Blogcritics Author: Tom Johnson

Re:Collection - Pink Floyd: The Division Bell

Tom Johnson — Wed, 2 Apr 2008 19:27:33 EDT

Beef, art, and David Gilmour. Life is weird.
I'd never realized there was a market for fast-food art, but there I was, in Burger King, washing down my Whopper with an unironic Diet Coke while staring at comic-book style illustrations of hamburgers, fries, onion rings, and soda cups. I'm not sure what the message was - "our food is art," or "we're too cheap and...

Nine Inch Nails Announces New Album Download, Ghosts I-IV, A Forward-Looking Dare

Tom Johnson — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 16:49:32 EST

Trent Reznor boldly fills in the spaces Radiohead left blank.
The big announcement that seems to be slowly making waves this morning is the announcement by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor that his latest album, a two-disc set of instrumentals, and one apparently no one knew was coming, would be out in April, the 8th to be exact, but is available right now a la Radiohead for download. Grab the first 1/4 of...

Concert Review: Adrian Belew Power Trio With Opener Saul Zonana

Tom Johnson — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:53:11 EST

"It's time for the difficult listening hour. Better put on your helmets."
Going to the show, I had no idea who was opening for Adrian Belew last night in Phoenix at the Rhythm Room. I only heard the guy at the door pronouncing the guy's name to someone in front of us - "Like 'banana' with a Z... and an O." As openers go, you usually don't expect much, but Saul Zonana scored immediately with,...

The Final Breakdown: Favorites of 2007

Tom Johnson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:19:24 EST

Better late than never - my picks of stuff I really liked a lot in 2007.
What a strange year. Unlike most years, when I find myself all over the place musically, this year found me focused on a small collection of albums that repeatedly drifted into my ears. I'm not like this - I'm not one of those people that sits back and says, "What a crappy year for music this has been," but when I look back on 2007 for truly...

Rush Announces New Live Album and 2008 Tour

Tom Johnson — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:35:03 EST

A new live album and a tour to support it - find your dates here!
It's official, Rush will be heading out on the road once again this year in support of, apparently, Snakes And Arrows Live, the confirmed upcoming live album slated for sometime in April. The 48-date tour will kick off in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11 before hitting the US in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida April 13 and continuing through the end...

Re:Collection - Rush Permanent Waves (Mobile Fidelity edition)

Tom Johnson — Wed, 9 Jan 2008 00:57:11 EST

Another Rush classic gets the Mobile Fidelity treatment. Do not miss it.
I've spent the past couple of days re-devouring my few Mobile Fidelity discs, awaiting the arrival of their latest offering, Rush's Permanent Waves. If you're not an audiophile, and not many people are, these discs are not for you. They're expensive, for one - nearly $30 each when new, then usually skyrocketing in price when their...

Queen + Paul Rodgers release "Say It's Not True" for World AIDS Day Awareness

Tom Johnson — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:36:08 EST

The first new song from the suffixed Queen spotlights Nelson Mandela�s 46664 HIV AIDS global campaign.
No, not "say it's not true" about Queen + Paul Rodgers, but a new song from the trio called "Say It's Not True" available today only for free at their site to commemorate Nelson Mandela's 46664 HIV AIDS global campaign. This originally appeared on the group's live album, Return of the Champions, in a more...

The Breakdown: Dave Douglas

Tom Johnson — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:53:09 EST

One this week, folks. One. But it's a GOOD one.
Thanksgiving has come and gone, Black Friday has come and gone, the stupidly named "Cyber Monday" has come and gone . . . and now we're left with those last few, dry weeks before Christmas where the labels don't even feel like shoving out box-sets, best-ofs and live albums. No, what we'll get now is stuff the big labels...

The Breakdown: Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Nine Inch Nails, Opeth, U2

Tom Johnson — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:44:25 EST

I know: why am I even bothering to talk about anything other than Zep and U2?
One last big blast of what the industry hopes are massive, can't-miss releases before the shopping season begins - it's pretty obvious looking at the list this week. It's all greatest hits and weird repackagings the likes of which we would never see any other time of the year. However, it's also the day that brings two of the...

Re:Collection - King Crimson, THRAK, And The Next Step

Tom Johnson — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:45:39 EST

What did THRAK try to accomplish, and where is the rumored new five-piece band going to go next?
King Crimson, one of my very favorite bands, is about to start getting the Re:Collection treatment. I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking and writing about this band and its staple member, guitarist Robert Fripp (who refuses to be considered its leader even though he really is) so why not inflict it on everyone, right? I've got a lot...