Archive for December, 2017

Chicago, "The Christmas Song" from Chicago XXV (1998): Saturdays in the Park

Chicago, “The Christmas Song” from Chicago XXV (1998): Saturdays in the Park

This is the Chicago I long for. It’s nice to see it return every now and then.

Vinyl

Raoul Björkenheim / eCsTaSy – Doors Of Perception (2017)

With eCsTaSy now six years running, Raoul Björkenheim decided to fully harness the trust built up with eCsTaSy over that time and ‘Doors Of Perception’ is the triumphant result.

50 from 50, Canadiana 1967-2017: More Perfect Playlists

50 from 50, Canadiana 1967-2017: More Perfect Playlists

With “50 from 50, Canadiana 1967-2017,” JC Mosquito collects 50 songs released by Canadian artists over the last 50 years.

Vinyl

Rockie Charles, “I Just Called To Wish You A Merry Christmas” from Born For You (1996): One Track Mind

The late New Orleans soul-blues great Rockie Charles stashed a dandy little Christmas treat deep within his terrific 1996 ‘Born For You’ LP.

Vinyl

Mumpbeak – Tooth (2017)

Mumpbeak’s ‘Tooth,’ now out via Rare Noise Records, not only continues ideas Roy Powell first put forth on the self-titled debut, but also makes it plain that there’s plenty of room to expand on those ideas.

Richard Thompson, Yes, Bob Dylan + Others: Preston Frazier's Best Live / Reissues of 2017

Richard Thompson, Yes, Bob Dylan + Others: Preston Frazier’s Best Live / Reissues of 2017

Preston Frazier counts down his list of Best Live / Reissues of 2017, touching on favorites from Bob Dylan, Yes and Richard Thompson, among others.

Vinyl

Dialectical Imagination – The Angel and the Brute Sing Songs of Wrath (2017)

Informed by facility and guided by emotion, Dialectical Imagination continues to do things their way with ‘The Angel and the Brute Sing Songs of Wrath.’

Toto, "Don't Chain My Heart" from Kingdom of Desire (1992): Toto Tuesdays

Toto, “Don’t Chain My Heart” from Kingdom of Desire (1992): Toto Tuesdays

The one thing that shines through on “Don’t Chain My Heart” is a joy in performing together. Toto is having fun.

Vinyl

Rusty Young – Waitin’ For The Sun (2017)

When Poco co-founder and lone mainstay Rusty Young announced his retirement from touring in 2014, it didn’t mean that his music-making days were over.

Vinyl

Roscoe Mitchell – Discussions (2017)

As of the great living masters of spontaneous composition, Roscoe Mitchell brings his ingenuity to a grand scale for the orchestral project ‘Discussions.’