Reviews roundup – Kansas vs. Thunderstone vs. The Puppini Sisters vs. Countafitt vs. Still Square

Reviews roundup – Kansas vs. Thunderstone vs. The Puppini Sisters vs. Countafitt vs. Still Square

KANSAS
Always Never The Same
thestoreformusic

A vanilla reissue of the thirteenth studio album from Kansas.  Once which saw them heading to Abbey Road to re-record some classics in the company of the London Symphony Orchestra. Now, some people don’t like this sort of thing, but I’m not one of them.

However, the world would be a better place with a few less Beatles covers, so for me the album starts with ‘Dust In The Wind’.  And why not.  It’s their best known tune, covered by many, including the legend that is Sarah Brightman, and this reimagined version works very well.

There is still room for some new tunes with ‘In Your Eyes’ and ‘The Sky Is Falling’ the best of them, both fitting nicely into their canon.  The new (in 1998) arrangements work well, and even if this isn’t an absolutely essential Kansas album, it’s still really enjoyable for fans of their proggish stylings.

It was a one off release on an indie label, and it’s also out at mid-price, so if there is a gap in your Kansas collection, fill it now.

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THUNDERSTONE
Apocalypse Again
AFM

Yeah, well, the basic concept of an apocalypse kind of precludes the notion of ‘again’.  Kids today, eh?

Mind you, it’s been over half a decade since Finlandian power metallers Thunderstone graced us with their present, and it also heralds the return of original vocalist Pasi Rantanen.  So, is it a return to the world of “Evolution 4.0”?  Well, yes, it is.

And that’s a good thing as their keyboard led take on the genre is mighty impressive, something the opening ‘Veterans Of The Apocalypse’ sets up nicely.  Flashy keyboards, great riffs and a chorus that will get festival crowds champing at the bit.

It’s a powerful album from start to finish, with nary a duff track on offer.  Power metal fans who may have forgotten Thunderstone would be well advised to check them out.

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THE PUPPINI SISTERS
The High Life
Millionaire Records

Album number five from The Puppini Sisters sees the arrival of a new sister in the shape of Emma Smith but little else has changed in their world of three part harmonies on “The High Life” (oh, dearie me).

As one of the first to head down the route of olde worlde vocal groups taking on modern material, the Puppini Sisters spearheaded a mini movement, and even though there is some competition out there nowadays, their branding guarantees them top billing.

Musically, they’re still mixing and matching with takes on the likes of Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive’ and ‘Tico Tico’ nestling alonside a a medley of the Sugarhill Gang’s ‘Rapper’s Delight’ and Sia’s ‘Chandelier’.  There is a real highlight in the shape of the ‘Material Girls Medley’ which traverses through the worlds of Meghan Trainor, Rihanna, Madonna, Cabaret and Marilyn Monroe and even though everything isn’t quite up there, it’s a welcome return.

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COUNTAFITT
Empty Tears
independent

As a Scotchman, one of my favourite things about this band is that they come fae Wee Waa!  You can always trust the fictional continent of Australasia for a quality place name.

Anyway, seems that over there, Countafitt have set about giving their own spin on seventies hard rock, with some prog touches thrown in hither and thither.  And they’re pretty good ait.  Sensibly, it seems thay’ve built their own recording studio, so there is no need for a blind panic when they see the meter ticking over, something that certainly seems to have helped when it comes to their sound.

Where they go from here, who knows, as their singer jacked it in after the album was recorded, so they’ll be starting from scratch with a new front man, but songs like ‘Devil In A Women’, ‘Lonely Heart’ and ‘Reckless’ show they’ve got some writing chops.

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STILL SQUARE
Hard Rock’n’Roll
Brennus

The French and rock music go together like bacon and hummus.  In fact, I still sometimes wake up screaming after a flashback to seeing Telephone live back in them there olden days.  With the always honourable exception of Trust, it’s just not their thing/ But Still Square have a better handle on it than most.

I have no idea who or what they are, because in typical French fashion, their press release is in French.  After all, it is a universal language, non?  Non, it buckin’ isn’t.  BUt after some crackle and horse, the opening ‘S&T’ crashes through the door in finest biker metal fashion.  They sing some songs in English and some in French, but it’s the music that matters here.

I’m guessing they’ve been at this a while, as at least three of them could be Zakk Wyldes Dad, but when they crank out riffs like ‘Sentinelle Oubliee’, ‘Flying Dutchman’ and the title track, it doesn’t really matter.  It only falls apart when they try to sing the blues, but if the thought of your Dad ducking glasses in a biker pub at the weekend sounds like your idea of fun, give them a go.  Me? I’m still recovering from the fact that one of them used to be in a French metal band called Falkirk!  Sexy, oui?

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