Tuesday, February 06, 2018
Concerts Aplenty: Poison, Cheap Trick & Pop Evil; The Eagles; Bruce Springsteen; David Bowie Tribute
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Monday, February 05, 2018
A Wide-Range of Terrific Releases Showcase Timeless Sounds
New releases featuring the Coachella-bound duo First Aid Kit, the groundbreaking Scottish band Simple Minds, a classic Bee Gees concert film and an ambitious tribute to songs written for James Bond films released courtesy of Curry Cuts are profiled this week.
Artist: First Aid Kit
Title: Ruins (Columbia)
You might like if you enjoy: Emmylou Harris, First Aid Kit
Tell me more: The world's most amazing young Americana group is actually a duo from Sweden. Comprised of sisters Klara and Johanna Sรถderberg, First Aid Kit has released one of the first epic albums of 2018, the masterful Ruins. The siblings each have exceptional voices that soar alone but when blended together the results are never less than otherworldly. Take the first song "Rebel Heart," – locked together across the intoxicating verses and choruses there is one section leading to a break where timbre of their voices mirror each other via an extended note that is simply dazzling. On the introspective "It's A Shame," their sopranos cascade amidst a sonic backdrop of electric guitar (courtesy of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck), pedal steel, percussion and a sublime mix of piano and organ - the song's nuanced finale has their voices dropping low against light acoustic guitar. Other songs that impress powerfully include the melancholy-laced "Fireworks," countrified "Postcard" and yearning "Distant Star." The lyrics across the disc are gloriously literate as well, solidifying the substantial might of this 10-song release. First Aid Kit is set to perform at Coachella on Saturdays, April 14 and 21. Information: www.FirstAidKitBand.com.
Artist: Simple Minds
Title: War Between Worlds (BMG)
You might like if you enjoy: U2, Simple Minds
Tell me more: Simple Minds is back with yet another masterwork. The Scottish outfit's new album War Between Worlds is bolstered by an amazing collection of songs that are both artful and intoxicating; listeners who connected with 2014's thrilling Big Music will definitely want to pick up War Between Worlds. The material here blends ethereal synthesizers, infectious rhythms, blazing and soaring guitar work (just listen to the fiery "Barrowland Star") and Jim Kerr's signature vocals. Standouts on the disc abound; the electronica-tinged "Magic" and "The Signal and the Noise," driving "Summer" and dreamy "Utopia" showcase a 40-year-old group still focused on the future. Produced by Simple Minds with Andy Wright and Gavin Goldberg, the album is available on standard and deluxe audio CD, standard, deluxe and picture disc vinyl, and digitally, The deluxe edition features three additional tracks, including the sweeping "Silent Kiss" and a reworked cover of the traditional Irish song "Dirty Old Town" featuring Kerr sharing vocals with Sarah Brown. Information: SimpleMinds.com.
Artist: The Bee Gees
Title: One For All Tour Live in Australia 1989 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: The Bee Gees
Tell me more: Time has not dimmed the power of the Bee Gees' distinctive vocal sound and wide-ranging style of melodic songcraft. The release of One For All Tour Live in Australia 1989 on DVD and Blu-ray revisits the Gibb brothers' performance at The National Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Australia in November 1989. Offering sparkling versions of material first forged in the 1960s (including their 1968 break-out U.S. Top 10 hit "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" as well as the enduring ballads "Words," "To Love Somebody" and "I Started A Joke"), their '70s disco hits and then-new material featured on their 1989 album "One," the concert showcases the warmth of the three siblings' relationship with each other and their adoring audience, as well as a wealth of great songs. A tender version of "How Deep Is Your Love" is dedicated to their younger brother Andy Gibb, who had passed away the previous year. A lovely "World" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," as well as a driving "Stayin' Alive" and concert-closing "You Should Be Dancing" are other standouts on this wonderful concert film. Information: www.eagle-rock.com.
