Articles by: Nick DeRiso

Vinyl

Marco Minnemann on ‘Levin Minnemann Rudess,’ Mike Keneally, Joe Satriani and Steven Wilson

‘Levin Minnemann Rudess’ was an opportunity to marvel over Tony Levin and Jordan Rudess, but also to dig deeper into the versatility of Marco Minnemann.

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Gov’t Mule – Shout! (2013)

This would have been the most variedly accessible, hit-worthy album of Gov’t Mule’s career — even if they hadn’t invited along a raft of famous folks to join them for a second-disc sing-along. You May Also Like: As Gov’t Mule reached a turning point, By a Thread delivered

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Peter Gabriel – Live in Athens 1987 (2013)

A long-awaited artifact, Live in Athens 1987 corrects the period-piece wrongs of Peter Gabriel’s original film from the So tour — eliminating the edited-in backstage footage that slowed 1990’s P.O.V. You May Also Like: When Peter Gabriel Suddenly Decided to Open Up on ‘Us’

One Track Mind: John Oates, "Pushing a Rock Uphill" from A Good Road to Follow (2013)

One Track Mind: John Oates, “Pushing a Rock Uphill” from A Good Road to Follow (2013)

Old-line Hall and Oates fans who may been less interested in John Oates’ more overtly country-inflected side trips of late, take heart: “Pushing a Rock Uphill” finds him returning to a tangy R&B vibe. You May Also Like: John Oates on the thing he hates most about Hall and Oates:Read More

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Dizzy Gillespie – Dizzy’s Big 4 (1974; 2013 reissue)

This album, Dizzy Gillespie’s first and best for Norman Granz’s Pablo imprint, reaffirms a relationship with bassist Ray Brown that goes back to the mid-1940s. It’s Joe Pass who makes the bigger impression here. You May Also Like: Dizzy Gillespie and Friends – Concert of the Century: A Tribute toRead More

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Tony Joe White – Hoodoo (2013)

Tony Joe White boasts a uniformly comfortable approach, established with 1968’s “Poke Salad Annie” and repeated since with all the regularity of shotgun rows of Southern-grown cash crops. You May Also Like: Joe Mandica, “I Just Can’t Wait” from A Thousand Miles (2007): One Track Mind Fortunato Isgro, Joe MandicaRead More

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Pete Anderson – Birds Above Guitarland (2013)

Best known for his genre-shifting early collaborations with Dwight Yoakam, Pete Anderson has spent the last decade focusing on a solo career — and, with Birds Above Guitarland, the blues. You May Also Like: No related posts.

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Tommy Keene – Excitement at Your Feet (2013)

When Tommy Keene decided to make good on the promise of covers like Alex Chilton’s “Hey Little Child” or (more recently) Slim Dunlap’s “Nowheres Near,” he explore deeply into what must be an expansive record collection. You May Also Like: Tommy Tutone – Tommy Tutone 2 (1981): On Second Thought

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Elton John – The Diving Board (2013)

Second acts are difficult; third acts, even more so. But what of a fourth? That’s Elton John, who’s already been a country-inflected singer-songwriter, Captain Fantastic and a mainstream pop star. You May Also Like: Elton John’s unfairly criticized Rock of the Westies deserves another listen Elton John – Greatest HitsRead More

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One Track Mind: Joel August, title song from Distant Shores (2013)

This is the title track for a sophomore release that’s been five years – and a lifetime – in the making. Twice, guitarist Joel August has put his dreams for becoming a musician on hold. You May Also Like: Mike Pride – ‘Marimba, July’ and ‘Drums, August’ (2019) Nick Finzer,Read More