Contact: tdharvey@hotmail.co.uk Or Follow On Twitter @TimDavidHarvey

Saturday 31 March 2012

ALBUM SELECT OF THE WEEK: MATCHBOX TWENTY-MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE


Rob Thomas and his smooth Matchbox Twenty outfit are among some of traditional modern day Americas greatest bands like Dave Matthews Band and Semisonic. They've done a lot and their career and we can't thank them enough for the following. Everything about 'All I Need', the illuminating 'Bright Lights' and the decadent 'The Difference' are just a few classics off a truly great rock album from one of the truly last rock greats. This album went double platinum in the Stated but hit 5 million down under in Australia. 'More Than You Think You Are' revealed more than most think about one of the worlds most underrated bands and the singles 'Disease', 'Downfall' and 'Unwell' show further rise to this well being band. Banding together 20 garnered a lot of radio play on an album that will still find its way into CD changers even when their new album is released in this 2012. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

TAPE DECK SHUFFLE-The Top 10 Workout Songs For March


Fort Wayne, IN – March 1, 2012 – The top workout tracks for March make for an eclectic bunch.On the pop front, you'll find The Wanted—Europe's latest boy band export—and Disney's Allstar Weekend.Gym favorites Lady GaGa and Rihanna also turn up, in remixed form.Snow Patrol dropped the first single off their new album.And, Rivers Cuomo from Weezer braved the dancefloor with a little help from Steve Aoki.

Here's the full list, according to votes placed at Run Hundred--the web's most popular workout music site.


Lady GaGa - Marry The Night (Afrojack Remix) - 132 BPM

Allstar Weekend - Dance Forever - 125 BPM

Rihanna - You Da One (Almighty Radio Remix) - 129 BPM

Breathe Carolina - Blackout (Wideboys Remix) - 128 BPM

Flo Rida & Sia - Wild Ones - 129 BPM

Fun. & Janelle Monae - We Are Young - 92 BPM

Snow Patrol - Called Out In The Dark - 121 BPM

Steve Aoki & Rivers Cuomo - Earthquakey People - 128 BPM

Madonna, Nicki Minaj & M.I.A. - Give Me All Your Luvin' - 147 BPM

The Wanted - Glad You Came - 127 BPM
To find more workout songs--and hear next month's contenders—folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era—to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine.

Contact:
Chris Lawhorn
Run Hundred
Email: Admin@RunHundred.com
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Friday 16 March 2012

ALBUM SELECT OF THE WEEK: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: LIVE AT THE MAIN POINT


5/5

Another main release points to new life in the live show.

Forget about the 15 plus classic studio albums the boss of rock music Bruce Springsteen has released (From 'Greetings From Asbury Park' to 'Working On A Dream'). Springsteen and his E Street Band have also released some classic live albums, from the heavenly, Madison Square Garden show 'Live In New York City' to the Seeger sessions 'Live In Dublin'. There have also been many live bootleg albums of The Boss and his band like the raw and great 'Piece De Resistance' to the differently brilliant 'The Complete Bottom Line'. Now in efforts to beat the counterfeits Springsteen has released one of the fans favourite, most bootlegged album 'Live At The Main Point' taken from 1975.

There's a reason Bruce's live shows are so sought after. It's because they are so legendary and each unique one adds to the top performers legacy. If this is the closest some E Street fans can get to seeing Springsteen live (and it's definitely the closest anyone will get to the classic performances of a young Bruce) then you can understand how much will want to be heard from the greatest rock and roll performer of all-time. As soulful, charismatic and charming as say a Sam Cooke, rocks Boss could make stadiums intimate. Every Bruce Springsteen show is like a different story and this tale from '75 is really something else. There's just something about this one.

Right from the 'Incident on 57th Street' intro this all night rock affair is started off right. Tearing into the hits 'Born To Run', 'Wings For Wheels (Thunder Road)', a velvet smooth version of Bob Dylan's 'I Want You' (a favourite of Bruce's for it's simple but meaningful lyrics) and his own dedication 'She's The One' Springsteen doesn't let up giving his fans big song after big song. As disc one ends with the epic, live favourite 'Jungleland' (which sounds even better in concert) it's such an exciting, huge climax to the CD 1 that it's easy to forget that this is just the end of the first side and there's another disc and more live show to come.

