Japan - The Very Best of ... (Virgin) By Steve Rudd

As the old saying goes, you can never have too many compilation albums to chart a band's career. So, with this in mind, here's yet another Japan Best of to add to the long list of previous compilations that highlight all the classic tunes that the Brit group pumped out. Fronted by David Sylvian (who went on to have a successful solo career following the band's break-up), Japan - in the early years - were something of a Glam-rock band and firmly guitar-orientated, but as the Eighties kicked in their sound became more electronic and they got embroiled in the prevailing New Romantic movement to an extent.

They initially formed in 1974 and went to produce six studio albums before splitting up in 1982. They did get back together in 1991, but such an eagerly anticipated reformation was only a short-lived affair.

Still, when Japan were good they were great, as some of these fifteen tracks testify, including the eerie Ghosts, the chilled-out melodic Pop of I Second That, the uber-cool Gentlemen Take Polaroids, the oriental-inspired Visions of China and the upbeat and Ultravox-esque European Son. Even those people who claim to know nothing about the band Japan or the music that they produced, I bet there are one or two tracks on this release that they recognise.

If you're not familiar with Japan, and don't actually already own one of the previous compilations, this new release provides the perfect chance to indulge in their world. I hope you're impressed.

Music News - Monday 27th March 06 - Bestfrontseat.com and Raw-UK - One small step in a Welly, one giant leap... 'Give It Some Welly' By Isabelle Tracy
	Putting aside tribal and territorial differences, most of the local promoters, musicians and media people in Hull came to The Welly to support this event - or just to have a nosey - or maybe even to see if it was going to fall on its arse. Well, it didn't. After 3 songs from the first band to test the signals, there was a delay of 10 minutes to the gig going live over the internet - due to one of Read more...

Single Reviews - Engerica - The Smell (Sanctuary) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	This madcap trio has to be witnessed, whether via record or in a live situation. Truth is, they are awesome, if a tad eccentric and zany in their frantic rock 'n' roll ways. Fronted by David Gardner, these three guys were going great guns a couple of years ago, but then they seemed to disappear without a trace for a while before re-launching themselves back into the Read more...

Album Reviews - The Bonnitts - Soldier (Demo) By Joe Hakim Photos by Darren Rogers - The Bonnitts at The Sesh 13th December 2005
	Well, thank fuck for The Bonnitts. Just when I was starting to think that the Hull music scene was in danger of disappearing up its own arse, along comes this blinder of an EP to totally change my mind. I'm going to rattle on about Soldier for a while, because it is, quite simply, the best thing I've heard in a long time. It kicks off with a sublime guitar-line, coupled with singer Mike Wright Read more...

Single Reviews - Lovemat - Between The Lines (Disturbia) Release date: April 3rd 2006. Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	A racy anthem to get your rocks off to, the heady music of Lovemat is primarily propelled by mesmerising guitar riffage that thunders into the mix beside delectable harmonies and strong vocals from Paul Kell. They are an old-skool hard rock band and hail from Newcastle, with this being their debut single. If I were you, I'd buy up a few copies of this release, Read more...

Single Reviews - The Voom Blooms - Politics And Cigarettes (Fiction) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Here we have some truly beautiful music, from a band that only got together early in 2005, and that is based in Loughborough. This, their debut single, is a classic and builds on the star-gazing sounds that were unleashed via their much-sought-after London Heads demo. A quartet fronted by George Guildford, The Voom Blooms are masters of melody creation, Read more...

Album Reviews - Billy Bragg - Billy Bragg Volume 1 (Cooking Vinyl) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	An essential purchase for hardcore BB fans as well as those people who might have heard just a few of his songs but who dare to delve further into the life and times of Billy Bragg, this release is a box set comprising seven CDs and a couple of DVDs. In and amongst Billy Bragg Volume 1 there are four of Billy's earliest and greatest albums, which are Life's A Riot Read more...

