Archive for October, 2015

Vinyl

Billie Davies – Hand In Hand In The Hand Of The Moon (2015)

Drummer/composer Billie Davies’ latest stop in her musical journey is a fruitful pairing of what she brought into New Orleans with what New Orleans brought to her.

On Yes and the Hall of Fame: Enough is enough; I'm talking to YOU, Dave Grohl

On Yes and the Hall of Fame: Enough is enough; I’m talking to YOU, Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl pushed hard for Rush’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In a new editorial, Mike Tiano urges him to do the same for Yes.

Vinyl

John Lennon remembered by Alan White, Joey Molland + Tony Levin: Gimme Five

Turns out, John Lennon – who would have celebrated a birthday today – was just as mercurially intriguing to his sidemen as he was to everyone else.

Talking Heads, "Crosseyed and Painless" from Remain in Light (1980): One Track Mind

Talking Heads, “Crosseyed and Painless” from Remain in Light (1980): One Track Mind

“Crosseyed and Painless,” released as part of ‘Remain in Light’ on Oct. 8, 1980, got at something deeper about the ’80s – and the Talking Heads.

Vinyl

The Pretenders took an unusual path back to relevance on Break Up the Concrete

With ‘Break Up the Concrete,’ released Oct. 7, 2008, the Pretenders found their old edge – but not with a return to hard-driving punk styles.

Vinyl

The Turnback – Are We There Yet? (2015)

Swinging, grooving and bursting with courage and enthusiasm, the Turnback’s ‘Are We There Yet?’ is a power-pop goldmine.

Toto, "White Sister" from 'Hydra' (1979): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “White Sister” from ‘Hydra’ (1979): Toto Tuesdays

“White Sister,” a stand-out moment from Toto’s sophomore album ‘Hydra,’ combines hard-rock strut and progressive rock obliqueness.

Kiss' return-to-form Sonic Boom was anything but a guilty pleasure for me

Kiss’ return-to-form Sonic Boom was anything but a guilty pleasure for me

Kiss’ ‘Sonic Boom,’ released on Oct. 6, 2009, was packed with hooks, anthemic choruses, and a lifetime supply of innuendo. What’s not to like?

Vinyl

The Them – Now And Them (1967): Forgotten Series

Not many people realize that the Them carried on after Van Morrison left for a solo career in 1966. We reach back into an overlooked period.

Elton John's ambitious Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was as over the top as its singer

Elton John’s ambitious Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was as over the top as its singer

‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,’ released on Oct. 5, 1973, illustrates why – and how – Elton John became Elton John.