Iain Scott's Music Reviews

Update

2006-09-26T06:20:00.000+02:00

I haven't written any reviews for ITWeb LITE for some time, since I am working on a new publication, Unwired. Besides the print publication, we will also have a Web site, on which many reviews will be published. Stay tuned.

No review

2006-09-04T06:59:00.000+02:00

No review this week.

ITWeb LITE is undergoing some changes, so it is likely there will be a review from me only every couple of weeks or so from now on.

Unwired magazine should hit the shelves at the end of the month. Be sure to get a copy and read some more reviews there - plus lots of other goodies!

Brad Mehldau & Renée Fleming: Love Sublime

2006-08-25T10:22:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE I review Love Sublime, an album by jazz pianist Brad Mehldau and operatic soprano Renée Fleming. You can read my opinion here.

Next week

2006-08-18T06:27:00.000+02:00

It's deadline week for the first issue of the magazine I work for, so things have been a bit crazy. Hence, no review on ITWeb LITE this week, I'm afraid.

I'll be back in full swing next week, with a review of a CD by Brad Mehldau and Renée Fleming.

Sean Burke: Consciousness Hiphop

2006-08-10T15:11:00.000+02:00

Sean Burke's fourth album, Consciousness Hiphop, is a wake-up call, a warning that there are people in South Africa who are still infuriated in the wake of apartheid.

This week

2006-08-04T06:14:00.000+02:00

No review from me this week, I'm afraid. I had to stand in for someone who was away this week, which didn't give me a chance to do a review.

See you next week.

In the meantime, if you are interested in my listening habits, check out my new blog here.

Josie Field: Mercury

2006-07-28T06:53:00.000+02:00

Johannesburg singer-songwriter Josie Field, who sounds somewhat like a blend between Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morissette, has released her debut album, Mercury, which is the focus of my CD review on ITWeb LITE this week.

Bee Gees: Their Greatest Hits - The Record

2006-07-24T07:06:00.000+02:00

Love them or hate them, one cannot deny the Bee Gees were one of the most successful music groups of the 20th century, churning out more than 20 original albums between 1967 and 2001. Their Greatest Hits - The Record, chronicles their impressive career. Read my review here.

J-Wess Presents Tha LP

2006-07-14T11:00:00.000+02:00

US-born J-Wess's main focus, until now, has been on the Australian professional basketball leagues. But his interest in music has led to the release of his first hip hop album, J-Wess Presents Tha LP. Read my review here.

Panic! At the Disco: A Fever You Can't Sweat Out

2006-07-07T14:23:00.000+02:00

A Fever You Can't Sweat Out is such a well-executed album it's hard to believe that it's Panic! At the Disco's debut. Read my review here.

Carlé: Vyf Ster Suicide Hotel

2006-06-30T10:45:00.000+02:00

Carlé van Deventer's debut album, Vyf Ster Suicide Hotel, came out of a recording contract she won last year as part of her prize for winning the ATKV-Crescendo music competition with her self-penned song of the same name. Click here to read my thoughts on the new CD.

Bob Sinclar: Western Dream

2006-06-26T06:17:00.000+02:00

Even if, like me, you are not in the slightest bit interested in soccer, you have probably heard the theme song of the current World Cup, Bob Sinclar's “Love Generation”. The song features on the French DJ's newest album, Western Dream, which is the subject of my review for this week.

Click here to read.

Sakya Tashi Ling: The Buddhist Monks

2006-06-15T10:54:00.000+02:00

The Buddhist Monks is a fascinating CD. The tracks are a blend of Western music created mainly by Sergio Medrano and Miguel González and Buddhist mantras and prayers chanted by the monks of Sakya Tashi Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Spain. Click here to read my review.

Jim Noir: Tower of Love

2006-06-09T11:49:00.000+02:00

Jim Noir's first full-length CD, Tower of Love, is a fascinating nod to the psychedelic ‘60s. Click here to read my review.

