Something Else!

Vinyl

Kiss – Monster (2012)

Nothing self-conscious or too referential. Nothing too high concept. When Kiss avoids that, as ‘Monster’ does, they become an irresistible force.

Vinyl

Pat Metheny – The Orchestrion Project DVD (2012)

After seeing Pat Metheny’s Orchestrion concert, I had this frustrating feeling of wanting to more accurately convey what that experience felt like. You May Also Like: Pat Metheny Discovered Bold New Machine-Aided Freedoms With ‘Orchestrion’ Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: Shows I’ll Never Forget Why Pat Metheny’s ‘New Chautauqua’ StillRead More

Vinyl

‘The Beatles on steroids’: Gene Simmons says Kiss builds off Fab Four’s musical template

In the run up to Tuesday’s release of Monster, Kiss’ Gene Simmons was asked to name some of the band’s principle influences and the answer — those lovable mop tops of yore? — might surprise some. You May Also Like: How ‘Revenge’ Became Kiss’ Last Gasp of Greatness Kiss –Read More

Vinyl

‘Never reached its potential’: Neil Young talks about the brief, but influential legacy of Buffalo Springfield

Neil Young still seems pained over the difficult times endured by the legendary 1960s band Buffalo Springfield, returning to the theme again and again in his new autobiography Waging Heavy Peace You May Also Like: Neil Young Set a Solo Course on ‘Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House’ Yes, That’sRead More

Vinyl

Beth Hart – Bang Bang Boom Boom (2012)

Beth Hart has lived a thousand lives, it seems, from her beginnings as a Star Search stand out, to bottoming out on drugs, to rebounding again in a second-act triumph You May Also Like: John Ginty, feat. Aster Pheonyx – Rockers (2017) Zem Audu – Spirits (2017) Ali Handal –Read More

Vinyl

Rez Abbasi – Continuous Beat (2012)

Always talented, Pakistani-born guitarist Rez Abbasi is a skilled musician who’s really come into his own recently as not merely an instrumental whiz, but as a complete artist. You May Also Like: Rez Abbasi & Junction – Behind The Vibration (2016) Naya Baaz [Rez Abbasi + Josh Feinberg] – ‘Charm’Read More

Vinyl

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “Born In The U.S.A.” (1984)

Bruce really did kind of blow up with Born In The U.S.A.. I’d just gotten out of college and was spending my first summer of true adulthood (read: lots of barbecues, beer, and time at the pool) with this album You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, theRead More

Vinyl

Steely Dan Sunday, Special sneak peek!: Donald Fagen’s “Out Of The Ghetto” (2012)

*** STEELY DAN SUNDAY INDEX *** On Donald Fagen’s last album Morph The Cat, there’s a great tune on there where he’s imagining himself as a young man asking Ray Charles what makes him tick. You May Also Like: Donald Fagen, “Maxine” from ‘The Nightfly Live’ (2021): Steely Dan SundayRead More

Vinyl

Keith Emerson – Three Fates Project (2012)

There is a visceral power in these recordings, as the Keith Emerson Band performs within this orchestral torrent — blending the keyboardist’s long-held passions for rock and classical, finally, in the most complete of ways. You May Also Like: ‘Fanfare For the Uncommon Man: The Official Keith Emerson Tribute Concert’Read More

Vinyl

Shows I’ll Never Forget: J.D. Souther, July 22, 2012

The XPoNential Music Festival, Camden, N.J.: John David Souther has always been a much-loved songwriter who, despite the fact he doesn’t have an extensive catalog of his own recorded music, had a lot of success You May Also Like: JD Souther – ‘If the World Was You’ (2008): On SecondRead More