Title: Give More Love (UMe)
You might like if you enjoy: Ringo Starr, The Beatles, Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather
Tell me more: Ringo Starr has released a number of outstanding albums since he embarked on his solo career including Beaucoups of Blues (1970), Ringo (1973), I Wanna Be Santa Claus (1999) and Ringo Rama (2003). Now, the 77-years-young Starr has released his 19th studio album, the rousing Give More Love. Bolstered by contributions from a number of famous musicians, the album bursts out of the gate with the celebrative "We're On the Road Again" (featuring some stellar guitar work from his co-writer on the song, Toto's Steve Lukather, as well as Paul McCartney on bass). Plenty of gems follow, with the wry politically-charged "Laughable" (with some dazzling fret work courtesy of Peter Frampton), sweetly romantic "Show Me The Way" (for his wife of 37 years, actress Barbara Bach), delightful Bakersfield country-styled love song "So Wrong For So Long" and the rockabilly-flavored "Shake It Up" among this writer's faves. The title track "Give More Love" is an intoxicating song that outdistances its simple message and recalls the magic of Starr's best contributions to the Fab Four. Those who pick up the audio CD version of Give More Love will be treated to four wonderful bonus tracks including a fully new read of "Back Off Boogaloo," a country-blues take of "Don't Pass Me By" and slide guitar-anchored "Photograph." Information: RingoStarr.com.
Title: To the Moon and Back: 20 Years and Beyond..." (Minstrel Hall Music)
You might like if you enjoy: Ritchie Blackmore, Candice Night, Heart
Tell me more: Where do Renaissance and rock meet? Listen no further than Blackmore's Night whose To the Moon and Back: 20 Years and Beyond... retrospective truly transports the listener to another time adorned with mostly-acoustic folk textures and graceful ancient-styled melodies. With singer Candice Night's stirring soprano and Ritchie Blackmore's sterling guitar work working in tandem, the material consistently delivers. The breezy "Shadow Of the Moon," gentle "Spirit Of the Sea," aptly-titled "Renaissance Faire" and symphonic "Ghost Of A Rose" are among the early highlights on the two-disc set. Fans of Blackmore's groundbreaking rock roots with Deep Purple will love the version of "I Surrender" and "The Circle," the latter featuring the legendary guitarist shredding masterfully while the track itself truly showcases that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's love of Renaissance and rock can blend in wonderful ways. Information: blackmoresnight.com.
Title: Hitchhiker (Reprise)
You might like if you enjoy: Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young
Tell me more: Neil Young continues to please his discerning followers with special releases that shed incredible insight into the tunesmith's wealth of brilliant songs. The latest example is the highly-anticipated release of Hitchhiker, a legendary 10-song disc of acoustic songs recorded in a single day on Aug. 11, 1976 at Indigo Studios in Malibu, California. Among the magnificent songs first put to tape in a studio that day were "Pocahontas," "Powderfinger" and "Ride My Llama" — three memorable works that wound up on the Canadian singer-songwriter's 1979 masterwork Rust Never Sleeps. Armed with nothing more than his glorious voice, acoustic guitar and harmonica, Young tracked 10 timeless nuggets that were further enhanced by their otherworldly ties to each other. Information: NeilYoung.com.
Title: Still Snotty: Young, Loud and Snotty (Plowboy Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Dead Boys, U.S. Bombs, the Lords of the New Church
Tell me more: There was a time when punk rock was menacing and served as a much-needed attack against the increasingly-formulaic arena rock of the late 1970s. Bands such as England's Sex Pistols, New York's Ramones and Cleveland's hardcore outfit the Dead Boys brought unbridled energy and power to their rock attack. The Dead Boys recorded an influential debut titled Young, Loud and Snotty in 1977, and the 1978 sophomore effort We Have Come For Your Children before the group disbanded in 1979. Now, original members Cheetah Chrome (guitar) and Johnny Blitz (drummer) have joined forces with new members Ricky Rat (bass), Jake Hout (vocals) and Jason Kottwitz (guitar) to record Still Snotty: Young, Loud and Snotty, a powerful fully-realized version of the 40-year-old recording for a new generation prompted by a successful showcase at 2017's South by Southwest music festival in Austin that is already legendary. The new recording (tracked in a mere three-day span) is chock-full of punk energy and truly thrills. The hard-edged "Sonic Reducer," bluesy riff rocker "I Need Lunch," and fiery-fast "Down In Flames" rock. And hard. Information: Facebook.com/DeadBoysOfficial/.
Author: Anthony Robustelli
Pages: 432 pages
Tell me more: The sudden death of Steely Dan co-founder/guitarist Walter Becker on September 3 put an end to the groundbreaking jazz-rock duo (that also featured singer-keyboardist Donald Fagen). However, a recently-published book "Steely Dan FAQ" written by Anthony Robustelli sheds considerable light on the 50-year collaboration between Becker and Fagen as well as the myriad of ingredients that went into creating their enduring discography. The involving "Steely Dan FAQ" covers everything from the founders' meeting at Bard College in New York to the brilliant session players and singers who contributed to their sound (including singer-keyboardist Michael McDonald and guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter) and heartfelt tributes from musicians about the legacy of Steely Dan. Robustelli's style provides plenty of insight but keeps the reader glued to the page. Information: backbeatbooks.com.
Robert Kinsler
No comments:
Post a Comment