"In these last days" by Yak Peak

What a splendid idea of Yak Peak to use a ViewMaster reel as a metafor to point out that their most recent album "In these last days" is a disc full of pictures. Every song discribes vividly a situation, and talks about a romantic environement. The whole cd is a vibrant collection of lo-fi songs with a simple structure, and beautiful voices. Once again this British quintet delivers a wonderful record of which every song is a gem.
Highly recommended!

"In these last days" by Yak Peak

"Born to run" by Bruce Springsteen

This is what Wikipedia writes about "Born to run" by Bruce Springsteen: ...with the release of Born to Run Springsteen finally found success: (...) "Born to Run", "Thunder Road", "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", and "Jungleland" all received massive FM radio airplay and remain perennial favorites on many classic rock stations to this day. With its panoramic imagery, thundering production, and desperate optimism, some fans consider this among the best rock and roll albums of all time and Springsteen's finest work. (...) To cap off the triumph, Springsteen appeared on the covers of both Time and Newsweek in the same week, on October 27 of that year. So great did the wave of publicity become that Springsteen eventually rebelled against it during his first venture overseas, tearing down promotional posters before a concert appearance in London.

Springsteen is one of those megastars that gain big bucks. So why not being honest about it, and call your album "Born to (take the money and) run", or boldly "Born to cash"?...



"Born to cash" by Bruce Springsteen

"Unstable without knowing it" by Cherry Hill

You'll find Cherry Hill somewhere between Alicia Keys and Missy Elliot. She never gets as dirty as Lil'Kim but she's defenitely naughtier then Joss Stone. So the title of her album "Unstable without knowing it" is a bit tongue-in-cheeck. Actually it's meant to tickle men. One can not call Cherry Hill unstable. But she likes to question men about their masculinity, their independence and their discriminating behaviour.
You go girl!

"Unstable without knowing it" by Cherry Hill

"Between a madman and me" by David Clark

He tried his luck in several Americana and folk bands but none of them really broke through. Now he has released his first album under his own name David Clark. And one can immediatly hear that Clark is a man of routine. It's not really a dazzling and vibrant record. I'ld rather discribe it as small, tender and modest. And although this solo debut is fragile and charming, the whole feel is never far away from being dull. So the total lenght of 53 minutes is maybe a bit much. If Clark would've skipped four or five weaker songs this would've been a real nice album from a singer with a clear voice, a vision and direction in life.

"Between a madman and me" by David Clark

"What you can" by Guiseppe Savoldi

Guiseppe Savoldi is an Italian pop singer with a classical background. He also records Spanish versions of his Italian albums and has had notable success in Europe and Latin America. Savoldi has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide. And every year there's a new release. "What you can" adds nothing new to his collection but will be bought again by his numerous (mostly female) fans. It's a rather harmless album and only emphasises the fact that Savoldi has a well trained voice but a predictable and too sweet repertoire.

"What you can" by Guiseppe Savoldi

"It is terrible not to live" by A.I.U.T.U.C.

We've known the traditional Irish folk music by The Dubliners, we've known the popfolk by The Poques and we still know the punk folk by Dropkick Murphy. It is at least somewhat strange that nobody ever thought of adding a bit of groove to that sound...
The All India United Trade Union Centre approached it as funk. There's a lot of bass, some piano and somewhere in the background a lost saxophone.
And let me tell you: I've never heard such powerfull. jawdropping folk music ever.
Let this album blow you away!

"It is terrible not to live" by A.I.U.T.U.C.

"Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words" by Robert Trono

All I know about Robert Trono is that his real name is Roberto Tronaldo and that he's from Italy. All of a sudden he appeared on the European dance scene. But it must be said: this is a very strong album. No mixing of well known songs, nor a collection of inferiour dance projects. The twelve tracks on his debut "Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words" are genuine compositions, and they all have an distinguished and catchy melody. This is certainly one of the best soundtracks to a splendid summer, but don't expect exuberant rhythms or multilayered exotic beats because Robert Trono brings you loungy urban minimal. Best track on the album is undoubtably the opening track "Aura".
...A very stylish and exquisite CD.

"Say all you have to say in the fewest possible words" by Robert Trono

"The hand that gives the rose" by Barbara Anderson

This is a bit of a strange phenomena. Barbara Anderson looks like Kate Nash or Lily Allen: innocent and sweet. But she sounds like Kate Bush and Tori Amos. Only... she likes to play with her sensuality. She's sexy. She's feminin and mature. And she can play games with men.

