ALBUMS

• NICK DRAKE: FIVE LEAVES LEFT: 1969: 5 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: Nick Drake falls into the category of an artist who gained his fame  posthumously. During his very brief career he was virtually ignored. It wasn’t until around 1990 that Drake and his music went under reevaluation and his statue as an artist has continued to grow and grow. He only released three albums during his all too brief life. He died of an apparent suicide at the age of 26 in 1974. His music is beautiful and unique- lyrically and musically.. The closest stuff I’ve heard that I’d put in the category of Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks.

• THE KINKS: GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT: 1981: 4 STARS OUT OF 5 STARS: I was disappointed with this album when it came out- but it sounds a lot better to my ears now. I think I was disappointed because it isn’t as good as the two previous albums- but it is a good hard rocking album. Best song- Better Things which is the softest song on the album.