Archive for the 'Opinion Posts' Category
BASS LEGEND JEFF BERLIN RECORDS AN ASTONISHING NEW CD
Author: Jeff Boule
Richard Drexler, piano and upright bass (right), Berlin (center) and legendary drummer Mike Clark (left). A dangerous combo, promising intense music in February.
1/9/2012 – Clearwater, FL – Insiders who have heard bass legend Jeff Berlin’s newest CD are buzzing about the forthcoming release – a release that they are saying could possibly be among the greatest bass album of all time! The word is that Jeff Berlin has recorded a jazz CD so astonishing that the artist himself is in shock with what he played! “I prepared for it by practicing 5 hours a day for weeks,” Jeff explains. “What came of my preparation was to record solos on the bass that I believe have never been heard before from a bass player!”
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(PHILADELPHIA, PA) Jon Anderson, the voice of the rock group Yes for many years, has once again stepped up to help the Cancer Support Community of Philadelphia (CSCP) by providing the soundtrack for the organization’s 2011 electronic holiday card. The e-card, designed by Lauren Keswick and Scott Bluebond and produced by Keswick (www.medicalartstudio.com) was distributed today to the cancer support organization’s friends, supporters, members, donors and others and is available at www.cancersupport-phila.org. The card shows images from events and programs from the past year.
The song used for the e-card is called “Give Hope” and was originally released as a bonus track on the 22ndanniversary reissue of Anderson’s fourth solo album, the holiday-themed 3 Ships. This reissue contained five tracks not included on the original release from 1985 including this song. The original music for this song was by Narada Michael Walden and it was developed by Christophe Lebled. CSCP marketing and communications director Scott Bluebond was listening to the track recently and thought it would make an excellent accompaniment to his organization’s holiday e-card this year. He approached Anderson’s publicist, Billy James of Glass Onyon PR, who quickly was given the “OK” from Anderson. Read the rest of this entry »
Perhaps the most comprehensive "demo" tape ever submitted by an up-and-coming artist, Sarah Spencer, enlisting the assistance of heavy hitter Steve Morse. Between that and her raw talent, you can't go wrong.
Please accept my apologies, dear reader. I have been meaning to do this review for so long. Here’s the issue: Every time a new piece of music comes across my desk lately, it has been so new, so fresh, so unheard of to me, that I simply allow myself to indulge, devour and experience.
I also need to extend a personal “thank you for your patience” to Chris Brown of Random Touch. I am dying to do the back-to-back Random Touch albums as the BOSCH disc was killer! (I throw that on every now and again, just because I reviewed them previously, doesn’t mean they collect duct on my shelves. The good ones migrate into my collection.)
But where Mr. Morse and Ms. Spencer went with Angelfire, you would not expect a disc of this caliber from these fairly divergent artists.
Lana Del Rey Tells Us We’re “Born to Die”
Author: Kerri O'Malley
We were once “Born to Run” or “Born to Be Wild,” perhaps touched with a tinge of trapped wanderlust ala “Ramblin’ Man” but otherwise encouraged to cast aside the have-to hostility of fate in favor of reaching for all possibilities. Both of these classic tracks inspire us to see life as open and free, fate as something that happens along the way, and our birthright as the ability to explore, escape, and embrace. Earlier this year, Lady Gaga gleefully told us we were “Born This Way,” justified in all our oddities, exultant and open to each other.
But now, according to indie songstress-turned-overnight superstar Lana Del Rey, we’re “Born to Die.” Del Rey recently released an incredibly cinematic video to accompany her new, dark single, the title track of her upcoming album, that buries the optimism of our previous “Born to”s under an all-consuming and fatalistic bad romance. Read the rest of this entry »
It would seem this blog has gotten big for its britches. We started with our loyalty to a certain artist-who-will-never-be-named-in-this-blog-again, we had brushes with greatness (Jeff Berlin, Bill Bruford, Jon Anderson, Rick Wakeman, so on) we forget what time of year it is, and what we have to be thankful for.
I remember some of the things I have to be thankful for now that I am back in an area where even I made an impression on the local musical scene. Imagine my surprise when I returned after 18 years away to find that the little band I was a part of was historic in that it was one of the first area local bands to make a splash. The band made news doing MTV basement video contest, local radio airplay, local television appearances, etc. Yeah, we were original before original was cool.
I have the scars and road rash to prove it. Long before Breaking Benjamin broke up.
