THIS WEEK’S CD RELEASES

Modernised

The Blades (Raytown Records) Fans of a certain age will be delighted that The Blades have released their first studio album in three decades. Often cited as a band more deserving of international success than their Dublin peers U2, the reasons why they didn’t achieve that pinnacle echo loudly on Modernised. Paul Cleary’s social commentary on tracks such as On The Town, and A Love We Won’t Deny, which eulogises the impact of 2015’s same sex marriage referendum, are polite, well-meaning and may raise a thumbs up but hardly stoke a fire in the belly.

Magic Days

JackLukeman (Jack Lukeman) Lukeman is known as one of the finest voices in Irish music, but his talent as a songwriter shouldn’t be overlooked. The Athy man so subtly examines the terrorist/freedom fighter debate in Sweet As Freedom that it can be appreciated for its lyrics or its anthemic qualities. Sky News Blues tackles the channel’s omniscient influence in biting, but humorous, fashion. The Show is quite like Jackie, a track by Jacques Brel, whose songs Lukeman has covered. It’s all expertly produced and, if there is any justice, 2017 should be magic year for him.

AFI: The Blood Album

AFI (Caroline International) In a career spanning more than a quarter of a century, this Californian band has had many micro labels applied to their music. Essentially now they operate in a milieu that would be considered retro-emo; their fans prefer ‘horror punk’, ‘Gothic Rock’ or ‘post hardcore.’ What they do well is songs with bite and big swaggering choruses. You can hear Placebo, the Cure and My Chemical Romance on tracks such as Aurelia, Snow Cats, and Above The Bridge, which particularly brings Robert Smith to mind.