Stereophonics – Decade In The Sun
It is that time year again where we start to get the usual onslaught of package compilations and greatest hits packages in time for the holiday season. This year Stereophonics have compiled their singles together in a nice package for the public. Now, the band is often maligned out there but they still have a rapid fan base and I must say I really enjoy how they handled this set.
“Decade In The Sun” does not include a lot of those sub-par singles on the main package. It saves those for the deluxe edition. So, we can easily avoid tracks like “Bank Holiday Monday” and “Moviestar.” Yet, the bands best songs on here. The bands only number 1 single “Daokta” starts off the album as it should as it is the bands defining tune. Then “The Bartender and the Thief” and “Have A Nice Day” follow suit and as you start to listen to this you will find yourself remembering and liking more track than you had let yourself admit to. “You’re My Star” is the new track on the album and it is a bit of a bore to be honest. The band’s cover of “Handbags and Gladrags” steals the show for me. They turn the track into an emotional epic and Kelly Jones never sounded so good. This type of track is when he always sounded the best never putting too much power in the voice and just letting it all flow out of his body.
If you put whatever you feel about the band aside it is hard to admit that some of their songs are worthy in our vastly growing collections. Plus, it does a nice job of cutting out the fat and giving you all you will ever need for the band.
By John Siwicki
Stereophonics – You’re My Star
Stereophonics have been a staple in the charts for the last decade. The band have had such tremendous success that they are naturally a very polarizing group. But, whether you like it them or not Kelly Jones and the boys know how to write a catchy pop tune. But over the last few years the band have really seemed to drop. Last year;s “Pull The Pin” was just awful to put it nicely. The band have collected their singles for the greatest hits package. “You’re My Star” is the new track that is included on this package. “You’re My Star” is such a bland and boring track. It is just so mundane and slow and Kelly Jones has a very distinct voice that needs a some interesting music behind him otherwise it is just all tiring. The song just trudges along and it feels like such a chore to listen to. I think we all should just go listen to “Dakota” as that will always be the bands finest moment.
By John Siwicki
Stereophonics – You’re My Star
Taken from the new album ‘Decade In The Sun – Best Of Stereophonics’.
Stereophonics – Live At Dakota
I wasn’t sure how to approach a live album as they are a tricky mistress; on one hand it gives you a taste of a band in the live arena but on the other I saw the band a few years back opening up for some annoying American singer. But this Live album shows how the band should be heard in a live setting. The album was recorded on their recent tour supporting their album last year “Language Sex Violence Other?”
The album begins with two cuts from “LSVO” “Superman” and “Doorman.” In the live setting they sound a bit rawer and “Doorman” still has those odd lyrics. “Devil,” “Pedalpusher” and “Deadhead,” also from “LSVO,” make an appearance. But they don’t forget the classics with great renditions of “Mr. Writer” and “Local Boy In The Photograph.”
The second disco opens up with a personal favorite “Hurry Up And Wait.” The rest of this disc plays out like a greatest hits set. “Vegas Two Times,” “Traffic,” “Just Looking,” and an old b-side “Carrot Cake And Wine.” The album closes out with “Dakota,” a number 1 single which will certainly become a stable in the band’s set for years to come.
It is tough to really gauge a live release. The band sounds in excellent tight form. The songs sound great. It will certainly be a pleasing package to their already huge followers. It is a great picture of what the band has been doing live.
By John Siwicki