CLASSIC ROCK LEGENDS WISHBONE ASH CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF ‘ELEGANT STEALTH’
Author: Jeff Boule
New tunes from Wishbone Ash! Photo courtesy of Glass Onyon
Danbury, CT - Elegant Stealth represents a benchmark in the evolution of Wishbone Ash, one of the most influential guitar bands in the history of rock. Signature twin-lead melodies and a powerhouse rhythm section frame 11 new tracks that reflect a diverse realm of styles and moods. Elegant Stealth will be released on ZXY Music on November 25th.
Formed in 1969, Wishbone Ash has more than 20 original studio recordings and several live albums to their credit. On Elegant Stealth, the group coalesces around strong songwriting and serious chops. Founding member Andy Powell handles lead vocals and trades licks with Finland’s guitar wizard Muddy Manninen. Bassist Bob Skeat, a 14-year veteran of the band and in-demand studio musician, sets the pace with Joe Crabtree, one of the best of Britain’s new breed of drummers, having played with Pendragon and David Cross of King Crimson.
The band demonstrates its versatility on Elegant Stealth, from the pop/rocker “Reason to Believe” to the gentler vibe of “Give it Up” to tunes like “Warm Tears” and “Big Issues,” where the band gets to stretch out and flex its musical muscles.
Wakeman ( r ) and Anderson test drive some new material from their new collaborative LP The Living Tree as well as cruise some classic YES tunes in the Poconos. Photo by Lynn Vala
This blog has exposed me to a lot of new music. It has also brought me close to many artists, opened many musical doors for me, and I learn something new every time I write something. This review is unique in that while I was fortunate enough to work with the promoter for Jon Anderson, and his subsequent projects, I got to experience what many say is the heart and soul of progressive rock mainstays YES, Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman live playing songs from the YES catalog that we all know and love, but also songs from Anderson/Wakeman’s new album The Living Tree. While this is a review of the live act, I will make a quickie commentary on the album The Living Tree: I am going to get the disc based on the performances I saw at the Sherman Theater.
The Sherman Theater is an old venue in the heart of Stroudsburg, which is undergoing a touch of a renaissance lately. The Sherman, I would say is undergoing it’s own renaissance, with some new elements and some signs of age. Will call got our order confused, but such associations with promoters, press agents, etc., usually leads to snafu situations. Unless person A talks directly to person B, and when I get there I talk to person B, then the situation usually devolves to Situation Normal, All Fouled Up.
While I most likely will recognize the YES tunes, the new pieces from The Living Tree and if Anderson does anything from his new disc Open, I may need help naming them. Thanks to a cooperative soundman and an equally cooperative stage manager named Neil (if memory serves, no chance of that happening), we managed to take pictures of Jon’s personal set lists.
Rock Journalism 101: "… if you need information about anything pertaining to the show, providing you have an actual business purpose for being at the performance and aren't just an overzealous fan…" Photo by Lynn Vala
Ask and you shall receive… Read the rest of this entry »
Promoting the expanded re-release of Completion Backward Principle, the Tubes bring their "La Dolce Vida" tour to Jim Thorpe, PA. Photo by Lynn Vala
Jim Thorpe PA – I function in a lot of different environments. Theaters, clubs, halls… But usually these are, at the most, extreme, in the suburbs of some metropolis. This venue is up in the mountains of North East PA.
This up-high-rural-stuff ain’t for me.
Many of these venues often feature restaurants adjacent or within the structure. This venue’s restaurant, Roadies, was particularly good. I may be a tad biased. You see, that night, I was craving a big, sloppy, juicy cheeseburger. I was thrilled when I saw it on the menu. But the burger itself was so huge, juicy and sloppy, it met my craving head on and was most satisfying. The fries were great too. Thankfully, my doctor doesn’t read this column.
But I have found that many of these “experience” reviews contain comments and opinions about food. I am beginning to feel like a restaurant critic. There are enough Gordon Ramsey’s in the world…
Let’s talk about MUSIC!
Fresh off the burner, the new CD from Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman. They do indeed deliver the goods, right through customs and into the United States. Cover courtesy of Glass Onyon
So, apparently, my question last time, “can Anderson/Wakeman deliver the goods” has been answered! Some of the East Coast US reviews are starting to surface, and, let’s just say I am thrilled we got our tickets!! This is promising to be a trip down YES memory lane with nods to brand new music composed by the duo. Not wanting to speak out of turn, I am going to wait for the show to make any decisions about the new material. The good news is, I won’t be waiting long as Anderson and Wakeman are coming to my “hood” tomorrow and I will have pen in hand, trusty photographer armed with photo pass, and I will be happily passing on all the dish about the show!!!
