It may be no coincidence Ian Hunter’s newest solo album precedes a reunion of Mott the Hoople in autumn of 2009. The prospect of revisiting the most-high profile work of his career appears to have elevated him as a songwriter and performer on Man Overboard.
There's been a palpable flow to a couple of the Grateful Dead Road Trips releases, but nothing so tangible as that which distinguishes the latest issue from the summer tour with the legendary “Wall of Sound.” It's no illusion each CD of the triple set segues to the next on the way to a rousing finish.
Given the otherworldly atmosphere of The Church’s recordings, it’s an intriguing prospect to anticipate the Australian quartet in concert and find out how they replicate the density of their music in the spirit of the moment.
Fronted by David Nelson on guitar and vocals with Buddy Cage on pedal steel, the chemistry of the current NRPS goes further than just the band personnel. Robert Hunter collaborates with Nelson on a half dozen cuts and the long-time Grateful Dead lyricist demonstrates an elegant command of language on the title song, while the band's playing on a close to eight minute track is articulate in its own way
On Son Volt's new album, American Central Dust, Jay Farrar only plays an acoustic guitar, not its electric counterpart. The bandleader's choice of instruments is as much a direct reflection of the overall approach he applies to the album as the choice of label for which Son Volt debuts. Rounder Records has become one of America's primary independent music distributors, largely by focusing on the folk, blues and country music that form the foundation of Farrar’s new songs.
Five more shotgun jazz CD reviews by Glide contributor Doug Collette – this month he visits: Branford Marsalis, Sonny Rollins, Ravi Coltrane, Steve Bernstein, Bill Evans.
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood clearly elevate each other's performances throughout Live From Madison Square Garden. This live recording, a set list heavy on blues and vintage Traffic tunes intermixes crowd-pleasers like the too-obvious encore "Cocaine” as well as "After Midnight." Yet the headlining pair and their savvy accompanists refuse to indulge in mere nostalgia.
Gary Burton and Pat Metheny have reunited occasionally in interim since working together regularly in the 70's, but Quartet Live is their first bonafide collaboration since that time. Their commitment, as well as that of their comrades, is wholly evident on Quartet Live.
Though perhaps not so startling a work as its predecessor, the Grammy-winning Dirt Farmer, Levon Helm’s new album nevertheless extends its authentically rootsy earthy themes.
The second batch of expanded remastered cd’s of The Replacements is as much of a labor of love as the first four. The exhaustive liner notes and the meticulous detail former manager Peter Jesperson attributes to the bonus tracks (which sometimes double the number of cuts on a given cd) depict a dramatic backdrop to music that is wholly gripping on its own terms. Truth be told, the casual music lover who discovers The ‘Mats via these releases, not knowing their history, might very well come away convinced this Minnesota quartet is one of the finest rock and roll bands America’s produced in the last twenty years…or perhaps longer!
