City Of Sound
A Rough Guide To Gradings

As I will be writing for The Rock this year I'm bringing my grading system into line with theirs. Here is how it works.

A song is awarded points on a scale of 0 to 3, where 0 is considered to be crap, 1 average, 2 good and 3 classic. We add up the total and then divide it by the total points available - for ten songs that will be 30 (3x10), 11 songs 33, and so on. This figure is then multiplied by 100 to achieve the magical % rating.

Of course it is not an exact science and the rating is still very much a matter of opinion. Anything between 60-70% has to be considered a strong effort while you won't come across much above that very often.

100 - 91 Classic 50 - 41 Patchy
90 - 81 Essential 40 - 31 Below Average
80 - 71 Brilliant 30 - 21 Bad
70 - 61 Very Good 20 - 11 Very Bad
60 - 51 Good 10 - 00 Delete

August '98

Broken Voices

BROKEN VOICES
BROKEN VOICES
THOUGHTSCAPE TSS 0010
55%

Broken Voices are a female fronted trio led by Little River Band's Graham Goble. This is another project that has had a long gestation period, being written and I assume recorded back in 1991 (I've had some of the material on tape for years). The style is very much a product of its time sounding pretty dated in parts (like the groups photos - Miami Vice here we come!). "Lessons Of Love" is an acoustic led song with a totally 80s AOR sound with Heart being the nearest comparison, great hook and vocals from Susie Ahern and some interesting ideas arrangement wise. "Halls Of Justice" has a slower, more atmospheric feeling with some heavier guitar work from Stephen Housden and a sound not too far removed from the recent Dare album in fact - one of the strongest tracks on the album. "Restless Heart" is again very Heart-like, a slow acoustic led piece with something of a latino groove and vocal harmonies which remind me of The Triplets or maybe Wilson Phillips. "Into Your Arms" begins in acapella style sounding very like Clannad and follows along similar lines to "Restless Heart" including a resurrection of that Dare sound on the solo. Mid-way through the album takes a turn to rather middle of the road territory, with a few tracks sounding like an AOR Abba. Not unpleasant but hardly compelling stuff. The set gets back onto the right track with "Your Secret Is Out" (that latino flavoured Heart sound is up to full wack with this one, a great chorus hook as well) and "Tangled Skeins". "I've Got Everything" closes the set with some well placed rockier elements. Goble's production is clear but rather uninvolving, perhaps showing up the albums demo roots. A decent album then, worth taking a look at if you're into the lighter side of AOR.

Thinking Chair

A Is AA IS A
THINKING CHAIR
LOGGERHEAD 76974 2167-2
65%

Canadian duo A Is A have created an excellent debut album combining the best elements of the contemporary rock scene with more than a touch of 80s melodic rock. From the simple acoustic beginnings of "Beautiful" or the title track to harder rocking numbers like "Make Up Your Mind" or "Driving By Your House", to rootsier numbers like "What Kind Of World" their biggest assets are first and foremost good songs. Karen Holley has a superb voice, combining the strength and sensuality of Alannah Myles (the bluesy swagger of "You Don't Love Me" and the raunchy pop of "Price Of A Kiss" would have been perfect for Myles) with the pop sensibilities of Louise Reny (One 2 One). "Walk In My Shoes" is the album's highlight combining great hook with a big, big almost southern rock style riff from Mark Delahanty, coming across like Joanna Dean meets If Only's Tina Egan. All in all a great album and well worth looking out for.
Contact: http:www.markaren.com

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Peter Sims
Last update 10th August 1998
Created 10th August 1998 © Peter Sims