|
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS
on XL
|
PROCOL HARUM
on Repertoire
|
BOB BROZMAN
on Running Man
|
NOVEMBER
/ DECEMBER 2003
MUSIC & RECORD LABEL SPOTLIGHT
AMERICAN
/ LOST HIGHWAY - When country music superstar
Johnny Cash passed away on September 12, 2003 the world lost
one of the great musical minds and inspirations of the 20th Century.
His physical presence may be gone, but Cash left behind a legacy of
of recordings that places him in the hall of fame of country music
greats including Elvis and Roy Orbison. Cash—who’s health
had been failing for the past several years—released his fourth
Rick Rubin-produced album for American Recordings at
the close of 2002. That album, entitled American IV: The Man
Comes Around is a monumental, 15 track CD that encompasses
everything that made Cash the great singer and musical interpreter
he will always be. Recently discussing the The Man Comes Around,
Cash claims, “I firmly believe that it’s the best record
I’ve done for American. It goes in so many different directions,
but they all come together in a oneness with me”. Spotlighting
unique Cash interpretations of Paul Simon (“Bridge Over Troubled
Water”), The Beatles (“In My Life”), The Eagles (“Desperado”)
and Depeche Mode (“Personal Jesus”), the album also features
some great new Cash originals, including the album’s title track.
Inspired by a dream, the lead off title track “The Man Comes
Around” remains one of his most potent songs ever. Cash explains,
“I dreamed I was in Buckingham Palace and Queen Elizabeth said,
‘Johnny Cash, you’re just like a thorn tree in a whirlwind’.
I never had a writing project that I put in as much time, as much
writing as I did that song. I knew I was overwriting, but I had to
get it out.” Assisted by producer Rubin and a number of fine
musicians—including keyboardists Benmont Tench and Billy
Preston and guitarists Mike Campbell and Smokey Hormel—Cash
overcame the potency of his life-sapping illness in time to realize
and release The Man Comes Around, and his fans will be forever
grateful for that. On a final note, Cash adds, “I worked on this
album in spite of everything. I found strength to work just to spite
this disease. There are tracks I recorded when that was the last thing
in the world I thought I could do, and those are the ones that have
the feeling and the fire and the fervor and the passion - a great
deal of strength came out of that weakness.” www.johnnycash.com
ANGEL AIR - Dubbed Mott The Hoople on June 12, 1969
by producer legend Guy Stevens, Mott released their famous
self-titled debut album—with the M.C. Escher cover art—on
Island Records in England at the end of November 1969 and in the U.S.
in the spring of 1970 on Atlantic. Kicking off with a sonically driven
instrumental of The Kinks classic “You Really Got Me” the
whole album was the perfect showcase for the electric guitar work
of Mick Ralphs as well as introducing vocalist Ian Hunter
who had joined the band just in time to perfect the debut Lp.
U.K.-based Angel Air has done a superb job restoring the original
eight song album with a well researched CD booklet plus two bonus
tracks—a Ralphs-penned instrumental called “Find Your Way”
and a unique Mott cover of Neil Young’s fabled protest song “Ohio”.
One of the definitive FM radio album classics from the Summer of ‘70,
for some, the highlight will always be the way the instrumental “Rabbit
Foot And Toby Time” blends so perfectly into Mott’s all
time classic “Half Moon Bay”. www.angelair.co.uk
ART
OF LIFE - Years before they formed an integral part of rock legends
The Band, bassist Rick Danko and drummer Levon Helm backed
jazz guitar prodigy Lenny Breau on his first professional jazz
date. Recorded on November 28, 1961, the original analog masters featured
on The Hallmark Sessions were (finally) remastered in
24 bit and reissued in 2003 on CD by Pennsylvania-based Art Of
Life Records. He was barely 20 years old, yet Breau’s pioneering
guitar work and overall early grasp of the jazz medium is completely
convincing throughout the 19 tracks of Breau originals and choice
covers. In addition the sessions with Helm and Danko, the CD also
features several tracks displaying Breau’s crisp solo flamenco
work. Liner notes written by Breau’s early manager George
B. Sukornyk—dated July 31, 2003—add further gleam to
Breau’s enduring legacy as a guitar master who’s life was
sadly cut short. Another essential Breau related title on Art Of Life—The
Complete Living Room Tapes—compiles 23 tracks Breau recorded
with clarinet player Brad Terry back in the late ‘70s.
Recorded as Terry describes, “a very informal gathering in my
mother’s living room with the tape running,” the album portrays
two jazz masters clearly enjoying themselves playing new stuff and
standards by the biggest names in jazz lore. www.artofliferecords.com
BACKBEAT BOOKS - S.F.-based Backbeat continues with new books
to wet the taste of players and mavens alike. Spread out with over
200 full color images and containing insightful essays, commentaries
and breathtaking photography by Brian Pickell, A Guitar
Makers Canvas - The Inlay Art Of Grit Laskin examines Canadian
luthier Grit Laskin and his impeccable reputation for making
guitars that not only play superbly but look spectacular as well.
