PRINCE
Released March 29, 2009
SANTANA
Released April 5, 2016
NEW 2016 MUSIC: A few years ago, I was watching footage from Director Michael Wadleigh's classic "Woodstock" (1970) on VH1 Classic and my mouth dropped to the ground once again as I regarded the performance of "Soul Sacrifice" by Santana. In that sequence alone, there was a level of musicianship that feels to be almost foreign these days in the 21st century. Hell, it seems that even Carlos Santana himself, long having relegated his skill and artistry to more pop driven material filled with notable guest stars, had even ceased to play as he once did.
With the new album "Santana IV," and featuring the bulk of the classic Santana line-up performing together for the first time since 1973, that specific level of musicianship has returned in spades. While I am still working my way through the album as of this writing, it has been nothing less than a pleasure and privilege to hear musicians of this skill and legacy burn the rafters down on tracks like the appropriately locomotive "Choo Choo/All Aboard," and the scorching "Shake It" plus also making ample room for the soulful utopian anthems "Love Makes The World Go Round" and "Freedom In Your Mind" (both performed with the iconic Ronald Isley). But so far, my favorite is the nearly eight minute atmospheric instrumental evocation "Fillmore East."
THE GERMAN ART STUDENTS
Released 2005
ALABAMA SHAKES
Released April 21, 2015
MILES DAVIS
Released October 11, 1972
PRINCE
Released October 19, 1979
PRINCE
Released April 20, 2004
THE GERMAN ART STUDENTS
Released 2002
ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
Released April 1, 2016
THE GERMAN ART STUDENTS
Released 2011
MUDCRUTCH
Released May 20, 2016
NEW 2016 MUSIC: There was once a point when I think I nearly took Tom Petty for granted. And in some ways, it is quite an easy thing to do as his music has been so consistent, so dependable and so very present for nearly 40 years now, that we may forget how brilliant his entire discography actually is. "2," the second album from Petty's pre-Heartbreakers band Mudcrutch is another document fully bestowing Petty's considerable gifts with all of us, even when everything he does feels to be so easy yet it is all so deceptively simple.
Moving to playing Bass Guitar and sharing the songwriting and lead singing duties with his bandmates, who also include then future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell (guitars) and Benmont Tench (piano, organ, keyboards), Mudcrutch's "2" continues in the vein of the band's self-titled debut (released April 29, 2008) with forays into beautifully constructed rock, psychedelia, folk and country songs, all proudly adorned with their Southern roots. Definitely a worthy addition to Petty's ever expanding canon.
PIXIES
Released March 21, 1988
THE TIME
Released July 29, 1981
BILL BRUFORD
Released June 1979
TODD RUNDGREN, HANS-PETER LINDSTROM & EMIL NIKOLAISEN
Released May 4, 2015
POST SOCIAL
Released April 16, 2016
NEW 2016 MUSIC: Officially released on this year's Record Store Day, Madison's very own Post Social, the collective of Shannon Connor (guitars/vocals), Mitch Deitz (guitars/vocals), Sam Galligan (bass guitar) and Brendan Manley (drums), still riding the wave of their second album "Young Randolphs" (released October 3, 2015), refuse to rest upon their laurels and have recently completed their third album, and now offering this new single as a teaser.
Composed, self recorded and produced the band, these two new selections only continue to surprise and intoxicate me with their endlessly inventive and hypnotic guitar textures and luxurious rhythms. "Guac Bomb," sung by Connor, showcases a sonic sheen that nearly suggested Steely Dan to my ears, as the relaxed and reflective track seduced me instantly. "Poster Boy," sung by Deitz, returns to the more post-punk rock energy but this time with added electronic pulses to augment the mesmerizing proceedings and the surrealistic lyrics.
I don't know how they do it but for LP3, I am so, so very ready!!!!!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment