Sandi Thom // Earthquake

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

It’s been 2 years since we’ve had anything from singer songwriter Sandi Thom (in the form of The Covers Collection, it’s 3 years since an album of own material, Flesh & Blood) but now she’s revealed the first track from the forthcoming album, Weapons of Past Destruction (set for release in 2016) and it comes in the form of Earthquake.

The song sees a return to a pop sound, rather than the blues sound that we’ve heard in recent years from her. Although a song of personal experience, it is also one that will probably resonate with listeners with the theme of having your world shattered and you’re left to pick up the pieces.

Is this return to her pop roots a good thing? Time will only tell but giving but given the recent trend for a sound of yesteryear, it will be interesting to see what the rest of the album sounds like.

Rating: 4/5

Sandi Thom @ Howden Park Centre, Livingston 17th April 2014

It’s been just over a year & half since Sandi Thom last toured the UK but that was with a full band. This time around it’s just Thom being a one (wo)man band playing all bar the kitchen sink (maybe she plays this too, we’re not quite sure but wouldn’t be surprised) in a evening of stories and songs performed as they haven’t been heard before.

Before Thom was support act Steve Appleton who was also was his own band, this time though with a little help from a loop pedal. He worked through a set of his own music including Diamonds & Valantina and admitted that he had been trying new material on the Scottish audiences. After a small interval it was time for the main act.

Opening the set with two tracks from the latest album, Help Me & Stormy Weather, it’s clear that this isn’t what has gone before, with the songs being performed in what can only be described as new arrangements bringing a new feeling to them. Thom welcomes everyone to the show before heading into a tale of heading to London to ‘live the dream’ and about the drunk in the local pub who could belt out anything that was requested and that this was the inspiration was the next track, The Human Jukebox.

It’s a jump to the third album, Merchants & Thieves for the next track, Belly Of The Blues before back tracking to The Pink & The Lily for The Shape I’m In (a song inspired by the events of her first visit to LA where after a bit of a wild night with the Scottish Rugby Team, she spent the night on the street). It’s back to the present album for the next track, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s The Big Ones Get Away a song which, on the album, she performed with the lady herself.

Runaway Train provides an opportunity for a little audience participation in a call and response (something the Scots audiences usually can’t resist taking part in). A reminisce of her days in the band The Residents, it time for a cover track, one frequently performed as part of this group. It comes in the form of the Fleetwood Mac track, Landslide. 

Time to head back to the debut album for the next track in the from of What If I’m Right before we get the title track of the current studio album, Flesh & Blood. Things slow down again for My Ungrateful Heart from The Pink & The Lily before it time for I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) in which she plays the harmonica, strums the guitar & stamps her feet all at the same time. A short break and she comes back for one more track in the form of When Horsepower Meant What It Said.

As said at the start, this was not the usual Sandi Thom concert. The stripped back approach seemed to work with tracks from all 4 studio albums being given a new working bringing them a new life. The venue seemed to be perfect for what very quickly felt like a very intimate experience between artist & audience. The mix of tracks showcased that Sandi’s voice could do quite & tender but also big & powerful but also meant that there was most likely something for everyone in the set whilst showing how far she’s come since she was first presented to us. A different night out and one that we would like to see again.

Photos: © Vhari Lannigan

Sandi Thom
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes | Buy @ official Store

Steve Appleton
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

Sandi Thom // The Covers Collection

Funded by fans through the Pledge Music website, Sandi Thom’s latest offering, if the title didn’t give it away, is a collection of cover tracks.

For some of the tracks, they’ve been previously heard via Thom’s YouTube channel when she used to do weekly cover tracks, whilst some of them have previously been released (Led Zepplin’s November Rain featured on her most recent album, Flesh & Blood and Foo Fighters Times Like These was previously released as an exclusive through promotion back in 2008)

There is no big fancy production here. It is just simply Thom performing these tracks and bringing her own interpretation of the ears of the listener. What shines here is through this bare bones approach, that we hear a Sandi normally reserved for live shows. A lovely addition for any fan to enjoy

Rating: 4/5

Sandi Thom @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut Glasgow (10th November 2012)

It's been 2 years, 6 months and 3 days since Sandi was last in Glasgow, but it's been 4 years and 4 months since she last graced the stage of the infamous King Tut's Wah Wah Hut.

