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Halloween Heroes From Ramones, Queen, R.E.M. + Others: Gimme Five

Halloween Heroes From Ramones, Queen, R.E.M. + Others: Gimme Five

Here are a few super-powered considerations to explore before cutting eye holes in the spare bed sheets this Halloween.

Vinyl

Jason Stein Quartet – Lucille! (2017)

Jason Stein’s ‘Lucille!’ is another fun-filled jazz history lesson on the connection between Charlie Parker and Ornette Coleman.

Vinyl

Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp, Jeff Cosgrove – Live In Baltimore (2017)

On ‘Live In Baltimore,’ drummer Jeff Cosgrove doesn’t disrupt Ivo Perelman’s and Matthew Shipp’s simpatico; he enhances it.

Vinyl

A-ha – MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice (2017)

‘MTV Unplugged: Summer Solstice’ features a beautifully reworked version of A-ha’s breakout hit “Take on Me,” but there’s much more to recommend here.

Vinyl

Scott DuBois – Autumn Wind (2017)

DuBois’s desire to blur the lines between creative jazz, chamber music and folk forms is a quest others before him have taken on, but the challenge of putting it all together both coherently and provocatively is where many have fallen short. Not so with ‘Autumn Wind,’ it excels at that.

Vinyl

Third of Never – ‘Austerity’ (2017)

Loud, brash and bristling with attitude, Third of Never’s ‘Austerity’ swings, shakes and shudders in perpetual motion.

Vinyl

Lee Morgan – ‘I Called Him Morgan’ (2017, DVD)

‘I Called Him Morgan’ is a compelling, up-close documentary chronicling of the self-destructive lifestyle of jazz prodigy Lee Morgan.

Vinyl

Dream Syndicate – How Did I Find Myself Here? (2017)

In some ways, the new Dream Syndicate album is understood less as a singular release and better in the context of Steve Wynn’s overall career.

Vinyl

Damfino – One False Move And I’m Yours (2017)

It’s obvious Damfino had a ton of fun in the studio, and their enthusiasm spills right out of the speakers.

Vinyl

Ross Hammond and Jon Bafus – Masonic Lawn (2017)

For ‘Masonic Lawn,’ Hammond uses Resonator guitars to hold an extemporaneous musical dialogue with Bafus.