Because I’ve been steeping myself in rock and folk music all of these years, people are genuinely surprised when I admit that I’m not a lyrics person. I suppose it puts me in the minority of listeners. You May Also Like: Reevaluating Bruce Springsteen’s ‘The Wild, the Innocent and theRead More

by Mark Saleski The opening track of Joey Calderazzo’s Amanecer, for once, gave the listener some insight into where the pianist was headed. You May Also Like: Badfinger’s Joey Molland – The Pilgrim (1992): Forgotten Series Joey Alexander – ‘Origin’ (2022) Joey DeFrancesco, with Pharoah Sanders – ‘In the KeyRead More

Philadelphia-based Mir Stavola pulls off a difficult act on Gypsy Heaven, expertly balancing between two seemingly disparate worlds. She longs for and appreciates the rich cultural history associated with these traveling tribes, but also the ways that this world now encroaches from all sides. You May Also Like: Gypsy, “GypsyRead More

by Tom Johnson This tiny little pop-rock band took something like 8 years off between albums and returned in 2004 with one of those albums that periodically appears on the musical horizon and feels like it’s saving your life. So enveloping was its warmth that it found itself heavily andRead More

“Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” was a Top 5 hit in part because Steely Dan didn’t cut corners – especially when it came to the drummer.

Supertramp was many things over its too-brief period of hitmaking — art-rockish proggers, post-Beatle popsters, kinda-classical rockers, memory-defining radio monoliths. There was much to love as they moved, over the course of the early-1970s to the early-1980s, from the esoteric to the very top of the charts You May AlsoRead More

The deeply talented Laura Ellis gets going quickly on Femme Fatale, as if in midsentence, on the knowing and lightly ribald “I’ve Been Kissed Before.” As she sings a lyric about moving past previous relationships into new adventures, a brightly swinging horn section featuring Terry Harrington and Bob O’Donnell hitRead More

by Mark Saleski This album had two strikes against it before I heard a single note: 1. the almost nude shot on the back cover, Barsh covering what mama gave him with a melodica and 2. keyboards. You May Also Like: Dr. John’s anger over Katrina powered The City ThatRead More

Being in a town known for some mind expanding and often quirky acts (Tortoise, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Vandermark 5, etc.), Cheer-Accident stands out in their hometown Chicago. You May Also Like: Cheer-Accident – ‘Chicago XX’ (2020) Blue Cheer Set a New Rock Standard With ‘Vincebus Eruptum’ Gestalt – ‘MusicRead More

Well-known from the first as a trombone player with a penchant for warm, vocalized blues phrasing, Curtis Fuller was always an underrated composer, as well You May Also Like: Curtis Andrews, “Tight Rope, Short Walk” from ‘Speaking Hands’ (2021): Something Else! video premiere