Her album "The hand that gives the rose" sounds very seductive. And it's a dangerous mix. Harmless melodies with biting lyrics...
Be warned.

"The hand that gives the rose" by Barbara Anderson

"Meet The Beatles" by The Stones

This is what Wikipedia writes about the so-called debut album of the Beatles: Meet The Beatles! is the second Beatles' album released in the United States, despite the "first album" claim on its cover. Released on 20 January 1964, it was the first Capitol Records Beatles album, issued in both mono and stereo.

In 2003, the album was ranked number 59 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[citation needed]
In 2004, Meet The Beatles! was released for the first time on CD.

The cover design is simple and clear, but what would've happened when the Rolling Stones would've used the same graphic designer for their first album?


"Meet The Beatles" by The Stones

"Agree with us" by Green Line Coaches

You got to believe me on this one. Usually I don't cheat when I make these fake CD covers, but on this one I added the green line, only to make a connection between the design and the name of the band. And I have to admit that I softened the picture a bit to give it an romantic and smooth feel.

What kind of music this band makes? I wouldn't know. Now it's your turn. Make something up. Use your imagination. Be creative...

"Agree with us" by Green Line Coaches

"Suffer for it" by Falnernian Wine

The Canadian singer John Vandeneynden came out as a winner in one of those talent shows. But he didn't want to become a pop idol, so (after his contractual single and solo album) he formed a band and called it Falnernian Wine.

He's still the pretty boy he was, but he sounds a lot more mature. "Suffer for it", his debut album as a rock artist rocks, shakes and convinces.

Now the question is if his teen fans will respect his choices and follow him through this career change.

"Suffer for it" by Falnernian Wine

"People can see your lips moving" by River Barle

River Barle started as a catwalk model, then became an icon in fashion magazines and was asked to play in a movie. And as if that wasn't enough she was asked to record an album.

I think she should just stick to being beautiful. Her acting and singing talents are very mediocre.

She earns tons of money with modelling. Shouldn't that be enough?




"People can see your lips moving" by River Barle

"Mind Games" by John Lennon

From now on once in a while I will make some mocking sleeves... parodies of existing covers. Of course I won't give you a fictitious review of the artist. You know them.
I'll tag the posts with "parody". The altered sleeves (like the U2 or the Celine Dion ones) will be tagged with "makeover"...

This is how the album sleeve of "Mind Games" by John Lennon looks like.
And this is what Wikipedia says about the album: (...) fourth post-Beatles solo album, and was recorded and released in 1973. The release of the album marked the beginning of Lennon's eighteen-month separation from Yoko Ono and the end of his period of political activism, prompted in part by the re-election of Richard Nixon. A welcome departure from his previous politically topical and somewhat abrasive Sometime In New York City album, Mind Games was warmly received by the public and Lennon's critics, with the album reaching #13 in the UK and #9 in the US, where it went gold.
More about the album here.

But how would the album look like when we would give it another political connotation? And it's still a mind game...


"Mind Games" by John Lennon

"One philosopher or another" by Ellinbank & District

Ellinbank & District used to make a tastefull combination of symphonic rock and gothic rock. with classic influences.
Their new album "One philosopher or another" is an acoustic interpretation of their best loved songs, with assistence of a symphonic orchestra (rather a chamber ensemble). It sounds terrific, and instead of being blasted away by the usual power, now you get a intimate setting. The singing sounds even better and all of the guitars are gone. No more grunting, no more guitar-solo's and no more multilayered voices. Therefor you get strings, a piano, a (small) choir and a very original sound.

Sometimes Ellinbank & District gets associated with autumn, but this is really a spring album.

"One philosopher or another" by Ellinbank & District

"Being true" by The Enemies Of Books

The Enemies Of Books is yet again one of those emo groups. Haven't we had enough of that?
They are not really bad. But who's waiting for another four boys with a lot of anger and even more drama, a trendy hair-do and black clothes. And their music is far from original.
I'm happy at least their record sleeve is worth looking at.

"Being true" by The Enemies Of Books

"Most astonishing" by Alison Rowatt

Alison Rowatt didn't make it to the final round of the Irish "Pop Idol" but she managed to release a single. Unfortunately just one single isn't good enough for the record company. So they made a whole album full of cover versions of well known songs. And guess what? They all suck. Except for the single (and title track) "Most astonishing".
Just download the single and forget about the rest.