Paul Simon: Surprise

2006-06-02T08:15:00.000+02:00

Surprise, Paul Simon's first studio album in six years, is the focus of my CD review this week. Click here to read my thoughts.

Clubworx 2

2006-05-26T13:47:00.000+02:00

Clubworx 2, the second double-disc installment in the Clubworx series, is a vast improvement on its pedestrian predecessor. Click here to read my review.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers: Stadium Arcadium

2006-05-19T11:12:00.000+02:00

Last week I reviewed the single; this week I review the double album - Red Hot Chili Peppers' Stadium Arcadium. Click here to read.

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Dani California

2006-05-12T10:24:00.000+02:00

This week I review "Dani California", the first single from the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Stadium Arcadium. Click here to read.

The Streets: The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living

2006-05-04T11:36:00.000+02:00

My CD review this week focuses on The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, an amusing album by UK rap artist The Streets, aka Mike Skinner. Click here to read.

Various: Bossa n' Marley

2006-05-02T06:33:00.000+02:00

Last year I reviewed Bossa n' Stones, a collection of Rolling Stones songs reworked as electro bossa nova tracks.

The latest in the series, Bossa n' Marley, is a similar reworking of songs by reggae legend Bob Marley. Click here to read my review.

James Blunt - Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions

2006-04-20T16:22:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE I review Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions, the follow-up to James Blunt's enormously successful debut, Back to Bedlam. Click here to read my thoughts on this CD/DVD combo.

Notorious B.I.G.: Duets - The Final Chapter

2006-04-13T11:43:00.000+02:00

Duets: The Final Chapter is less a Notorious B.I.G. album than a blatant attempt to capitalise on the late rapper's name. Click here to read my review.

Maria Rita: Segundo

2006-04-05T06:22:00.000+02:00

Maria Rita's second album, Segundo, falls under the spotlight on ITWeb LITE this week. Click here to read my review of this Brazilian vocalist's work.

Back to My Roots III

2006-03-24T10:30:00.000+02:00

Back to My Roots III is the latest instalment in the series of pop-funk compilations that have so far featured artists like Odyssey, Kool & The Gang, Mary Mary and Chaka Khan. Click here to read my review.

Hard-Fi: Stars of CCTV

2006-03-17T13:44:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE, I review Stars of CCTV, the debut of UK group Hard-Fi.

Hard-Fi's unpolished sound has done well in Britain, reaching number one on the charts. Click here to read my review.

P.O.D.: Testify

2006-03-11T16:57:00.000+02:00

Multi-platinum Rapcore group P.O.D. is back with another album, Testify - the fourth mainstream CD since 1999's The Fundamental Elements of Southtown. Click here to read my thoughts on the latest offering.

Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire

2006-03-03T09:03:00.000+02:00

My review this week is of the soundtrack to Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire. The music was composed by Scottish-born Patrick Doyle. This is Doyle's first Harry Potter soundtrack, with the first three films in the series having been scored by John Williams. Click here to read the full review.

Bananarama: Drama

2006-02-24T08:22:00.000+02:00

Bananarama, the seminal '80s girl group, is back with a new CD, Drama. Click here to read my review on ITWeb LITE.

Mark Beling: Dancing

2006-02-17T17:40:00.000+02:00

Mark Beling, the front man for South African group Mean Mr Mustard, has revealed another side to his songwriting and singing talents with the release of his solo debut, Dancing. Click here to read my review.

The Darkness: One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back

2006-02-10T13:26:00.000+02:00

Click here to read this week's review of One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back, by UK group The Darkness.

Also, ITWeb LITE also carries the news that "We Will Rock You", the wildly popular London musical based on Queen's music, is coming to South Africa. Check out the story here.

Michael Bublé: Caught In The Act

2006-02-05T15:35:00.000+02:00

Michael Bublé's new CD/DVD combo, Caught in the Act, is a live performance by this refreshing bib band swing artist. Click here to read my review.

