Performance and Cocktails

Word Gets Around Import pressing of their 1997 album, now out-of-print in the US. V2.	Just Enough Education to Perform Three albums in, and Stereophonics have written their first truly mature work, Just Enough Education to Perform. While the Welsh trio's first two albums were blighted by the occasional spot of facile pub-rock tub-thumping, which served only to dilute Kelly Jones's emotive laments...	You Gotta Go There to Come Back	Language. Sex. Violence. Other? Stereophonics' fifth album will inevitably provide more material for the band's critics, if only for the fact its title has clearly been rather lazily inspired from the back of a rental video case. The music within, however, is anything but laid-back: the employment of Argentine...	Pull the Pin 2007 Release of the Band's Sixth Studio Album was Previewed to Fans When BBC Radio 1's Chris Moyles Played the Song "Bank Holiday Monday" on the May First 2007 Broadcast of his Show.
Live from Dakota This double CD set was mixed by Jim Lowe. The album includes the band's biggest hits to date including 'Dakota', '1000 Trees', 'Bartender' and 'The Thief, Mr Writer', plus rare tracks such as 'Carrot Cake' and 'Wine' plus brand new track 'Jayne'. 20 tracks in all. V2. 2006.	Language. Sex. Violence. Other?	Rewind	Only the Names Have Been Changed 2007 Debut Solo Album from the Stereophonics Frontman. A Raw, Personal, Deftly Organic Album, It's a Masterclass in Personal Songwriting and Presents a Stunning Sonic Diversion from his Trademark Sound. Jones Explains, "we were Recording the Sixth Stereophonics Album...and In-bet...	Viva La Vida To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks abou...

Great Performance (and Cocktails)
This was the last Stereophonics album that I purchased, and I wish that I had gotten it a lot sooner. Magnificent. All of the tracks are well mixed and the clarity of Kelly's vocals is crystal clear. What a sweet album, and by saying that I mean that I'm glad they chose to show some of their heart on it. Performance includes some of the most beautiful songs the group has ever put together in my opinion. Case in point being "Hurry Up and Wait". This song makes sense if you put it into context concerning the state of peoples beliefs in this day and age. I think they are saying be patient and the good things in life will come to you. In the same context is the track "Is Yesterday, Tommorrow, Today?". But I'm not saying that this album only has slow or mellow tracks. If you want to hear driving rock and roll, just listen to "Roll Up and Shine", "The Bartender and the Thief", and "T-Shirt Sun Tan". Excellent if you really want to get your head bobbing. However, the best two tracks on the album are of the slower variety. "I Stopped to Fill My Car Up" is beautiful in the fact that it's such a creepy tune. And the best has got to be "Just Looking". It's got great verses that build up to crashing choruses. Magical, just magical. This is definately one for anyone who likes great music and especially if they are fans of The Stereophonics.

Great album
This, the Stereophonics 2nd album, is leaps and bounds beyond its predecessor, Word Gets Around, in terms of production, songwriting, and performance. From the brutal opener of Roll Up and Shine to the storming rockers like The Bartender and The Thief, Half of the Lies You Tell Ain't True, and T-Shirt Sun Tan, to the pretty She Takes Her Clothes Off, I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio, and Plastic California, this album is rock-solid (pun intended!). The closer is a little long-winded and repetitive, and there are some limp ballads (Just Looking, Hurry Up and Wait) but overall, this is a solid album!

hit and miss...mostly miss
if you can get past the grating voice of the lead singer, you might find this album mildly enjoyable. The record is very schizophrenic and doesn't really put a stamp on what it's trying to do. The band is at their best when they ease off the pedal and put some rythum into their music. There are three great songs on this album - Hurry Up and Wait, A Minute Longer and I Stopped to Fill My Car Up - that exemplify the band's strength. But anytime they try and reach beyond their capabilities, the music falls apart. Having said that, the 3 great songs, along with 4 or 5 more decent ones, are worth the money. It's not the greatest album in the world, but it's not bad.

American Perspective
Grunge is just a memory now as the American masses go after Kid Rock. But bands like Stereophonics have been doing the great old punk/metal thing for a few years, and this new record was actually up for this year's Mercury Prize. Songs like "The Bartender and The Thief" and "T-shirt Sun Tan" are classic songs to get excited about. Also they are big on ballads, that show a softer side to the power trio from Wales. I saw them recently live, and they are entertaining, with singer Kelly Jones' head to the side approach, and the drummer Stuart Cable had as much energy as Keith Moon. Finally here's a band who can take the mantel from Oasis and Nirvana. A record for those who want to rock out!(www.freewilliamsburg.com)

Stomp Rock Brit/Welsh Style At Its Best
The Sterophonics' second album offers a refreshing offering of Brit Stomp Rock (except they are Welsh). What a great album, full of great guitar hooks and band leader Kelly Jones' personal views of life and relationships.The album starts of with a rousing "Roll Up and Shine", as good an album opener as you will find. The next track "The Bartender and The Thief" (one of the album's highly succesful singles in the UK) is an up-uptempo rocker, just great. "Hurry Up and Wait" (another of the singles) is an accoustic-based slower song, contemplating the question of why we wanna hurry up all the time. "Half The Lies" is one of the album's best tracks, another stomp-along tracks, and the same can be said for the ironically titled "Is Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow", demonstrating Kelly Jones' smart lyrics. "I Wouldn't Believe Your Radio" (another single) stems from a dream Kelly had about "Ringo Starr and George Harrison singing in front of my parents' house", and while originally intended to be sung by drummer Stuart Cable (in the vein of Ringo Starr), in the end Kelly has lead vocals on this one.This album was the break-through for the Stereophonics in the UK and it's easy to see why: great melodies, great guitar hooks, and interesting themes. The band has made some headway in the US this year (most recently opening for U2), but they deserve much better. BUY IT!