"Most astonishing" by Alison Rowatt

"The one that comes after it" by Friends of Peter Benton

Four years ago London-based Peter Benton started his DJ-collective on Ibiza. His fellow-DJ's were interchangeable. It didn't matter who of the five men played. There was never a change in styles. This concept worked wonderfully.
Friends of Peter Benton has now a second real album out, (after all those remix albums) and it's still within the same styles but they added a bit more oriental influences.
A delicious album, over and over again.

"The one that comes after it" by Friends of Peter Benton

Acoustic Soul

Sometimes I get struck by photo's on Flickr. A couple of weeks ago I saw some really strong pictures by "Acoustic Soul". The photos were vivid, powerfull, bright and very graphical. At the same time they were badly cropped, not really sharp and actually not very original either. And still I liked them because of their charming dilletantism. They had that "je ne sais quoi".

Later it turned out that they were made by a 20 year old girl by the name of Emiliana.

I asked permission to use them, to make some fake covers, and here are the results.

This time you have to figure out for yourself what kind of music is made by the mentioned bands.

Use your imagination...

"The only thruth" by Esprit Omnimedia

It is surprising how good religious music can sell. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sold millions, and even The Priests are doing very good. On the other hand: religious sounding music sells even better: concepts like Enigma or even B-Tribe went into the charts.
So one can fear the worst with Esprit Omnimedia. Swiss-born Helmut Grossstaedter has been living in Los Angeles for decades and has been producing several dance projects. Now he's presenting himself as Esprit Omnimedia. Although he uses al lot of choirs on this CD, the whole album sounds very modern. It's got jazz beats and swing tunes and the over all feel is one of churches and museums. Sacred. But with a defenite jazz vibe. And a lot of gospel singers.

"The only thruth" by Esprit Omnimedia

"The Things we know best..." by Nageia Motleyi

In the sixties when sweet singers like Astrud Gilberto were popular, nobody noticed the Israelian Nageia Motleyi. She sang the same kind of innocent songs like her Brasilian counterpart did. And she became worldfamous in Israel.

In her narrative songs she talked (one can hardly call it singing) about distant loves, sunny days, birds, butterflies and other non-disturbing subjects.

This album can be found at flea markets and in secondhand shop, for a rudiculous price.

"The things we know best..." by Nageia Motleyi

"Small opportunities" by Timescape

The best way to look at the future is to go retro. The British eclectic band Timescape understood that very well. For their debut album they took the best from the three past decades and made a wonderfull mix that is never a copy from what was fashionable in that days. Listening to this album one constantly asks himself where he heard this before, but the answer is never clear.
"Small opportunities" is a very clever album from a very original band.
I can't wait to hear the second album!

"Small opportunities" by Timescape

"Probably doesn't lead anywhere" by Ed Atkinson

Nobody would've predicted that Ed Atkinson would leave his record company after four lovely jazz albums. This is his fifth contractual product and was released without his knowledge. It's compiled from a whole bunch of leftovers from the previous albums, and to be honest, there was a reason for not including these tracks on his success albums. One can just hear that this are inferiour songs. They should never have been released.

And even the album sleeve sucks.

Don't get fooled. Do not buy this album!

"Probably doesn't lead anywhere" by Ed Atkinson

"You will have entertained us" by Bella Coola

Bella Coola got a big mouth, she refuses to behave the way her record company wants her to, and she gives the whole world the middle finger.

And exactly that is the reason why a lot of young girls love her!

On the other hand: she's streetwise, she doesn't confirm to beauty ideals dictated by a lot of girls magazines and she's so out of fashion that it's fashionable again.

Here album too is hard to discribe. Is it retro? Eighties revival? Stolen from the seventies? Influenced by the nineties? But it sure is a chaotic mix of hiphop, soul and Britpop with hispanic influences...

I would say: just listen to it and I'm sure you will have entertained yourself.

"You will have entertained us" by Bella Coola

"The "Erotic Compilation -The Male Version" by various artists

Last week I told you I make music compilations for myself to enjoy. If you want to hear them too, you can find them here. And for every cd I compile I design a cover too. Mostly I use my own drawings, which can be found here.
Next weeks compilation will be a collection of songs about sex, sung by men. The cd will feature vocalists like Ben Sidran, Teddy Pendergrass, George Benson and George Clinton. The collection as such is ready. The only thing is: I still need a cover.

And you can help me picking one. Therefor I made 4 versions. I would like you to tell me what your favorite sleeve is.

Please put your remarks and preferred design in a comment. Thanks in advance.

Last weeks designs can be found here, this weeks erotic music compilation is here.