Alanis Morissette: The Collection

2006-01-27T14:19:00.000+02:00

The Collection comprises 18 Alanis Morissette songs regarded by the Canadian-born singer as her favourite examples of her own work. Click here to read my review on ITWeb LITE.

Enya: Amarantine

2006-01-21T07:30:00.000+02:00

Amarantine is Irish vocalist Enya's sixth album. In some ways the CD is a similar to earlier offerings, but in others it differs dramatically. Some songs are even sung in an artificial language, Loxian. Click here to read my review.

Fort Minor: The Rising Tied

2006-01-16T17:48:00.000+02:00

Fort Minor is a hip hop project by Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. Late last year he brought out his first CD, The Rising Tied, which features collaborations with several artists, including, among others, John Legend, Styles of Beyond and Black Thought of The Roots.

ITWeb LITE kicks off the year with a review of The Rising Tied, which you can read by clicking here.

The Corrs: Home

2005-12-09T07:18:00.000+02:00

This week I published my final review of the year, as ITWeb LITE is not publishing any reviews over the summer holiday. Our next issue (and thus my next review) will be published on 13 January. To those who celebrate it, have a great Christmas.

My review this week is of Home, the latest album by Irish family group The Corrs. You can read it here.

See you next year!

Various Artists: Bossa n' Stones

2005-12-05T05:52:00.000+02:00

Bossa n' Stones is a collection of Rolling Stones songs turned into – brace yourself – laid-back summertime electro-bossa versions. You can read my review of the album by clicking here.

Desperate Housewives soundtrack

2005-11-25T06:28:00.000+02:00

TV series "Desperate Housewives" has taken the world, and not just the US, by storm. Click here to read my review of the new soundtrack CD, Music from and inspired by Desperate Housewives.

Lil' Kim: The Naked Truth

2005-11-18T11:18:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE I review The Naked Truth, the CD Lil' Kim recorded before being jailed for a year and a day. The album was released only a week after she donned her orange jumpsuit. Read the review here.

Cream: Royal Albert Hall

2005-11-11T05:41:00.000+02:00

The significance of Cream's reunion concert at the Royal Albert Hall in May needs no explanation for aficionados of 1960s psychedelic rock. A double CD of the concert by Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce was released recently. Read my review here.

Madonna: 'Hung Up' (Single)

2005-11-04T12:34:00.000+02:00

I had the opportunity to hear Madonna's new dance album, Confessions On a Dance Floor, at a press event last week. This week on ITWeb LITE I review "Hung Up", the first single from the album. The single is scheduled for release on 7 November.

Click here to read my review.

Daniel Powter: Daniel Powter

2005-10-28T07:47:00.001+02:00

Daniel Powter's debut single, "Bad Day" has been a tremendous success on the European and Canadian charts.

To read my review of his first album, which features "Bad Day" and the second single, "Free Loop", click here.

Collective Soul: From the Ground Up

2005-10-21T06:38:00.000+02:00

Collective Soul’s new CD, From the Ground Up, is unlike anything the group has released before. Does that make it good or bad? You'll have to read my review here to find out.

Faith Hill: Fireflies

2005-10-14T06:34:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE I review Fireflies, the new album by country/pop crossover artist Faith Hill. Click here to see what I think of the CD, which comes after the success of her 2003 album, Cry.

Violent Femmes: Permanent Record

2005-10-07T06:32:00.000+02:00

Permanent Record is the third compilation of "the best of" Violent Femmes songs. So which compilation do you buy? Read my review here to see what I think.

Eric Clapton: Back Home

2005-09-30T06:30:00.000+02:00

Back Home is Eric Clapton's first studio CD with original material in several years. But read my review here before you rush out to get a copy.

Anthony Hamilton: Soulife

2005-09-23T06:26:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE I review Soulife, the "lost" album by Grammy-nominated songster Anthony Hamilton. Click here to see what I have to say about the CD.

