Spotlight

Journey began unlikely shift to pop stardom with the arrival of Steve Perry: 'I welcomed it'

Journey began unlikely shift to pop stardom with the arrival of Steve Perry: ‘I welcomed it’

‘Infinity,’ released on January 20, 1978, saw Journey add Steve Perry. As ‘Feeling That Way/Anytime’ showed, they’d never be the same again.

Vinyl

David Philips, “Angel” from If I Had Wings (2015): Something Else! sneak peek

Here is a review of David Philips’ pretty, ethereal number “Angel” from his upcoming album ‘If I Had Wings.’

Toto - XIV (2015): Something Else! sneak peek

Toto – XIV (2015): Something Else! sneak peek

With ‘XIV,’ Toto has produced a visceral, entirely present return, one that acknowledges their best moments even as it builds upon them.

Steve Cropper discusses Pops Staples' underrated contributions: 'Everybody wanted to copy that'

Steve Cropper discusses Pops Staples’ underrated contributions: ‘Everybody wanted to copy that’

Pops Staples’ vocals with the Staple Singers tend to define his modern legend. But he had an impact on Steve Cropper in an entirely different way.

Vinyl

DRKWAV [Skerik, John Medeski + Adam Deitch], “Darkwave” from The Purge (2015)

Here is an early listen to the new psychedelic fusion supergroup DRKWAV (John Medeski, Skerik, Adam Deitch), a stream of the track “Darkwave.”

Vinyl

Chris Lightcap’s Bigmouth, “Epicenter” from Epicenter (2015): Something Else! sneak peek

Here is a review of Chris Lightcap’s Bigmouth’s “Epicenter,” the title track from the jazz supergroup’s upcoming new album.

Vinyl

Harry Nilsson played a key role on Ringo Starr’s Liverpool 8, 14 years after his death

Harry Nilsson, who died on Jan. 15, 1994, inspired Ringo Starr to one of his best solo moments almost exactly 14 years later.

Is Steve Hackett's new Wolflight album cover for real?: 'I felt pretty nervous at first'

Is Steve Hackett’s new Wolflight album cover for real?: ‘I felt pretty nervous at first’

The cover of former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s forthcoming solo album finds him amidst a group of actual wolves. He explains.

Vinyl

Aaron Goldberg, “Yoyo” from The Now (2015): Something Else! sneak peek

With laid-back, assured musicianship and a simpatico now over fifteen years running, the festive spirit of Port-Au-Prince gets channeled amiably through a jazz filter on the Aaron Goldberg Trio’s take on “Yoyo.”

Vinyl

Inside the sessions for Bob Dylan’s gutsy new standards album: ‘People broke down crying’

‘Shadows in the Night’ engineer Al Schmitt is still marveling over the chances taken by Bob Dylan on the forthcoming project.