The Temptations’ Psychedelic Era Came into Focus on ‘Puzzle People’
September 22, 2019Released 50 years ago this week, the Temptations’ ‘Puzzle People’ is a blast of hard-edged soul, blistering funk fumes and acid-baked artiness.
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Elvis Costello’s ‘The Delivery Man’ Once Again Resisted the Urge to Look Back
September 21, 2019 -
Why Pop Will Eat Itself’s ‘Dos Dedos Mis Amigos’ Has Aged So Well
September 20, 2019
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.
The Aristocrats – ‘You Know What…?’ (2019)
September 22, 2019So it might hard to know how to slot the music in ‘You Know What…?’, though it bears many of the hallmarks of prog and rock-fusion. Whatever you call it, the Aristocrats do it well.
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Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber Fusion – ‘Eleven’ (2019)
September 17, 2019 -
Viviana Zarbo – ‘Take Away’ (2019)
September 17, 2019
The Aristocrats – ‘You Know What…?’ (2019)
September 22, 2019So it might hard to know how to slot the music in ‘You Know What…?’, though it bears many of the hallmarks of prog and rock-fusion. Whatever you call it, the Aristocrats do it well.
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Mike Stern and Jeff Lorber Fusion – ‘Eleven’ (2019)
September 17, 2019 -
Caroline Davis – ‘Alula’ (2019)
September 14, 2019
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.
Elvis Costello’s ‘The Delivery Man’ Once Again Resisted the Urge to Look Back
September 21, 2019Elvis Costello referenced past triumphs 15 years ago this week with ‘The Delivery Man,’ but he was never beholden to them.
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Why Pop Will Eat Itself’s ‘Dos Dedos Mis Amigos’ Has Aged So Well
September 20, 2019 -
Mark Knopfler Touched on Both His Past and Future With ‘Get Lucky’
September 18, 2019
Jeremy Morris and the Lemon Clocks – ‘Open Minds’ (2019)
September 15, 2019Though Jeremy Morris composes and performs a wide range of genres, this compilation points the arrow at his psychedelic and progressive-rock offerings.
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How Muse’s ‘The Resistance’ Gloriously Lived Up to Their ‘Derivative’ Tag
September 12, 2019 -
Bill Bruford – ‘Earthworks Complete’ (2019)
September 5, 2019
How ‘The Chair In the Doorway’ Became Living Colour’s Heaviest Album
September 16, 2019Released 10 years ago this week, ‘The Chair In the Doorway’ found Living Colour taking on darker themes.
Jeremy – ‘Pop Overflow’ (2019)
September 22, 2019‘Pop Overflow’ is perhaps Jeremy’s most fully-realized album to date – and that’s quite a statement.
Eric Clapton, “Motherless Child” from ‘From the Cradle’ (1994): One Track Mind
September 13, 201925 years ago, Eric Clapton — finally, blessedly, in a moment that fans had been hoping for since he left John Mayall in 1966 — let the blues overtake him.
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ZZ Top’s “El Diablo,” “Thunderbird,” “Rough Boy” + Others: Gimme Five
August 21, 2019 -
How ‘This Time’ Brought Robert Cray Full Circle Again
August 11, 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.
The Temptations’ Psychedelic Era Came into Focus on ‘Puzzle People’
September 22, 2019Released 50 years ago this week, the Temptations’ ‘Puzzle People’ is a blast of hard-edged soul, blistering funk fumes and acid-baked artiness.
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, “Can I” from ‘The Ladder’ (1999): YESterdays
September 10, 2019“Can I” represents something new for Yes, yet there is a connection to their storied past.
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, “One Road” from ‘Mindfields’ (1999): Toto Tuesdays
September 17, 2019Toto once again collaborates with ace songwriter Randy Goodrum, but “One Road” offers an interesting twist.
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Toto, “Mad About You” from ‘Mindfields’ (1999): Toto Tuesdays
September 3, 2019 -
Toto, “Last Love” from ‘Mindfields’ (1999): Toto Tuesdays
August 20, 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, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry / Get Away” from ‘Chicago 16’ (1982): Saturdays in the Park
September 21, 2019“Hard to Say I’m Sorry” would become Chicago’s second chart-topping single. But the album-version ending is what made it soar for me.
Toto, “Spanish Sea” from ’40 Tours Around the Sun’ (2019): One Track Mind
September 19, 2019’40 Tours Around the Sun’ is powered along by Toto’s impressive reading of “Spanish Seas,” an updated leftover from the ‘Isolation’ era.
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Eric Clapton, “Motherless Child” from ‘From the Cradle’ (1994): One Track Mind
September 13, 2019 -
Bob Mould Revealed New Depths on Sugar’s “Believe What You’re Saying”
September 6, 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
The Temptations’ Psychedelic Era Came into Focus on ‘Puzzle People’
September 22, 2019Released 50 years ago this week, the Temptations’ ‘Puzzle People’ is a blast of hard-edged soul, blistering funk fumes and acid-baked artiness.
-
Elvis Costello’s ‘The Delivery Man’ Once Again Resisted the Urge to Look Back
September 21, 2019 -
Why Pop Will Eat Itself’s ‘Dos Dedos Mis Amigos’ Has Aged So Well
September 20, 2019
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
