Album review overview: Sufjan Stevens, Mötley Crüe and more
Dozens of new albums arrive at Maxazine’s editorial staff every week. There are way too many to listen to them all, let alone review them. It ensures that too many albums are left behind. And that’s a shame. That is why today we post an overview of albums that arrive at the editors in short reviews.
Jon Allen – The Wolves Are Running
Sometimes you come across an artist and wonder why you have never listened to them before. Jon Allen is a perfect example. With ‘The Wolves Are Running’, he introduces himself in style and makes you curious to explore the rest of his body of work. The opening track, ‘Roll the Dice’, immediately sets the tone. Here is a musician who knows exactly what he wants and how to communicate it. The wonderful bassline in ‘After the Flood’ then creates an infectious flow and an atmosphere entirely different from that of its predecessor. Allen’s pop-folk-rock moves in all kinds of directions without the album losing its coherence. ‘Castles’ evokes the feeling of a young Rod Stewart from the period shortly after The Faces. The excellent line ‘You can’t win every battle, sometimes you’ve got to walk away’ underlines the strength of his songwriting. There are musical points of recognition, too. The intro to ‘Fault Line’, for example, inevitably brings to mind ‘Sister Morphine’ by The Rolling Stones. Above all, however, Allen proves himself to be a gifted songwriter who delivers a compelling and consistent album through variety and conviction. A fine example of craftsmanship. (Bart van de Sande) (8/10) (V2 Records)
Eye of Melian – Forest of Forgetting
With ‘Forest of Forgetting’, Eye of Melian delivers an atmospheric folk album that exudes a special, almost fairytale-like tranquillity from the very first note. The compositions are built around acoustic instruments and subtle strings, with the music given a remarkable amount of room to breathe. The enchanting title track, ‘Forest of Forgetting’, captures exactly what makes this project so unique: the silence between the notes is just as important as the melody itself. The track ‘The Silver Mist’ follows seamlessly, with beautifully layered vocals that blend organically with the traditional guitar playing. The band clearly draws inspiration from Irish folk traditions, but manages to give them an entirely individual, serene twist. The album never lapses into unnecessary embellishments or quick effects. It is a restrained and sincere album that calls for attentive listening. (Cian Murphy) (8/10) (Napalm Records)
Sever – Another Nightmare
Sever strikes mercilessly with ‘Another Nightmare’, a guitar-driven record steeped in brute energy and crushing riffs. From the very first second, the band launches into an uncompromising assault with the brutal single ‘Another Nightmare’, blasting pounding drums and searing guitar lines into the room. There is no nonsense or polished studio trickery here, just a wall of sound that explodes straight in your face. The track ‘Darkest Hour’ takes things a step further with devastating breaks and a vocalist screaming at the top of his lungs. It all sounds wonderfully raw, exhilarating and infused with pure rock ‘n’ roll attitude. The production is thick and unpolished, exactly as a proper guitar record should sound. Sever demonstrates how heavy music ought to be made: loud, direct and without a hint of remorse. This is a record you simply have to turn up as loud as possible. (Anton Dupont) (8/10) (Self-produced)
Mötley Crüe – Too Fast For Love 45th Anniversary Limited Edition Box Set
Record label BMG is releasing the legendary debut album, originally issued in 1981 on Leathür Records, the record label founded by the band itself, in an exceptionally extensive box set containing a wealth of physical media: five LPs, one 7-inch vinyl single, and one CD featuring the remastered ten-track Leathür Records version and the very first demo tape from 1981. The box also contains a great deal of visual material that has never been released before. There is no need for me to discuss the music on ‘Too Fast For Love’ again. It is an energetic mix of dirty rock ‘n’ roll and catchy glam rock, with a punk attitude that gives the finger to everything and everyone. Fans will have to dig deep into their pockets, but they will certainly get their money’s worth. (Ad Keepers) (8/10) (BMG)
Sufjan Stevens – Worst Christmas Ever!
A degree of caution is warranted when an established artist releases a Christmas album. Sufjan Stevens, however, has always followed his own musical path and has managed to surprise listeners with work that was sometimes less accessible or comprehensible, but always reflected his own vision. Stevens also has a special relationship with Christmas. What began in 2001 as a personal Christmas present gradually developed into an annual ritual, resulting in an impressive Christmas repertoire. If Stevens ever decides to release all his Christmas songs in a single box set, there will be more than enough music to see you through the festive season. For now, we have to make do with the compilation ‘Worst Christmas Ever!’. Alongside versions of ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Auld Lang Syne’ with a distinctly classical feel, the album also contains potential Christmas classics, including the beautiful ‘Sister Winter’. Anyone who does not always know what to make of Stevens’s regular output, but would like to hear something other than ‘Last Christmas’, can confidently turn to this album. It is an atmospheric collection that grew out of a lovely tradition. That alone makes it a pleasant soundtrack for cold winter days. Get the hot chocolate and Dutch split pea soup ready! (Bart van de Sande) (8/10) (Asthmatic Kitty Records)
