Articles by: Nick DeRiso

Vinyl

Chris Connelly – Phenobarb Bambalam (1992): Half Notes

Chris Connelly, coming off key contributions to a pair of recordings by Al Jourgensen’s Ministry, neatly sidestepped the dreaded “industrial” tag here with simple musicianship (not to mention a dead-on Bowie vocal turn). Still can’t be sure how he made time for Phenobarb Bambalam, considering he was also touring andRead More

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Journey – Eclipse (2011)

In many ways, the initial cuts on Journey’s Eclipse recall the wide-open heavy fusion of the the band’s original Gregg Rolie-era records, a period when guitarist Neal Schon pulled and stretched his muse. At the same time, singer Arnel Pineda possesses a second-act Steve Perry-sounding penchant for soaring expectancy. YouRead More

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Gimme Five: Michael Wolff on songs with Cannonball Adderley, Warren Zevon, others

On this special edition of Something Else! Reviews’ One Track Mind, we hand the reins over to jazz pianist Michael Wolff. You May Also Like: Cannonball Adderley – ‘Poppin’ in Paris: Live at L’Olympia 1972′ (2024) Warren Zevon’s ‘Jeannie Needs a Shooter,’ ‘Piano Fighter’ + Others: Gimme Five Warren Zevon,Read More

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Michael Wolff, jazz pianist: Something Else! Interview

Endlessly engaging, Michael Wolff was praised by the New York Times for “near impeccable good taste, technical facility and lyrical inventiveness.”

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Edith Wilson – He May Be Your Man … But He Comes to See Me Sometimes (1973)

A pioneer as just the third African American woman to make a phonograph recording back in the 1920s, Edith Wilson later fell on hard times — and was reduced to appearing through the mid-’60s (and quite anonymously) in the first Aunt Jemima TV commercials. You May Also Like: Cassandra Wilson’sRead More

Seven Key Moments to Celebrate Bob Dylan's 70th Birthday

Seven Key Moments to Celebrate Bob Dylan’s 70th Birthday

The Bob Dylan list is necessarily subjective. But like all birthday presents, it’s the thought that counts.

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Sean Jones – No Need for Words (2011)

Sean Jones does something with No Need To Words” that’s sorely needed: Talk about love in a complete way. Not just the romantic part, or the passionate part (though that’s here, too) but the other parts — the angry parts, the melancholy parts. The part where you thank a parentRead More

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Neal Morse, Christian prog-rocker: Something Else! Interview

Neal Morse, former frontman for Spock’s Beard, joined us for an Something Else! Sitdown in advance of the release of his long-awaited ‘Testimony 2.’

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Baby Brother – Strange Things (2011)

A great groovy mess, Baby Brother combines roots rock and punk in the most intriguing of ways. The result, Strange Things, lives up to its title, and that’s not a bad thing. You May Also Like: Mabel Greer’s Toyshop, “Big Brother, Little Brother” (2016): One Track Mind

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Stephane Grappelli – ‘Plays Jerome Kern’ (1987): Half Notes

Stephane Grappelli’s ‘Plays Jerome Kern’ wasn’t a rethinking of the legendary American Broadway composer’s work, so much as a deeply romantic, light jazz/classical aside.