CD REVIEWs
 By
Grainne McLoughlin
REAL
Give Me A Reason
If a fusion of soul, funk, rock and acid jazz sounds like your kind of
thing, then Give Me A Reason may just be for you.
Set for release in April it’s already received huge acclaim in Japan.
Made up of Lousie Pollock and Winston Rollins Real’s debut release
shows real promise.
While Rollins has a background steeped in music having worked with bands
including Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Aswad, Jamiroquai, and Jools Holland,
Pollack is a relative newcomer. Although you’d never guess by listening
to her.
Tracks including Give Me A Reason, Lovechild, Message and Beautiful Sunshine
show just how dynamic this young couple promise to be.
The album and single Give Me A Reason will have its British release on
April 10.
Alan Jackson
Precious Memories
According to Alan Jackson, making music is just a natural part of life.
And there’s no doubt he can make music. Having sold more than 44million
albums and having 31 No.1 hits to his credit he has proved himself and
his worth. But his latest offering Precious Memories does make you question
it a little.
Certainly not to everyone’s taste the Gospel album was actually
recorded as a Christmas gift to his mother, with no intention of ever
releasing it commercially. Yeah, right.
Jackson has a lovely voice so he gets away with it but barely. Easy listening
to some, impossible listening to others.
Precious Memories is released on March 6 and Jackson’s wife and
children are actually featured on backing vocals on Tis So Sweet To Trust
In Jesus.
BR549
Dog Days
If you like country music then Dog Days might just be for you. After 10
turbulent years of critical acclaim they’re back with something
out of the norm for BR549.
Produced by John Keane, who’s known for his work with REM and Widespread
Panic, Dog Days has a musicality and rhythm that works for the newly-reformed
band.
The bouncy track Bottom of Priority — about imprisoned Native American
activist Leonard Peltier — is described by the band themselves as
a “protest song you can dance to”.
While the last track Let Jesus Make You Breakfast is an oddly inspirational
homage to a certain drummer’s resemblance to a religious icon.
But it’s the toe-tapping track Leave It Alone during which they
really shine.
Released this Friday March 3, It will be interesting to see how this one
does.
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