For more then thirty years Laskin has been designing and building
dazzling flamenco, classical and steel string guitars for players
as diverse as Paco Pena and Rik Emmett. The whole concept of mixing
guitars that play well with the innovative design of inlay art is
thoroughly explored in this quite impressive 132 page full color hard
back book. www.backbeatbooks.com
BILLBOARD
BOOKS / WATSON-GUPTILL PUBLICATIONS - Back in the ‘60s everything
was big. Cars were huge and well vinyl LP's, made music truly seem
larger than life itself. In the post-80s digital age, genre-ization
has been dissected and trisected to death. Therefore one has no sympathies
for anyone that tries to make sense of that much ‘bigness’
all that now 50 years later. It continues to be done and Billboard
books gives it a good shot with The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia
Of Music. Subtitled, From Rock, Pop, Jazz, Blues,
and Hip Hop to Classical, Country Folk, World, and More,
the 448 pg. hardcover book weighs a ton and get it’s point
across by detailing and genre-typing more than 12,000 musicians. Paul
De Noyer, of the U.K. music magazine Mojo, obviously spent a ton
of time on this, enough to inspire Beatles producer legend George
Martin to put pen to paper for the book foreward. Speaking of
the Fab Four a bit more, Billboard Books also have a splendid hard
cover book of Paul McCartney photos entitled I Saw Him
Standing There. This 176 page coffee table classic
features the photography of Jorie B. Gracen, who’s been
shooting Macca since 1976. A splendid way to relive the adventure
that Paul and Linda and company brought to ‘70s pop all the way
through till 1999, the book not only features Gracen’s exclusive
photography of McCartney, but is also filled with essays and recollections
of the numerous concerts and photo shoots. www.watsonguptill.com
BLUEBIRD
/ BMG - 2003 has seen a widespread revival of the blues and celebrating
one hundred years of the blues BMG have released a number of
blues collections and compilations from the biggest names in blues
history. First off, the 16 track Worried Life Blues assembles
assorted tracks recorded in the ‘30s and ‘40s from legends
such as Sonny Boy Williamson, Sleepy John Estes, Arthur
Crudup, Memphis Slim, Leadbelly, “T.”
Tampa Red and Big Bill Broonzy. With several tracks
from Bessie Smith and Alberta Hunter dating back to
the mid ‘20s, Worried Life Blues provides a solid introduction
to blues lore. On the other hand, BMG’s Every Day I Have
The Blues compiles 15 cuts highlighting more contemporary
artists interpreting blues classics over the past 30 years including
John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Taj Mahal, Robert
Cray and Buddy Guy. A fine companion to the intrinsic blues
sounds on Worried Life Blues, Every Day I Have The Blues
underscores the fact the blues will be around for many years to
come. Both BMG collections feature illuminating liner notes from blues
historian Colin Escott. Further celebrating one hundred years
of blues history, BMG have issued single disc, history-jammed compilations
from blues pioneers Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (Rock
Me Mamma), Sonny Boy Williamson (Blue Bird Blues),
Leadbelly (Take This Hammer) and Blind Willie
McTell (Statesboro Blues). Also released by BMG
in 2003 is a compilation from ‘60s country blues-rock legend
Taj Mahal. The 20 track Blues With A Feeling - The Very
Best Of Taj Mahal distills the best music—with several
tracks featuring Eric Clapton—from various albums the
blues great recorded for Private Music during the ‘90s. www.yearoftheblues.org
BLUE
NOTE RECORDS - Regarding his new Blue Note CD, Think Tank
jazz guitar icon Pat Martino states, “The majority of
this project became a dedication to John Coltrane. I never
gave any conscious thought to it but the ‘Trane references emerged
time and time again. Making the album taught me alot about myself
and my interests.” Recording his 2003 Blue Note release at Sony
Recording studio in Manhattan, Martino is joined by a crack band including
Joe Lovano (sax), Gonzalo Rubalcaba (piano), Christian
McBride (bass) and drummer Lewis Nash. The comparison to
Coltrane’s early ‘60s free jazz sound is hard to escape,
but with Martino’s freewheeling electric guitar garnering of
the spotlight, there’s also some cool new jazz vibes on Think
Tank as well. Martino solidifies the Coltrane aura by covering
“Africa” adding, “the only reason I chose it is that
it’s one of my favorite Coltrane melodies.” The follow up
to Martino’s 2001 organ-fueled trio classic, Live At Yoshi’s,
the guitarist’s latest, Think Tank, is contemporary
swing jazz at it’s best. www.bluenote.com
CLEAR
STEER - Commenting on his 2003 self-produced CD, guitarist Rich
Stein adds, “Unspoken definitely sets
a new level of achievement for me as a composer and performer. I am
particularly proud of the range of timbres and textures on the CD.