With the second disc beginning with timeless recordings of 'Kitty’s Back' and 'New York City Serenade', this is where it really gets started. Then on the back to back devoted dedications of 'Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)' and '4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)' this is where the then young man really bares his soul. Until he pours his heart out on the faithful, one and only 'For You' with each gravely lyric, true grit and dedication. This dude bridges the gap between music for women and songs for guys to sing about, bringing it all back to love. This legendary set is climaxed perfectly by a rendition of his inspiration Chuck Berry's 'Back In The USA' a fitting end for America's best rockers last encore.

After this your going to want more too as this profound performance really draws you in you'll think your back in the seventies. A lot of tinkering and crate digging has been performed to bring this classic performance out the vault. What results is a raw but polished effort that sounds fresher then most lazy, phoned in live efforts of some performers today. It's crystal clear this is diamond, strong music you need to hear. Springsteen's sensational shows are always worth the price of admission and this one in particular from 1975 is well worth the wait. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

TAPE DECK SHUFFLE-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN SPECIAL


This weekend is a Bruce Springsteen special on 'AMPs & 808s' in honor of the Boss' new boss album 'Wrecking Ball'. Check our review, look for our 'ALBUM SELECT OF THE WEEK' but first let's shuffle through a playlist. 'SIDE A' features some tracks off the new album, while the B-side deals with some classics.

SIDE A

WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN: What more can we say? With Bruce's latest number one, classic album he really does look out for us, with another anthem screaming for those needing a voice.

EASY MONEY: Even in the recession, this Boss knows how to make hope and change.

WRECKING BALL: The live, NY Giants stadium closing classic is stripped down for another take by another Superbowl champion.

ROCKY GROUND: A new hip direction for the 62 year old who hops to yet another rhythm of his incredible sound. It's a wrap.

LAND OF HOPE AND DREAMS: A beautiful, soulful reworking of a classic with the last sensational sax playing of the 'Big Man'. Clarence and Curtis will be looking down and smiling.

SIDE B

STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA: From 'The Wrestler' to 'Jerry Maguire' Springsteen has provided the soundtrack for some sensational pieces of cinema, but none are as deep as this. One of the bets intros to a film ever. Bruce almost makes himself a co-star to greats Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington in Philadelphia and even bests Neil Young's beautiful closer.

SECRET GARDEN: Still this 'Jerry Maguire' number may be the most beautiful ballad ever written. If this was someone else's song other than Bruce it'd be their best, but still it's a fond favourite on E Street...especially with strings.

THE RISING: New York's Freedom Tower is getting bigger and after the tragedy on that ill-fated September day over a decade back Bruce Springsteen made uplifting music so a city, country and free world could rise again.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT: The first official track off the first official release way back in '73 and what a career its been...so far.

BORN TO RUN: The anthem...need we say anymore? Just let it play. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Wednesday 14 March 2012

FOR THE RECORD: LLOYD Live @ Manchester Academy (14/03/12)


3/5

Lloyd banks a good show.

There are a lot of R&B singers around today but none are quite like Louisiana's Lloyd. The former 'Murder Inc' and 'Def Jam' young star from the U.S. treated the city of Manchester, England to some Mardis Gras like entertainment tonight.

Coming out in a diamond studded leather jacket with the symbol for peace on the back and a purple 1996, number 8, throwback, Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers, basketball jersey, complete with a Charlie Chaplin bowler hat and Ray Charles shades the young prince looked more like the 'Artist Formerly Known As' then most of today's stars. The eighties hair-style also accented this symbolic look. Now it doesn't get much cooler than this.

Young Goldie bounced out to 'Get It Shawty' as the girls screamed and the fellas cheered. Energising the bridge like Mr. Spock, this star trekked through his underrated vast catalogue of hits, flicking through and showing the fans he could play the piano ('Angel') and the guitar. The multi-talented singer/songwriter also got a big response for his classic Flintstone, stone-age, redefining referenced chorus of 'Bed Rock' off his monster collabo with Lil' Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and the rest of the Young Money crew.

Giving love to a Sam Cooke classic sampled for his new hit 'Cupid' Young Lloyd paid due respect to the old greats of the genre, going back to back on a Michael Jackson tribute before paying respects to some lost legends like Aaliyah, Biggie, Tupac and Whitney Houston (who was also given a magical, moving "Your love is my love" send off by talented support act Bluey Robinson (a guy who's got some great songs of his own to go along with some nice covers of everything from Robin Thicke to the 'Fresh Prince' theme tune)).

