New music: Roger Joseph Manning, Joanne Shaw Taylor

In this column I highlight two fantastic albums that have been issued this fall.

Artist: Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

Title: Hopium (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: Beck, Jason Falkner, The Beatles, Jellyfish

Tell me more: Brilliant singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, Beck's touring band) is back with Hopium, a wonderful 10-track disc that features five new songs recorded in the studio and an additional five live cuts captured at Molly Malone's in Los Angeles in 2018. The jubilant opener "Modern Dance (The After School Specials)" somehow blends driving power pop, tuneful new wave and a touch of prog rock together into a euphoric sonic explosion that runs just over three minutes. "Just Lust" — written towards the final days of Jellyfish's run in the early 1990s — is a luxurious rocker that showcases Manning's terrific vocals and virtuoso talents as a keyboardist with emotive songcraft crafted with lush vocal harmonies and an ambitious arrangement. Other standouts on this run of studio tracks includes the Beatlesque "My Magic Bicycle," soaring "Wish Away" and inspired rapid-fire rocker "The Lords of Altamont" (the latter featuring the guitar work of Jim Wilson and Jason Falkner). The handful of perfectly-delivered live tracks includes two Jellyfish singles from that band's masterful 1990 debut Bellybutton ("That Is Why" and "The King Is Half-Undressed"), the infectious "The Loser," affecting "Pray For The Many," and crunchy ear candy sortie "Funhouse." Information: omnivorerecordings.com. 

Artist: Joanne Shaw Taylor

Title: The Trouble With Love (Journeyman Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Samantha Fish, Joe Bonamassa, Orianthi

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter/guitar great Joanne Shaw Taylor has just released a terrific studio album, the 10-track The Trouble With Love. The Kevin Shirley-produced album was released on Oct. 23, and comes a mere year after Taylor's previous LP Black & Gold. The Trouble With Love finds Taylor exploring not only blues, but rock, soul, gospel and even Americana with a sophisticated touch. The album opens with the rousing blues rocker "The Trouble With Love," featuring guest guitarist Joe Bonamassa; the winning track is bolstered by the exchange of stellar lead guitar work between the two players. The aptly-pegged "Hell Or High Water" blends gospel and blues with force, enhanced by Taylor's top-tier soprano and virtuoso fretwork. The confessional soul-filled take on British singer Celeste Waite's "This Is Who I Am" (featuring an extended emotion-filled guitar solo by Taylor), alluring ballad "Tired Of Being Right," fleet-footed roots rocker "What Good Is My Love?" featuring famed lead guitarist Orianthi, dreamy genre-defying "You and Me (Rachel's Song)" and powerful "Death Wish" are among the other compelling cuts on the outstanding disc. Information: joanneshawtaylor.com.

Robert Kinsler

Rick Nielsen’s One-Of-A-Kind Five Neck Guitar Sells For $313,600 via Julien’s Auctions

I have always been amazed by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen's ability too play a five neck guitar. I thought this news was worth sharing...Robert Kinsler

Julien's Announces Results for "The Rick Nielsen Collection"

Nielsen’s Never-Before-Offered 2004 Hamer Five Neck Guitar Leads Unprecedented Sale of 300+ Items Including Dozens of Unique Guitars

Highlights of the Sale Include

Stage Played Custom 2004 Hamer “Five Neck” Korina Electric Guitar  Sold for $313,600 Stage Played 1975 Hamer Standard Electric Guitar Sold for $256,000 1955 Ford Thunderbird Sold for $76,800 Black Overcoat Peed on by Nikki Sixx Sold for $5,760 (nearly 10x estimate) 1984 Gibson Les Paul XPL Electric Guitar, Sunburst  Sold for $25,600 (nearly 2x estimate) Cheap Trick Album Worn Sweater “One on One” with Album Sleeve Sold for $6,400 (over 6x estimate)

Portion of the Proceeds from Auction to Support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Julien’s Auctions, the industry-leading music memorabilia auction house, announced results from “The Rick Nielsen Collection,” which took place live on Saturday, October 24 at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum at the Historic Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The highlight of the sale was Rick Nielsen’s custom, stage-played 2004 Hamer Five Neck Korina guitar, offered publicly for the first time ever, which sold for $313,600. Another standout instrument, a stage-played 1975 Hamer Standard, achieved $256,000, while Nielsen’s 1984 Gibson Les Paul sold for $25,600. Additional highlights included his vintage Marshall amplifier, which brought $19,840, and his 1955 Ford Thunderbird, which sold for $76,800. As the creative force behind Cheap Trick, The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Nielsen crafted iconic anthems like “Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and “If You Want My Love”. His distinctive guitar work, power pop songwriting, and wild stage presence propelled the band from Rockford, Illinois to international stardom, cementing its legacy with the landmark Cheap Trick at Budokan album. Beyond the instruments, the auction offered a glimpse into Nielsen’s singular style and personality. Nielsen’s collection of handmade, one-of-a-kind sweaters proved equally popular. A sweater featuring the graphic “Don’t Steal My Girlfriend” sold for $6,400, six times its estimate, while his vintage Detroit Tigers baseball cap brought $2,240, more than three times its estimate. The collection’s fashion offerings delivered an especially strong showing, with all 90 lots of clothing finding buyers and every piece exceeding its presale estimate. From handmade sweaters to signature stagewear, the results underscored the appeal of Nielsen’s one-of-a-kind wardrobe.  Adding a decidedly rock-and-roll twist to the results, Nielsen’s black rubberized overcoat, famously peed on by Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx during a night out in Europe, sold for $5,760, nearly 10 times its presale estimate. Sixx recounted the incident in the band’s 2001 autobiography, The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band, recalling that he had urinated on the coat of his own musical hero. “Collecting guitars and memorabilia has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember” said Nielsen. “I’m thrilled to see friends, fans and collectors give these pieces of my history a new life, and even happier that the auction supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.” For the full results visit, Julien’s Auctions.