From classical guitar to traditional and prepared acoustic guitars
to E-Bow and electric to orchestral strings, this recording reflects
my sonic universe.” Influenced by great players like John Fahey
and Leo Kottke, as well as eclectic electric masters like Zappa and
Robert Fripp, Long Island-based guitarist Rich Stein covers an impressive
spectrum of guitar timbres on Unspoken. The 12 track instrumental
CD features a mostly acoustic palate of instrumental sounds that’s
further embellished by several other players who add to the mix. Reflective,
atmospheric sounds abound on Unspoken, making it clearly of
interest for anyone who appreciates refined instrumental guitar music.
www.clearsteer.com
CORDELIA RECORDS - Hearing The Beatles reconstructed in
2003 by U.K. guitar instrumentalists The Thurston Lava Tube is
time well spent for both Beatles and surf-rock fans. Somewhat inspired
by the guitar based Ventures/Shadows style, the 20 tracks Me
Ka Nahuka has British sensibilities written all over it. Guitarist
Alan Jenkins and his Tube mates conjure an intriguing mix of
dreamy almost surreal instrumental versions of Beatles covers including
a few oddball choices and the liner notes are perfectly Rutles-inspired.
There’s a Beatles Vs. Shadows vibe in play and the Sgt Pepper’s-inspired
cover is straight out of the twilight zone. Lava Tube guitarist Jenkins
has three solo albums on Cordelia. http://homepages.stayfree.co.uk/lavatube/
CUNNING
JAM PRODUCTIONS - A major find for fans of electric guitar combinations
with lap steel guitar, Dubious Tones is the 2003 release
from New York native Steve Cunningham. After his solo debut,
Travels in ‘95, Cunningham focused his efforts on his
lap steel work and moved to the Atlanta area. Influenced by the styles
of David Lindley, western-swing great Tom Morrell, and Sacred Steel
player Aubrey Ghent, Cunningham has carved out a new musical niche
on his latest CD. Blending a variety of instrumental guitar styles—from
jazzy rock to classical, Hawaiian guitar, R&B and western-swing—the
accent here is on diversity. Assisting Cunningham are the fine drumming
skills of the versatile Mike Haid along with Brian Hall
(upright bass) and Randy Hoexter (keys). The spirit of
Duane Allman is well served on the scorching “Backtalk”
while a spirited cover of the Thelonious Monk classic “Rhythm-a-ning”
gives new meaning to the term jazz-rock. No matter what your guitar
taste, Cunningham has got it down on Dubious Tones. www.stevecunningham.com
DK
PUBLISHING - Described as “an amazing amalgam of facts, anecdotes
and pictures” detailing the history of American rock pioneers
The Grateful Dead, Grateful Dead: The Illustrated Trip
is an incredible, nearly 500 page hardcover book that serves
as both a visual encyclopedia and a chronology of the Dead from their
roots, to the death of guitarist / songwriter Jerry Garcia in
1995, all the way to the current version of the band in 2003. The
Grateful Dead are almost synonymous with the rise of the West Coast
psychedelic music scene back in the mid ‘60s and the book brilliantly
connects the dots, so to speak between the Dead and just about every
major player, living and gone, who helped shaped the course of rock
music over the decades. This incredible visual journey is perhaps
best summed up in the words of long time Grateful Dead historian Dennis
McNally who adds, “every picture you ever saw, every picture
you haven’t seen yet is in the Grateful Dead: The Illustrated
Trip. It’s an amazing amalgam of facts, anecdotes and pictures.”
http://us.dk.com/Book/BookFrame/0,1007,,00.html?id=0789499630
DEJA
VOODOO MUSIC - Over on Oahu in the lovely island state of Hawaii,
guitarist / singer Doug Stillwell released his new CD Souler
Flare. The album expertly merges melodic rock guitar
instrumentals with an inspired, fusion-based pop-rock sound influenced
by Santana and blues-rocker Steve Miller on the pop-rock side with
guitar influences coming from modern masters such as Steve Morse and
Eric Johnson. In the words of Stillwell, “this is a very personal
compilation of songs. These particular tunes seem to sit well with
each other. They are my favorites of about 26 songs that I recorded
recently.” Released in 2003, the 16 track Souler Flare establishers
Stillwell as a fine singer-songwriter and the memorable quality of
his originals mixes well with his impressive fretboard mastery on
both electric and acoustic guitars. There’s plenty here to like.
