Archive for February, 2016

The Beatles, "Lovely Rita" from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): Deep Beatles

The Beatles, “Lovely Rita” from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): Deep Beatles

The Beatles’ “Lovely Rita” provides a moment of levity to ‘Sgt. Pepper,’ distinguishing itself from other tracks through its raunchy subject matter and clunkier sound.

Vinyl

Ralph Alessi – Quiver (2016)

I just realized why Ralph Alessi became Fred Hersch’s trumpet player of choice: Alessi is Fred Hersch, rendered through brass instead of ivory.

Vinyl

Zakk Wylde, “Sleeping Dogs” from Book of Shadows II (2016): One Track Mind

Zakk Wylde’s “Sleeping Dogs” makes a good promise for ‘Book of Shadows II.’ Here’s hoping the rest of the album delivers on it.

Vinyl

The Main Ingredient – Greatest Hits: The Encore Collection (2000): On Second Thought

If you’re looking to have your spine tingled and heart jingled, the Main Ingredient certainly fits the bill.

Singing the Phonebook with the Beatles, Talking Heads, Billy Joel, R.E.M. + others: Odd Couples

Singing the Phonebook with the Beatles, Talking Heads, Billy Joel, R.E.M. + others: Odd Couples

Returning to songs by the Beatles, Talking Heads, R.E.M. and others that – despite being pretty much incomprehensible – captured the public’s imagination.

Vinyl

B-Leaguers – Death of a Western Heart (2016)

B-Leaguers’ ‘Death of a Western Heart’ is crammed to the finish line with hooky punk-pop songs along the lines of the Buzzcocks, Undertones and Green Day.

Vinyl

Nolatet (Mike Dillon, Brian Haas, James Singleton + Johnny Vidacovich) – Dogs (2016)

Playing with nervy purpose is purpose enough for the new jazz supergroup of Haas, Dillon, Singleton an Vidacovich to get together and make a record.

Yes, "Long Distance Runaround" from 'Fragile' (1971): YESterdays

Yes, “Long Distance Runaround” from ‘Fragile’ (1971): YESterdays

“Long Distance Runaround” is stuffed with progressive elements from Jon Anderson, producer Eddy Offord and Yes, only adding to its stature in the canon.

Vinyl

Elvis Costello – Detour: Live at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (2016)

Elvis Costello performs in front of an ebullient hometown crowd, reinterpreting favorites and dusting off more obscure album tracks.

Vinyl

Roswell Rudd, Jamie Saft, Trevor Dunn, Balazs Pandi – Strength and Power (2016)

The years between Rudd and his new bandmates melt away in that wonderful, cross-generational thing called telepathy when the four convened to spontaneously and collectively make some jazz noises.