Artists: Lannie Flowers, Freedy Johnston, Popdudes, more
Title: Songs, Bond Songs: The Music Of 007 (Curry Cuts)
You might like if you enjoy: Mike Viola, Freedy Johnston, Popdudes
Tell me more: Even those who have never spied a James Bond film will likely enjoy Songs, Bond Songs: The Music Of 007. The two-disc audio collection is filled with so many artful and creative covers it's worth crediting album producer Andrew Curry along with the lineup of more than two dozen contributing artists who offer up their own versions of songs featured in five decades worth of 007 flicks. The wistful "From Russia With Love" delivered by The Stereo Twins, evocative "The Look of Love" from Wyatt Funderburk, dance-minded "Diamonds Are Forever" from The Corner Laughers, wonderfully-rocking "Live and Let Die" from the Popdudes and "The Man With The Golden Gun" from Lisa Mychols are early highlights. The sweeping "Moonraker" from Gary Frenay, a splendid folk-styled "For Your Eyes Only" from Freedy Johnston, opulent "All Time High" from Zach Jones, a delightful jazzy reworking of Duran Duran's "A View To A Kill" from Jay Gonzalez, swanky remake of the Bono/The Edge track "GoldenEye" from Identical Suns, a minimalist electronica "Die Another Day" from Big-Box Store and the dreamy "Skyfall" unleashed by Gretchen's Wheel impress later. Songs, Bond Songs: The Music Of 007 is truly an epic listen across both discs. Information: https://currycuts.bandcamp.com.
Robert Kinsler
Title: Ruins (Columbia)
You might like if you enjoy: Emmylou Harris, First Aid Kit
Tell me more: The world's most amazing young Americana group is actually a duo from Sweden. Comprised of sisters Klara and Johanna Sรถderberg, First Aid Kit has released one of the first epic albums of 2018, the masterful Ruins. The siblings each have exceptional voices that soar alone but when blended together the results are never less than otherworldly. Take the first song "Rebel Heart," – locked together across the intoxicating verses and choruses there is one section leading to a break where timbre of their voices mirror each other via an extended note that is simply dazzling. On the introspective "It's A Shame," their sopranos cascade amidst a sonic backdrop of electric guitar (courtesy of R.E.M.'s Peter Buck), pedal steel, percussion and a sublime mix of piano and organ - the song's nuanced finale has their voices dropping low against light acoustic guitar. Other songs that impress powerfully include the melancholy-laced "Fireworks," countrified "Postcard" and yearning "Distant Star." The lyrics across the disc are gloriously literate as well, solidifying the substantial might of this 10-song release. First Aid Kit is set to perform at Coachella on Saturdays, April 14 and 21. Information: www.FirstAidKitBand.com.
Title: War Between Worlds (BMG)
You might like if you enjoy: U2, Simple Minds
Tell me more: Simple Minds is back with yet another masterwork. The Scottish outfit's new album War Between Worlds is bolstered by an amazing collection of songs that are both artful and intoxicating; listeners who connected with 2014's thrilling Big Music will definitely want to pick up War Between Worlds. The material here blends ethereal synthesizers, infectious rhythms, blazing and soaring guitar work (just listen to the fiery "Barrowland Star") and Jim Kerr's signature vocals. Standouts on the disc abound; the electronica-tinged "Magic" and "The Signal and the Noise," driving "Summer" and dreamy "Utopia" showcase a 40-year-old group still focused on the future. Produced by Simple Minds with Andy Wright and Gavin Goldberg, the album is available on standard and deluxe audio CD, standard, deluxe and picture disc vinyl, and digitally, The deluxe edition features three additional tracks, including the sweeping "Silent Kiss" and a reworked cover of the traditional Irish song "Dirty Old Town" featuring Kerr sharing vocals with Sarah Brown. Information: SimpleMinds.com.
Title: One For All Tour Live in Australia 1989 (Eagle Rock Entertainment)
You might like if you enjoy: The Bee Gees
Tell me more: Time has not dimmed the power of the Bee Gees' distinctive vocal sound and wide-ranging style of melodic songcraft. The release of One For All Tour Live in Australia 1989 on DVD and Blu-ray revisits the Gibb brothers' performance at The National Tennis Centre in Melbourne, Australia in November 1989. Offering sparkling versions of material first forged in the 1960s (including their 1968 break-out U.S. Top 10 hit "I've Gotta Get A Message To You" as well as the enduring ballads "Words," "To Love Somebody" and "I Started A Joke"), their '70s disco hits and then-new material featured on their 1989 album "One," the concert showcases the warmth of the three siblings' relationship with each other and their adoring audience, as well as a wealth of great songs. A tender version of "How Deep Is Your Love" is dedicated to their younger brother Andy Gibb, who had passed away the previous year. A lovely "World" and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," as well as a driving "Stayin' Alive" and concert-closing "You Should Be Dancing" are other standouts on this wonderful concert film. Information: www.eagle-rock.com.
