Archive for November, 2015

Vinyl

Stanley Clarke, Biréli Lagrène, Jean-Luc Ponty – D-Stringz (2015)

The magic we’ve heard from these virtuosos over all these years has been rekindled with the ‘D-Stringz’ project, and without the need to burn fossil fuels.

Vinyl

Louis Minus XVI – Kindergarten (2015)

Experimental French quartet Louis Minus XVI’s ‘Kindergarten’ is easier to like because it’s harder to pin down.

Yes, “A Venture” from The Yes Album (1971): YESterdays

Yes, “A Venture” from The Yes Album (1971): YESterdays

Jon Anderson’s often-forgotten “A Venture” likely would have been a favorite on most prog projects, and that speaks to the strength of ‘The Yes Album.’

The Beatles’ Love was a worthy concept not taken far enough

The Beatles’ Love was a worthy concept not taken far enough

The Beatles’ Love, released this month in 2006, was at its best when George Martin got outside of convention – but that didn’t happen nearly enough.

Vinyl

Ivo Perelman, Mat Maneri + Tanya Kalmanovitch – Villa Lobos Suite (2015)

Ivo Perelman came up with a very logical way to follow up the successful pairing with violist Mat Maneri titled ‘Two Men Walking’…by adding one talented woman violist to the two men for this latest walk.

Vinyl

Rockin’ Horse, “The Biggest Gossip in Town” (1971): One Track Mind

Pure of heart and hopelessly hummable, Rockin’ Horse’s “The Biggest Gossip In Town” is pop rock perfection.

Vinyl

Sam Butler – Raise Your Hands! (2015)

Like all the best religious records, ex-Blind Boys of Alabama guitarist/vocailist Sam Butler’s ‘Raise Your Hands!’ has that the ability to lift the spirits of pagans and Christians alike.

Bulldog – ‘Bulldog’ (1972): Forgotten Series

Bulldog – ‘Bulldog’ (1972): Forgotten Series

Not long after the Rascals split, ex-members Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli formed Bulldog – a short-lived, always-fun, seemingly always-on-the-run soul revue.

Vinyl

Badfinger’s ‘No Matter What’ didn’t always have that crazy-cool solo

Badfinger’s Joey Molland talks to us about a moment of inspiration on “No Matter What,” which arrived as part of ‘No Dice’ this month in 1970.

Vinyl

Norah Jones continued to push against convention with The Fall

‘The Fall,’ issued this week in 2009, revealed Norah Jones as a far more compelling artist than she seemed at first.