Album Reviews - Graham Coxon - Love Travels At Illegal Speeds (EMI) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Since leaving Blur, Graham has proved himself to be one hell of a rock god, and right from the off with this mesmerising thirteen track album, the focus is on loud guitars and swaggering rock 'n' roll trials and tribulations. Fittingly, the album-opening tune is the hugely popular single release Standing On My Own Again - a bona-fide anthem in every respect. Read more...

Album Reviews - Energise by Shatner By David Thurlby
	Self-proclaimed common oiks Shatner are made up of four, thirty-something nearly men from Leeds who should really know better. Fortunately, for our listening delights, they don't. Numerous years on the local music scene have seen these blokes, notably singer-songwriter and chief oik Jim Bower, gain a respectful reputation. A hit among the younger and more media-savvy Leeds Read more...

Album Reviews, - Richard Ashcroft - Keys To The World (Parlophone) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Thank God for the songwriting talents of Richard Ashcroft. He is now some six years into his solo career since the nation's favourite band from Wigan - The Verve, that is - split. Luckily, the material that Richard has released as a solo artist has consistently been just as enticing, and this latest 10-track album of his will have surely to goodness attracted plenty more Read more...

Album Reviews, Music Videos - Torso Horse - Every Dog Has Its Day Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Calling all Torso Horse fans! Your favourite Goth-Metal maestros have recently reworked their classic Every Dog Has Its Day anthem, and shot a brand new promo video to boot, which - in a word - is stunning. The original version of this track was fantastic as it stood, but Adam and band have felt compelled to rework it a little, and have even added a short-but-sweet keyboard Read more...

Album Reviews - Faith No More - The Platinum Collection (Warner) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	A never-to-be-forgotten rock band for so many reasons, Faith No More hailed from California, and for fifteen years they produced some amazing rock music, a fact that is proven by this awesome collection of some of their best material. With fifteen of their own classic tunes being included, along with a live version of their old classic We Care A Lot, and their infamous cover Read more...

Music News - Shine On at Hull City Hall By Alex Firth
	I'm currently studying at Northumbria University in Newcastle though I shall be back home in Beverley on the 29th April. Why, you ask? I have a concert to go to at Hull City Hall ... Last year, I couldn't believe all the fuss that was being made about a local (to Newcastle) band doing their first show at the most famous venue in town - the City Hall. The band was called Shine On, and was a tribute Read more...

Single Reviews - The Waking Eyes - But I Already Have It (Coalition) Release date: March 20th 2006. Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Probably the finest rock 'n' roll band to have busted out of Winnipeg, Canada, in recent years, the four guys that comprise The Waking Eyes clearly sound to have been born for this type of life in the limelight. This is the quartet's eagerly-awaited second single, and the follow-up to their awesome Watch Your Money debut. But I Already Have It comes packed Read more...

Album Reviews - Rising Sun - Dirty Daisy EP Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	An indie-gilded rock 'n' roll quartet with a difference, Rising Sun here present eight extraordinary tracks that prove to be sound testament to the band members' collective talents. The title track in Dirty Daisy is up first and is bolstered by guitarist Dan's heavyweight and swaggering riff. Nathan's raw, soul-inflamed vocals work a treat, while the music is both Read more...

Album Reviews - The Soledad Brothers - The Hardest Walk (Polydor) Release Date: March 6th 2006. Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Potentially the perfect support band for any future Rolling Stones tour, these three lads that make up The Soledad Brothers are such a talented trio that they seem to be leaving most Blues-based rock 'n' roll bands in their wake right now, especially on the back of this astonishing twelve-track album that runs for almost an hour. Opening cut Truth Or Consequences is a riff-raring Read more...

Single Reviews - Yellowcard - Lights and Sounds (Parlophone) Release date: March 6th 2006. Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	They're back! And they're sounding better than ever! These punk-loving Emo-rockers return with a new single and a new album (both entitled Lights And Sounds), ready and willing to follow-up the astounding success that was the band's globally popular Ocean Avenue album that has sold well in excess of two million copies worldwide. The lads have been Read more...

