Back in stock: Rock

Review: Lewis' gentle and bewitching L'Amour, which came complete with a bizarre backstory involving the disappearance of the blonde-haired would-be-matinee-idol on its sleeve, was one of the surprise delights of the year. Yet the release of the hitherto unsuspected follow-up Romantic Times, which was originally recorded in 1985, only adds to the mystique surrounding this off-kilter auteur. The abstract croon and expressionistic mood may remain, yet the pastel shades and beachside calm of his earlier effort are gone, replaced by brooding atmosphere and vocals that betray a troubled soul beneath the luxurious veneer. Residing somewhere between lounge lizard thrills and outsider art chills, Romantic Times is a portrait of a true one-off.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


If you use the online network-cum-existential-need-to-know community Reddit, then it won't surprise you to learn there's a vast and almost unfathomably broad sub group dedicated to The Beatles. Within this, at least a handful of people have posed the question: "if the Beatles had done an MTV Unplugged concert in approx 1968 what stripped down classics might be in the resulting brilliant Unplugged Album?" Forgive the grammar - we took the speculative quandary verbatim from an internet that long-since descended into a linguistic void. Nevertheless, those stumped by this query will be delighted to know that such a record does exist for us to use as a touchstone. Albeit without the MTV bit. And what tracks made the cut? Well, 'Why My Guitar Gently Weeps', 'Revolution', 'Julia', 'Cry Baby Cry', and 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill', among others.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks ***


Permission To Land is the debut album by glam rockers The Darkness, originally released in 2003. True to their name, The Darkness were dark horses indeed, having been sorely underestimated by the guffawing gatekeepers at Sony, who failed to see any promise in the band after being deemed "uncool", perhaps due to their bombastic rock & roll sound and high vocal drawl from Justin Hawkins. Sony were easily knocked off their high horse, however, when the band later signed with Atlantic, after which the album would top the US Albums Chart, peaking at number two. For the fans, this reissue harks back to their earliest hits, such as 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love', and 'Growing On Me'.

Review: The Donnas' major label debut, Spend the Night, released in 2002 on Atlantic, reached number 62 on the Billboard charts. But it wasn't just major label backing that boosted sales Spend the Night is packed with Donnas devastators like 'Who Invited You', 'Take It Off', 'You Wanna Get Me High' and 'Pass It Around', all killer hooks and pop power. The big mystery is why it didn't make them superstars. This reissue includes 'Big Rig,' originally on the LP but not the CD, and features lyrics and a Freddy Krueger guest appearance. Now available on hot pink vinyl!

Review: Following the liberation of Zambia from British colonial rule in 1964, a musical revolution took place in the Southern African nation. By the start of the 1970s, the country had its own unique fusion style known as Zamrock. A thrilling fusion of psychedelic rock, James Brown style hard funk and indigenous musical elements (most notably vocals and rhythms), the style was hugely popular in the nation throughout the decade. This superb double-vinyl compilation provides a brilliant overview for newcomers, gathering together scene staples and lesser-known gems from the likes of Witch, Ngozi Family, Ricky Banda, Machine Gunners, Salty Dog and Born Free. For the curious, the story of those who shaped the style is told in greater detail in the accompanying booklet.