www.guitar9.com/soulerflare.html
DEVDISC
- Boston-based guitar ace Allen Devine released his latest
CD in 2003. The 13 track Hmmm...clocks in under 37 minutes
yet there’s a wealth of electrifying guitar sounds in play on
this all instrumental set. Composing a colorful array of captivating
bluesy, jazzy and ambient soundtrack sounds, Devine performs all the
instruments himself and the full-bodied studio sound comes across
like a well-oiled ensemble. More important, Devine’s songs hold
up quite well with repeat spins. Tracks like the driving lead off
track “Spontaneous” and the album’s Hank Marvin / Ventures
‘60s-flavored “Loungette” are excellent examples of
Devine’s compositional gift. As far as guitar heroes, Devine
mentions icons like Roy Buchanan, Jeff Beck and Adrian Belew among
his big influences. With the oddly titled Hmmm... Devine is
on the right track towards furthering his own name among guitar aficionados.
www.allendevine.com
DREAMWORKS RECORDS -Featuring the guitar work and vocals of Christopher
Conley and guitarist David Soloway, Saves The Day release
their major label debut, In Reverie in 2003 on L.A.-based
Dreamworks. Commenting on the N.J.-based quartet’s fourth
full length CD, guitarist Soloway adds, "every other record felt
like we were rushing and struggling to get everything on tape, but
this time the recording was a great experience. We got to try different
ideas and explore more sounds.” The group modernizes a number
of electrifying pop styles—from White Album-era Beatles
to Bowie and younger bands like Green Day and Weezer. Great studio
sound and the band’s promising grasp of ‘70s guitar style
pop-rock set them apart from many other bands recording in a similar
vein. www.savestheday.com
GAIA’S LIGHT - Florida-based guitarist Steve Reel
grew up listening to Yes, Tull and later John McLaughlin and Return
To Forever. It’s interesting that Reel’s latest solo CD,
Celtic Knights, echoes some of the more pastoral
instrumental acoustic guitar work of both Ian Anderson and Steve Howe.
Reel adds, “Back in the 1970’s, I loved Jethro Tull and
Fairport Convention, while more recently I’ve really like the
music from Riverdance and it’s spinoffs.” Reel’s recent
live concerts—featuring Irish jigs, original tracks as well as
Bach classical pieces—were so well received by local Florida
audiences, that he set about recording the Celtic flavored Celtic
Knights. Reel adds, “The main goal was to blend Celtic melodies
with more contemporary rhythms and production. Celtic Knights is
mostly overdubbed, with me playing all the parts. Many of the guitar
melodies I played on the Martin, and then overdubbed the same note
for note on the Variax modeling a 12 string acoustic.” Commenting
further on his use of the Variax guitar, Reel adds, “I used the
2003 Line 6 variax mostly for the 12 string models. I would record
the part on one track, then play and record the same part on a second
track, but adjust the tone control on the variax. The electric rhythm
guitar tracks are the variax modeling a Fender Strat. Very little
EQ-ing was done on any of these tracks.” Other guitar featured
on Celtic Knights include a Yamaha FG-75 and a 1976 Travis
Bean electric. Featuring Reel performing all the parts—including
percussion, synths, banjo and dulcimer—Celtic Knights
is a true work of joyous musical art that is expertly recorded. www.reelsmusic.com
GOLLY GEE RECORDS - One of the finest surf instro and rockabilly
music labels on the U.S. scene, Golly Gee released Return
Engagement from retro guitar rockers The Torquays in
2003. A superb collection of tracks from the band’s 1998 album
A Date With The Torquays and their 2000 CD Road Trip, the
25 track single CD set is rounded out by six recent live tracks. There’s
a solid modern Ventures guitar sound in play here and the all-original
set maintains an upbeat pace from start to finish. The group features
a number of fine guitarists including Steve Soest, Armin
Brown, Don Parra, guitarist / drummer Duff Paulsen,
Los Straitjackets member Pete Curry and Torquays founder /
guitarist Jerry Gordon. Injecting an authentic, vintage sound
to their original music, The Torquays tastefully revive the fabled
instro guitar beat of the ‘60s on Return Engagement. www.gollygeerecords.com
HAPI SKRATCH RECORDS - Run by media honcho Morris Beegle,
brother of guitarist Dave Beegle, Colorado-based Hapi-Skratch
not only oversees the entire Dave Beegle / Fourth Estate CD catalog,
but they also represent a number of fine Colorado-based guitar instrumental
artists. Hapi-Skratch recently released a 2003 studio CD from guitarist
Dave Villano entitled The Power Of One. Half
of the great rock/smooth jazz combo Dave & Davis, Villano
performs a variety of instruments on his solo set. His upbeat guitar-based
sound is quite full bodied while the instrumental sound is further
bolstered by Villano’s strongly held religious beliefs. Dave
Villano’s dazzling acoustic guitar work echoes the spirit of
major fretboard influences like Dave Beegle, Phil Keaggy, Eric Johnson
and more on Power Of One. Also on Hapi Skratch is an excellent
2003 CD from the Colorado-based Gashead, entitled Land
Speed Record. Propelled by the blazing electric guitar
work of Mike Lopez and the drumming of Nate Scofield,
Gashead’s metal-rock instro sound is further filled out by a
number of players including guitarist Dave Beegle, who also
co-produced the 9 track instrumental set with Lopez. The booklet even
features a cool photo of guitar great James Mankey while the
liner notes claim the Cd was “written while listening to near
fatal doses of Chris Poland’s Return To Metalopolis, RacerX
and George Lynch.” In the spirit of guitar great Joe Satriani,
Gashead really smokes and the CD features excellent cover art to boot!
