SmokeCDs.com - Recent Reviews

Feeling The Trend But Thinking Again (EP) - Invader Cain

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

Auckland based band Invader Cain formed in late 2009 and quickly established themselves on the local scene with their first EP, 'This is the Moment'. The group now present their 'Feeling the Trend But Thinking Again' EP, featuring "Burning".

Invader Cain is a hard working band with aspirations to push their art as far as it can go.

No More Fun And Games EP - November Zulu

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

November Zulu has evolved over the last year with 3 new members coming on board. With Geordie Meade anchored on lead vocals, Mike Tahaafe and Dan Jones on guitars, Jamie Anderson on Bass, and Adam Tobeck on drums, the new line up was complete and the focus was now on new material.

The band wrote/recorded and self-produced this EP with the help of engineer and good friend Neil Baldock at Neil Finn's Roundhead Studios. Mastering was completed by Steve Smart at Studios 301 in Sydney. The EP consists of 5 tracks, each track intentionally covers a different topic/feel to show case the band's ability to pursue various genres.

Vows (Deluxe Edition 2CD) - Kimbra

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

No New Zealand artist has had such a rapid rise to success as our Kimbra. From being signed up to Warner Brothers Records, to releasing her debut NZ gold certified album 'Vows', she was also a recipient of the New Zealand Critics' Choice Award 2011 as well as 'Best Female Artist' at the 2011 ARIAs. The pop songstress' collaboration with Australian artist Gotye on his single "Somebody That I Used to Know" reached the #1 spot on the Billboard chart in the United States -- the first New Zealander since OMC's "How Bizarre" in 1997!

To celebrate our biggest Kiwi export, a deluxe edition of 'Vows' is released. The special 2-disc album features the standard album plus six brand new tracks on disc two.

Kimbra featured on the new Converse campaign single "Warrior" alongside Mark Foster (Foster The People) and A-Trak (DuckSauce). That song is now included on Kimbra's 'Vows' Deluxe Edition.

Vulgar Display Of Power (Deluxe Edition CD/DVD) - Pantera

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

The Deluxe Edition of 'Vulgar Display of Power' features the debut of "Piss," an incendiary blast of vintage Pantera from the original recording sessions. It remained lost until Vinnie Paul rediscovered the track while going through the band's vault.

Along with the unreleased song, 'Vulgar Display of Power' also features unreleased video of the quartet performing six songs at the Monsters Of Rock show in Reggio Emilia, Italy on September 12, 1992. The set list draws almost exclusively from Vulgar ("This Love," "Rise" "Mouth For War"), but also includes the title track from their previous album, Cowboys From Hell, and a melding of Vulgar's "Hollow" and Cowboys' "Domination," which was a live staple of the band.

The Hits Collection (DVD) - Prince

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

Original Release Date: September 1993

Runtime: 61mins

Fifteen videos for songs from Prince's 1993 greatest hits album, are presented together on this 1993 DVD. Featuring a standard 1.33:1 transfer and nothing else, the disc is the definition of "no-frills," but fans of the artist will likely be satisfied just to have the videos in a digital format. The lone audio track is in English and is presented in PCM stereo.

The pint-sized, sex-obsessed pop music guru called Prince (and then "the artist formerly known as Prince," and then Prince again) is one of mainstream music's most eccentric geniuses. Along with having had several chart topping songs and albums, the musician has written countless other gems for a diverse array of other performers, among them Sinead O' Connor. THE HITS COLLECTION is a 15 video retrospective of Prince's best loved videos, from the beginning of his career through 1993. Included are "1999," "Diamonds and Pearls," "Little Red Corvette," and "Kiss."

The Hits, The B-Sides (3CD) - Prince

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

Basically a best of Prince up until 1993. Included here are also some of Prince's brilliant B-sides that never made it on to the albums.

Contains "Erotic City", the awesome "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" which is an outtake from the 'Dirty Mind' sessions, "Shockadelica", "Horny Toad", "God" and two new songs "4 The Tears In Your Eyes" (Live version) and "Power Fantastic".

This triple disc set is an essential in the Prince back catalog.

The Visitors (Deluxe Edition CD/DVD) - Abba

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

'The Visitors' Deluxe Edition includes the original album with bonus tracks plus a DVD of rare and previously unreleased television material.

Originally released in 1981, the album features single hits such as "One Of Us", "Head Over Heels" and "When All Is Said And Done", along with "Slipping Through My Fingers", which is highlighted in one of the more poignant moments in the 'Mamma Mia!' musical.

