Articles by: Nick DeRiso

Vinyl

One Track Mind: Spin Doctors, “If The River Was Whiskey” (2013)

The title track from If The River Was Whiskey, the first album of new material from 1990s radio-darlings the Spin Doctors since 2005, scuffs up the hitmaking formula for familiar songs like “Little Miss Can’t be Wrong” with a snarling city-blues vibe. You May Also Like: How “It’s a LongRead More

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Days Between Stations + Peter Banks, Colin Moulding, Rick Wakeman, Billy Sherwood – ‘In Extremis’ (2013)

In a strange and beautiful coincidence, Days Between Stations was working on an album about birth, life and death with Peter Banks just before he passed.

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‘I think it’s really deep’: Danny Seraphine on CTA, getting over Chicago, and carrying the jazz-rock torch

In adding muscular horns to California Transit Authority, Danny Seraphine has fulfilled the promise of one of the best songs on CTA’s hard-grooving new release Sacred Ground: He’s come full circle. You May Also Like: Chicago, “Take Me Back to Chicago” from Chicago XI (1977): One Track Mind Danny SeraphineRead More

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Steven Wilson on his departures from Blackfield, Porcupine Tree: ‘I don’t have time in my life to do that’

As Steven Wilson begins a 17-date North American tour, one that will feature a half-dozen in-store appearances, it’s increasingly clear where his passion lies: On solo projects like the recently released The Raven That Refused To Sing. You May Also Like: Porcupine Tree offered a more approachable kind of progRead More

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Deep Purple – Now What?! (2013)

With Now What?!, Deep Purple doesn’t simply return, it sets out to remind you of everything that once made this band a contender for Led Zeppelin’s throne in the early 1970s as the biggest heavy-rocking band of them all. You May Also Like: Ian Gillan on the differences between soloRead More

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Jeff Berlin – Low Standards (2013)

Following 2010’s High Standards, Jeff Berlin assembles a sizzling trio — his electric bass sounding like anything but an instrument of support — for a cheekily named return engagement with some classics. You May Also Like: Jeff Berlin, Ben Sidran, Jeff Denson + Others: Five for the Road Boz ScaggsRead More

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Optic Yellow Felt – Optic Yellow Felt (2013)

Optic Yellow Felt takes the rangy concepts of folk and jazz and sparks it up with the complex emotional underpinnings of classic turn-of-the-1970s rock on this deeply involving — and yet utterly listenable — self-titled debut. You May Also Like: Dario and the Clear – ‘Optic Nerve’ (2021) Elton John’sRead More

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Something Else! sneak peek: Gregg Rolie, “Struck by Lightning” (2013)

Gregg Rolie begins with a simmering piano signature, then slowly settles into a greasy groove — setting the stage for some of his first new music since a 2011 solo EP. Before that, Rolie last issued a full-band studio effort in 2001, with Roots. You May Also Like: At first,Read More

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Shuggie Otis – Inspiration Information (1974; 2013 reissue); Wings of Love (2013)

Long a shadowy figure, Shuggie Otis had become known more for his absence than for psychedelic soul successes like 1974’s Inspiration Information and writing songs like Brothers Johnson’s No. 5 1977 hit “Strawberry Letter 23” You May Also Like: Otis Taylor, “Cold at Midnight” from Hey Joe Opus / RedRead More

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Willie Nelson – Let’s Face the Music and Dance (2013)

Arriving as it does amidst of flurry of similarly themed songbook albums — from Rod Stewart to Paul McCartney to Jeff Lynne — Let’s Face the Music and Dance reminds us of Willie Nelson’s age-old command of the genre. You May Also Like: Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis shared anRead More