www.HapiSkratch.com
/ www.gasheadmusic.com
HIDING PLACE RECORDS - A good choice for fans of the jazz rock
extrapolations of early John McLaughlin and Al DiMeola, Deepin
The Mystery is the CD debut from Upstate New York guitarist
Robert DiMaio. Various players admirably assist further sketching
out the sound and there’s even a neat pop vocal track featuring
singer Hannah Curtis. Commenting on the making of his 2003
CD, the guitarists adds, “Deepin the Mystery is a pretty
diverse statement about what I think the guitar can do. Each song
is a different philosophy of how the guitar can function in a composition.
I tried to touch on as much as I could, so later I could elaborate
on each idea in more depth.” DiMaio makes the most of his stock
PRS Custom 22 guitar—which was used throughout the making of
the CD along with a Fender Strat with Seymour Duncan mini humbuckers.
DiMaio cites Jeff Beck and Eric Johnson among his influences and the
eclectic nature of the ten track Deepin the Mystery will be
of interest for anyone interested in high quality, cutting edge fusion
guitar sounds. www.hidingplacerecords.com
J.A.M. - An artist renowned over the years for his many fine pop
and instrumental efforts, Michigan-based Jeremy Morris recently
released his 2002 album Kingdom Come. Released
on his own JAM label, the seven track, 70+ minute CD is a real
windfall for those into superbly crafted, progressive instrumental
music. Just like the cover art, the music is filled with inspiring
sounds comparable to the best of New Age masters like Mike Oldfield
and Vangelis as well as U.K. guitar heroes like Steve Hackett and
Anthony Phillips. There’s also something quite healing about
Kingdom Come, making it a fine choice as meditation music.
Front and center is Jeremy performing all forms of guitars including
electric, 12 string, classical, folk, e-bow, mandolin, slide guitar
and bass, while he also shines on keyboards and percussion. Jeremy
also released his latest pop opus, the British Invasion-inspired Pop
Dreams, around the same time. Listeners are
advised to check out both sides of this modern day music master. www.jamrecordings.com
KOCH RECORDS - Injecting a solid dose of ‘60 strum and twang
pop to their unique NYC-based country rock sound, The Kennedys
return in 2003 for their latest CD and their first for Koch Entertainment,
Stand. Listen up and you’ll detect some
fine pop influences like ‘60s McGuinn & The Byrds all the
way to the classy mid ‘80s pop of Marshall Crenshaw. But The
Kennedys mean business—after all, the singer-songwriting couple
of Pete & Maura Kennedy met for their first date at Buddy
Holly’s grave site in Lubbock Texas! Wielding their bright orange
Gretsch guitars, the Kennedys and their countrified pop sounds a bit
out of place in these cynical times but the 12 track Stand hangs
together well, yearning away with a solid country-pop focal point
that evokes a kinder, gentler time in music history. www.kennedymusic.com
/ www.kochrecords.com
LBCD - Although the art of flamenco guitar playing originated
in Spain, Trinidad-born, Toronto-based guitarist Miguel de la Bastide
has further refined the fabled guitar sound on his second solo album
Siento. Having appeared on various guitar collection
releases on the Narada label including Gypsy Fire and Viva Flamenco,
Miguel brings his compositional might and explosive flamenco techniques
on in full force on Siento. A superb mix of the spirit and
influence of flamenco giants like Paco De Lucia and Vincente Amigo
and the flavors of Latin World Beat sounds, the CD also features several
players on percussion, sax and bass in addition to the authentic flamenco
footwork of his partner Carmen Romero. There’s also a
enhanced CD-Rom track for PC and MAC. The follow up to his ‘98
solo debut, El Cambio, 2003’s Siento establishes
Bastide in the top echelon of today’s finest recording flamenco
guitarists. www.labastide.ca
LM - From the liner notes of his new CD, N.J.-based guitarist
Leon Muhudinov states, “the concept behind this album
was to express a varying assortment of moods by illustrating the many
different styles, colors and flavors that the guitar alone can produce.”
