Archive for August, 2013

Vinyl

On Second Thought: Yardbirds, Moody Blues, others – Absolutely the Best of the British Invasion (1999)

Considering there are no Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Dave Clark Five or Pretty Things, the title of Absolutely the Best of the British Invasion (Fuel 2000 Records) was rather misleading. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, "The Big Muddy" (1992)

Sparks Fly On E Street: Bruce Springsteen, “The Big Muddy” (1992)

Right in the middle of Lucky Town‘s stream of general uplift comes “The Big Muddy,” a tale in which the darker side of life has its own gravitational attraction You May Also Like: Rob Meany with Terramara, “Dreamer in Dreamland” (2023): One Track Mind Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, theRead More

Vinyl

Allen Toussaint – Songbook (2013)

Allen Toussaint’s languid, reverie-filled piano introduction to “Southern Nights,” a No. 1 hit he gave to Glen Campbell, is worth the price of admission to his new live set Songbook all by itself. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Vinyl

‘It’s a balancing act’: Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson on mixing concert favorites with their new music

If you’ve noticed that Heart hits like “Never,” “Straight On” and “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You” weren’t part of their recent set lists, there’s a reason for that: Ann and Nancy Wilson say they got sick of them You May Also Like: Heart – Beautiful BrokenRead More

Vinyl

On Second Thought: Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx – We’re New Here (2011)

Though his decades old warnings about the moral decay of Reaganism rang ever truer in the age of Fox and Palin, the late Gil Scott-Heron entered the 2010s as a prophet without honor in his own country. You May Also Like: Christian Scott Confirmed His Vision for Jazz With ‘LiveRead More

Vinyl

1980s Smooth Jazz Albums That Don’t Suck: Gimme Five

If the idea of smooth jazz makes you cringe, we’ve got some great news for you: It ain’t all bad.

Vinyl

‘We’re just kind of feeling our way’: Alan White, Jon Davison discuss prospect of new music from Yes

Jon Davison has been with Yes for about a year and half, time that’s largely been spent revisiting a trio of the group’s 1970s recordings on tour. Now, he and drummer Alan White talk about the prospect of new music. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Steely Dan Sunday, "Janie Runaway" (2000)

Steely Dan Sunday, “Janie Runaway” (2000)

Crisp, dry production, a lean groove — anchored by Becker’s usual fat, bubbling bass line — and Fagen’s smart horn arrangement, “Janie Runaway” is an agreeable little mid-tempo number You May Also Like: Walter Becker, “The Dopest Cut / Down In the Bottom” (1992): Steely Dan Sunday Steely Dan Sunday:Read More

Vinyl

‘It can be construed as him being an a**hole’: Graham Nash sticks up for the mercurial Neil Young

The famously mercurial Neil Young has left more than one project seemingly at the drop of the hat — most recently walking out on a planned Buffalo Springfield reunion in order to work with Crazy Horse again. You May Also Like: No related posts.

Vinyl

Elvis Presley – Elvis at Stax (2013)

So much for the long-held notion that Elvis Presley had simply thrown away his own gifts by the 1970s. In fact, these soul-soaked sessions at Memphis’ legendary Stax Studios show an artist still deeply committed You May Also Like: Presley’s Beatles, “Can’t Help Falling In Love / Let It Be”Read More