With the second, and title track, from forthcoming Lazaretto album, Jack White makes a bold move away from the amped-up blues of the initial “High Ball Stepper.” You May Also Like: Four Jacks and a Jill, “Master Jack” (1968): One Track Mind

A gloriously off-kilter instrumental blues from Jack White, “High Ball Stepper” advances the rootsy weirdness that made 2012’s Blunderbuss such a fizzy wonder. It will catch a groove, then devolve into a wide-open space of ruminative piano, then evolve again into a blister of smeared guitar sound. Is there suchRead More

While there is an argument to be had about Baz Luhrmann’s temerity in remaking “The Great Gatsby,” you’ll get no such reservations when it comes to Jack White’s scorching version of this U2 deep cut from the forthcoming soundtrack. You May Also Like: Four Jacks and a Jill, “Master Jack”Read More

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvpoiiBW9bc&w=500&h=305] We’ve each already had our say, individually. Said our piece. Then came time to meet over the remnants of the egg nog and hammer out a consensus — before we go over the disc-al cliff into 2013. You May Also Like: No related posts.

The Dinosaurs of Rock roamed the Earth again in 2012, racing up the charts past bands half their age and chewing through expectations. Expectations, you say? I had many. Most of them dead wrong. You May Also Like: No related posts.

What a year. Several metric tons of great music passed through my ears but somehow I managed to remember almost none of it. Too busy. Too worried. Too distracted. Being so caught up in my own thoughts caused most of sound to bounce right off. You May Also Like: NoRead More

Part 2, Mainstream and Modern Jazz >>> For the sixth straight year, it’s time to look back on the year in music to recollect which albums I really, really liked this year and make a list. You May Also Like: Were the White Stripes Actually a Bad Thing for JackRead More

After two goes at an annual Official™ Something Else! Top 10 list, we’ve decided to introduce a mid-year edition — for those who simply can’t wait for the Christmas sales You May Also Like: No related posts.

Since 2007, I’ve had year-end lists for the albums I thought stood out over the rest, within and without jazz. If the Mayans are to be believed, there won’t be time for year-end lists for 2012 You May Also Like: Seth Walker – Gotta Get Back (2016) Ethan Keller wantsRead More

Taking stock last night, as the sun dove below the trees on the year’s longest day, it occurred to me that 2012 has already provided a harvest of good-rocking blessings. There have been tough-minded albums that helped frame a difficult age from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Kevin Gordon,Read More