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SAM PHILLIPS |
BETA BAND |
EDWARD ROGERS |
SWEETBACK |
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TODD RUNDGREN
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SAM
PHILLIPS
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VARIOUS ARTISTS Power Of Soul (Experience Hendrix / Image Entertaiment) A long awaited new Jimi Hendrix tribute album, the Experience Hendrix release of Power Of Soul: A Tribute To Jimi Hendrix features some recent versions of Hendrix classics from some of the biggest names from the rock, soul and funk worlds. A co-release on L.A.-based Image Entertainment and A&Rd by Jimis younger sister, Janie Hendrix, the 19 track Power Of Soul kicks off with a touching spoken word track from Jimis dad Al Hendrix. As is pointed out with rare insight in the CD notes, Jimis friendship with Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton is legendary and both guitarists further fuel the Hendrix legacy with Carlos summoning some Spanish Castle Magic and a 60s-flavored Clapper cover of Burning Of The Midnight Lamp. A noble cover of The Wind Cries Mary from Sting features scorching leads from fusion god John McLaughlin. Also on board here with a Hendrix classic are Lenny Kravitz, Prince, John Lee Hooker, Earth Wind & Fire, Robert Randolph & The Family Band and more. Soulful heart throb Chaka Khan rips it up and the CD closing instro medley of Little Wing / 3rd Stone From The Sun by the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan caps off this first, of hopefully future Power Of Soul sessions to come. www.jimihendrix.com
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BETA
BAND Heroes To Zeros (Astralwerks) Featuring the flair of guitarist / vocalist Stephen Mason, U.K. rockers The Beta Band hit the bullseye on their third full length CD on Astralwerks. Recorded in Wales and mixed in London, Heroes To Zeros is further enhanced by the superb studio work of engineer Nigel Goodrich. The twelve track CD features a wide range of memorable tunes and in Masons words, "We've been known in the past as some hippie/stoner/folk kind of band. Thats not how we are at all". True to form the CD features a variety of thought-provoking rockers and atmospheric, electronica-flavored ballads, while the group steps into some fruitful territory with an instrumental called Rhododendron". Further commenting on the eclectic instrumentation and panoramic pop vibe of Heroes To Zeros, Mason adds, "Heroes to Zeros represents a true marriage of samples, programmed beats and a live band. This is something we've been working towards since the beginning. We've carried on trying to hone our sound down to a pop song and are learning to make it tighter and more exciting." Lyric sheet and brazen cover art adds to the musical zeal of Heroes To Zeros. www.astralwerks.com
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EDWARD ROGERS Sunday Fables (Not Lame) Among the select releases on Not Lame is the 2004 CD from NYC pop singer-songwriter Edward Rogers entitled Sunday Fables. Born in England and currently living in NYC, Rogers was obviously influenced by all forms of 60s pop including power pop, Brit-pop and baroque pop. Rogers wisely chose pop maven George Usher as his songwriting partner on the CD, and with Usher also handling the backup / co-lead vocals, guitar and organ, the album is further strengthened by a number of players including guitarist Doug Larcy. Adding lead guitar on a few tracks is Church founder Marty Wilson-Piper and certifying the melody-strewn Brit-pop vibe on the CD, Zombies founders Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone add back up vocals on a track. Pop watchers hip to Ushers fine pop CDs are advised to pick up on the modern pop dynamic in play on the superb Sunday Fables. www.edwardrogersmusic.com
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SWEETBACK Stage [2] (Epic) Sweetback
gained acclaim as the backing band for cosmic soul singer Sade.
Featuring guitarist Stuart Matthewman, Paul Spencer Denman
(bass) and Andrew Hale on keys. Sweetback masterfully put
forth a wide range of cutting edge, jazzy rhythmic music with the accent
on a new house groove sound. On their second album Stage [2],
Sweetback are joined by Singapore-born vocalist Ayasounding
as seductive as Sade. The NYC based singer shares the occasional
vocal spot with Brooklyn-born Mark Anthony Thompson a/k/a Chocolate
Genius. Sweetbacks 2004 release, Stage Two merges
a range of soulful, jazzy sounds. As evidenced by their work with Sade
since day one of her career, these guys can play quite masterfully and
coupled with Ayas cool vocals, the bass heavy, jazzy neo-progressive
groove catches your interest right away. They may even have a top 40
hit with the bouncy 80s pop groove of Things Youll
Never Know. www.sweetback.com
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