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Amazingly, during my time off the web site late last year and early this year, some people told me they missed my CD reviews. It amazes me that anyone would miss anything about the site, but a couple of people (who I’d never met before) told me at the Irish Lotus User Group that they enjoyed reading the reviews. So, I might put this stuff into it’s own page, but for now it goes into the blog. Let’s start with…

‘Light Grenades’ by Inbubus - in the midst of the black-out period this CD nearly prompted me to post something. It was released in November 2006, but I’m still playing it now more than anything else. As has been the way of the more recent Incubus offerings it’s a mixture of styles - perhaps less consistent than ‘A Crow Left Of The Murder’, and with a couple of weaker tracks, but the high points on the whole exceed anything they’ve done before (with their all-time best ‘Here In My Room’ as a notable exception). Those high points are the blasting ‘A Kiss To Send Us Off’ (I love the way the first track ‘QuickSand’ melts into it), ‘Dig’ and ‘Oil And Water’. Probably the best £9 I’ve spent in the past two years.

One small annoyance - the Japenese edition has two extra tracks. Why don’t we get them? So, if anyone is going to Japan, let me know.

Next up we have ‘Send Away The Tigers’ by the Manic Street Preachers. Personally I loved their previous offering ‘Lifeblood’ (many didn’t) and I like this too, but I don’t love it. It’s a very solid album, no duff tracks, but equally there’s nothing outstanding. As usual James Dean Bradfield’s vocals soar (especially on the best track ‘The Second Great Depression’) and his guitar playing is mesmerising. Perhaps the once-angry young men are now playing it a bit safe. However, the equation is simple - if you like the Manic Street Preachers then you’ll like this, and remember I’m basing this on their own extremely high standards.

Finally for now ‘Yours Truly, Angry Mob’ by the Kaiser Chiefs. One word - outstanding. Their first album ‘Employment’ was very shaky with some great tracks and some real dross. ‘Yours Truly’ is much much better - better songs, better music, better production, no weak tracks and some real classics such as ‘I Can Do It Without You’ and ‘The Angry Mob’.

At times they sound like an early-80’s post-punk band, at other times they sound like The Beatles. The more mellow tracks like ‘Love’s Not A Competition’ sit nicely alongside the more high-enegry ‘Highroyds’ and ‘Heat Dies Down’. The added bonus is the great lyrics, for example “Raise a glass or two, You raise a fist or two, Get a shopping basket wrapped round your head”.

Next month sees the return of the Smashing Pumpkins with ‘Zeitgeist’ and if you know me you’ll know I’m looking forward to that. Counting the days in fact… 23 to go.