Something Else!

The Beatles, "Bad Boy" from Past Masters (1965): Deep Beatles

The Beatles, “Bad Boy” from Past Masters (1965): Deep Beatles

Like the Beatles’ other covers, Larry Williams’ “Bad Boy” reveals their roots: In this case, rhythm and blues.

Matthew Shipp Quartet - Sonic Fiction (2018)

Matthew Shipp Quartet – Sonic Fiction (2018)

With the singularly outsized saxophone and clarinet personality of Mat Walerian in the mix for ‘Sonic Fiction,’ Matthew Shipp has found a plenty good justification for going back to a quartet.

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Matthew Shipp – Zero (2018)

‘Zero’ is another one of those ‘pure’ Matthew Shipp solo piano records where there’s nothing in between the depths of his soul and your ears.

The Ramones - Pleasant Dreams (1981): Forgotten Series

The Ramones – Pleasant Dreams (1981): Forgotten Series

Reactions were indeed mixed for ‘Pleasant Dreams,’ but, in the end, the Ramones’ sixth studio effort stands as their last truly great album.

Vinyl

Chicken Diamond – Skeleton Coast (2018)

The direct punk-blues of the French one-man-band Chicken Diamond never gets old, and Diamond’s fifth long player Skeleton Coast is just as fresh and violent as the other four LP’s. That’s right, there are still You May Also Like: Chicken Diamond – The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (2016) DiamondRead More

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Walter Becker, “Were You Close Today” (2018): One Track Mind

I always regarded Walter Becker as a self-effacing musical genius. This rough take on one of his compositions that wasn’t even deemed good enough to finish only affirms that conviction about him.

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David Cain – Meditations (2018)

Even in this solo ‘piano’ setting, Cain finds ways to leverage technology: the quality organically-conceived music of Meditations was created with a little high-tech assistance.

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Laurence Juber – Standard Time (1982; 2018 reissue)

‘Standard Time’ launched Wings guitarist Laurence Juber’s highly respected career as a sophisticated yet graceful finger-style solo performer.

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The Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band – Chinese Butterfly (2018)

Chick Corea and Steve Gadd’s ‘Chinese Butterfly’ breaks no new ground but in this case, that can be completely forgiven.

Vinyl

Similar Fashion – Portrait Of (2018)

It gets harder to be artful in an original way in these days, but Logan Hone and his quirky quartet does it and does it well.