Trade Winds and Foreign Tongues From Ozone Mama, Gin Lady, Baby Woodrose + Others: Gimme Five
September 2, 2019These bands can all rock as hard as any other band from any other place, which shows that maybe the importance of location isn’t such a big deal anymore.
John McFee of the Doobie Brothers: Something Else! Interview
August 19, 2019John McFee discusses planned new music from the Doobie Brothers, continuing shared dates with Santana and the prospects of a solo project.
Michaël Attias, “Trinité” from ‘èchos la nuit’ (2019): Something Else! sneak peek
March 7, 2019‘Echos la nuit,’ which translates into “echoes the night,” is a unique moment for Michaël Attias: This is his first unaccompanied album.
Bill Bruford – ‘Earthworks Complete’ (2019)
September 5, 2019Bill Bruford isn’t playing live anymore, but it’s great to have this box to relive his work at one of its many peaks.
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Rich Halley, with the Matthew Shipp Trio – ‘Terra Incognita’ (2019)
September 4, 2019 -
Jan Garbarek Surged Out of a Quieter Era With the Explorative ‘Dresden’
September 4, 2019
Monkey House – ‘Friday’ (2019)
August 15, 2019Can Don Breithaupt and Monkey House live up to the impossibly high standards set by 2016’s ‘Left’?
Rich Halley, with the Matthew Shipp Trio – ‘Terra Incognita’ (2019)
September 4, 2019Rich Halley’s encounter with the Matthew Shipp Trio is no East Coast meets West Coast kind of thing, just a meeting of great minds that think alike.
Bob Mould Revealed New Depths on Sugar’s “Believe What You’re Saying”
September 6, 2019Bob Mould issued perhaps his most heartfelt work, something obviously inspired by real loss, 25 years ago today.
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Lemon Clocks – ‘Between Time and Space’ (2019)
August 30, 2019 -
How Bachman-Turner Overdrive Pushed Back Against Prog With ‘Not Fragile’
August 27, 2019
Bill Bruford – ‘Earthworks Complete’ (2019)
September 5, 2019Bill Bruford isn’t playing live anymore, but it’s great to have this box to relive his work at one of its many peaks.
Bloody Hammers – ‘The Summoning’ (2019)
July 24, 2019Bloody Hammers strike the perfect mix of riffs, mood, melody and camp to drive a stake right through my metal heart.
Lemon Clocks – ‘Between Time and Space’ (2019)
August 30, 2019The Lemon Clocks thrive on experimentation, and their enthusiasm for the music they play is infectious.
ZZ Top’s “El Diablo,” “Thunderbird,” “Rough Boy” + Others: Gimme Five
August 21, 2019We returned to some old favorites as ZZ Top kicks off their 50th anniversary tour tonight.
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How ‘This Time’ Brought Robert Cray Full Circle Again
August 11, 2019 -
Robben Ford’s Tasty, Energetic ‘Soul on Ten’ Reframed His Recent Work
August 9, 2019
The Lunar Laugh – ‘Goodnight Noises Everywhere’ (2019)
August 22, 2019The Lunar Laugh are typically dubbed a power-pop act, but ‘Goodnight Noises Everywhere’ doesn’t restrict itself to any one style.
Bernard Fowler, Oz Noy, Grupo Fantasma + Others: Preston Frazier’s Best of 2019 (So Far)
July 10, 2019Preston Frazier’s mid-year new music survey includes Best of 2019 candidates Bernard Fowler, Grupo Fantasma and Oz Noy, among others.
How Son Volt Got Back on Track With the Searching ‘American Central Dust’
July 7, 2019Released 10 years ago today, Son Volt’s ‘American Central Dust’ found Jay Farrar asking questions – and being OK when he didn’t always get answers.
Yes, “Lightning Strikes” from ‘The Ladder’ (1999): YESterdays
August 27, 2019“Lightning Strikes” definitely has a different feel than the prior two songs on Yes’ ‘The Ladder,’ but that is in no way a slight.
Walter Becker, “He Wants You (Out)” (1997): Steely Dan Sunday
July 14, 2019“He Wants You (Out)” suggests that Walter Becker’s creative fire was burning brighter than we may have assumed during a period of down time with Steely Dan.
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Walter Becker, “Lucy D” (circa 1992): Steely Dan Sunday
March 17, 2019 -
Walter Becker, “Couchriders In the Sky” (circa 2008): Steely Dan Sunday
December 23, 2018
Into the Great Wide Open: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “You’re Gonna Get It” (1978)
June 17, 2014Petty began to take control of his vocal gifts on the second Heartbreakers album.
The Beatles, “Old Brown Shoe” from ‘Past Masters’ (1969): Deep Beatles
August 28, 2019It took a while, but “Old Brown Shoe” has emerged from the shadow of being a Beatles B-side.