Opening for Sandi was Edinburgh singer/songwriter Carrie Mac. Taking to the stage, she performed a selection of tracks including Love Curse, Heartbreaker (where she announced that she'd only ever played it live once before!), recent single Things I Wish I'd Said, Little Respect (a popular cover amongst fans where she said the crowd could join in if they wanted), Falling At Your Feet and finishing off with Like A Star.

It wasn't long until the main act was ready to take the stage. Opening with two tracks from her latest release (Help Me and Stormy Weather) before heading into the familiar but yet different I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair). Rise As One is come next followed by the first visit to the Merchants and Thieves album in the form of Show No Concern.

Before heading into the next track, Sandi begins to tell the tale behind her next track (whilst tuning her guitar) about her moving to Tooting and about the man who always seemed to always be drunk but sang like Frank Sinatra even after 10 pints (which got the response from the crowd of 'So did Frank Sinatra'). This led into a track from her debut album Smile...It Confuses People in the form of Human Jukebox. From here it's seamless into another track from the same album, the beautiful Castles.

After this quiet moment, the tempo (and noise!) level is raised as they head into Ain't That A Lot Of Love. Keeping the pace is This Ol' World with backing vocalist Lindsey taking the sections that originally Joe Bonamassa sang on the track and both her Sandi sounded great. Taking it down for the moment is I Owe You Zero before making some more noise with Heart Of Stone.

Another moment of reflection comes as Sandi describes the recording the next track with it's original artist, Buffy Sainte Marie and how it was a great honour to do so. It is of course Big Ones Get Away. After this beautiful performance, Sandi announces that they have a couple of special guests to join them for the next track and up hop Scottish hip hop duo Shy & DRS to perform the track Revolution before they and all but Sandi and guitarist Steve are left.

She decides at this point it’s time to come down and join the crowd and see what it’s like from where they are and then begins the background on the next track; how she was trying to impress her now boyfriend Joe Bonamassa with the next track and hoping not to murder it seeing as it was one of his. This story leads us into I Need Your Love So Bad. After this, she hops back up onto the stage as the rest of the band join her for the last and title track to her latest album, Flesh and Blood. Of course it’s not the last track as after leaving the stage for a few minutes, they’re back to sing Runaway Train with some crowd participation involved.

Overall, it's great to see Sandi back in Glasgow. She called it her first homecoming gig (with Aberdeen & Edinburgh still to go at the time) and apparently Glasgow is the only place where she has full conversations with the audience during a set. It’s always interesting to hear the songs live because they never seem to be how they were recorded in the first place, but that is the draw of seeing an artist live. She seems more content now that she is doing her own thing. And of course a mention to Carrie Mac who said that she was nervous and didn’t know why. She had no reason to be worried

Sandi Thom // Flesh And Blood

 
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes | Official Store

Flesh and Blood is the 4^th studio album from singer/songwriter Sandi Thom (and the 2^nd to be released on her own label, Guardian Angels Records).

Opening with the Sonny Boy Williamson track Help Me, whilst it is a cover, Thom makes it her own by making some changes to how it is performed. From upbeat, we come down to the soft yet powerful I Owe You Zero. Flesh And Blood is Thom's way of bringing current issues that she feels strongly about to a wider audience but without really trying to force it down the listeners throat.

Sun Comes Crashing Down was the first track that that many heard from the album as it was given away as a freebie both via Thom's own website and Amazon. It's a nice little track that you'll feel that you've known for a while. In The Pines is one of these tracks that we don't whether to class as a cover or a case of sampling. Thom takes the track but has added verses, bridges and re-arranged it to make it her own. It's not one that jumps straight as you and is probably the one track on the album that will take time for it to grow.

Big Ones Get Away features the original artist, Buffy Sainte-Marie which is just beautiful after what seems an odd start when individual vocals are used but they blend perfectly as the track progresses. We have a little rock in the next track (Stormy Weather) where Thom says herself she was trying to channel her 'inner Stevie Wonder'. We think on some bits, she's managed it. I See The Devil In You is a slowish song that you can feel the emotion through.