Title: Songs, Bond Songs: The Music Of 007 (Curry Cuts)
You might like if you enjoy: Mike Viola, Freedy Johnston, Popdudes
Tell me more: Even those who have never spied a James Bond film will likely enjoy Songs, Bond Songs: The Music Of 007. The two-disc audio collection is filled with so many artful and creative covers it's worth crediting album producer Andrew Curry along with the lineup of more than two dozen contributing artists who offer up their own versions of songs featured in five decades worth of 007 flicks. The wistful "From Russia With Love" delivered by The Stereo Twins, evocative "The Look of Love" from Wyatt Funderburk, dance-minded "Diamonds Are Forever" from The Corner Laughers, wonderfully-rocking "Live and Let Die" from the Popdudes and "The Man With The Golden Gun" from Lisa Mychols are early highlights. The sweeping "Moonraker" from Gary Frenay, a splendid folk-styled "For Your Eyes Only" from Freedy Johnston, opulent "All Time High" from Zach Jones, a delightful jazzy reworking of Duran Duran's "A View To A Kill" from Jay Gonzalez, swanky remake of the Bono/The Edge track "GoldenEye" from Identical Suns, a minimalist electronica "Die Another Day" from Big-Box Store and the dreamy "Skyfall" unleashed by Gretchen's Wheel impress later. Songs, Bond Songs: The Music Of 007 is truly an epic listen across both discs. Information: https://currycuts.bandcamp.com.
Robert Kinsler
Saturday, February 03, 2018
NAMM Show: In-depth discussion featuring TJR, Robert Kinsler and photographer Bob Steshetz
Watch the in-depth look at the 2018 NAMM Show featuring TJR, Robert Kinsler and Bob Steshetz videotaped during the event.
The discussion ranges from some key performances and artist sightings to new instruments introduced at the music show:
The discussion ranges from some key performances and artist sightings to new instruments introduced at the music show:
Friday, February 02, 2018
Inbox Update: "YACHT ROCK: The Oral History of the Soft, Smooth, Sounds of the 70's and 80's" coming March 6, 2018
‘It’s amazing that this style came to be. Can you imagine being a struggling musician back then? It must take an incredible amount of restraint to play that gently.’–
Actor/comedian Fred Armisen, from his foreword
The first-ever book that tells the full story of the genre of music you know you love!
Featuring interviews with many of the heavy hitters of the genre, including John Oates, Kenny Loggins, and Don
Felder, The Yacht Rock Book leaves no sail unturned. This is the definitive story of the genre’s creation, rise, chart-smashing success, fall, and stunning rebirth.
Just what is ‘yacht rock,’ you ask? Perhaps the easiest description is music that would not sound out of place being played while carousing aboard a yacht back in the good old days. But these songs were also some of the top pop gems of the 1970s and ‘80s. And while some associate yacht rock’s biggest songs with one-hit wonder artists, several of rock’s most renowned artists fall under this category, too – including Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Toto, and more. Yacht rock seemed to have become extinct by the early twenty-first century … until a comedic video series, simply titled Yacht Rock, went viral and introduced captain’s hats and blazers to a whole new generation – as well as the emergence of a popular cover band, the Yacht Rock Revue, and of course, Jimmy Fallon’s on-air admiration of all things yacht rock. Now, yacht rock is one of the most celebrated ‘yesteryear’ styles of pop music, and has resonated with a new generation of musicians (including the Fred Armisen/Bill Hader-led Blue Jean Committee and soul/funk/electronica crossover act Thundercat).
THE YACHT ROCK BOOK: The Oral History of the Soft, Smooth, Sounds of the 70’s and 80’s
By Greg Prato
On-Sale March 6, 2018
Published by Jawbone Press
Paperback, 320 pages with 20 color & b/w photos
ISBN: 9781911036296
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