Counting Crows new album 'Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings'

COUNTING CROWS: Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings (Geffen): HAD heard mixed stories about this album so was very pleasantly surprised - this is good!

It's the first studio album in over five years for the California rock outfit who've been around since 1994, but it has been worth the wait.

It might be that I'm a bit of a Stones freak that I like this so much because all the way through I keep hearing "You can't always get what you want ." But that's no bad thing for me!

The album has a double name because it has been split into two distinctive parts. The Saturday Nights section of six tracks has the theme of a descent into darkness while out on a Saturday night through drink and medications! While the second, Sunday Mornings, is about the realisation of the next day's hangover. Vocalist Adam Duritz described it as "Saturday night is when you sin and Sunday is when you regret. Sinning is often done very loudly, angrily, bitterly, violently."

The difference is very distinct; the first section is produced by Brit Gil Norton, who has previously worked with Foo Fighters and Echo and the B. It goes straight in with two hard rocking numbers, with thick guitar riffs, then a bluesy number 'Los Angeles' again very Stonesy but with some Band in their too, my favourite track. Things get a bit quieter before rocking back with 'Cowboys' which has a hint of Eagles. So a great start for me.

The second section - producer Brian Deck - is said to try and emulate great folk based albums like Carol King's 'Tapestry' and S and G's 'Bridge over Troubled Waters', the feeling of being unplugged. Whether it does that I couldn't honestly comment! But this is a very mellow acoustic guitar set of eight more tracks, great ballads with keyboards even a banjo there somewhere, slowing right down to 'On a Tuesday' and then another bluesy rocker 'Come Around' to end it all - except for the bonus track which takes you gently out.

This is a great mix from the Crows and as they play a lot of acoustic stuff on their stage show I guess the fans will love this as much as I enjoyed it.

VOODOO SIX: First Hit For Free: THE UK heavy rockers are heavily tipped for a big hit with this album.

Voodoo Six tipped for big hit with 'First Hit For Free'

It is very much in the tradition of British hard rock of the 70s and 80s but don't think that's where it belongs because this is exciting contemporary stuff.

There are great guitar riffs, tight and punchy tracks and great vocals from Henry Rundell who could give Robert Plant a run for his money.

The album has been mixed by Canadian Mike Fraser who has worked with Van Halen, ACDC, Aerosmith, Metallica etc, so there's some pedigree here.

The first single 'Faith' is a stand-out track but there are plenty of other good tracks to bang your head to - play it loud mind you!

ELLIOT MINOR: Parallel Worlds (April 7, Warner Bros/Reposession Records): Tagged as the biggest UK underground band, this York based quintet is hoping to crash well and truly onto the scene when their debut album is released on April 14.

But you can get an early taste of what to expect with this new single 'Parallel Worlds' out a week earlier.

This is a fast paced orchestration, heavy organ synth sound with great piano work and three way vocal harmonies that provide an infectious sound that could hit the top of the charts.

The album features three earlier singles the highest of which topped at 17th, but this is something better still. And as support to other headline groups, they have been playing to 10,000 crowd gigs so their name will only grow stronger.

At the moment they're on their biggest tour to date to promote that album with a date at Cardiff Uni on April 11, and will support Simple Plan on their European tour.

Watch out for them.

BLACK TIDE: Shockwave (April 14, Interscope): IF you like heavy rock then check out this single from Black Tide, a taster from their new album 'Light From Above' which is out now.

It's a storming track with heavy riffs and a memorable chorus from a Plant soundalike.

And they're all aged between 14-19! Don't let that put you off, though, and give it a listen, you'll probably enjoy!

INFADELS: Make Mistakes (April 14, Wall of Sound): Two years on from their acclaimed debut album 'We Are Not the Infadels', the band has released a new single 'Make Mistakes' taken from their upcoming second album 'Universe in Reverse' out later this year.

It's excellent pop-rock with a catchy chorus and great guitarwork from the London based quintet, who have appeared in 300 gigs with the likes of the Chemical Brothers, Franz Ferdinand and The Arcade Fire over the intervening period.

The track is backed by 'Black Eyes and Love Bites' and dancefloor remixes of 'Make Mistakes'. This is full of energy and a great taste of what to expect on the album.

11:40am Thursday 3rd April 2008

Storming single 'Shockwave' from Black Tide.

Infadels' new single 'Make Mistakes' taken from upcoming album 'Universe in Reverse'.

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