Touching on a wealth of guitar stylings—from Les Paul to Segovia
and The Beatles—the first half of the 9 track CD offers guitar
adaptations of Lennon / McCartney (“Eleanor Rigby”),
Scott Joplin, classical guitar master Tarrega and Duke
Ellington while part two features a varied round of eclectic Muhudinov
originals. With it’s eclectic instrumental avant pop-jazz and
classical guitar vibes, Tasty Guitar Treats - Assorted is
an intriguing CD from an aspiring artist worthy of some well-earned
name recognition. Lmuzik8@aol.com
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC - Influenced by pop giants like Brian Wilson
& The Beach Boys and pop-lite tunesmith Burt Bacharach, The
Free Design are one of the great untold pop stories of the ‘60s.
Featuring the sibling harmonies and musical craft of Bruce,
Chris, Ellen and Sandy Dedrick, the New York-based
Free Design were signed by pop impresario Enoch Light to his
Project 3 label—a label in part responsible for the giant
leaps in sound recording techniques during the mid to late ‘60s.
The Free Design recorded a number of now hard to find and long out
of print titles which sort of made them one of great lost pop legends
of late ‘60s and early ‘70s American music history. That’s
about to be changed thanks to the efforts of Seattle-based Light
In The Attic, a company offering 2003 CD reissues of the first
two Free Design albums—Kites Are Fun (their ‘67
debut) and their ‘69 classic Heaven / Earth.
Featuring a unique musical amalgamation—described by pop
pundits as a heavenly mixture of soft pop psychedelia—both Free
Design CDs are essential for anyone influenced by the East Coast folk-rock
sounds of Simon & Garfunkel as well as the vocal harmony sounds
of West Coast legends like The Mamas & The Papas and The Association.
Both Free Design reissue CDs feature extensive liner notes, original
artwork and much welcome bonus tracks. Keep an eye out for more planned
Free Design reissues. www.LightInTheAttic.com
MARINA / PARASOL - Described as modern Baroque pop album that
mixes Beach Boys harmonies, Bacharach major-sevenths and Cole Porter-style
chord changes, the new Pearlfishers CD, Sky Meadows has
something for all pop fans. In fact, the Glasgow-based group’s
main man, David Scott, was the man responsible for the excellent
Beach Boys tribute, Caroline Now!, also released on Marina.
Featuring a number of fine players, Pearlfishers have released several
fine albums in recent years, but Sky Meadows is clearly their
best yet. Mixing tuneful ‘60s pop with the sounds of the lush
sounds of strings, trumpets, flugel and French horns, the pleasurable
sounds of Sky Meadows makes for essential pop listening. www.marina.com
OVERCOAT RECORDS - Released on a label that’s devoted
to the spirit of Beatle-inspired pop, the fourth CD from N.C.-based
The Kingsbury Manx, Aztec Discipline is a rich
pop goldmine of retro-tinged new progressive pop music. The quartet,
featuring composers / guitarists /vocalists Bill Taylor and
Kenn Stephenson, raises the bar on Aztec Discipline. Produced
by Jerry Kee, the CD fits into that early post Syd Pink Floyd
space very nicely and you can spot ‘60s Kinks / Zombies traces
in the group’s eclectic songwriting. Well worth the time for
‘60s pop aficionados, Aztec Discipline clearly has it’s
moments. www.overcoatrecordings.com
PRECISION RECORDS - The 2003 release from California-based
Travis Larson Band, Rock Show is a fine full
length DVD video that captures the guitar based instrumental power
trio in fine form from a late 2002 live show. In the spirit of electric
guitar innovators such as Alan Holdsworth and Steve Vai, guitarist
Travis Larson acts like a musical lightening rod, spurring
on electrifying performances from his bandmates Jennifer Young
(bass) and Dale Moon (drums). The DVD offers a first hand
look at the sheer range of sounds Larson that coaxes from his electric
guitar and overall it is quite impressive. Topping off the band’s
mighty power trio fusion sound, the overall effect of the sound is
further enhanced by Larson doubling his parts with MIDI-assisted strings
and bassist Larson playing keyboard parts with her feet. Rock Show
clearly depicts a most versatile group who’s expertise is
equally matched by their fiery skills on a live concert stage. A fine
live video performance from Larson and company, the 88 minute DVD
features PCM / Dolby digital mix, interactive menus and band commentary.
www.travislarsonband.com
RCA / BMG HERITAGE - The vaults of RCA Records contains some
the finest sounds ever made. Their huge classical repertoire and country
sounds aside, their vast pop catalog is further plundered on a new
series entitled Platinum & Gold Collections.
