Articles by: Nick DeRiso

Vinyl

One Track Mind: Ironing Board Sam, “Nothing But Your Butt” from Double Bang (2013)

Deliriously unself-conscious, and funky as hell, “Nothing But Your Butt” rumbles out like a throwback, sex-obsessed ’70s soul number — right down to Ironing Board Sam’s recitation of his love interest’s physical dimensions. You May Also Like: Chairmen of the Board – Greatest Hits (1973): Forgotten Series Micky Dolenz onRead More

Vinyl

One Track Mind: Hadiza Dockeray, “Somebody Better” from Chapter 4 (2013)

An intriguing mixture of old-school chanteuse and tough-minded modern woman, Hadiza Dockeray puts her foot down on “Somebody Better” — and then uses it to kick the ever-loving ass of some no-account. You May Also Like: There’s a reason the Monkees’ Micky Dolenz plays drums that way: ‘I know it’sRead More

Nick DeRiso's Mid-Year Best Of 2013 (Rock and Pop): Steven Wilson, CTA, Steve Lukather, Stick Men

Nick DeRiso’s Mid-Year Best Of 2013 (Rock and Pop): Steven Wilson, CTA, Steve Lukather, Stick Men

Occasionally, an album comes bursting out of your speakers, and you know — just know — that it’s going to end up here, on your half-way best of list. And on the year-ending compendium, too. Steven Wilson put out that album. You May Also Like: Steve Lukather kept Toto’s legacyRead More

Vinyl

Something Else! Interview: Tangerine Dream’s Edgar Froese on stars, Brian May and defying categorization

Over a period of ever-shifting lineups, Edgar Froese has remained the stalwart mastermind of Tangerine Dream — always pushing the envelope, always searching for that next sound. The latest ones come from deep, deep space You May Also Like: The folkiest moment on Queen’s Night at the Opera was stillRead More

Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Ian McDonald, others - Tokyo Tapes (1998; 2013 reissue)

Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Ian McDonald, others – Tokyo Tapes (1998; 2013 reissue)

A remastered reissue of the 2DVD/CD Tokyo Tapes — bolstered now with a new studio recording of Steve Hackett and John Wetton doing “All Along the Watchtower” — seeks to provide insights into both Genesis and King Crimson. You May Also Like: Steve Hackett selects his all-time favorite Genesis album:Read More

Emerson Lake and Palmer's "Endless Enigma," "Take a Pebble" + Others: Deep Cuts

Emerson Lake and Palmer’s “Endless Enigma,” “Take a Pebble” + Others: Deep Cuts

For a trio whose biggest single barely scratched the Top 40, Emerson Lake and Palmer still came to be associated with several key moments. Let’s go deeper.

Almost Hits: The Cars, "Since You're Gone" (1981)

Almost Hits: The Cars, “Since You’re Gone” (1981)

This is, even more so than the title track hit from 1981’s Shake It Up, the exact midpoint between the harder-edged new wave of the Cars’ classic 1978 debut and the sleek MTV smash Heartbeat City still to come. You May Also Like: Todd Rundgren jumpstarted the New Cars’ surprisinglyRead More

Vinyl

Steve Earle – The Warner Bros. Years (2013)

This set represents an often-overlooked period, and one of intense experimentation, for Steve Earle — who couldn’t have been further removed (personally or professionally) from his earliest triumphs You May Also Like: No related posts.

Vinyl

Jethro Tull – Around the World Live (2013)

When digging through this massive new four-DVD set of concerts from across the storied career of Jethro Tull, “Aqualung” provides a series of revelations — working as a kind of road map for the way the band evolved. You May Also Like: Martin Barre – ’50 Years of Jethro Tull’Read More

Vinyl

ZZ Top – The Complete Studio Albums: 1970-1990 (2013)

What you’re struck first by is this new 10-album reissue box’s long-hoped-for restoration of the original mixes. Then, across 100 songs from two decades, by the wealth of worthy deep cuts from ZZ Top. You May Also Like: ZZ Top’s “El Diablo,” “Thunderbird,” “Rough Boy” + Others: Gimme Five RingoRead More