Revisit U2's 'Elevation' opener in March 2001 via my coverage of the band's March 24, 2001 concert

On March 24, 2001, U2's Elevation tour began in Sunrise, FL. I was fortunate to be at the event and cover the memorable concert for The Orange County Register. Check out my review as it appeared in the deadwood edition of the newspaper on Monday, March 26, 2001. Click the image below to see a full screen version of the review...Robert Kinsler

Irish and English heroes shine on essential new releases

When it comes to new music, the end of 2017 is delivering some of the year's best and most noteworthy titles. In particular, a handful of artists from Ireland and the U.K have returned with albums that are required listening. 

Artist: Pugwash
Title: Silverlake (Lojinx)
You might like if you enjoy: ELO, XTC, The Beatles
Tell me more: I have heard hundreds of new studio albums this year and I can't think of any that are better than the brilliant Silverlake from Pugwash. A dozen marvelous originals fill this disc, all written by Dublin-based singer-guitarist Thomas Walsh. But the equally-winning part of the formula is the crucial work of Jason Falkner (a former member of Jellyfish and the Grays, and long-time lead guitarist of Beck's touring band), who produced, mixed and played a slew of instruments including guitars, bass, drums and keyboards on the tracks. To be sure the intoxicating "The Perfect Summer," "What Are You Like," "Without You" and other songs here will leave listeners with a delightfully-incurable case of earworm. Those looking for honest, melodic and inventive songwriting that is delivered with the artfulness of enduring classics from ELO, XTC, Crowded House and the Beatles should dispose of the weary adage "They don't make music like that anymore" and discover the magic of Pugwash. And the fact that the album was recorded in a mere 22 days makes this masterwork all the more remarkable. Information: lojinx.com.

Artist: U2
Title: Songs of Experience (Interscope)
You might like if you enjoy: U2, Coldplay
Tell me more: One of rock's greatest and most successful bands of all time, U2 has returned with the sequel to the quartet's 2014 album Songs of Innocence with the newly-released Songs of Experience. The lyrics touch on everything from enduring love and mortality to Syrian refugees and an examination of the "American Soul," but U2's success has always been about whether or not the band's songs have connected with their global audience. The good news here is that overall the material on "Songs of Experience" is stronger as a complete body of work than the track listing on their previous LP. Chief among this writer's favorites is the introspective "The Little Things That Give You Away" complete with The Edge's shimmering guitar textures, the anthemic "Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way" with Bono's soaring voice and the stirring "13 (There Is A Light)." U2 fuses its trademark sound with blues, gospel and soul on the determined "Lights on Home; "Red Flag Day" recalls the foursome's approach back in their early days with The Edge's rapid-fire guitar, Adam Clayton's thundering bass and Larry Mullen Jr.'s forceful drumming. A wonderful return. Information: U2.com.

Artist: The Corrs
Title: Jupiter Calling (East West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Corrs, Dido, the Cranberries
Tell me more: The Corrs bridge the worlds of traditional Celtic folk, '70s folk rock and contemporary rock with affecting songcraft, stellar vocals and an Irish warmth that fully comes across on the siblings' latest album Jupiter Calling. Singer Andrea Corr's lead vocals continue to be a wonder; she delivers performances free of the bombast that has sadly become a jarring mark of so many modern-day female vocalists while her talented sisters Sharon (violin, backing vocals) and Caroline (drums, percussion, piano, bodhrán, vocals) and brother Jim (guitar, keyboards, vocals) create an expansive and nuanced blend of old and new. For those who like catchy pop songs, the rousing "SOS" and infectious "Hit My Ground Running" most recall the quartet's early hits ("Breathless," "Radio"). Elsewhere on the 13-track LP  the Corrs explore the quiet with strength and purpose; the lovely "Son Of Solomon," "Road To Eden" and "Live Before I Die" inhabit that corner of the group's sound with nuanced fire. Information: TheCorrsWebsite.com.