Citing just a few of the first reissue collections released are
P&G Collection CDs from The Lovin’ Spoonful,
The Guess Who, Neil Sedaka and three related reissues
from Jefferson Airplane and JA offshoot groups Hot Tuna
and Jefferson Starship. Produced by BMG reissue ace Rob
Santos, and featuring a ton of indelible ‘60s and ‘70s
pop standards, each newly title features streamlined packaging, liner
notes and cool graphics. www.bmgheritage.com
REPERTOIRE - Procol Harum stunned their legion of long
time fans with their 2003 comeback album The Well’s On
Fire, on Eagle Records. Amazingly, the group
remain true to their illustrious rock pioneering roots as it's recaptured
on a series of mid-period reissues on Germany-based Repertoire
label. The label has done a fantastic job on a 2003 reissue of Procol’s
greatest album ever, 1971’s Broken Barricades.
That album had the hallmark Procol sounds—a perfect sound
mix created by the songs and vocals of Gary Brooker, drumming
icon BJ Wilson and the alternating keyboard sounds of Chris
Copping. Of course, the key to the Harum sound in the early years
had to be the guitar of Robin Trower, who while clearly a focal
point of the Broken Barricades sessions, shortly left the fold
soon after to start his fabled solo career, leaving the band to further
hone in on their neoclassical rock sound on a series of post-Trower
albums that easily rate alongside their first five albums with Trower.
This was the sound Procol truly perfected on 1973’s Grand
Hotel, even bettered on 1974’s Exotic Birds
And Fruit, 1975’s Procol’s Ninth,
and sadly on what turned out to be their final album with the
late great BJ Wilson their final ‘70s album from ‘77, Something
Magic. A class act from the opening notes of their
first ‘67 smash, “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” till the
final notes of the title track, “Something Magic”, Harum
are further immortalized on each of these albums Repertoire reissues.
Loaded with elegantly restored artwork, new concept artwork, bonus
tracks galore including rare studio outtakes, single takes, lyrics,
and more, these essential titles offer definitive portraits of some
of the best music ever made. Available in the U.S. through the vast
catalog of Collector’s Choice Music. www.ccmusic.com
RIVERSIDE RECORDS - Inspired by the great Charlie Christian,
Wes Montgomery took up the guitar in 1942 at age 19. Picked
up by Riverside in late ‘59, Wes recorded his first instrumental
solo album, The Wes Montgomery Trio shortly afterwards. His
second album, the eight track The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of
Wes Montgomery was recorded in New York City in January 1960
with Tommy Flanagan (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and
Albert “Tootie” Heath (drums). Amid covers of Sonny
Rollins, Dave Brubeck and more are some certified
Montgomery classic originals. Most notably, “Four On Six”—one
of the guitarist’s finest tunes—is truly the album’s
centerpiece. Incredible Jazz Guitar was newly remastered in
2003 by Riverside / Fantasy as a hybrid SACD playable on regular CDs
as well. Original liner notes by the album’s producer Orrin
Keepnews provide’s a fitting reminder of Montgomery’s
perennial popularity. www.fantasyjazz.com
RUNNING MAN - A master of the slide, finger style and percussive
guitar, guitarist Bob Brozman has traveled the world over recording
a wealth of albums while exploring the roots of Hawaiian, Indian,
African, Caribbean and American roots blues music. Combining his virtuoso
guitar techniques and respect for World Music cultures, Brozman released
an excellent new album in 2003. Released on his own Running Man label,
Metric Time finds Brozman laying down some rootsy-trippy
tracks in the company of some fine players. The mostly instrumental
12 track CD features Brozman performing a number of guitars including
Santa Cruz Baritone guitar, National guitar, Kona Hawaiian guitar
and more. In fact, Brozman is such an expert on the National guitar,
in 1993 he published a massive book entitled The History And Artistry
Of National Resonator Instruments. Regarding his never-ending
interest in World music, Brozman adds, “There’s so much
music out there...I guess I’ll get some sleep in the next life!”
www.bobbrozman.com
SANCTUARY - Just about every major rock and roll pioneer is
given a spotlight on Rockabilly Riot! - It’s A Gas
released by Sanctuary during the summer of 2003. From the concept
cover art to the track by track commentary of the songs here, the
22 track Rockabilly Riot! drives it all home with a snazzy
showcase compiling original masters recorded back then by Elvis,
Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Carl Perkins, Gene
Vincent, Roy Orbison along with a host of slightly lesser
known ‘50s icons. These original masters, mostly recorded in
the mid and late ‘50s, pre ‘59 period, still sound incredible,
as if to prove a point that the originals are still the best. The
one exception added to the ‘50s mix is the original “Red
Hot”, a rockabilly rock and roll classic in it’s own right,
recorded during the punk revolution by Robert Gordon with Link
Wray in 1977. Listen to it...you’ll swear it was made twenty
years before! www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
SIMPLE STRINGS - N.J.-based Phillip Lester is a master
of both the nylon and steel string guitars. For his latest solo album,
American Treasures, Lester has recorded and assembled
24 tracks of vintage American music classics. Subtitled Early American
Ballads, Hymns & Songs Of Patriotism, the CD features soothing
and imaginative instrumental solo guitar arrangements of old favorites
like “America (My Country ‘Tis Of Thee)”, “The
Star-Spangled Banner”, “Shenandoah” and many other
classic folk classics first made popular during the early years of
American history including “Aura Lee” (written in 1861 and
later used by Elvis Presley as the melody for “Love Me Tender”.
There’s also a glorious track entitled “The Stephen Foster
Suite” blending Foster classics from the mid 1800’s like
“My Old Kentucky Home”, “Jeanie With The Light Brown
Hair” and other Foster classics. The ten page CD booklet features
extensive and quite enlightening liner notes that reads like an American
history lesson. According to Lester, “This work is dedicated
to all the men and women who risked their lives to give and help preserve
the freedoms we enjoy in this country.” Lester’s sumptuous
guitar performance on American Treasures will surely bring
out the patriot in you and make you proud to be American again. www.guitarartistry.com
TOULCAT RECORDS - Teaching up at the Berklee College of music
in Boston, guitar ace Julien Kasper is most proud of the two
performance labs he developed that provides in depth studies on the
guitar styles of Jeff Beck and Jimi Hendrix. Kasper released he debut
solo CD in 2003 on his own Toulcat Records. Flipping
Time finds Kasper in fine form working up an intriguing mixture
of crossover blues and jazz-groove instrumentals most of which are
bound by a hybrid rock sound. Kasper’s admiration for Clapton,
Duane Allman, Freddie King and B.B. King comes nicely into focus on
the 11 tracks here, many of which find Kasper tastefully backed up
in a trio or quartet setting. With top-notch playing throughout, Flipping
Time is an intriguing album from a rising guitar sensation. www.julienkasper.com
ULTRA - NYC-based Ultra Records continues their high
quality mix of downtempo chillout electronica, remix tracks and trendy
hip-hop rhythm and grooves with Ultra.Chilled04.
Like the label’s earlier installments the music is at once
seductive and vibrant with just the right amount of accessible beats
to relax your mind and keep your body pulsing. Featuring huge names
on the international dance club and pop scene—including N.E.R.D.,
Wax Poetic (featuring the enticing vocals of Norah Jones),
Poloroid, Goldfrapp and The Orb—the double
disc 24 track Ultra.Chilled04 CD is a must for those looking
to check out the hottest ‘buzz-worthy’ names on the contemporary
chill-out music scene. Earlier Ultra.Chilled titles have featured
huge names like Dido, Morcheeba and Chemical Brothers and the latest
Ultra.Chilled04 is a most fitting follow up indeed. www.ultrarecords.com
VANGUARD RECORDS - Vanguard continues releasing CDs from their
extensive past masters, the latest of which includes the various artists
Soul Tribute To The Beatles, released over the
Summer 2003. The 12 track disc features the biggest names in R&B
as they did The Beatles back in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Another
cool thing here includes track by track liner notes, reviewing these
songs by Wilson Pickett (“Hey Jude”), Marvin Gaye
(“Yesterday”), Ike & Tina Turner (a sizzling
“Come Together”), Otis Redding (“Day Tripper”)
and more. Just about each track hits the mark, excepting a sacrilegious
cover of “Lucy In The Sky” by Natalie Cole from 1977.
www.vanguardrecords.com
XL - Are you yearning for the heyday of the ‘60s when
musicians were raising pop standard to new and unimaginable heights?
Critics and pop mavens alike have been touting Welsh rockers Super
Furry Animals since the mid ‘90s...one great album after
another. Their 2001 CD and companion DVD, Rings Around The World
blew minds and likewise their 2003 CD Phantom Power
is a testimony to their pop mastery. Described in their press
kit as a ‘a technicolor, spacious, sonic poppy field’, the
14 track Phantom Power unleashes solid levels of modern day
pop magic from start to finish. Singer/guitarist Gruff Rhys is
quite effective and the guitar and steel work of Huw “Bunf”
Bunford is right on target. They’ve played with Paul McCartney,
they channel the spirits of L.A. pop wunderkind Brian Wilson and Burt
Bacharach and echo fellow U.K. pop greats, the High Llamas. Now, in
2003 SFA step a little further into the poplight with their ingenious
Phantom Power. www.superfurry.com
Attention
Artists and Record Companies: Have your CD reviewed in mwe3.com and
20th Century Guitar. Send to P.O. Box 630249, Little Neck, N.Y. 11363-0249
e-mail: rss54@mwe3.com
