SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS – MAY YOUR KINDNESS REMAIN

ANDREWS was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, a fast-growing desert sprawl that sees almost 4,000 hours of sunshine each year, more than any other major city in the world. But the darkness of depression and sorrow pervades her world, and Andrews’ gift for directing the daily struggle of life into song brings us to May Your Kindness Remain.

Shot through with compassion, hymnal qualities and an innate understanding of the human condition, it brings to mind the likes of Carole King or Linda Ronstadt. The stories told within tell tenderly and soulfully of a yearning for happier times. The remarkable manner of their telling petitions the listener to never lose faith.

RICK PARFITT – OVER AND OUT

THE late Status Quo star had been working on his solo album for some time. When this was unable to happen, other artists stepped in to help, among them Brian May and Chris Wolstenholme of Muse who, alongside Rick Parfitt Junior, finished it off. Two versions are available: the full production version and the more raw ‘band mix’.

The songs themselves show clearly their heritage. Some wouldn’t be out of place on one of Quo’s earlier albums, Everybody Knows How To Fly being a prime example. Others, such as ballads like When I Was Falling In Love and Without You, hark back even further with a flavour of the 1960s.

This album stands as a memorial to one of rock music’s icons.

GEORGE EZRA – STAYING AT TAMARA’S

THIS is clearly intended as a party starter, with almost all of the songs based on bombastic choruses and driving basslines: Paradise (the chorus of which cheekily cribs from Budapest) even has crowd call and response vocals.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t entirely play to the singer’s strengths.

Ezra’s most distinctive asset, his deep and rich voice, is better suited to romantic balladry than Coldplay-esque stadium fillers.

Softer tunes such as the opener Pretty Shining People and the Paul McCartneyish Human stand out among the bangers which, all following a similar formula, are difficult to tell apart, and the album passes by pleasantly but indifferently.