News that Kiss is back in the studio, working toward the 2012 release of a new project called Monster, got us scurrying back to our old album collections. And not just because of those fond memories of playing air guitar with former guitarist Ace Frehley during Kiss Alive.

by Beverly Paterson She was a tramp, lived on the wrong side of the tracks, and everybody put her down. But the boy loved her anyway. That was the soap opera behind “Hang On Sloopy,” a plucky little pop rock nugget by the McCoys

by Tom Johnson Still relevant? I have no idea. I’d guess the question that pops up in most people’s heads when they hear the name “Jane’s Addiction”

“…that dissolves into a circular piano figure that…” leads into the rolling guitar riff that opens “Rosalita,” my favorite Springsteen song.

< >> *** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** With Steely Dan completely freed up to go out and get the best musician for any part within any song, Becker and Fagen started mixing and matching more liberally on Katy Lied. At the same time, they made heavy use of two members of their 1973-4 road band

Greg Wood takes plenty of opportunities to play his guitar with bloody-knuckled purpose on this self-titled album. But there’s more — much more — to this project, as Wood uncovers a series of complex, emotional thoughts.

Dennis “Fergie” Frederiksen was, at one point, all over the radio. Then, just like that, he was gone.

The Ballad Of Bering Strait is a documentary that chronicled the story of young Russian music students who fell under the spell of bluegrass, formed a band playing it, and struck out to America — Nashville, that is — to find their fame and fortune there.

Finally, a live Greg Brown album that captured his stripped-down, live sound. For many years leading up to this 2004 release, Greg has been doing solo shows backed up by the wonderful Bo Ramsey on electric guitar. That particular sound pairing is on full display here

by Fred Phillips I’m the kind of guy that comes down firmly in the Iron Maiden camp every time the age-old Maiden or Priest argument comes up. I love Priest, but there’s something about Maiden that’s always appealed to me more.