Search results: Courtney Williams

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


If you're even close to 35-years-old, the initialisation "MTV" and the word "Unplugged" likely conjures images of peak-hype Nirvana, arguably the most defining and revered of all this format's many moments. Nevertheless, Courtney Barnett's electric-free contribution to the series, recorded live in Melbourne, may well be the best conceived in the episodic series. Rather than going down the usual "Unplugged" route - hits, covers of classics and a few from the new album, sans power chords, - Barnett confirms what those paying close attention have always known to be true. Yes, she's an inspiring and inspired artist, as work like "Nameless, Faceless" shows (here turned into a duet even more resonant and chilling than the original). But she's also a community leader, a gifted collaborator who has nurtured peers - and with half this album reimagining others, she's clearly still determined to let them shine.

Review: If you're even close to 35-years-old, the initialisation "MTV" and the word "Unplugged" likely conjures images of peak-hype Nirvana, arguably the most defining and revered of all this format's many moments. Nevertheless, Courtney Barnett's electric-free contribution to the series, recorded live in Melbourne, may well be the best conceived in the episodic series. Rather than going down the usual "Unplugged" route - hits, covers of classics and a few from the new album, sans power chords, - Barnett confirms what those paying close attention have always known to be true. Yes, she's an inspiring and inspired artist, as work like "Nameless, Faceless" shows (here turned into a duet even more resonant and chilling than the original). But she's also a community leader, a gifted collaborator who has nurtured peers - and with half this album reimagining others, she's clearly still determined to let them shine.

Review: If you're even close to 35-years-old, the initialisation "MTV" and the word "Unplugged" likely conjures images of peak-hype Nirvana, arguably the most defining and revered of all this format's many moments. Nevertheless, Courtney Barnett's electric-free contribution to the series, recorded live in Melbourne, may well be the best conceived in the episodic series. Rather than going down the usual "Unplugged" route - hits, covers of classics and a few from the new album, sans power chords, - Barnett confirms what those paying close attention have always known to be true. Yes, she's an inspiring and inspired artist, as work like "Nameless, Faceless" shows (here turned into a duet even more resonant and chilling than the original). But she's also a community leader, a gifted collaborator who has nurtured peers - and with half this album reimagining others, she's clearly still determined to let them shine.

Review: There's no doubt that The Odyssey was a labour of love for its' creator, former Northern Soul DJ and current Harmless Records boss Ian Dewhirst. His aim was simple: to put together the single most authoritative and expansive retrospective of that most British of underground dance cultures. Fittingly, he's more than succeeded; the 175-track, eight-CD collection boasts not only a wealth of popular "Northern" hits, but also plenty of sought-after obscurities. As if that wasn't enough to get the juices flowing, the box set also features two DVDs - an excellent documentary about the scene, and extensive interviews with key scene players - plus a 160-page book containing excerpts from Mike Ritson's definitive Northern Soul book, "The In Crowd". In other words, it's superb.