Artist: Laura Marling

so far, so good, 2010-02-17

On the two tracks I've heard so far and the sleeve alone, this is already a five out of five for me.

Artist: Carly Simon

Artist: Various artist

Artist: Alexandra Burke

brilliant, 2010-02-19
brought this for my 7 year old daughter who is obsessed with anything xfactor. after listening to it once i was hooked!!! best cd for a long time, really varied songs and all very catchy. would defo recommend

Artist: Hollies

mr cooper is not a hollies fan, 2010-01-27
well mr fredric a cooper, if you are a true fan you would know all of the hollies material is ledgendary,the band has moved with the times unlike you,they are not a tribute band as they have 2 original members the new members do a fantastic job in re creating a special hollies sound,i have seen the new version of the hollies with my 2 girls who are 9 and 12, 14 concerts in the last 3 years, they enjoy the sounds as much as i do. peter howarth does a fantastic job as lead singer , the guitars sound are as near to the sixties sound as much as tecnology will allow, the keyboards do the same, they have no fancy gimmics most artists use on stage its just back to basics, just like the sixties, the album is good news for fans as there is so many tracks, so its value for money, we will be seeing all the band again in liverpool with my youngest daughter once again taking them all an easter egg, so we will see you then ,grahame frodsham and barbara ,christina and olivia hunt. uk.

Artist: Midlake

An old hippie says "Wow! Far Out Man!" Brilliant :-), 2010-02-24
Confession: I am 53 years old and love Fairport Convention, (early) Steeleye Span, the Oyster Band, the fabulous Trees (etc. etc. you get the picture) as well as Van Der Graaf Generator and King Crimson (so I am NOT a dyed-in-the-wool folky).

I heard the previous album (Van Occu-thingy) and was not terribly impressed - it seemed like a pastiche of 70s stuff - Fleetwood Mac or whatever.

So I didn't buy this immediately. But various reviews suggested that this was something different - although there seems to be a great divide between "This is really rather fine" and "What a let down after the last one". So, calculating that as I was "let down" by the last one - there was a chance that there is something in this one.

And yes. After two listenings (straight after each other), this is a delicious CD.

My wife, on hearing it, assumed it was a UK band from Somerset (or similar), and was rather surprised to discover this ancient Olde English Folke Music was coming from Texas.

Superb musicianship, ranging from electric guitar, through flute, harpsichord to bassoon flows gently through these pastoral tunes (and the drummer really understands how to provide a sympathetic backing to this style of music, unlike the AWFUL drummer who I saw with J.Tull last year).

To be fair to some of the comments, the tracks are a bit similar. But that is the way it goes if you are playing folk music. There is not a lot of loud riffing, or rap, or funk, or whatever else is mistaken for music these days.

Artist: The Chieftains, Ry Cooder

A Lovely and Belated CD - Excellent Well Done All,, 2010-03-11

A lovely CD and FINALLY a recognition by leading Mexican figures that they were NOT ALONE - European and North American dissenters stood should to shoulder with their ancestors.
All we need now is to recognize the German speaking members of the brigada.

A belated, beautiful and timely collection of a Mexican-Irish melodic mélange. Other reviewers have done an excellent job on the melodies.

For a Historical Synopsis:-
the Brigada San Patricio fought for Mexico against American SLAVE state expansion(1846-48) and also for their religious rights. Of the 900 men (some with experience of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, it is estimated that approximately 30% were German speaking). - see the dvd of the 'film' - 'One Man's Hero' - with : Tom Berenger, Joaquim de Almeida, director: Lance Hool ASIN: 630571889X -


BACKGROUND:-
In Europe Republican governments were replaced by the Napoleonic dictatorship followed by the restored Monarchies (1815).
Post the American war of independence, Article 5 of the Paris treaty (Nov 1782), American democrats had to guarantee the `the rights of confiscated `property' of Loyalist Americans (this included slaves and estates). Although small loyalist farmers lost out, the larger Southern plantations owned by English aristocrats remained. Less than 5% of loyalist left for Europe, Canada or the Caribbean. Little changed from the `Ancienne Regime'

Paddy is wrong in his assertion on the dominating factors.
Slave power continued to be the main economic driving forces in the southern states of the new world.
Within the slave states, non slaveholding whites were barred from important offices and opportunities. With the Missouri line `Dixiland' could only expand west or south.

The Slave States:-
The Mexican constitution's (1824) abolition of slavery, in particular the sale of slaves incensed slave traders. In 1827 President John Adams offered Mexico US$1 Million to buy Tecas, in 1829 President Andrew Jackson tried with an offer of US$5 million but was also rejected.
See also `La Constitución de Apatzingán' by Ernesto de la Torre Villar ISBN 9688371777
Along with delegates Andres Quintana Roo & Carlos Bustamante (1814 - they called for popular sovereignty, republican government, abolition of slavery, equality before the law, representative government, separation of church and state.
Austin and Houston (both of Virginia) were instigators of the Tecas land grab. The addition of Texas to the Union as a SLAVE state, was blocked until the election in 1844 of president Polk.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN THEN:-
After 1815 and the restoration of the European ancienne regimes the 'White Royalist Terror' was unleashed on Republican, Radical Enlightenment, anti monarchic and anti-autocratic church elements. As a consequence many Europeans came to America seeking refuge as the United Irishmen before them - 'United Irishmen, United States' by David Wilson ISBN:0801431751.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) expanded slavery north into Kansas.
In New York slavery was abolished only in 1827 and a re-introduction was attempted again following this act.
Implementation of the `Fugitive Slave act' (1850) along with the need to fix the route of the railways finally provoked the American Civil War




