you wanna hear a band that mixes country, blues, bluegrass, and rock terribly well, and has a good time doing it, then this is a release for you.
Diablo Swing Orchestra: Sing-Along Songs for the Damned & Delirious
If you ever wonder what the Brian Setzer orchestra would sound like if they grew out of Nightwish rather than Stray Cats, this would be your band. They play eminently danceable upbeat, infectious, stick-in-your-head big band metal or rather metal-big band. If you ever had a metal “hop” then this would be the band you would want play. It's infectious, catchy and oh so much fun, but heavy at the same time.
Article comments
1 - kyle magpantay
i just want to say that Diablo the artist of the song is cool.
I love your songs man. Peace