James Blunt: Back to Bedlam

2005-09-16T06:04:00.000+02:00

From aerospace engineer to soldier in wartime Kosovo to balladeer, James Blunt's life story is as unique as his music. This week, I review his debut album, Back to Bedlam. Click here to read.

I'm going to be in Canada for the next few weeks, and thus unable to update the blog until I return on 12 October. But I've written several reviews that will continue to be published on ITWeb LITE while I'm away.

The schedule for the next few weeks is: Anthony Hamilton (23 September), Eric Clapton (30 September) and Violent Femmes (7 October). I'll post links when I get back.

My Chemical Romance: Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge

2005-09-09T11:24:00.000+02:00

Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge is the second album from New Jersey pop-punk outfit My Chemical Romance, coming after the success of I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love. Click here to read my review of the CD.

Leela James: A Change is Gonna Come

2005-09-02T09:11:00.000+02:00

A Change is Gonna Come is Leela James's debut album. Don't let her petite physique fool you - this soul singer has a powerful voice. Click here to read my review.

Jesse McCartney: Beautiful Soul

2005-08-26T11:37:00.000+02:00

Jesse McCartney is famous for his Emmy-nominated part in the daytime soapie, "All My Children" and his starring role in "Summerland". Beautiful Soul is his first venture into the pop music scene as a solo artist. Click here to read my review of the album.

Eric Benét: Hurricane

2005-08-19T05:55:00.000+02:00

Hurricane is Eric Benét's third album. Given the circumstances that led to its recording, my review of the CD, which you can read by clicking here, is the most difficult one I have had to write up to now.

Hilary Duff: Hilary Duff

2005-08-12T06:19:00.000+02:00

Hilary Duff's self-titled CD is quite different from her debut, Metamorphosis (2003), replacing bubblegum pop with more of a rock sound.

But how does the album hold up under scrutiny? Click here to read what I have to say in this week's review

Timo Maas: Pictures

2005-08-05T06:13:00.000+02:00

Pictures is Timo Maas's second album, following the commercially successful Loud. The CD contains not remixes, but the DJ's own material, with vocal contributions from the likes of Neneh Cherry, Kelis and Placebo's Brian Molko.

Click here to see what I have to say about it in this week's review.

Next review

2005-07-29T08:09:00.000+02:00

There won't be a CD review from me this week, but next week you can read my review of Timo Maas's latest album, Pictures.

Londonbeat: Gravity

2005-07-22T07:32:00.000+02:00

Londonbeat had a hit in 1991 with "I've Been Thinking About You". The group is back with Gravity, its sixth album.

Since its first hit, the group has faded somewhat into obscurity. Will Gravity propel it back into mainstream popularity? Read my review here to see what I think.

New Order: Waiting for the Sirens' Call

2005-07-15T06:25:00.000+02:00

If New Order has proved anything over the years, it's that it knows how to rise from the ashes of destruction. It did it when it emerged from the demise of Joy Division following the suicide of Ian Curtis, and it has done it again after its disappearance from the radar screens in the 1990s.

Coming four years after Get Ready, the new album, Waiting for the Sirens' Call is the CD I review this week. Click here to read the full review.

John Hughes: Wild Ocean

2005-07-08T05:54:00.000+02:00

John Hughes is the manager of The Corrs, but an accomplished musician and composer in his own right. This week I review his album, Wild Ocean. Click here to read what I have to say about it.

Tweet: It's Me Again

2005-07-01T06:59:00.000+02:00

It's Me Again is Tweet's second album, coming three years after Southern Hummingbird. Tweet, whose real name is Charlene Keys, displays much more confidence on this album than on her debut.

But is her confidence justified? Click here to read my review for ITWeb LITE this week.

The next review

2005-06-24T05:50:00.000+02:00

No review from me this week, I'm afraid, but next week I review the album "It's Me Again" by R&B/hip hop artist Tweet, whose real name is Charlene Keys.

