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The Cash Box Kings – Black Toppin’ (2013)

The Cash Box Kings reanimate that moment when popular music — both black and white — began to coalesce into the rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic. It’s loud music, fun music, occasionally delving into darker themes, but possessing an impetuous, undeniable rhythm. You May Also Like: How Johnny Cash Challenged ConventionRead More

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‘It’s a gift that I’ve been given’: Eric Clapton opens up on his lengthy struggles with addiction

In talking about Ginger Baker, his band mate in both Cream and in Blind Faith, Eric Clapton ends up going in depth about his own battles with addiction. You May Also Like: Ginger Baker (1939-2019): An Apprecation

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Something Else! Interview: Bob Gonzalez and Don Baskin of the Syndicate of Sound

The Syndicate of Sound, a garage-rock band from San Jose, California, was best known for their No. 8 1966 hit “Little Girl.” They also charted with “Rumors” (No. 55 in 1966) and with “Brown Paper Bag” (No. 73 in 1970) before initially breaking up. You May Also Like: Tony DeRead More

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‘It’s stripped down and tribal and rocking’: Producer Buddy Miller previews new Robert Plant album

Robert Plant has been in a reminiscent mood lately, releasing old Led Zeppelin material and offering two consecutive albums dominated by cover tunes. You May Also Like: How Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ ‘Raising Sand’ Still Confounds Expectations

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The Stay Tuned Project – Heart on Fire (2013)

In a world of ever-deepening on-demand specialization, the Stay Tuned Project brilliantly defies easy categorization. There’s rockabilly in here, blue-sky Britpop, touches of reggae, sun-drenched Beach Boys, something approaching Andrew Bird’s trembling openness You May Also Like: Chet Atkins, “Please Stay Tuned” (1985): One Track Mind

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Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Rick Springfield, others – Sound City: Real To Reel (2013)

Dave Grohl’s soundtrack to his passionately crafted film about Los Angeles’ Sound City recording studio is just as lovingly constructed, with just as many smart insights. Grohl teases out tough new performances from unlikely sources You May Also Like: How Dave Grohl Surprised Everybody With That Paul McCartney Collaboration HowRead More

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Benoit Delbecq and Fred Hersch Double Trio – Fun House (2013)

King Crimson, of all things, was the ensemble that first demonstrated (to the wider public, at least) the greater possibilities introduced by a double trio. And now, a Frenchman and an American extend this thrilling concept into jazz. You May Also Like: Illegal Crowns [Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Taylor HoRead More

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On the Abe Ovadia Trio, and the never-ending search for John Coltrane’s fiery intensity

Whenever I go to a live music event my hope is to get completely absorbed and immersed within the music. I find that the musicians who do this most for me are not the ones who show off their mastery of the language or technical proficiency. You May Also Like:Read More

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The Friday Morning Listen: Tom Waits – Mule Variations (1999)

Things are looking up around here, so they say. Something good must be happening because one of the highways I drive on is so often clogged with traffic that I can catch up on my reading over the course of the crawling ten-mile traverse. You May Also Like: How TomRead More

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Eric Clapton – Old Sock (2013)

Like 461 Ocean Boulevard, but with better singing, Eric Clapton’s Old Sock is similarly thin on original songs, swerves into an amiable island-inflected vibe, and never gets too far outside of its super-mellow box. You May Also Like: How Eric Clapton’s ‘Me and Mr. Johnson’ Made the Case for BritishRead More