(four briefs out of five)
Okay, let’s all just admit it. John Hiatt is one of the unsung heroes of rock music - he’s written great songs for years, some made famous by others (Bonnie Raitt’s cover of “Thing Called Love” being the best-known example), but most criminally ignored. Album after album after album, […]
It’s Father’s Day, and it occurs to me that the last two live musical performances I’ve seen were both Dan Zanes & Friends. But while most kiddie acts are either cloyingly sweet or artistically bankrupt (ahem, Kidz Bop), my wife and I were instant fans of the eclectic mix of rock & roll, American folk, […]
It’s tough for me to listen to all of the music stacked up in our house, but I do the best I can. My primo listening is done in the car on the way to and from work - no distractions, interruptions, phones, teenager, dog, etc. I’ve got a six disc changer in […]
I borrow lots of CDs from our local libraries. I go fairly often and always find something to fit my mood. I’ll borrow a couple of discs, bring ‘em home, burn ‘em, and return ‘em. I’ve actually discovered quite a few classic CDs that have passed me by for one reason or […]
(Four briefs out of five)
I’ve been trying to figure out what differentiates Jack White’s two bands – the White Stripes and the Raconteurs. Besides the obvious, of course: in the Raconteurs, he is surrounded by crack musicians, and in the White Stripes, he’s surrounded by Meg White – who, as I think I’ve mentioned in […]
(three briefs out of five)
Okay, this will be a very brief Brief. This CD marks the reunion of the band Tom Petty led before he gained fame and fortune with the Heartbreakers. Including Petty, Mudcrutch is comprised of three fifths of the Heartbreakers, and this disc is about three fifths as good as […]
(three briefs out of five)
What is it about redheaded ladies in music that sets my blood to percolatin’? Think about it – Bonnie Raitt, Patty Griffin, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Joy Lynn White, Patti Scialfa – love ‘em all and love all their records. And now, here comes Alison Sudol, recording under […]
If you’re a music fan (like me) and a guy (like me), there’s always a rock goddess or two who you daydream will one day sing you a favorite song before snuggling up for a long night of lovin’. But rock goddesses, like the rest of us, do get older. And sadly, some […]
(three briefs out of five)When Wilco released Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in 2002, it was a significant departure for the band that sprung from the alt.country ashes of Uncle Tupelo. Heck, their label was so surprised by the change in direction that they refused to release the album and cut Wilco loose. While they risked alienating […]
(four briefs out of five)
Summerbirds, the fourth studio release from Rod Picott (he’s got a live one out there as well), is a perfect late-night record – one where you kick back with the lights off, sip a beer or light up a smoke (not condoning smoking here – just trying to get the […]