by Mark Saleski Most people think of the mandolin as being a rootsy, countrified kind of instrument. Surely there is no denying the rich history of the bluegrass side of the mandolin. You May Also Like: Mike Baggetta, mike watt + Jim Keltner – ‘Everywhen We Go’ (2022) Tyler MitchellRead More

by Tom Johnson Can a band mature and continue to challenge themselves and listeners? Rather Ripped answers yes. Sonic Youth may not wail away with walls of squealing distortion like they used to but Rather Ripped‘s lyrical focus on relationship troubles is backed by their trademark angular pop that willRead More

John Wetton, in great voice, embraces a deeply hopeful twist on the old carpe diem on “The Last Night of My Life.”

by Mark Saleski Elliott Sharp does two things very well: construct very thought-provoking compositions and make scary, scary noise in the realization of those compositions. Larynx is a reissue from 1988. You know, the holiday season is in full swing. Maybe you need some music to block out the stress?Read More

Rick Stone picks more obvious standards elsewhere on his forthcoming release, Fractals. You May Also Like: No related posts.

by Mark Saleski Singaporean singer Jacintha (full name Jacintha Abisheganaden) takes on the songbook of the Hollywood of my youth: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” “Que Sera Sera,” “California Dreaming,” “Windmills Of Your Mind.” It’s funny, I hated these songs back in the day. Now? The concertina/acoustic guitar introductionRead More

James Brown got all of the headlines, be they for his fancy moves, his fancier suits or his brushes with the law. But the JB Horns, those great groovers who provided the punctuation to every grunt, gasp and squeal, remain an underrated element to the legend. You May Also Like:Read More

German pianist Julia Hülsmann has made her mark with trio jazz fronted with a vocalist, either male or female, but had returned to the instrumental three when she signed up with ECM and recorded her first album with them, The End Of A Summer (2008). Now comes the follow-up threeRead More

Welcome to the first edition of Sparks Fly on E Street, in which me & my pencil take a tour of the entire Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band catalog, one song each Monday morning. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and the ERead More

Steely Dan’s “My Old School” features a boss, brassy Stax sound plopped right into a piano-driven hard shuffle – making this a fun, foot-stomping number.