View Active ThreadsCreate an account on HarderFasterLogin to HarderFaster Information for Promoters Information for Advertisers Search HarderFaster About HarderFaster Link to this Page
[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!
Home | News | What's On | Annual Poll | Photos | Forums | DJs | Features | Music | Venues | Reviews | Links |

  More Reviews
Arrakis
Interstellar (Cornfield Chase) (York Remix)
Telepathic Communication
Forest Guardians
Tribe of the Sun
Metaversal
Afterstorm
Brave
Stuttgart
Ghost (ZOYA Remix)
The Last Defeat Pt II (Sam Laxton Remix)
Analogic
Fireflies (Full Fire Mix)
Connected (Standard Form Waiting For Stars Mix)
Into The Sky (Remixes)
Love Heals (Ronski Speed Remix)
Sex Drugs Rock N Roll
Shibui / Reactivate
Running Man
The Breeze
Feeling This Way (Part 2)
Feeling This Way (Remixes Part 1)
Fading Light
Heart Connected (Alucard Remix)
Breathe Again
In Our Memories (ThoBa Remix)
U [I Got A Feeling] (Dan Thompson Remix)
Save Me (John Askew Remix)
What Ya Gonna Do?
The Call to Rave

Jeff Wayne

» The War Of The Worlds: The New Generation

Reviewed by Pete M / Submitted 15-03-16 18:14

Label: Columbia
Format: Digital
Genre: Electronic


Four decades have passed since the original War Of The Worlds album was unleashed on an unsuspecting world. An unsuspecting world...yeah, that is rather apt since the invasion of HG Wells’ legendary story was also unexpected. Anyway...since the original album was released, it has expanded to include a live show, a remix album, a tour and even video games. Now for the 21st Century, Jeff Wayne, the mastermind behind the monstrous album, has unveiled a new rendition. Bigger, louder, brasher and bolder. This is War with balls.

The new album, entitled "The New Generation", tells the story from the 1978 album but with some slight modifications; the story has been slightly altered with more emphasis being put on the Journalist and his fiancée, Carrie. But the main gist of the story is the same. A new cast has been assembled for the album with Liam Neeson, Ricky Wilson, Gary Barlow, Joss Stone and Irish hip-hop artist and singer Maverick Sabre taking over roles made famous by Richard Burton, Julie Covington, Phil Lynott and Justin Hayward.

Indeed, Maverick Sabre’s role of Parson Nathanial echoes Phil Lynott’s fevered madness; intensifying the Parson’s anxieties at being, in his mind, to blame for humanity’s calamity. Joss Stone’s rendition of Beth is the only low point of the album in my view but I’m sure it’ll grow on me. Ricky Wilson, singer with the Kaiser Chiefs and judge on The Voice UK, takes over from David Essex as the Artilleryman and he makes “Brave New World” his own. Funnily enough, it definitely sounds like the Kaisers by the time “Brave New World” kicks in.

Song-wise, its mainly the same tracklisting as the original album with “The Artilleryman Returns” given a track in its own right this time (after being omitted from the 25th anniversary CD but was included on the original vinyl and some pressings of the CD). and “Dead London” is now split into two parts. The advances of musical technology mean that the album is given a fresh, 21st century, makeover and it sounds richer than the original but that somehow adds to the nostalgic element. Granted, its not as memorable (yet) as the genuine article but, given time, it could well reach the cult status enjoyed by the seminal recordings.

NB: This was bought on iTunes.


Rating:
Share this :: Facebook : Digg : Stumble Upon : Delicious
Follow HarderFaster :: Twitter

The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.


Comments:



Back to previous page



HarderFaster Jump
Bookmark and Share
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. All other content is (c) 2001-2024 HarderFaster.

Terms and Conditions | Privacy Statement | Text Mode