Blogcritics Author: Kit O'Toole

Music Review: Darius Rucker's Back to Then Showcases His Talent Outside of Hootie & The Blowfish

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 13:27:43 EDT

Think that Darius Rucker's new country CD is his first solo effort? Think again.
Tongues have been wagging over Hootie & The Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker's new country album, Learn to Live. He recently scored a hit with “Don't Think I Don't Know About It,” and has made the talk show circuit discussing his seemingly improbable transformation to country star. What some may not know is that this is...

Music Review: Martin Taylor - Double Standards

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 09:11:43 EDT

Jazz guitarist Martin Taylor's latest CD proves that the best musicians make technique look effortless.
Like jazz legends such as pianist Ralph Sharon, English jazz guitarist Martin Taylor makes musicianship seem effortless. Yet upon multiple listenings of his new CD Double Standards, one understands that his playing is multi-layered, complicated, yet fluid. His first CD in five years provides an effective showcase for these qualities. Taylor,...

Music Review: Vince Mendoza - Blauklang

Kit O'Toole — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:13:47 EDT

Conductor/composer Vince Mendoza's latest CD is a challenging -- but ultimately satisfying -- blend of jazz and classical genres.
Many artists have experimented with combining two seemingly disparate art forms: jazz and classical. Duke Ellington composed orchestral, chamber, and solo piano music in addition to his well-known jazz masterpieces. Artists like the Modern Jazz Quartet and Dave Brubeck brought their classically-trained sensibilities to their more highly...

Gerry & The Pacemakers: Not Just Another British Invasion Group

Kit O'Toole — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 07:28:33 EDT

Gerry & The Pacemakers stand out from other British Invasion groups with their introspective songwriting and catchy songs.
In 2000 I made the journey to Liverpool, as fellow avid Beatle fans have done, to explore the Fab Four’s roots. Standing on a platform at the Albert Dock, I gazed at the Mersey River, and a tune suddenly popped into my head as the water gently lapped against the shore: Gerry & The Pacemakers’ “Ferry ‘Cross the...

Music Review: Stevie Holland - Before Love Has Gone

Kit O'Toole — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:43:51 EDT

Singer Stevie Holland's latest release pays equal tribute to jazz and pop.
How to categorize singer Stevie Holland? She represents an amalgamation of various genres: jazz, cabaret, pop, and Broadway musicals. Her warm, deep voice has earned her acclaim in jazz circles, and she continues exploring that world in her latest release, Before Love Has Gone. Holland specializes in singing more obscure selections from the...

Soul Train Gang's "Soul Train '75" Represents More Than Just A TV Theme Song

Kit O'Toole — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 13:47:25 EDT

Unfairly overlooked, the Soul Train Gang's "Soul Train '75" encapsulates some of the best elements of 70s funk and soul.
Among the wonderful aspects of the Internet is the ability to discover obscure tracks from past decades. As a frequent listener of Internet radio, I frequently encounter artists and songs I've never heard before, and sometimes such a track will make me sit up and take notice. Such an event happened the first time I heard the Soul Train...

Music Review: Swing Out Sister - Beautiful Mess

Kit O'Toole — Tue, 9 Sep 2008 07:51:11 EDT

'80s band Swing Out Sister creates a "beautiful mess" of R&B and 60s pop on their latest release.
“You've got to find a way/Say what you want to say/Breakout!” Fans of '80s music should recognize this chorus from British duo Swing Out Sister's biggest hit, “Breakout.” Their 1987 debut album, It's Better to Travel, featured the band's unique combination of jazz and pop with modern beats — think...

Music Review: Earth, Wind, & Fire - Live in Japan (DVD + CD Collector's Edition)

Kit O'Toole — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 07:24:40 EDT

Earth, Wind, & Fire's special DVD/CD set celebrates Maurice White's final tour with the legendary group with style.
1990 proved to be a landmark year for Earth, Wind, and Fire. First, they released Heritage, an attempt to merge their traditional R&B sound with more contemporary hip-hop influences. Then they underwent a tour supporting the album, but it proved to be a more significant event for a different reason: it marked the final tour where...

Concert Review: Squeeze and Aimee Mann at Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL, August 31, 2008

Kit O'Toole — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 06:31:48 EDT

Time stood still as Squeeze rocked like it was 1980, while Aimee Mann celebrated her recent successes in her opening set.
Children of the 80s cheered on 80's new-wave band Squeeze as they semi-reunited for a special show August 31 at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL. The “semi-reunion” featured two original members: founders Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, backed by Tilbrook's current touring band. Often at odds, Tilbrook and Difford put...

Rediscovering Blue-Eyed Soul Singer Lisa Stansfield's Real Love

Kit O'Toole — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:05:55 EDT

Before the current influx of English blue-eyed soul divas, there was Lisa Stansfield and her overlooked 1993 album.
Before Duffy, before Adele, before Joss Stone, there was Lisa Stansfield. In 1990, Stansfield injected the music scene with equal shots of dance and retro soul with her hit “All Around the World.” Sporting a very short hairdo with her signature spit curl, the British Stansfield proclaimed her allegiance to soul pioneers such as Barry...