Archive for August, 2015

Vinyl

Sun Speak – Sacred Rubble (2015)

Guitarist Matt Gold and drummer Nate Friedman display a jazz acumen well beyond their years on Sun Speak’s sophomore album, ‘Sacred Rubble.’

Alan Parsons Project, “Lucifer” from Eve (1979): One Track Mind

Alan Parsons Project, “Lucifer” from Eve (1979): One Track Mind

The Alan Parsons Project’s ‘Eve’ arrived on August 27, 1979 with a life-changing – or, at the very least, an ear drum-rearranging – instrumental.

Vinyl

Tad Robinson – Day Into Night (2015)

Tad Robinson has made a filler-free quality soul-blues record that faithfully follows in the stellar tradition of Hill, Bland and Little Milton.

Paul Simon’s Graceland stirred outsized praise, and some criticisms too

Paul Simon’s Graceland stirred outsized praise, and some criticisms too

To paraphrase Paul Simon, these are songs of miracle and wonder. Decades after its August 25, 1986 release, however, ‘Graceland’ still sparks controversy.

Bruce Springsteen – ‘Born to Run’ (1975): Deep Cuts

Bruce Springsteen – ‘Born to Run’ (1975): Deep Cuts

Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born to Run,’ released on Aug. 25, 1975, is dotted with career-making, warhorse tracks. But what of its lesser-heard songs?

Vinyl

Joe Magnarelli – Three On Two (2015)

The way trumpet ace Joe Magnarelli’s band members interact each other so well makes ‘Three On Two’ a gratifying way to experience mainstream jazz.

Paul McCartney’s overly mechanized Press to Play had one saving grace

Paul McCartney’s overly mechanized Press to Play had one saving grace

Paul McCartney has been on a creative tear of late. But first he had to dispense with the overproduced dud ‘Press to Play,’ released on Aug. 25, 1986.

Vinyl

Armored Saint – Win Hands Down (2015)

If there’s one word to ‘Win Hands Down,’ and Armored Saint in general, it’s consistency. You know what you’re going to get, and you get it every time.

Vinyl

Everything came together for JJ Grey and Mofro on the swampy, soulful Georgia Warhorse

JJ Grey and Mofro started out as a very good band. ‘Georgia Warhorse,’ released on August 24, 2010, catapulted them to greatness.

Vinyl

The Apples in Stereo – The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone (2000): Forgotten Series

Sweet and sparkly vocals, supported by swarms of sunny harmonies, make Apples in Stereo songs easy to love.