But let’s give a look at what Anderson/Wakeman’s PR folks have to say about this latest release and corresponding tour”:
11/5/2011 – London, UK – As a follow-up to their critically acclaimed CD ‘The Living Tree’ from 2010, YES legends Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman prepare to release ‘Anderson / Wakeman – The Living Tree In Concert Part One’ on Gonzo Multimedia on November 28th. The CD was recorded during the duo’s British tour in 2010 and comes housed in a sleeve design by Mark Wilkinson who was also responsible for the design of the artwork for ‘The Living Tree’.
Over the moon about brilliant reviews, Rick Wakeman (l) and Jon Anderson bring their happy song-fest to the NE US. Photo courtesy of Glass Onyon PR
I had posted some press releases previously, but sometimes assignments drop in your lap last minute. Who am I to pass up Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman coming to my “hood”? I still regret not seeing Emerson Lake Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner and Smith when they played this very same theater, the Sherman in Stroudsburg.
I thought I had spent enough time in the Poconos, having moved there shortly before 9/11. Leaving shortly after realizing our position would be militarily strategic as a strike zone with the proximity of Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Circumstances and reversal of fortunes (in that all my legal issues have been, for the most part addressed and I am victorious, those who plagiarized me, not so much) allow me to attend Anderson/Wakeman on November 5th, so I will be bringing you the usually slimmy on this critically acclaimed “Greatest Hits” tour. What exactly are the critics saying? Venture forth…
Ty Segall at the Bowery Ballroom (Sept. 29)
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Ty Segall’s latest release, Goodbye Bread, may be his most melodic and chilled-out to date, but his fans still thrive on the sweat and fury of Segall’s turbulent fuzz glory. His sold-out show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC last night broke hearts and melted face, bringing some much-needed mosh madness to the generally stoic hipster crowd.
Segall started off his set with the slow and quiet title track from his latest album, “Goodbye Bread” (see the new video for the single below), but soon shot into heavy head-thumping numbers like “My Head Explodes,” “You Make the Sun Fry,” and “The Floor.” Segall also played “The Drag,” his breakout solo hit, to happy screams and shrieks from the audience. Sweat flew and elbows jumped through the air; stage divers leaped onstage and spastically surfed their way through the thrashing crowd. A lucky mosher found himself singing into the microphone for a verse while Segall smiled and shredded at his side. At the end of his set, Segall and company invited everyone up on stage to join the sublimity. Read the rest of this entry »
Megafaun’s Latest Release Mashes Mellow
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Megafaun may sound like the mightiest beasts in the wild, but their latest self-titled release is actually fairly mild. With easily drawn comparisons to the Grateful Dead, Megafaun is chock-full of semi-Southern, sleepy rock that still sounds radio-ready. Perhaps it’s that strange, almost nostalgic quality that’s left me a bit underwhelmed, dozing off halfway through the record when the band turns from old-fashioned, feel-good front-porch music (mixed with the occasional odd number) to the sort of tunes you expect a character in a rom-com to write.
Nothing against dancing cheek to cheek, but numbers like “Hope You Know” and “Kill the Horns” leave me feeling like I’m caught in a cheesy movie (Sleepy in Seattle?). Slow but not soulful, these tunes wash over easily, leaving no lasting impression.
The biggest hits come early on, with the combined power and easy-to-love quality of the album’s first two tracks, “Real Slow” and “These Words.” Read the rest of this entry »
YES Legends Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman To Tour North America Fall 2011
Author: Jeff Boule
Founding members of the Yes Former Bandmate Mutual Admiration Society, Rick Wakeman (L) and Jon Anderson (R). Photo courtesy of Glass Onyon
Wild Flag’s Self-Titled Debut
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Girl power! It may not be the 90s anymore, but Wild Flag definitely knows how to kick it old school, mostly because the members of this brand-new band were also members of 90s legends Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and The Minders. But this act is no throw back: now, more than ever, Wild Flag’s touch of girly grunge is both fresh and fun.
The supergroup’s self-titled debut starts off with the energetic “Romance,” whose defined beat and relentless stride reminds me of The Knack’s “My Sharona,” minus the pedophilia and plus some serious attitude. By the time the hand claps break in, “Romance” has spanned every genre from grunge to keyboard-driven pop to girl-group harmonies and vintage vibes. Check out The Best Show host Tom Scharpling’s video for the single after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Forget Vampires…Dig THE ZOMBIES!
Author: Kerri O'Malley
This weekend, fang-bangers waved a fond farewell to True Blood (and a handful of its cast members) in the gory Season 4 finale. As the blood dries and we shake off the bad vibes from that terrible season, there’s only one place left to turn for our supernatural fix: The Zombies!
