Half Notes

Vinyl

Half Notes: David Bowie – Glass Spider Tour DVD (2007)

That much-maligned period of David Bowie’s, the 1980s, seemed to be getting a bit of a revival of sorts 20 years on — beginning with the release of The Best Of 1980-1987 and then this long-out-of-print video getting the DVD treatment. That period just wasn’t kind to him and yet,Read More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Damien Jurado – And Now That I'm In Your Shadow (2006)

Damien Jurado and his cracked, wavering voice won me over. He’s not a perfect singer — he’s not even great in the way that enigmatic leads can be imperfect and yet still make it work. There’s something so earnest and vulnerable that sometimes I feel almost as if I shouldn’tRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Ehud Asherie, with Harry Allen – Upper West Side (2012)

The talented young pianist Ehud Asherie doesn’t look to bowl you over with sheer speed and power but rather, seduce you with taste and swing. You May Also Like: Steve Fidyk – Allied Forces (2016)

Vinyl

Half Notes: Travis – Singles (2004)

Radiohead-lite band Travis couldn’t have named it more plainly. While having only four albums, at the time, seemed a bit premature to be releasing a best-of, it was nice in that you got at least a few tracks from each album, rather than “that one big single” from each. YouRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Terry Adams – Love Letter to Andromeda (2008)

There’s something both endearing and inspiring about a musician who is just as comfortable hammering out meat & potatoes bar band tunes (see below) as he is living in the altered reality of Sun Ra. That man is Terry Adams. As one of the masterminds behind NRBQ — wait, youRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Bill Barner – Ten Tunes (2012)

Longtime reedman Bill Barner has played it all in his career: Dixieland, free jazz, bop, Latino music, fusion jazz, and on and on. You May Also Like: Bill Frisell – Music IS (2018) Andrew Cyrille, with Wadada Leo Smith and Bill Frisell – ‘Lebroba’ (2018) Bill Evans – Time Remembered,Read More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Robert Fripp and Brian Eno – The Equatorial Stars (2004)

I excitedly ordered a copy of this collaboration between Robert Fripp and Brian Eno when it was released as an import through Fripp’s DGM records in the U.S., and I unfortunately cannot say I recommend it. For two geniuses of ambient, this was incredibly boring, and this is coming fromRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Neko Case – Live from Austin, Texas DVD (2006)

Another great release from PBS’ fantastic Austin City Limits series. Why did it take them so long to finally start releasing these shows on CD and DVD? This 2003 concert might be where I first experienced Neko Case’s enchanting voice and music. I remember being so enthralled by what IRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Garland Jeffreys – Rock and Roll Adult (1982)

One of my college roommates had this record. He made me listen to it one time in the middle of the the Friday night campus radio punk show. I guess he was trying to show me that there was a brighter side of life, one not so nasty as whatRead More

Vinyl

Half Notes: Bill Chinnock – Badlands (1978; 2008 reissue)

Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez, Gary W. Tallent, Danny Federici … Bill Chinnock? That’s right, Bill Chinnock was a major player in the early E Street years. When I was a young guy in the state of Maine, Chinnock actually ranked right up there with Bruce. His brand of soulful rockRead More