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THE FINN BROTHERS |
BILL WYMAN |
CAMERON MICHAEL PARKS |
SPOCK'S BEARD |
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ADRIAN BELEW
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THE
FINN BROTHERS
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WILLIAM SHATNER Has Been (Shout! Factory) He may have been immortalized as the esteemed Captain Kirk on Star Trek, yet on his 2004 CD William Shatner bears his mortal coil with some bizarre results. On Has Been, Shatners first album in 35 years, he once again features his unique spoken word voice backed up on a batch of freshly recorded tracks recorded recorded in Nashville with pop luminaries such as Ben Folds (co-producer and songwriter), Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann, drummer Matt Chamberlain and guitarists Jon Auer, Adrian Belew and John Mark Painter. At his best, Shatners spoken word vocals are truly harrowing, especially on the Shatner / Folds track It Hasnt Happened Yet, while on the track Youll Have Time Shatner turns a truly ominous set of lyrics into a near comic experience. Back in the 60s Shatners acting and effective voice transformed a whole generation as well as changing the way a whole generation watched television. Older, yet wiser, on Has Been 'ol Bill truly lives up to his near mythic legacy. Another early 2005 release from Shout! Factory is The 60s Rock Experience, a four CD set dedicated to the fabled rock music boom of the 60s. So many of the great AM and FM radio classics that shaped a generation are gathered under one roof and is a testament to the greatest musical renaissance of the century. Southern rock superstars The Marshall Tucker Band are given a tribute with a 2004 double CD set on Shout! Factory that celebrates thirty years of music making. Covering eighteen studio albums on assorted labels, Marshall Tucker Band: Anthology The First 30 Years features 33 Southern rock favorites and is the most comprehensive best-of to date from the MTB. In addition to their MTB CD set, the label has also released Marshall Tucker Bands first ever DVD, Live From The Garden State. www.shoutfactory.com
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BILL
WYMAN'S RHTYHM KINGS Just For A Thrill (Fuel) According to rock bass icon Bill Wyman, Im proud of the 31 years I was in the Rolling Stones. But Im really proud of the six years Ive had the Rhythm Kings because its a unique band. I cant emphasize more that this band is totally unique because of the variety of music we play. On the fifth Rhythm Kings CD, Wyman enlists top support from big names like Albert Lee, Dire Straits founder Mark Knopfler, Tommy Emmanuel, Andy Fairweather Low and Martin Taylor on guitars and vocals, keyboard icon / vocalist Georgie Fame, pianist Chris Stainton and many others on Just For A Thrill. In keeping with Wymans rootsy approach to music making, the band tackles a number of originals and standards, flavoring the music with a little bit of soul, blues, R&B, boogie woogie, ballads and more. Wyman tastefully handles all the bass work and even lends his unique vocal skills on several cuts including a rousing cover of the George Harrison classic Taxman and theres also a new cover of the Stones 1964 classic Down Home Girl. In addition to his great work with The Rhythm Kings, Wyman has written four books and even owns a restaurant called Sticky Fingers, to which he adds, Im a baby Leonardo da Vinci. You know how wonderful he was in a whole variety of things. Im a bit like that in a very minuscule way. I just like that variety in my life, but...I cant paint. www.billwyman.com
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CAMERON MICHAEL PARKES A Tribute To Brian Wilson (Varese Vintage) Released
in 2005 by L.A. based Varese Sarabande, A Tribute To Brian Wilson
is a tasty tribute CD produced, arranged and performed by Cameron
Michael Parkes. No relation to Van Dyke Parks, the younger Parkes is
a self-proclaimed Brian Wilson fanatic and he waxes prolific on his
love of all things Wilson in the liner notes with a fitting intro and
track by tracks insights. The CD even features photos of Parkes recording
at Brother Studios back in 77. Producing himself, Parkes states
he recorded this labor of love in my spare time, usually
in the wee hours of the morning, and on his tribute he summons
up 21 classic Wilson penned songsfrom the early 60s surf-rock
vibe of the Brian Wilson / Jan Berry classic Gonna Hustle You
all the way up to and including set closing take on Wilsons 1990
Phil Spector-sized masterpiece, The Spirit Of Rock And Roll.
www.boxoclox.com
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SPOCK'S
BEARD Octane (Inside Out) If at first you dont succeed, and you then release an album as good as Octane, then you more than live up to legend of a term prog-rock supergroup. Following the departure of key composer and lead singer Neal Morse, the quartet of released guitar ace Alan Morse, Nick DVirgilio (drums, vocals), Ryo Okomoto (keys) and Dave Meros (bass) released the tentative Feel Euphoria in 2003 and with the 2005 release of Octane they once again hit new heights on record. Alans brother Neal is still missed, but now with the quartet lineup finding Nick in the role of lead singer and drummer, the band nail a new pop-prog hybrid sound filled with catchy hooks and dramatic prog-rock overtures. The outstanding CD cover art takes note of the groups vintage yet newly streamlined, unleaded approach. For their eighth album, Spock's rocks on high Octane. www.spocksbeard.com
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