WHY WAS THIS WAR IMPORTANT:-
General Zachariou Taylor (who owned more than 100 slaves in Louisiana & Mississippi) went into Mexico beyond the Neuces river (Corpus Christi).
Lincoln denounced the war in Congress. Thoreau went to jail rather than pay taxes to support it, and Ulysses Grant (who served in Mexico) described it as "the most unjust war ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation". The Catholic Hierarchy more interested in protecting Anglo interests in the period of the legalisation of the Catholic church in England, sent two priests McEvoy (GaelicSpeaker) and Rein (GermanSpeaker) to stem the flow of support for Mexico.
The war was a prelude as many later took different sides in the North American Civil War (1861-65).
Some examples of the correspondence by Grant, Lee, Sherman, Taylor, Scott, Bragg on their personal experiences of the Mexican war prior to the Northern Civil War.

In consolation to the Mexican people, it was Californian gold that allowed Lincoln to subsequently defeat the combined forces of the slavistocracy and European royalty.

One of the etymologies of 'Gringo' in Irish folklore is the fact that many Patricios sang the Napoleonic song 'Green grows the Lilio' as they marched thro' Mexico.
One notable United Irishman, Jemmy Hope, still on the run, was interviewed by R. Madden in the 1840's aged in his 80's. I would like to see a film based on his life.
See 'United Irishman: The Autobiography of James Hope' by John Newsinger [Merlin] 0850364965.

Other References:-
'Los Soldados Irlandeses de Mexico' Hogan ISBN:9687846070, 'United Irishmen, United States' by David Wilson ISBN:0801431751; 'The Rogue's March' ISBN:1574887386, 'Short Killing Affair by Foos ISBN:0807854050,
'Rise of the English Empire in the American South' Gallay ISBN:0300101937, 'Irish Slave Girl' by McCafferty ISBN:014200183X,`Duffy's Cut' ISBN0275987272 &9780275987275; 'Letters on Jackson Edited by B. Leigh ISBN:0548321833 ; 'California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War' by Richards ISBN:030726520X; How the Irish Became White' by Noel Ignatiev ISBN:0415918251 ;'
Colonel Despard: The Life and Death of an English/Irish Jacobin by Clifford C. Conner ISBN-10: 1580970265; Friends of Liberty - the English Democractic Movement by A Goodwin ISBN 0674323394;'United Irishman: The Autobiography of James Hope' by John Newsinger [Merlin] 0850364965.

Artist: Amy Macdonald

Someone special, 2010-03-08
What can be said about Amy MacDonald? Probably the most underrated singer/songwriter in the British Isles at the moment. Her first album "This is the life" is an absolutely fantastic record and I cannot recommend it highly enough, every song on that album showcases Amy's unique songwriting ability and when listening to it you forget that she was only 19 when it was released, and I believe that she wrote some songs when only 12 or 13.

She sings about issues and experiences you would expect from someone so much older and while it is easy to get lost in the upbeat melodies of some songs it is perhaps a credit to her writing ability that you can identify with so many of her lyrics. Waiting three years for another record from Amy was easy as This is the life was in my CD player every day and I never tire of listening to it.

So the new album showcases more of Amy's talent and has much the same mix of uptempo and downbeat tunes as was on This is the life. Having only listened to the album 3 times from start to finish I still haven't completely digested all of the lyrics buy already several tunes stand out including My Only One, What Happiness Means To Me, An Ordinary Life and of course Don't tell me That It's Over.

One track that totally blew me away is the bonus track, I won't say what it is just to say that it is without doubt one of the best cover version I've ever heard. It is simply stunning and if proof was ever needed of Amy's beautiful voice and amazing talent then here it is, I think I now prefer this version over the original, it really is that good.

Check out this album, you won't be disappointed 5 stars from me. Well done Amy

Artist: Goldfrapp

Artist: Beth Nielsen Chapman

Beth At Her Shining Brilliant Best, 2010-03-06

For anyone who has traveled the journey with Beth through the death of her husband in 1994, which led to the truly inspiring 'Sand And Water', through her battle with breast cancer on 'Deeper Still', to her gradual return to health and happiness on 'Look' and down the spell-binding and soul-searhing spiritual paths of 'Hymns' and the awesome achievement of 'Prism', Beth's double CD on which she not only sings songs of praise in English, but also in SEVEN other languages, hearing her obvious joy and sheer zest for life on 'BACK TO LOVE' is wonderful. BNC is a class act both lyrically and musically. She has a gift for putting emotions into words afforded to few others. Every song on 'Back To Love' could have been a 'single'. I doubt if there will be a more accomplished, uplifting album from an artist so full of infectious "joie de vivre" released this year or for many years to come. If you've never come across Beth Nielsen Chapman before - you're in for a rare treat.