Single Reviews - The Marshals - Make Her Cry (Vertigo) Release date: March 6th 2006. Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	What's in the stars is never meant to be, so croons Marshals band-leader Michael John. That might be the case, just like this song might literally Make Her Cry - whoever she might be, for this is an extraordinarily moving tune that is proving to be a wise choice for the band's debut single release, given the widespread acclaim that it's receiving. The Marshals is an Irish trio, Read more...

Album Reviews - B-Movie - The Platinum Collection (Warner) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	Cast your hazy minds back to the glory days of the Eighties, and the Synth-Pop Brit bands that were scaling the charts, and does the band name B-Movie ring any bells? It might do for a few people, but this band isn't as much of a household name as it deserves to be, given the quality of the music. This 15-track retrospective is comprised of ten of the band's best tunes Read more...

Album Reviews - Dialog - Feel EP (Deuce Management) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	This band is interesting from the off, with all four of its members hailing from a different European country. Frontman Plamen is from Spain, and is clearly a terrifically talented singer, while lead guitarist Adam Petty is English through and through. Dialog ply a rare brand of rock music. The strong and catchy riffs do hark back to that Classic Rock era of the Read more...

Album Reviews - Teddy Geiger Stepladder EP By Jimmy Reed
	Teddy Geiger has a voice, a look and a song writing style which will appeal to a wide spectrum of listeners; which is always a good start. A very simple formula employed on 6 track EP Step Ladder - the production is very understated, which is good to hear, and Teddy combines the elements of dusty vocal, acoustic guitar and at times, strings and a Read more...

Music, Columns - Andy Tullock's Music Column January 2006
	Hey, hey! Welcome to the first of my monthly columns, running you through the crazy, crazy world that is the modern music scene. Every month I will be going over the previous month's key events, as I see them (i.e. my get-out clause in case I forget some painstakingly obvious stuff, which, in time, will become painstakingly obvious that I do). Alright, so first Read more...

Single Reviews - Your Vegas - Flybuzz By David Thurlby
	Now don't get me wrong, I'm not accusing decadent Leeds based quintet Your Vegas of having ideas above their station, but Flybuzz has the air of a song which was composed, arranged and recorded purely for the Rock Stadium. From the opening tinkles of the piano, which would be used to portray glacial rain in a music class devoted to sound association Read more...

Album Reviews - Vib Gyor Five track EP By Michelle Dee
	The chiming keyboards and guitars opens Fallen followed by a soft breathy vocal then, as the song continues it takes on a definite Bono sound. As the guitar quickens, you find yourself exploring a fresh wind swept arena. Quiet, quick passionate wavy lines of guitar underpinned with urgent drumbeats, floating falling into deep wells of white noise. Plaintive pianos will oft be Read more...

Album Reviews - The LVRs - Death Has Become Her (Undergroove) Release date: March 13th 2006 Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	This dazzling spoken-word album is a side project for two of the members of LA rockers My Ruin, with the singer in Tairrie B doing the talking and musician Mick Murphy providing the background noise, mainly in the form of atmospheric soundscapes that are genuinely dark and deadly. Listeners of a nervous disposition might want to give this a miss, especially should you Read more...

Single Reviews - The Somatics - Elemental (Engine Room) Release date: 27th February 2006. Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	After the sad demise of cult heroes Ultrasound, ace guitarist Richard Green wasted no time in forming the Leeds-based trio The Somatics. Thus, we have Richard on lead vocals and guitar, backed up by bassist Stephanie and drummer Bruce. This single was also recorded and produced by Richard, to further prove just how talented he is both in front of and Read more...

Album Reviews - Yeah, It's Supposed To Sound Like That Vol 2 (17 Track Compilation Album - Colchester Recordings) Reviewed By Steve Rudd
	The second compilation release on the label that's run by the singing and songwriting force behind the ace band The Party, James Sherry has once again collated seventeen hugely exciting and varied tracks from some of the best underground and unsigned bands/ artists not only from around the UK, but from around the world. Having said that, most of the tracks Read more...