GERAINT WATKINS
''DIAL 'W' FOR WATKINS''
AUGUST 24 2004
44:55
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01 - Two Rocks 01:06
02 - Turn That Chicken Down 03:17
03 - Be My Love 02:54
04 - Blessed With Happiness 04:05
05 - The Whole Night Through 03:58
06 - Cold War 02:47
07 - Heroes and Villians 03:41 (Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson)
08 - Soldier of Love 04:12
09 - I Will 03:34
10 - I'm Just Crazy About You 02:20
11 - Bring Me The Head of My So Called Lover 03:32
12 - Heaven 02:43
13 - Only a Rose 03:44
14 - Go West 02:55
Tracks By Geraint Watkins, Except 07
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Geraint Watkins - vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano
Nick Lowe - bass guitar, vocals
Steve Donnelly - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar
Robert Trehern - drums, drum loops, vocals
Peter Glenister - organ, bass guitar
Matt Radford - upright bass
Sterling Roswell - percussion
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REVIEW/AMG
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Geraint Watkins is a journeyman, starting his career as a session keyboardist, which led to a steady gig with Dave Edmunds, working his way up to a steady gig with Dave's onetime partner in crime, Nick Lowe. Along the way, he played with a diverse batch of musicians -- among them John Martyn, Rory Gallagher, Tracey Ullman, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Van Morrison, and Paul McCartney -- but that Lowe connection is key on his 2004 album, Dial "W" for Watkins. It's his third record, but only his second since relaunching his solo career in 1998 with Watkins Bold As Love, which featured a similar cast of characters as this album. These musicians also played on Lowe's Dig My Mood and The Convincer, so it should be no surprise to anybody familiar with those two low-key, latter-day masterpieces by Basher that Dial "W" for Watkins has the same comfortable, relaxed feel and offhand charm. If anything, Watkins shows a little more impish humor here than Nick did last time around; even with its lo-fi electronics, "Turn That Chicken Down" is a definite throwback to such Nick instrumentals as "Awesome" and "Shake That Rat." While the music is undeniably similar in tone to Lowe's recent work, Watkins is his own man, with a looser feel to his decidedly laid-back music. Dial "W" doesn't knock you over your head; it croons and charms. It's slight on the surface -- the love songs are sweet and short, there are lots of ragged edges and lots of jokes -- but that's its appeal: it's warm, friendly, engaging music, perfect for a relaxing evening at home with old friends (provided those friends are also old rock & rollers at heart, too).
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BIOGRAPHY/AMG
An exhilarating player of the accordion, Geraint Watkins played rock & roll, blues, Cajun, and several stations in between. From the early 80s through to the beginning of the new century, with occasional breaks when the going got too tough, he was a member of the high-living British band the Balham Alligators. The band played the pub circuit around London (and occasionally farther afield), also recording several entertaining albums. Watkins also played with Tom Jones, Nick Lowe, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Carl Perkins, Shakin' Stevens and Bill Wyman, among several noted rockers.
In the early 2000s, Watkins was often heard as a solo act, still tearing up the stage and delivering all that the wildest of his fans could want. Underneath the excitement, though, it grew steadily more apparent that he had considerable skill and musical expertise, and that the bells and whistles were icing on a very substantial cake.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''DIAL 'W' FOR WATKINS''
AUGUST 24 2004
44:55
**********
01 - Two Rocks 01:06
02 - Turn That Chicken Down 03:17
03 - Be My Love 02:54
04 - Blessed With Happiness 04:05
05 - The Whole Night Through 03:58
06 - Cold War 02:47
07 - Heroes and Villians 03:41 (Van Dyke Parks, Brian Wilson)
08 - Soldier of Love 04:12
09 - I Will 03:34
10 - I'm Just Crazy About You 02:20
11 - Bring Me The Head of My So Called Lover 03:32
12 - Heaven 02:43
13 - Only a Rose 03:44
14 - Go West 02:55
Tracks By Geraint Watkins, Except 07
**********
Geraint Watkins - vocals, guitar, keyboards, piano
Nick Lowe - bass guitar, vocals
Steve Donnelly - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar
Robert Trehern - drums, drum loops, vocals
Peter Glenister - organ, bass guitar
Matt Radford - upright bass
Sterling Roswell - percussion
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Geraint Watkins is a journeyman, starting his career as a session keyboardist, which led to a steady gig with Dave Edmunds, working his way up to a steady gig with Dave's onetime partner in crime, Nick Lowe. Along the way, he played with a diverse batch of musicians -- among them John Martyn, Rory Gallagher, Tracey Ullman, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Van Morrison, and Paul McCartney -- but that Lowe connection is key on his 2004 album, Dial "W" for Watkins. It's his third record, but only his second since relaunching his solo career in 1998 with Watkins Bold As Love, which featured a similar cast of characters as this album. These musicians also played on Lowe's Dig My Mood and The Convincer, so it should be no surprise to anybody familiar with those two low-key, latter-day masterpieces by Basher that Dial "W" for Watkins has the same comfortable, relaxed feel and offhand charm. If anything, Watkins shows a little more impish humor here than Nick did last time around; even with its lo-fi electronics, "Turn That Chicken Down" is a definite throwback to such Nick instrumentals as "Awesome" and "Shake That Rat." While the music is undeniably similar in tone to Lowe's recent work, Watkins is his own man, with a looser feel to his decidedly laid-back music. Dial "W" doesn't knock you over your head; it croons and charms. It's slight on the surface -- the love songs are sweet and short, there are lots of ragged edges and lots of jokes -- but that's its appeal: it's warm, friendly, engaging music, perfect for a relaxing evening at home with old friends (provided those friends are also old rock & rollers at heart, too).
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
An exhilarating player of the accordion, Geraint Watkins played rock & roll, blues, Cajun, and several stations in between. From the early 80s through to the beginning of the new century, with occasional breaks when the going got too tough, he was a member of the high-living British band the Balham Alligators. The band played the pub circuit around London (and occasionally farther afield), also recording several entertaining albums. Watkins also played with Tom Jones, Nick Lowe, Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Carl Perkins, Shakin' Stevens and Bill Wyman, among several noted rockers.
In the early 2000s, Watkins was often heard as a solo act, still tearing up the stage and delivering all that the wildest of his fans could want. Underneath the excitement, though, it grew steadily more apparent that he had considerable skill and musical expertise, and that the bells and whistles were icing on a very substantial cake.
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********