State Cows – ‘Challenges’ (2019)
State Cows, often referred to as yacht rock, is an example of why musical labels are such a disservice.
Something Else!
Pat Metheny Discovered Bold New Machine-Aided Freedoms With ‘Orchestrion’
Issued 10 years ago this month, ‘Orchestrion’ found Pat Metheny improvising over sounds produced through an intriguing 19th-century contraption.
Thollem/Parker/Cline – ‘Gowanus Sessions II’ (2020)
‘Gowanus Sessions II’ is the long-awaited second part of an epic improv recording session from Thollem McDonas, William Parker and Nels Cline.
Dave Clark Five – ‘All the Hits’ (2020)
Sporting matching suits and short hair, the Dave Clark Five may have looked wholesome, but their music boomed with force and aggression.
Theo Hill – ‘Reality Check’ (2020)
On his third album ‘Reality Check,’ pianist Theo Hill is advancing his craft forcefully, a positive sign of creative restlessness.
How John Lennon’s Aptly Named ‘Instant Karma’ Set a Career Template
Recorded over a single day 50 years ago this month, John Lennon’s ‘Instant Karma’ pointed the way for the triumph of his solo debut.
Adrian Belew’s ‘Side One’ Was a Journey Through His Rich Musical History
Released 15 years ago this week, Adrian Belew’s ‘Side One’ began four separate installments of adrenaline-charged, twisty guitar. Better buckle up!
Judas Priest, Jackson Taylor, Blackberry Smoke, Alestorm + Others: Fred Phillips’ Best of 2010s
It’s not until you actually start combing through the hundreds of records you’ve listened to over a decade that you realize how daunting the task really is.
Matthew Shipp String Trio – ‘Symbolic Reality’ (2019)
At casual glance, the Matthew Shipp Trio’s new album could be read as ‘Symbiotic Reality.’ An engaged listen convinces us that should be the actual name.
Warren Zevon’s ‘Lawyers, Guns and Money,’ ‘Stand In the Fire’ + Others: Gimme Five
Let’s return to a handful of favorites – three in the studio, and two on stage – from Warren Zevon, who was born on this date in 1947.