RPM Dance: Clubworx

2005-06-17T08:35:00.000+02:00

Clubworx is a double-disc dance compilation published on Gallo Records' RPM Dance label. There are some original songs on the 43-track album, although most are remixes, mash-ups and remakes of earlier songs from the 1960s to the present.

Click here to read my review of the album.

Rob Thomas: Something to Be

2005-06-10T06:41:00.000+02:00

This week I review Something to Be, the solo debut of Matchbox Twenty lead vocalist Rob Thomas.

The single, "Lonely No More" has been quite a hit on the radio charts, but how does the rest of the album hold up?

Click here to read the review.

Hot Hot Heat: Elevator

2005-06-03T06:18:00.000+02:00

Elevator is Hot Hot Heat's first album on a major label, although the Canadian group has had quite a bit of success on the college rock charts with its previous offerings.

The album also represents a change in direction for the group, which previously focused its energies on indie.

Click here to see what I have to say about the CD in my latest review.

Garbage: Bleed Like Me

2005-05-27T06:13:00.000+02:00

This week I review Bleed Like Me, the new album from Garbage. Coming four troubled years after their last album, the CD represents a return to the group's rock roots.

Click here to read my review.

Linda Ronstadt: The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt

2003-02-20T08:04:00.000+02:00

The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt is not so much a collection of the best of Linda Ronstadt's songs - more like the best of her pop songs. Read my review here.

Ace of Base: Da Capo

2003-02-05T08:01:00.000+02:00

Da Capo is the first Ace of Base album to carry all new material since Flowers was released in 1998, and it represents a return to form. Click here to read my review.

S'bu: Ibodlela

2003-01-29T07:59:00.000+02:00

Ibodlela, the latest CD from Soweto-born kwaito star S'bu, is certain to bring back the fans he lost through his disappointing Inja Yangasese album. Read my review here.

Disturbed: Believe

2003-01-21T07:55:00.000+02:00

Disturbed's second CD, Believe, is a bid to return to the majesty of metal. This it manages with the controversial coverart and lyrics, but musically it has someway to go. Read my review here.

Uncle Kracker: No Stranger to Shame

2003-01-13T07:53:00.000+02:00

Uncle Kracker is back with No Stranger to Shame, the follow-up to 2000's double platinum album, Double Wide, with its smash hit “Follow Me”. Click here to read my review.

Tracy Chapman: Let It Rain

2002-12-11T07:50:00.000+02:00

Two years after her last album, Tracy Chapman is back with a new CD called Let It Rain. Read my review here.

David Gray: A New Day At Midnight

2002-11-29T07:45:00.000+02:00

David Gray fans have been waiting a long time for his new album, A New Day At Midnight. Read my review here to see if it has been worth the wait.

Chris Rea: Stony Road

2002-11-20T07:40:00.000+02:00

Chris Rea's latest album, Stony Road, is a tribute to the popular singer's musical roots. Read my review here.

Various Artists: The Very Best of 94.7 Highveld Stereo's Top 8 @ 8

2002-11-12T07:38:00.000+02:00

The Very Best of 94.7 Highveld Stereo's Top 8 @ 8 is a compilation of songs most requested by the Gauteng radio station's listeners over the past two years. Click here to read my review.

Jan Wayne: Back Again!

2002-11-06T07:19:00.000+02:00

Jan Wayne is one of the most popular DJs in northern Germany. His club album, Back Again!, is reviewed on ITWeb LITE this week. Click here to read.

Track 4: Apart Inside (Single)

2002-10-23T07:11:00.000+02:00

This week on ITWeb LITE I review Apart Inside, the first single by TRACK4, a South African group emerging out of the collapse of Skincage. Click here to read.

Various Artists: Velvet Blues 1

2002-10-22T07:08:00.000+02:00

Velvet Blues 1, part of the Velvet series which has so far spanned jazz and soul, is a compilation of blues songs performed by various artists from different decades. You can read my review here.

