The Beatles Abbey Road Remastered (Apple) www.thebeatles.com $20.99 “Abbey Road” is the latest Beatles’ record to get the deluxe remaster treatment, and it’s a dilly. The version I’m reviewing is the two-disc set. All tracks have been lovingly restored by the late George Martin’s son, Giles Martin. Disc one contains the original record remastered, while […]
Category: Quick Spins
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Culture, Quick Spins
Quick Spins: Taylor Swift & Bon Iver.
Taylor Swift Lover (Republic) www.taylorswift.com $16.99 When someone who Taylor Swift felt was an online bully bought the masters to her back catalog, she was justifiably livid. Swift had tried to buy her own masters in the past, and been rebuffed. In a bid to devalue her past masters and regain control of her own […]
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Quick Spins: Robert Randolph, Chrissie Hynde and Valve Bone Woe
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Brighter Days (Mascot) www.robertrandolph.net As many musicians know, mastering the pedal steel guitar is no small feat. It is deceptively complicated, and is mastered by few. Robert Randolph is one of the few, getting the call whenever the likes of Eric Clapton need that certain something. New Jersey native […]
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Quick Spins: Rodney Crowell, Rick Ross & John Batiste
Rodney Crowell Texas (RC1) www.rodneycrowell.com 11.99 Rodney Crowell stopped caring what mainstream Nashville thought of his songs long ago, and it’s just as well. While his recent output can be a little hit-and-miss, nobody could ever accuse the music city veteran of being a cookie-cutter act. His voice is uniquely his own. Here, Crowell pens […]
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Quick Spins: Post Malone, ’70’s & 80’s Power Pop
Post Malone Hollywood’s Bleeding (Republic) www.postmalone.com As pop stars go, Post Malone could never be called boring. While his records do sound as slick as anything else falling under the category of “pop,” there are always interesting elements that are unexpected, like the dark electric guitar of the single “Hollywood’s Bleeding,” played against an R&B […]
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Quick Spins: Vince Gill, The Dollyrots & Rob Laufer
Vince Gill Okie (MCA) www.vincegill.com $15.99 When the Eagles needed an expert harmony vocalist to fill the gap left by the death of Glenn Frey, they hired Gill. Although he continues to tour with them, his solo work doesn’t seem to have suffered. Even with a thirty-year career behind him, Gill continues to impress with […]
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Quick Spins: Sleater-Kinney, Alan Parsons and Ivy Ford
Sleater-Kinney The Center Won’t Hold (Mom+Pop) www.momandpopmusic.com $14.99 A new long-player from trio Sleater-Kinney is always an anxious proposition, and I mean that in the best way possible. Their last few efforts have proven to be anything but predictable. Their songs run the gamut of their influences, from gritty 1970’s punk, to the progressive weirdness […]
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Quick Spins: Marc Cohen & The Blind Boys of Alabama, Skillet, and America
Marc Cohen and The Blind Boys of Alabama Work To Do (BMG) www.marccohenmusic.com www.blindboys.com $13.99 Marc Cohen teams with The Blind Boys of Alabama to make a truly joyful noise. Cohen, of “Walking In Memphis” fame, still has the same husky pipes that made that song such a tremendous international hit. Adding The Blind Boys […]
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Quick Spins: Violent Femmes Return!
Violent Femmes Hotel Last Resort (Pias) www.violentfemmes.com $13.99 It’s been a couple of years since we’ve heard from The Femmes, and their hibernation seems to have had a rejuvenating affect. Drummer Brian Viglione has parted ways with the band, and former sideman John Sparrow has taken over percussion chores. In this case it means that […]
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Quick Spins: Neil Young, Sum 41 & Trip Wire
By Dan Pavelich Neil Young & Stray Gators Tuscaloosa (Reprise) www.neilyoung.com $18.99 “Tuscaloosa” documents Neil Young’s tour to promote his iconic 1973 record, “Harvest.” Young seems a bit subdued in this eleven-song set, proceeding as if he’s not certain that he’s even performing before the right audience. The band deftly supports Young, with “After The […]
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Quick Spins: Paul McCartney, Thom Yorke & Mike Love
By Dan Pavelich Paul McCartney CHOBA B CCCP (Capitol) www.paulmccartney.com $17.99 With Paul McCartney’s advancing age, it should come as no surprise that he’s getting his musical affairs in order, before the inevitable occurs. As such, we can expect a parade of reissues and deluxe editions of past releases, both solo and with Wings. CHOBA […]
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Quick Spins: Keb’ Mo’, Madonna and the Jonas Brothers
By Dan Pavelich Keb’ Mo’ Oklahoma (Concord) www.kebmo.com $15.99 Keb’ Mo’ may not be a household name, but he is definite confirmation that the blues didn’t die with B.B. King and Willie Dixon. Mo’ is a capable guitarist, but his greatest strength is his chameleon songwriter ability. With one foot deeply planted in the Mississippi […]
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Quick Spins: Prince, Sammy Hagar & a Backstreet Boy
Prince Originals (NPG) www.officialprincemusic.com $16.99 When contemplating the musical output of Prince, who has sold in excess of 100 million records, it’s easy to forget that he gave away nearly as many hits to other artists as he kept for himself. You’d be hard-pressed to name an artist who produced more critical music in the […]
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Quick Spins: Springsteen Heads West!
By Dan Pavelich Bruce Springsteen Western Stars (Columbia) www.Bruce Springsteen.com $16.99 I have wondered all of my life, if Bruce Springsteen was born and raised in New Jersey, why then does he sing with an old-timey cowboy accent? Even his speaking voice might leave you thinking that he might be Sam Elliot’s little brother. I […]
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Quick Spins: Milwaukee’s own Danny Gokey, plus Enforcer, Peter Frampton
By Dan Pavelich Danny Gokey Haven’t Seen It Yet (Sparrow) www.dannygokey.com Although he was eliminated after reaching the top three on “American Idol,” Milwaukeean Danny Gokey had already won over a legion of diehard fans. He signed to BMG Records, and released “My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me,” which became a bonafide country hit […]