Reviews Roundup – 6:33 & Arno Strobl vs. Joanne Shaw Taylor vs. Joe Bonamassa

Reviews Roundup – 6:33 & Arno Strobl vs. Joanne Shaw Taylor vs. Joe Bonamassa

6:33 & ARNO STROBL
The Stench From The Swelling (A True Story)
Wafflegate

What the hell was that! It was as mad as a defrocked chicken, I can tell you that. Like a disco Strapping Young Lad. With fish. And bells.

Basically, it’s art metal, but I don’t mean that in a po-faced, pretentious way. So Mike Patton fans need not apply. No, it’s definitely Devin Townsend territory, but will less alien probing involved. Turns out that 6:33 are a French band , which is usually a bad thing (Trust excepted) who’ve teamed up with Arno Strobl, another Frenchie who is vocalist with Carnival In Coal. No, me neither.

For some reason they’ve decided that prog metal, disco and hair metal are ideal bedfellows and have set about going a bit mental. It doesn’t always work, but the mid-section of ‘Burn-In’, ‘I Like It’ and their cover of The Supermen Lovers house hit ‘Starlight’ (yes, really) is quite spectacular.

Mad as a hatter, and all the better for it.

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JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR
Songs From The Road
Ruf

Hmmm. Live albums. Not my favourite thing, but three albums into her career, and I suppose it was inevitable that Joanne Shaw Taylor should take a break and punt one out. And at least it comes as a CD / DVD combo, so there are pictures to look at, if that takes your fancy.

Now I’ve always thought that Ms Taylor was a better guitarist than a singer, and that really does prove the case in a world where there are no overdubs. But it’s the live and in your face aspect that saves this project. Of course, like many other modern blues performers, she’s in a hurry to leave the blues behind, as anyone who heard her most recent studio album “Almost Always Never” will attest, and their is a striking contrast between the older and newer material on offer.

The opening ‘Soul Station’ is a song she’s punted towards radio, and as it’s more indie rock than anything else, she might force her way through. But from then on, it’s a guitar album. There are some fine performances on the likes of ‘Diamonds In The Dirt’ and ‘Watch ‘Em Burn’, but you might want to fast forward through the Jimi Hendrix cover, ‘Manic Depression’. She has a better stab at Frankie Miller’s ‘Jealousy’, and the fanbase she has built up will find a lot to enjoy here.

I get the feeling this might be her saying goodbye to the first part of her career, so will be interested to see where she heads off next.

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JOE BONAMASSA
Tour De Force: Live In London
Provogue

I mean, seriously. Where do you even begin? With a deep breath, and a fresh pot of tea. Right, The Hardest Working Man In Showbusiness, Mr Joe Bonamassa, played four consecutive shows in London at the Royal Albert Hall, Hammersmith Apollo, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and The Borderline. And to the delight of overdrafts everywhere, all four of them have been released as DVD & Blu-rays.

There is also a limited edition DVD and Blu-ray collector’s box set containing all four releases, along with an exclusive hardcover photo book, all wrapped up in packaging that replicates a miniature vintage Marshall amp. So far, so bank busting. But is it any good? Well, yes.

Bonamassa doesn’t do bad shows, so whatever your preference there will be something for you here. Each concert had a different theme, with different set lists, arrangements and ensembles. So every show gives you something, um, different. The Borderline show sees a stripped down performance with a three-piece band which is a loose and more spontaneous affair. The Shepherd’s Bush Empire gig saw the addition of a horn section, giving things a blues review feel, the Hammersmith Apollo show starts off with an acoustic section before heading off into a rock night, while Royal Albert Hall sees him replicate the “An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House” release, with the acoustic band from that show.

All in all, there are over 60 songs performed, from his entire career, offering up something for everyone who likes a bit of Bonamassa.

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