"1979: LIVE FROM MOSCOW"
ELTON JOHN with RAY COOPER
NEW 2020 RELEASE: January 24, 2020
-I was stunned when I saw that this concert was being released.
I vividly remember being perhaps 10 or 11 years old and I was sick, and drifting between being awake and asleep on the couch in our basement. My Dad was downstairs with me and for some reason, as I awoke we both began to watch this documentary film broadcast upon Chicago's WGN channel 9 about Elton John's concerts in Moscow, a period during which Russia was just beginning to allow Western artists to perform within the Soviet Union. With no crazy costumes, pyrotechnics or even a full band, Elton John performed solo piano with only percussionist Ray Cooper (who appeared like some sort of madman Headmaster) in tow and I was mesmerized.
Now, with "1979-Live From Moscow," we have the document itself finally officially released and completely remastered from the analog tapes as preserved from the original BBC simulcasts and the double album is undeniably sparkling. Mixing his smash hits songs like "Rocket Man," "Daniel," and of course "Bennie and the Jets," with album deep cuts like "Funeral For A Friend," and "Better Off Dead" (a standout track featuring Cooper) and even cover songs like his 12 minute version of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," Elton John stunningly re-establishes himself as a virtuoso musician, composer and singer as the velocity and melodicism of his playing feels like nothing less than shooting stars. What a gift it is that this widely bootlegged concert has finally found its official release, which is more than worthy of earning a spot into your collections.
RUSH
Released June 8, 2012
MOS DEF
Released October 12, 1999
KHRUANGBIN & LEON BRIDGES
NEW 2020 RELEASE: February 7, 2020
-The collaboration I never expected became the very one that I absolutely NEEDED to hear, resulting in one of 2020's finest releases already.
"Texas Sun," a 20 minute, four song EP from the collective of Leon Bridges and Khruangbin, the nearly indescribable (almost) instrumental trio made up of Mark Speer (guitars), Laura Lee (bass guitar) and Donald Ray "DJ" Johnson Jr. (drums, piano, keyboards), is a calling card so seductive that not only will you be listening to this work repeatedly, you will be begging the foursome to hunker down and create a full album experience.
Languid, sensual, haunting, sun baked, horny and blissfully mesmerizing, "Texas Sun" merges the soulful grit of Bridges with the psychedelic surf funk of Khruangbin so effortlessly that it feels surprising that the merging did not occur sooner. With a sonic palate that simultaneously suggests the open air found while travelling upon endless highways and the confines of a sweat soaked off road motel room, "Texas Sun" ingratiates itself immediately with the utter confidence of its swagger, groove and vibe and as lusty as it is, the inherent existential journey--both inner and outer--remain paramount and ultimately, transportive.
A stunning merging of the cosmic and the carnal, "Texas Sun" is hypnotic soul at its finest and ladies, do prepare yourselves for the track "C-Side," in particular...shall we say...baby makin' music?
GREEN DAY
NEW 2020 RELEASE: February 7, 2020
-For an album that despite its 10 tracks is only 26 minutes long--reportedly the band's shortest album--there is quite a lot to unpack musically. "Father Of All...," the 11th album in Green Day's discography, finds itself somewhere in the mid range between their ambitious rock operas "American Idiot" (released September 21, 2004) and "21st Century Breakdown" (released May 15, 2009) plus what just might be my personal favorite "Revolution Radio" (released October 7, 2016) and the overly ambitious yet more than undercooked album trilogy of "Uno!" (released September 25, 2012), "Dos!" (released November 13, 2012) and "Tre!" (released December 11, 2012).
While populated with the same collective of fringe characters and angst ridden themes of their past work, Green Day has altered the presentation by allowing "Father Of All..." to easily exist as their most unapologetically melodic work to date as the band dives into the musical areas of soul, glam and Motown complete with Billie Joe Armstrong's layers upon layers of harmonized backing vocals that surround his strong lead vocals which now reaches into its glorious falsetto as well as his standard pop-post punk snarl.
Essentially, Green Day has created a dance party album where vintage pop and rock is updated to 21st century studio slickness. While it may feel to be more of a slight album or at its best, an album of singles, it is a good showcase for Armstrong's actual songwriting which does illustrate how difficult it is to write songs this concise (most of the songs hover around the two minute mark) and yet complete.
CHRIS DAVE AND THE DRUMHEDZ
Released January 26, 2018
ROBERT GLASPER
Released October 3, 2019
POND
Released January 23, 2015
THE BETHS
Released August 10, 2018
- To my dear friend, WSUM's DJ Nightway, thank you for bringing me here...
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