To close the night the New Orleans star brought cheers with recent hits like 'Girls Around The World' and 'Lay It Down' before closing the show with an explicit dedication to his ex. Even without Lil' Wayne, Andre 3000 or any of the other big names he's collaborated with for hits the star-studded, leather draped singer showed he could hold the stage and the crowd on his own. As cool as the Fonz and with a jukebox full of hits. Lloyd rocked around the clock, showed us how they do it in the 'A' and got two thumbs up. Happy days. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Monday 12 March 2012

REVIEW: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-WRECKING BALL


4/5

Another swinging hit.

'The Boss' is back. The voice of generations, an artist for decades and one of the greatest American singer/songwriters of the last century-if not one of the best in the world ever-returns with a huge new album to wake up and charge a so-far quiet start to 2012 (bar an almost Springsteen, tribute-esque titled 'Born To Die' from the incredible Lana Del Rey). With one swing of the 'Wrecking Ball' the spokesman for freedom over hard times in America gives us his seventeenth classic.

And the first swing is the hardest and deepest as 'We Take Care Of Our Own' shows the man previously 'Working On A Dream' is pulling up his boot-cut jeans and putting his nation on his strong, tried and tested shoulders. As Springsteen sings "I've been knockin' on the door that holds the throne/I've been lookin' for the map that leads me home/I've been stumblin' on good hearts turned to stone/The road of good intentions has gone dry as bone" a glimmer of hope returns to the people who's back this man has had through decades.

'Wrecking Ball' also takes another swing at the self-titled track which was previously an alive concert recording written in tribute for the closing of the stadium of the NFL team the New York Giants stadium in 2009. Now after that stadium was demolished, Bruce breaks new ground and rebuilds a slower number that's burning hot, fitting since the Giants have just won the Superbowl. Still this is the Boss' crowning moment.

Springsteen and his E Street band also go further down the road on a soulful, new version of 'Seeger Sessions' live favourite 'American Land' which along with the bonus 'Swallowed Up (In the Belly of the Whale)' closes up and finishes off this competition demolishing work perfectly. 'Land of Hope and Dreams' is also brought alive in the studio by even more heart and soul and what may be late, legendary saxophonist Clarence Clemons last blow and bow show one of the Boss and 'Big Man's' greatest collaborations.

They say struggle builds character and on this album the man of the people with all his charisma and confidence builds a solid ground of resilience and drive built on hard times. Tracks like 'Easy Money', 'Shackled and Drawn' and 'Jack Of All Trades' couldn't highlight current troubles any more illuminating. With these pressure points in troubled times Bruce Springsteen touches raw nerves but also taps into reservoirs of hope he pours in with all his undying energy and passion.

'Death to My Hometown' and 'This Depression' go deeper into the abyss of lost promises and quests for answers in these modern times. Still even though these angst filled tracks show our man and our world at its angriest yet, just like the war-torn 'Devils & Dust' or the politically poignant 'Born In The U.S.A.' this album is a necessary statement of alarm clock music. Not only does Springsteen wake us up, he also shows he's behind us in unconditional support. Even at 62, he's not backing down and is screaming and shouting for those who need to be heard.

'We Are Alive' and 'You've Got It' further that notion but it's the second-single 'Rocky Road' that is truly sensational and unlike anything the great man and his band have done before. This 'Wrecking Ball' swings in all directions from electric avenues to the folk traditions of Ireland but with raps from the truly talented Michelle Moore this song traverses hip-hop all whilst staying religious with a classic choir backing.

It's another example-just like this album of just how creatively Bruce Springsteen and The E Street band push the envelope as they continue to force the issue that needs to be truly addressed by those in power. The issue of the economy and the welfare of the hardest workers. The fat cats may be rich but this man in leather boots carries more weight and has planted his feet firmly in current cultures consciousness. With this hard-hitting strike-when we need him most-Bruce doesn't drop the ball. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

See Also:

SONG FOR THE MOMENT (JANUARY): BRUCE SPRINSGTEEN-WE TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN

http://ampsand808s.blogspot.com/2012/01/song-for-moment-january-bruce.html