Sticks To Your Ribs

Iron Maiden - Dance of Death REVIEW: A-

Like an old shirt that is comfortable but the screening is cracking and says ASS of 988 -- you don't want to give it away, but more importantly it brings a sense of comforting comfort -- yeah you know the kind

Something about Maiden albums with the classic lineup of Bruce on the mic and three axes with Nicko -- it's familiar and comforting

This outing is feels more confident than BNW -- it's like IM settled back into a great epic power metal groove -- some things that are interesting are the freewheeling rock of Wildest Dreams that shows that Maiden need not be formulaic to be successful -- not to scare anyone away, but there is plenty of classic power metal goodness like "Rainmaker", the epic majesty of "Montsegur" and "Paschendale", the anthemic gallop of "No More Lies" -- the sleeper track of this collection is "Face in the Sand", with its building of drama and full showcase of Bruce's vox stylings -- there is also some dabbling in the slow medieval balladry elements of BNW-- but again the boys in Maiden have provided the world with its daily recommended allowance of power metal -- at the Luau, we still UP THE IRONS

Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me REVIEW: A

My goodness, what a great month for surprises! Nellie McKay has an eclectic collection of really awesome music -- some have said she's Doris Day meets Eminem -- well, not really...

What you get instead is everything from swinging jazz, to slow burning piano torchsongs, to Tom Tom Club-styled rapping, to surreal dance music ala Supreme Beings of Leisure -- really varied, all very compelling, and again really fantastic, clever lyrics -- and her vocal command is really exceptional-- GIVEN THAT SHE'S ONLY A TEEN-- yikes, look out for this one, she may be a star that burns very long on our horizon

Very highly recommended, some tracks to sample if you don't believe me are: "Manhattan Avenue" and "Sari" -- you won't turn back, but you can thank us later