Just got through my first listen of the new Winger and Three Lions and I can't say I'm over enthused about either.
On my scale (where as a guide 70% would be considered above average and worthy of a listen) I rated Winger at 75% and Three Lions at 67%.
The Winger is undoubtedly a good album - very solid couple of opening tracks but then falls away pretty badly until track 6 (Ever Wonder) which , unusually for me (given it's a ballad), is my favourite on the disc. So Long China follows which is also very good , then another couple of weaker tracks and the final two are very good and again a ballad shines there. On the whole I think the slower more atmospheric tracks are great , as are the opening couple of rockers + So Long China , but the rest leaves me a bit underwhelmed. I found Karma much better overall.
Three Lions............well if this is the best Vinny Burns can do after an extended hiatus then he should hang it up. There's nothing really bad on it , but there's also nothing really good (perhaps with the exception of Kathmandu) . The song writing is dial-it-in , by the numbers.....whatever you want to call it. As I was listening to it I had the feeling it really reminded me of something and in the end I think I've figured it out - it sounds like one of Newman's weaker efforts. Decent enough but for those with any experience of this type of music over the years it really is mostly derivative shite. Vinny really doesn't do much on the guitar either , even on the instrumental which is a bore. Very disappointing.
The LRS album that Kade referred to seems to be getting bagged around the traps but to me that actually has some relatively fresh melodic ideas on it , so it seems we're hearing something in it that others are not.
I really hope a new release grabs me soon or I might just stop bothering - the strike rate (even for bands with a good track record) is abysmal at the moment. At the very least I'm going to have to start putting more time into trying before I buy.