Bruce Springsteen – The River (1980): Gimme Five
October 18, 2015When Bruce Springsteen issued ‘The River’ in October of 1980, I didn’t like it very much. Time has changed that – and here’s why.
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Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run (1975): Deep Cuts
August 25, 2015 -
Bruce Springsteen’s complex and challenging The Rising: Gimme Five
July 31, 2015
Levon and the Hawks, “He Don’t Love You” (1965): Across the Great Divide
October 22, 2015The Band, then known as Levon and the Hawks, released a few forgotten songs before heading to that basement with Bob Dylan. Here’s one of the best.
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The Band – ‘Moondog Matinee’ (1973): Gimme Five
October 15, 2015 -
Robbie Robertson was again sparked by America, old friends on Storyville
September 30, 2015
Toto, “Mad About You” from ‘Mindfields’ (1999): Toto Tuesdays
September 3, 2019“Mad About You” marks the return of former – and future – Toto frontman Joseph Williams, at least in spirit.
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Toto, “Last Love” from ‘Mindfields’ (1999): Toto Tuesdays
August 20, 2019 -
Toto, “Caught In the Balance” from ‘Mindfields’ (1999): Toto Tuesdays
August 6, 2019
(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Offramp” (1981)
June 7, 2014Some think Metheny is joking around, that he couldn’t possibly like “all of this noise.”
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(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Eighteen” (1981)
May 31, 2014 -
(Cross the) Heartland: Pat Metheny, “Au Lait” (1981)
May 24, 2014
Chicago, “Waiting for You to Decide” from ‘Chicago 16’ (1982): Saturdays in the Park
August 24, 2019‘Chicago 16’ as a whole is superb, and “Waiting for You to Decide” is an integral part of that.
Bob Mould Revealed New Depths on Sugar’s “Believe What You’re Saying”
September 6, 2019Bob Mould issued perhaps his most heartfelt work, something obviously inspired by real loss, 25 years ago today.
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Hiromi, “Spectrum” from ‘Spectrum’ (2019): One Track Mind
August 7, 2019 -
Boz Scaggs + Duane Allman, “Loan Me a Dime” (1969): One Track Mind
August 1, 2019
Gloryhammer / Aether Realm, June 17, 2019: Shows I’ll Never Forget
July 12, 2019I can, without a doubt, say Gloryhammer’s recent stop in Dallas was one of the favorite concert experiences of my life.
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Paul McCartney, June 6, 2019: Shows I’ll Never Forget
June 11, 2019 -
Pat Metheny, May 16, 2019: Shows I’ll Never Forget
May 19, 2019
Jan Garbarek Surged Out of a Quieter Era With the Explorative ‘Dresden’
September 4, 2019Released 10 years ago today, the live-recorded ‘Dresden’ was the most essential Jan Garbarek album in a long time.
Spencer Davis Group – ‘Gluggo’ (1973): Forgotten Series
December 7, 2018Long overlooked, the Spencer Davis Group’s ‘Gluggo’ stands as a fun and energetic collection of meat-and-potatoes rock and roll.
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The Rascals – ‘The Island of Real’ (1972): Forgotten Series
November 8, 2018 -
Roscoe Mitchell Sextet – ‘Sound’ (1966; 2018 reissue)
September 22, 2018
Playing the Long Game With Journey, Jethro Tull + Paul Rodgers: Shadows in Stereo
April 22, 2019Albums by Paul Rodgers, Jethro Tull and Journey have become unjustly forgotten in the collective memory.
Beatles Gift Guide: Kit O’Toole’s Top 2018 Albums, Books, Movies, Box Sets and More
December 14, 2018The year 2018 proved to be a bonanza for Beatles fans. Here’s a look back at some of the best albums, books, movies, box sets and more.
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Conversation with Billy Cobham, Part 2: Brian Gruber and Ronnie Scott’s
September 7, 2018 -
Pink Floyd: Album By Album, by Martin Popoff: Books
June 30, 2018
How ‘It Might Get Loud’ Revealed a Simple Truth About Three Legends
August 14, 2019Jimmy Page, the Edge and Jack White debuted in a film 10 years ago today that brought out my inner guitar geek.
Trade Winds and Foreign Tongues From Ozone Mama, Gin Lady, Baby Woodrose + Others: Gimme Five
September 2, 2019These bands can all rock as hard as any other band from any other place, which shows that maybe the importance of location isn’t such a big deal anymore.
How Paul Allen Saved the Seattle Cinerama
October 16, 2018In memory of Paul Allen, we’re returning to Mike Tiano’s examination of the late Microsoft co-founder’s role in preserving the Seattle Cinerama Theater.
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Geoff Emerick (1946-2018): An Appreciation
October 4, 2018 -
New Orleans at 300: In Search of Jazz
August 29, 2018
