'We Are the Halluci Nation' from A Tribe Called Red will knock your socks off musically, intellectually, and emotionally,
Read More »Album Reviews
Music Review: The Blue Poets – ‘The Blue Poets’
The Blue Poets bring together 1970s classic rock, modern alternative rock, and blues in their self-titled album.
Read More »Music Review: Logan Metz – ‘The Last Remaining Payphone in L.A.’
Soulful singer Logan Metz’s ‘The Last Remaining Payphone in L.A.’ is a beautiful composed emotion-laden experience.
Read More »Music Review: Lara Downes – ‘America Again’
The pianist captures the essences of small works by Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland as sensitively as she does songs and pieces by Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington and Howard Arlen.
Read More »Music Review: The Furious Seasons – ‘Look West’
The Furious Seasons’ ‘Look West’ manages to convey a broad range of emotions with a limited number of tools.
Read More »Music Review: Reid the Martian – ‘Excuses Not to Sleep’
‘Excuses Not to Sleep’ is defined by tight rhyming and impeccable delivery.
Read More »Music Review: Holly Bowling – ‘Better Left Unsung’ (Solo Piano Tribute to the Grateful Dead)
On the surface, you might think that limiting the songs of a band that thrived on the interplay between various parts – most importantly the lead and rhythm guitars of Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir – wouldn't work, but you’d be mistaken. There is power and subtlety in these reinterpretations that I think Garcia would have admired, as his own personal tastes seemed to range to the more subdued and authentic soul of acoustic performances.
Read More »Music Review: Frank Zappa – ‘ZAPPAtite: Frank Zappa’s Tastiest Tracks’
From the sonic exuberance of “Dancin’ Fool” and “Tell Me You Love Me” to the funky dissonance of “You Are What You Is” and “Joe’s Garage” to the bathroom-humor excellence of “Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow” and “Titties and Beer,” this album will give you just as much of a “taste” for Frank Zappa’s music as his son’s "Zappa Plays Zappa" did for me some eight years ago.
Read More »Music CD/DVD Review: Joe Bonamassa – ‘Live at the Greek Theatre’
Bonamassa and his band fire on all cylinders on this live 2-CD or 2-DVD set. Recorded, amazingly, at a single sold-out Los Angeles concert in 2015, the selections pay tribute to the three "Kings" of the blues: Freddie King, Albert King, and Bonamassa's mentor B.B. King.
Read More »Music Review: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – ‘Circlin’ Back: Celebrating 50 Years’
Back when the term "Americana" just meant pioneer-era antiques, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was bringing American folk music into the pop-music mainstream. To celebrate half a century of making music, the group is releasing a live album of 18 favorite tunes recorded at Nashville's famous Ryman Auditorium, many featuring guest artists from the pantheon of folk, Americana, and country music.
Read More »