After an emotional track, we have an almost acoustic-y track in the form of Rise As One. It's quickly followed up by the beautiful ballad I Love You Like A Lunatic, all about that love that drives you crazy. First wedding dance song anyone? Save Some Mercy For Me demands attention and that is what it gets whilst the final track Lay Your Burden Down brings the (standard) album to a close on a haunting note.

If you head over to iTunes, you can get 3 additional tracks in the form of an acoustic version of the title track Flesh And Blood, You're Not My Man and an acoustic cover of the Guns 'n' Roses track November Rain (one the popular tracks from Thom's acoustic covers sessions that she did before the album was released.

It's an album that has shown progression from Merchant and Thieves and gives an all round showcase of Thom's abilities. Everything's is well balanced in respect of vocals and instrumentation (and that comes down to a great producer) and yes, there are a few covers, but lets be honest, Thom has managed 4 albums before doing so. But the covers are respectful to the originals whilst she makes them her own. Hopefully Thom has now found who she is and will only continue to strengthen that

Rating: 4/5

Sandi Thom // The Big Ones Get Away Feat. Buffy Sainte-Marie

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

The Big Ones Get Away is the second single to be lifted from Thom’s latest album Flesh And Blood. Whilst it is a cover of track, it’s original performer, Buffy Sainte-Marie, joins Sandi to perform it as duet.

The duet sounds a little odd to begin with when both artist have their individual vocals, but as the track progresses, they actually blend and work well making it a great little version. And it manages the ‘respect to the original but make it your own’ that we like to see (well the original is 20 years old!). Also included is Sandi’s solo version of the song, which may give an indication of what the song will sound like should she be performing it on her upcoming tour.

Nice little track whichever version you happen to listen to

Rating: 4/5

New Music Friday // Sandi Thom

Scottish singer/songwriter Sandi Thom returns later this year (27th August to be exact) with her forth studio album, Flesh & Blood. It’s hard to believe that it’s been two years since Merchants & Thieves. Check out the video below to hear snippets of songs from the album as well as here Sandi discuss the upcoming release! And if you head over to the official site, you can get a free download of The Sun Comes Crashing Down!

Official Site

Sandi Thom // House Of The Rising Sun

Download @ Amazon.co.uk

House Of The Rising Sun is the brand new single from Sandi Thom. It is, as you've probably guessed from the title, a cover of the classic folk track (the most famous version probably by The Animals), but what a cover it is!

It's not your straight cover. Sandi performs it in her own style, with her powerful vocals being complimented by the instrumentation. Although performed I her own style, it still maintains that familiar feel to it.

This is a must for fans as it's not a track from her recent album, Merchants & Thieves. It's a recommended listen for anyone, a fan or not.

Rating:5/5

Sandi Thom // Gold Dust

Download @ Amazon.co.uk

Gold Dust is the second single to be lifted from the new album Merchant and Thieves. For it’s single release though, it’s been given a bit of a remix and is known officially as Gold Dust (Smoking Gun Remix).

Maybe it’s a case of being too familiar with the album version of this song, but somehow, the remix seems to subtract rather than add. It’s almost too commercial and seems to lose some of the emotion of the lyrics. The B-side to this is an acoustic version of I Need Your Love So Bad featuring none other than Joe Bonamassa (the track was original available on the deluxe iTunes version of the album)., which judging on it’s own merit, is a lovely little track.

From a collector prospective, the only track here required is the remix (unless you’ve not bought the deluxe version or the two tracks separately). In many instances, a single remix does wonders but sadly in this instance, the original album version is the recommended listen.

Rating: 3/5

Sandi Thom // Merchants & Thieves

Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Download @ iTunes

2010 heralds the return of Sandi Thom, as she presents her new album to the world as well as a new style. Released via her own record label (Guardian Angels), Thom retains creative freedom allowing her to make an album that reflect who she is. For Merchants & Thieves, the albums takes on a blues/rock style.

