Archive for October, 2016

Vinyl

Brownout – Presents Brown Sabbath Vol. II (2016)

Is ‘Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath Vol. II’ better than the original, one of 2014’s best rock albums?

Halloween Howlers from Guadalcanal Diary, Joy Division, Jim Stafford + others: Gimme Five

Halloween Howlers from Guadalcanal Diary, Joy Division, Jim Stafford + others: Gimme Five

Let’s stalk through the rock ‘n’ roll graveyard and dig up some of the scariest music on this side of the mortal curtain from Joy Division and others.

Vinyl

James Brandon Lewis Trio – No Filter (2016)

True to its name, James Brandon Lewis’ classic hip hop/jazz hybrid ‘No Filter’ puts seemingly nothing between what he hears in his head and what you hear on this record.

Chicago, “Happy ‘Cause I’m Goin’ Home” from Chicago III (1971): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “Happy ‘Cause I’m Goin’ Home” from Chicago III (1971): Saturdays in the Park

I’ve long thought Peter Cetera was underrated as a bass player, and Chicago’s “Happy ‘Cause I’m Goin’ Home” illustrates the point.

Vinyl

Dan Ropek, author of Tragic Magic: The Life of Traffic’s Chris Wood: Something Else! Interview

Steve Elliott caught up with Dan Ropek, author of ‘Tragic Magic: The Life of Traffic’s Chris Wood,’ to discuss this often-overlooked figure in rock.

Vinyl

Alex LoRe Quartet – More Figs And Blue Things (2016)

‘More Figs And Blue Things’ is the engaging second chapter from the story of the young gifted alto saxophonist Alex LoRe.

Toto, “Mr. Friendly” from Isolation (1984): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “Mr. Friendly” from Isolation (1984): Toto Tuesdays

While it’s not their best, ‘Mr. Friendly’ is still proof that Toto, even at their weaker moments, was and still is light years beyond other bands.

Vinyl

Sam Eastmond, jazz trumpeter: Something Else! Interview

Sam Eastmond, a trumpet player with an eclectic musical taste, writes from his own particular sound world of sources and inspiration.

Chicago, “At the Sunrise” from Chicago III (1971): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “At the Sunrise” from Chicago III (1971): Saturdays in the Park

Why is Chicago’s “At the Sunrise” overlooked? Maybe because ‘Chicago III’ has so many great songs, and this one falls through the cracks?

‘Tragic Magic: The Life of Traffic’s Chris Wood,’ by Dan Ropek (2016): Books

‘Tragic Magic: The Life of Traffic’s Chris Wood,’ by Dan Ropek (2016): Books

Who would’ve thought, at this late date, that we’d ever see a book focused on Chris Wood, the spirit of Traffic?