Piling It On: Alejandro Escovedo’s Real Animal
By David Furst | July 8, 2008
There’s really no need to add to the towering heap of praise. Scan nearly any review of Alejandro Escovedo’s latest and it won’t take long to stumble across phrases like "album of the year."
In a career filled with highlights and awash in critical accolades (see No Depression "artist of the decade"), Alejandro’s last two efforts stand out for especially rapturous receptions. But while 2006’s The Boxing Mirror was a tad self-conscious for my tastes (especially John Cale’s stiff ‘this is art’ production), in this case every scrap of praise is richly deserved. I can’t imagine another release giving Real Animal a run for its money in the album of the year sweepstakes. It’s not even fair.
Topics: Music | No Comments »
One More (Magical Mystery) Tour
By Wade Olsson | July 8, 2008
The Paul McCartney Tour Machine appears to be gearing up again for what some say may be Paul’s "farewell tour." Well, if that’s true, let’s do it right and bring Ringo along this time. With Starr edging perilously close to the state fair circuit, and McCartney seeming to favor only the most colossal of settings for his shows, a relatively intimate McCartney-Starr tour would be a perfect way for both icons to end their touring days. Yes, Paul has a terrific backing band—including drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.—but I’m sure they’d understand. Put a group of true legends behind McCartney, with Ringo in the drummer’s chair.
Topics: Beatles, Music, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
In Xanadu Did Newton-John A Goofy Musical Achieve
By Nathan Cone | July 7, 2008
Now that Xanadu is a hit on Broadway, it’s a good time to revisit the 1980 movie that inspired the Tony-nominated musical . For those who don’t recall (or have wiped the film from memory), Xanadu stars seventies superstar Olivia Newton-John as Kira, a muse that comes down from heaven to help Sonny (Michael Beck) achieve his dream. And what’s that dream? Why, opening a roller disco with former swing-era musician Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly).
Topics: Music, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation
By David Furst | June 14, 2008
If further proof was needed (and it was not) of Tom Waits’ genius, it was provided ten-fold on 2006’s Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards . 54 songs spread over three CDs, it’s a mix of new recordings, unreleased songs that had been gathering dust, and tracks that originally appeared on film soundtracks and tribute albums. It boasted a staggering amount of first-class material. But sometimes this lavish feast is more than you can digest in one sitting. Or even three sittings. That’s where Healing the Divide comes in. Featuring four songs from Waits, it serves as the perfect after dinner mint.
Topics: Music | No Comments »
Lindsey Buckingham: Live at the Bass Performance Hall
By David Furst | May 4, 2008
Fans of Lindsey Buckingham need to own this. Sure, it contains the Buckingham basics he’s played countless times in concert–"Go You Own Way," "Big Love," "Go Insane," "Never Going Back Again" and "I’m So Afraid." And yes, he’s pushing the live album limit–with Fleetwood Mac’s Live in Boston (2004), the Soundstage Presents Lindsey Buckingham DVD (2005) and now this. But Live at the Bass Performance Hall is simply the best place to hear the artist’s most recent solo material.
Topics: Music | 1 Comment »
Deep Purple’s Reign of Album Art Terror
By Wade Olsson | March 28, 2008
Deep Purple was certainly never a band known for subtlety. Sledgehammer guitar riffs, thick slabs of organ, and screeching vocal pyrotechnics earned them the dubious distinction of being named the “loudest band in the world” by the Guinness Book of World Records . Best taken in small doses, Deep Purple helped forge the golden age of English hard rock and heavy metal.
Oh, and their album covers sucked.
Join us as we explore some of their most unintentionally hilarious cover art.
Topics: Music | 3 Comments »
Gone Troppo: Partially Wonderful
By David Furst | March 27, 2008
Happy music. It rarely inspires raves among critics. Everyone knows we’re a miserable bunch. We don’t want to be reminded that other human beings might be full of joy—especially not pampered, wealthy rock stars. If lyrics aren’t picking through the roadkill of existential crisis and despair, how can the music be worth our time? You’d think I was leading up to a ‘Here’s Why Sir Paul McCartney Matters’ pitch, but no. Enter George Harrison. In particular, his 1982 offering Gone Troppo .
Topics: Beatles, Music | 3 Comments »
“I’m Don Kirshner …”
By Wade Olsson | March 24, 2008
Don Kirshner. Rock Concert . These words don’t seem to belong together, do they? Don Kirshner’s Polka Festival or Don Kirshner’s Farm Report perhaps. But Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert ? And yet this former Tin Pan Alley impresario ruled the Friday late night airwaves for most of the 1970s—at least for rock fans.
Topics: Music | 1 Comment »
The Moog Taurus Bass Pedal: Like Colt .45, It Works Every Time
By David Furst | March 24, 2008
OK. Your band is building to the climax of a 10-minute-plus prog rock epic. All hands are on deck. The air is thick with dry ice, crunching guitars, keyboard arpeggios, and splintering drumsticks. Your singer appears out of nowhere on a riser above the band, suddenly illuminated by banks of blazing VariLites. He is wearing a glowing polygon headdress and a cape.
Where do you go from here? Spinal Tap might have gone to 11. But that’s bullshit. I’ll tell you where you go from here. You stomp your foot down on the fucking Moog Taurus bass pedal. That’s where you fucking go. And you lay it down thick and hard and blow the doors off the motherfucker … one woofer-destroying note at a time.
Topics: Music | 1 Comment »