Like the previous Deluxe Editions of ABBA's albums, 'The Visitors' features several bonus selections along with a DVD of rare and previously unreleased material from the archives. For ABBA fans, the most sensational inclusion in the package will be the previously unreleased track, "From A Twinkling Star To A Passing Angel". This is the first time since the 'Thank You For The Music' box set in 1994 that ABBA have opened the doors to the tape vaults to release previously unheard music from the group's heyday.

Electric Warrior (40th Anniversary 2CD/DVD) - T Rex

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

Widely considered to be one of the quintessential Glam Rock releases, Electric Warrior features two of T-Rex's most popular songs “Get It On” (Known as “Bang a Gong (Get it On)” in the US) and “Jeepster” and we now celebrate its 40th anniversary. Originally released in September 1971, sparked a movement that gathered pace to become a fully-fledging phenomenon and broke Marc Bolan big in 1972, heralding a new Glam or Glitter Rock era. Bolan and “Rexmania” was as close as anyone had come to Beatle mania since the 60's.

Disc 1 - ORIGINAL ALBUM PLUS SINGLE A & B SIDES:

01. Mambo Sun

02. Cosmic Dancer

03. Jeepster

04. Monolith

05. Lean Woman Blues

06. Get It On

07. Planet Queen

08. Girl

09. The Motivator

10. Life's A Gas

11. Rip Off

Bonus Tracks:

12. There Was A Time / Raw Ramp - B-side

13. Hot Love - A-side

14. King Of The Mountain Cometh - B-side

15. Woodland Rock - B-side

Disc 2 - DEMOS & OUT-TAKES:

01. Electric Warrior Poem - Rare US Radio promo

02. Mambo Sun - Instrumental edit

03. Cosmic Dancer - single-vocal version

04. Jeepster - single-vocal version

05. Monolith - no backing vocals version

06. Lean Woman Blues - single-guitar track - Work in Progress

07. Get It On - Full Length version

08. Planet Queen - acoustic version

09. Girl - New York demo

10. The Motivator - Work in Progress

11. Life's A Gas - Studio out-take

12. Rip Off - Instrumental

13. Raw Ramp - London demo version

14. Electric Boogie - London demo version

15. Honey Don't - Studio out-take / Work in Progress

16. Planet Queen - Acoustic solo / London demo version

17. Girl - Acoustic solo / London demo version

18. Jeepster - Electric home demo version

19. Get It On - Acoustic home demo version

20. Untitled instrumental - studio out-take

21. Electric Warrior Poem and radio advert. US Radio promo

Disc 2 - DVD:

Hot Love

Get It On

Life's A Gas

Girl

Cosmic Dancer

Get It On

Jeepster

Life's A Gas

Electric Warrior (40th Anniversary 2CD) - T Rex

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

Widely considered to be one of the quintessential Glam Rock releases, 'Electric Warrior' features two of T. Rex's most popular songs "Get It On" (known as "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the US) and "Jeepster". Originally released in September 1971, it sparked a movement that gathered pace to become a fully-fledged phenomenon and broke Marc Bolan big in 1972, heralding a new Glam or Glitter Rock era. Bolan and "Rexmania" was as close as anyone had come to Beatlemania since the 60s. Over Christmas 1971, this album enjoyed a lengthy stay atop the UK chart, also enjoying chart success worldwide. The astonishing track list and iconic cover-art has secured 'Electric Warrior's enduring legacy in the classic rock canon.

This 40th Anniversary reissue pays tribute to one of the landmark recordings of the 20th Century. The 2CD Deluxe Edition includes Tony Visconti's re-mastered version of the original album plus B-sides. Disc 2 contains previously unreleased alternate takes, instrumentals and recently re-discovered New York and London demos for the album.

Electric Warrior (40th Anniversary 2LP) - T Rex

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00 -1300

This 40th Anniversary vinyl reissue pays tribute to one of the landmark records of the 20th Century.

Widely considered to be one of the quintessential Glam Rock releases, 'Electric Warrior' features two of T. Rex's most popular songs "Get It On" (known as "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the US) and "Jeepster". Originally released in September 1971, it sparked a movement that gathered pace to become a fully-fledged phenomenon and broke Marc Bolan big in 1972, heralding a new Glam or Glitter Rock era. Bolan and "Rexmania" was as close as anyone had come to Beatlemania since the 60s. Over Christmas 1971, this album enjoyed a lengthy stay atop the UK chart, also enjoying chart success worldwide. The astonishing track list and iconic cover-art has secured 'Electric Warrior's enduring legacy in the classic rock canon.