Chicago: The Chicago Story

2002-10-16T06:58:00.000+02:00

This week I review The Chicago Story, a collection of 39 hits by Chicago, one of the US's most successful groups. Click here to read my thoughts.

Bambata: Ukhandampondo

2002-10-15T07:02:00.000+02:00

Ukhandampondo (Poll Tax) brings together a team of artists and musicians in the belief that music is a collective art whose spiritual qualities must be shared and experienced by all. Click here to read my review of Bambata's latest project.

Green Day: Outtakes and Other Shenanigans

2002-10-08T06:55:00.000+02:00

Green Day's Shenanigans is a collection of rare outtakes and cover songs, usually a good indicator that a group is on its way out, but apparently this CD was released to fulfil a contractual obligation. Click here to read my review.

Seven and the Sun: Back to the Innocence

2002-10-02T06:50:00.000+02:00

Back to the Innocence is the debut album by an unconventional acoustic pop-rock group, Seven and the Sun. Click here to read my review on ITWeb LITE this week.

Springbok Selection

2002-09-26T12:28:00.000+02:00

Remember Jeremy Taylor, Pip Freedman, Springbok Radio shows like "Men From the Ministry", "Squad Cars", "The Navy Lark", "Father Dear Father" and "Forces' Favourites"? If so, you're old enough to appreciate the nostalgic value of Springbok Selection, a series of six CDs that recall those days of "braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and Chevrolet".

Click here to read my review.

James Taylor: October Road

2002-09-25T12:36:00.000+02:00

October Road is James Taylor's first studio album since the 1997 Grammy-winning Hourglass. Read my review of the CD by clicking here.

Dixie Chicks: Home

2002-09-18T12:22:00.000+02:00

Home is the long-awaited third album by the popular Dixie Chicks since they first stormed the charts in 1998. Their first two albums sold more than 20 million copies. Read my review here.

Various Artists: Zulu Offerings From South Africa

2002-09-17T12:17:00.000+02:00

Zulu Offerings From South Africa offers a glimpse into the rich diversity of Zulu music. Read my review here.

Aerosmith: O Yeah!

2002-09-12T12:09:00.001+02:00

O Yeah! is a chronicle of 30 years of hits by Aerosmith. A double disc, it's a good overview of the group's career - but it does have its flaws. Click here to read my review.

Various Artists: The Osbourne Family Album

2002-09-04T11:57:00.000+02:00

The Osbourne Family Album has to be one of the worst compilations ever put together - a blatant attempt to cash in on the popularity of Ozzy Osbourne's reality show. Read my review here.

Vangelis: Mythodea

2002-08-27T11:55:00.000+02:00

It was inevitable that humanity's renewed interest in Mars would be reflected in music. Mythodea, an orchestral and choral work by Vangelis, is the latest contribution to this fad.

Read my review here to see whether it is one of the better ones or not.

Marc Anthony: Mended

2002-08-21T11:50:00.000+02:00

Marc Anthony invokes strong sentiment: people either love or hate his music. Click here to read my review of his latest album, Mended, to see what I think.

Deep Forest: Music Detected

2002-08-15T11:46:00.000+02:00

Music Detected is Deep Forest's sixth album, and appears to herald a new direction for the duo, with English lyrics and real drums making their appearance for the first time.

Click here to read my review of the CD.

John Mayer: Room for Squares

2002-08-09T11:40:00.000+02:00

Newcomer John Mayer shows a lot of promise. The music and musicianship on Room for Squares are great. The problem is in the lyrics.

Read my full review of the album here.

Bruce Springsteen: The Rising

2002-08-09T11:31:00.000+02:00

The Rising is Bruce Springsteen's first album of original material in seven years. Plus, it's his first full studio recording with the E Street Band since 1984's Born in the USA.

Click here to read my review on ITWeb LITE.