The opening track (Maggie McCall) gets the album underway and delves straight into the new style adopted by Thom for the album. The pace is kept by the following tracks until Let It Stay, a beautiful slow tempo ballad before heading into the album title track which turns out to be a instrumental track (a first for Sandi).

From this point, the album becomes a mix of bag of tempos, kicking off with the first single from this album, This Ol’ World featuring the blues/rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa before taking the tempo down slightly for The Sadness.  Heart of Stone brings it back up with what has a highlight of the album. Ghost Town hails another first in which Sandi and backing vocalist Lindsey Clearly sing the track acapella, giving it an appropriate haunting feel. Belly Of The Blues is a track that could have either started or finished the album and settles the album beautifully.

Looking back at what Sandi Thom has done before, there is a feeling that this album is more of what she has been wanting to do and by releasing it on her own label, that is exactly what she has achieved. The style and variation in songs suits her voice and has showcased what she really can achieve and makes for a well rounded album. It is an album of firsts: first release on her own label, first blues/rock inspired album, first instrumental and a capella tracks. The difficulty lies in whether or not that the general music public can put aside it’s pre-conceived ideas regarding her music and realise that she is more than a one track pony and that there is much more that we haven’t seen and quite possibly yet to see.

Rating: 5/5

Sandi Thom Feat. Joe Bonamassa // This Ol’ World

Download @ Amazon.co.uk

It’s Sandi Thom, but not as you know her.  She’s back with this blues influenced song featuring the blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa (with whom she toured as support at the end of last year).

Gone is restraint of what a label wanted and now we’re hearing the sort of thing that she wants to write. It’s a great little number with a fantastic rhythm and great guitar and a great way to introduce the new look musically. It’s the first single to be lifted from the new album, Merchants & Thieves (released 17th May 2010) and sets the style for the whole album.

Hopefully current fans will accept this new style for Sandi as well as attract newer fans and help shrug the ‘I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker’ days aside.

Rating 5/5

Sandi Thom // The Best of Sandi Thom

 

Buy @ Amazon.co.uk

With only two album releases, you’d think maybe this was a premature release and that not much can be on it. Surprisingly, there’s 18 tracks on this release, which may be viewed as the ending of her time being constrained by what others want rather than herself before anything is heard of the third album (which Thom herself has made reference to be working on, on both her myspace and twitter)

This release is released via Camden Records after Thom parted ways with former record company Sony BMG over, what can only be deemed ‘creative differences’. The album features the tracks that were released as singles ( I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In Hair), What If I’m Right, Lonely Girl and The Devil’s Beat), a selection of songs from the albums Smile…It Confuses People and The Pink & The Lily as well as the exclusive tracks that were previously released as mobile exclusives via various mobile phone providers in the UK.

Looking at the album as a whole, it brings together what is probably the best tracks from the last two albums. The addition of the exclusive tracks (Kiss From A Rose, It Must Be Love, Times Like These) as well makes this a nice little collection. So who will realistically buy this album? Well, there is of course the collectors either because they have every other release or because they’ve been looking for the elusive tracks found on the album (either because they were unable to buy them the first time around due to not being with the right provider or because they were on a service that they didn’t use (Lonely Girl [Live From The Basement] was released via online retailers such as iTunes and Napster]). This release may also appeal to those who may only be familiar with the one hit (that most likely being I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) which was probably her biggest, if only hit, to date) and may be curious into finding out what they’ve missed out on.

As previously said, a nice little collection that will probably be overlooked with other release around the same time.

Rating: 4/5

Track listing:

1. I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) (Radio Edit)
2. What If I'm Right (Radio Mix)
3. The Devil's Beat
4. Little Remedy
5. Saturday Night
6. When Horsepower Meant What It Said
7. The Last Picturehouse
8. The Human Jukebox
9. The Pink & The Lily
10. Sunset Borderline
11. My Ungrateful Heart
12. Lonely Girl (Live From The Basement)
13. Kiss From A Rose (Acoustic)
14. It Must Be Love (Acoustic)
15. May You Never
16. Times Like These (Acoustic)
17. No More Heroes
18. I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair) (Mutiny's Rockers & Lovers Mix)