Artist: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Title: Who Built The Moon? (Caroline International)
You might like if you enjoy: Radiohead, Doves, Blur's "The Magic Whip"
Tell me more: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds have returned with another outstanding album. Who Built The Moon? is an almost-radical departure from the British troupe's excellent 2015 "Chasing Yesterday." There are electronica and art rock flourishes aplenty, including the propulsive "Fort Knox," explosive dance-worthy "Holy Mountain" and reminiscent rocker "She Taught Me How To Fly." The atmospheric "It's a Beautiful World" equals the majesty of masterworks from Doves, Blur and Radiohead, and the shimmering alt rocker "Black & White Sunshine" rivals the straight-up classics he recorded with Oasis. "Who Built The Moon?" is a fantastic album. Information: NoelGallagher.com.

Artist: Downes Braide Association
Title: Skyscraper Souls (X2X Records / Cherry Red)
You might like if you enjoy: ASIA, Peter Gabriel, Geoff Downes
Tell me more: The third collaboration from London-based duo Downes Braide Association (keyboardist-composer Geoffrey Downes and singer-keyboardist Christopher Braide) is a progressive album sure to please fans of Downes' work with ASIA, the Buggles and Yes. The material on Skyscraper Souls is expansive, ranging from the ASIA-flavored "Skyscraper Souls" (featuring Kate Pierson of B-52s fame on backing vocals and Dave Colquhoun's wonderful lead guitar throughout) and lush "Glacier Girl" (with guest Andy Partridge of XTC) to the uplifting pop anthem "Angel On Your Shoulder" and British folk ode "Tomorrow" (a lovely duet between Braide and David Longdon) this is an album whose detailed lyrics and themes will provide discerning music aficionados an endless number of layers to discover with each listen. This is a project whose creative scope extends beyond the music, with noted artist Roger Dean having created a painting for the cover art and the logo, while lyrics add depth to the experience. Information: www.downesbraide.com/.



Robert Kinsler

Inbox Update: Sharon Corr set to tour in September; Empty Hearts debut lands tomorrow

Here are a couple of timely media releases of interest to fans of Sharon Corr who are based in the UK and Ireland, as well as power-pop fans everywhere...

  

SHARON CORR US MEDIA; PREPS UPCOMING UK/IRELAND TOUR DATES;

THE SAME SUN CD SET FOR SEPTEMBER UK/IRELAND RELEASE;

THE BETTER SHOW AND ART OF THE SONG AIR

FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST;  

ICONIC IRISH SINGER/SONGWRITER’S MITCHELL FROOM-PRODUCED COLLECTION FEATURES

INTERNATIONAL SMASH, “TAKE A MINUTE.”

ALONGSIDE CURRENT SINGLE/VIDEO, “WE COULD BE LOVERS”    

In advance of a September UK/Ireland release of her solo CD, The Same Sun Sharon Corr prepares for her much-anticipated UK/Ireland tour. Starting in Inverness on September 14, the tour will visit Aberdeen, Glasgow, Newcastle, Dublin, Manchester, Oxford and Birmingham before concluding in London on September 25. The Grammy nominee/Brit Award winning, singer-songwriter/violinist and member of legendary Irish group The Corrs, Sharon Corr will perform songs from her second solo album The Same Sun as well as a selection from her popular back catalogue, as she did at the launch of her US tour earlier this year.  

"I'm really excited to be touring again in the UK and Ireland. Music is magic, so come breathe it in!” Corr comments.  

A former judge on The Voice of Ireland, she continues non-stop UK /Irish and international promotion, while scheduled tv and radio appearances in the US include performances on the popular, nationally syndicated tv show, The Better Show, August 6^th, and the nationally syndicated radio show, Art of the Song, which begins airing on public radio stations nationally the week beginning August 4^th. According to Art of the Song host and Standing “O” founder, John Dillon, “It was indeed a pleasure speaking with Sharon Corr. Not only is her musicianship extraordinary, she truly embodies the creative values we seek to illustrate on the show.”  Art of the Song is a one hour public radio program heard on over 150 stations across North America. Through discussions with singer-songwriters and artists, the show aims to inspire listeners to explore their own creativity. The intimate conversation and exclusively recorded music with Sharon Corr may also be heard at Art of the Song’s sister website, www.StandingOProject.com.* Corr’s media rollout continues with a feature interview that is also scheduled to run on the syndicated radio show, 60 Second CD later this week.  At the end of June, Corr performed on the international tv show and Arise 360.  