Although the band reunited somewhat later on, The Zombies had their heyday in the late 60s. Most lauded for their 1968 album, Odessey and Oracle, and most known for their hit single, “Time of the Season,” The Zombies have continued to make waves even today, not the least of which was this year’s cover of the Zombies tune, “She’s Not There,” for True Blood’s Season 4 premiere episode. Hear the Nick Cave and Neko Case cover here.
But while the psychedelic madness of Odessey and Oracle reigns supreme and the moody melody of “Time of the Season” is inarguably one of the best moments of 60s pop, The Zombies have much more to offer. Read the rest of this entry »
The Battle of the Buddy Holly Tribute Albums: Listen to Me vs. Rave On
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Today would have been Buddy Holly’s 75th birthday, and the music industry hasn’t forgotten. Instead, the second Buddy Holly tribute album released this year, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, dropped yesterday, competing with June’s Rave On Buddy Holly with a far more demanding title and a whole new cast of stars.
These are very kind birthday presents, and a nice way to commemorate one of rock’s first icons, whose tunes are flexible enough to morph into many genres. But the question remains: Which tribute wins? Let the competition begin! Read the rest of this entry »
The Missing Element: Exploring Emptiness with ex-Chili Pepper John Frusciante
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Frusciante Rages Against Recycling in RHCP's "Can't Stop"
John Frusciante’s name is on the tip of every music critic’s tongue in the wake of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ latest release, I’m With You. The band’s twelfth album has been given almost across-the-board lukewarm (or dead cold) reviews, and an increasing number of critics have been assigning the blame to the former guitarist’s absence.
Not even a founding member, Frusciante has left the Chili Peppers before, in 1992, amidst the angst of new fame post-Blood Sugar Sex Magik and a serious heroin habit. But John Frusciante has been involved in all of the Chili Peppers’ most successful albums, including Californication, By the Way, and the band’s 2006 double album, Stadium Arcadium, in addition to Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Missed not only for his fantastic guitar playing, Frusciante may have been one of the hardest working members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as evidenced by his already prolific solo career. Read the rest of this entry »
Blitzen Trapper’s New Album: American Goldwing
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Culture critic Chuck Klosterman once wrote, “The most wretched people in the world are those who tell you they like every kind of music ‘except country.’” I hate to count myself amongst the wretched, but I had almost given up on country music. Lately, it seems the only thing coming out of the country camp borders on pop, not the air-guitar-worthy country-rock of legends like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young.
Fortunately, it seems I’m not the only one thirsting for more thick beats behind country music’s modern twang. Blitzen Trapper‘s new album, American Goldwing, puts the rock back into country’s roll, sounding out a solid release for the Portland hillbillies. Read the rest of this entry »
Queen of Funk: Betty Davis
Author: Kerri O'Malley
She began as the Woman Behind the Curtain, the saucy lady on the scene. A songwriter, a muse, possibly even a “super groupie,” Betty Davis was a familiar face to musicians from every genre in the late 60s and early 70s, lending her lyrics to The Commodores for their breakthrough demo, befriending Jimi Hendrix, and loving and inspiring Miles Davis during their brief, volatile marriage in 1968.
Betty’s gift for famous flings and friendships isn’t hard to figure out. She cut a stunning silhouette with her stand-out afro and flair for funky fashion, a short-lived modeling career already under her belt by the time she sashayed onto the music scene. But Betty wasn’t one to lean on anyone, and she definitely wasn’t your average groupie. Betty always had her eyes on her own music career. By the time she released her 1973 self-titled debut, Betty Davis, she had already taken control of her destiny, writing all of the songs, directing their arrangement, and self-producing the majority of her studio albums afterwards. Read the rest of this entry »
Top 10 Best Movie Soundtracks
Author: Kerri O'Malley
Tell VH1 to go home. We’ve got a real list of Movies that Rock, as defined by their impeccable compiled soundtracks. Putting aside biopics like Ray or The Doors, documentaries like No Direction Home or Woodstock, album projects like The Wall, Tommy, or Purple Rain, and original soundtracks like Taxi Driver or Air’s work for The Virgin Suicides, this list focuses on “regular” narrative movies, comprised of fictional characters, that nevertheless went out of their way to secure soundtrack gold.
Before we get into it, I should also clarify that there are tons of great movies with fantastic soundtrack “moments” that are not included on this list. Think Tom Cruise dancing in his skivvies to “Old Time Rock and Roll” in Risky Business or Christian Bale enthusiastically spilling Jared Leto’s blood to “Hip to Be Square” in American Psycho or even Ian Somerhalder getting frisky to “Faith” in Rules of Attraction. Those songs are really only fun to listen to in the context of the clip, and the overall soundtracks falter. Read the rest of this entry »