In addition, throughout these last several weeks, Corr has been seen on such high profile UK media outlets as Weekend Wogan, Simon Mayo, Lorraine Live, profiled in Female First and The Herald Drive, among other outlets.  In a recent review of Take A Minute,one writer observed vocal comparisons to Karen Carpenter noting, “…if someone told you this was Karen Carpenter, you’d believe them,” adding, “a lot of people are going to like her sound…”  

A deeply personal work, “THE SAME SUN” draws further inspiration from Corr’s own extraordinary life experiences in recent years, including her 2012 journey to Tanzania as ambassador for Oxfam Ireland’s “Ending Poverty Starts With Women” campaign. Sharon Corr is of course known around the globe as a member of legendary Irish group, The Corrs whose success included headlining sold our world tours and worldwide album sales in excess of 45 million over their incredible 15 year career.

*ABOUT THE STANDING O PROJECT

The Standing “O” Project is a new online community of musicians and music lovers that provides a wealth of music, video and interview content to fans.    

For up-to-the-minute news and information, please visit www.sharoncorr.com,www.facebook.com/SharonCorrOfficial, twitter.com/sharon_corr,

and www.youtube.com/SharonCorrOfficial.  

THE EMPTY HEARTS FEATURING  ELLIOT EASTON (THE CARS),  CLEM BURKE (BLONDIE),  WALLY PALMAR (THE ROMANTICS) &  ANDY BABIUK (THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS) DEBUT ALBUM OUT TOMORROW! "It's solid and sturdy rock and roll that pays tribute to its influences without sounding trite. A plethora of experience, influence and respect combine to be translated through the expression of original, no frills, good-time tunes."  Something Else!

August 4, 2014 Santa Monica, CA-- The Empty Hearts, a new band featuring members of The Cars, Blondie, The Romantics and The Chesterfield Kings, signed to 429 Records which will release their eponymous debut album tomorrow in the U.S. and Canada (and in Australia, Europe and Japan, release dates below). The band, consisting of four iconic players and musical peers, features Elliot Easton on lead guitar, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Clem Burke on drums, Wally Palmar on vocals, harmonica and guitar and Andy Babiuk on bass. Co-produced by the band and Ed Stasium, The Empty Hearts is a raucous collection of tunes with each player's rock 'n' roll stripes on display - a bracing sound shaped by influences which span decades and include 50s American roots rock 'n' roll, 60s British invasion and 70s garage-punk. Described by Music Connection as "a well-crafted, highly enjoyable bundle of snap, crackle and pop," the album was recorded at Fab Gear Studios in Rochester, NY and also includes the Faces' Hall of Fame keyboardist Ian McLagan on Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano. The Empty Heartswill be released tomorrow in the U.S. and Canada on 429 Records. 429 Records also released the album in Australia (8/1) and Europe (8/4). The album will be released in Japan on 8/6. The Empty Hearts (a name coined by Little Steven from his secret list of unused band names), is a band who sound like musical cohorts-all came of age in the 70's and 80's music scenes and play by a DIY punk rock code of ethics. A self-proclaimed band of "rock and roll lifers", the chemistry clicked immediately--they are all connected having come together as a band of friends. To order The Empty Hearts visit: http://smarturl.it/TheEmptyHearts http://smarturl.it/TheEmptyHeartsiTunes 429 Records is a unit of The Savoy Label Group (SLG). SLG is the North American based division of Nippon Columbia the oldest music company in Japan. The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. The Savoy Label Group is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA.