Episode 74 - Black Mountain and Sonia Leigh

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Album Review Roundup: Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs, Styx, The Red Button

Artist: Ronnie Milsap
Title: Country Again
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this CD if you like: Jimmy Wayne, George Jones, Glen Campbell, Charley Pride

Tell Me More: Since Ronnie Milsap's music doesn’t get played much on terrestrial radio these days, some people are more apt to recall his recent collaborations with James Otto (“Good Thing’s Gone Bad”) or Trace Adkins (“My First Ride”) than works from the 2000s. Others will immediately recognize the name of this country hitmaker, whose recording career dates back to late ‘60s session work for Elvis Presley.
On Milsap’s first country album in five years, the singer/keyboardist goes “old school.” The result is a comfortable, timeless sound that could’ve easily come out in the 1960s-70s. Milsap still excels at sad ballads (“A Better Word For Love,” “On My Own”), while a few songs recall Owen Bradley’s classic Nashville sound (“Cry Cry Darling," Bobby Darin’s “You’re the Reason I’m Living”), complete with smooth female backing vocals. There are also fun, uptempo tunes (the brass-filled “Oh Linda,” frisky tone of “Fireworks,” “If You Don’t Want Me To” - also known as “The Freeze,” containing an ‘80s pop vibe a la Robbie Dupree).
Listen to samples and get Country Again here
George A. Paul

Artist: Ricky Skaggs
Title: Country Hits: Bluegrass Style
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this CD if you like: The Grascals, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Skaggs’ 1980s work
Tell Me More: For more than two decades, Ricky Skaggs has been one of the most accomplished practitioners of bluegrass music. So giving his old hits that genre treatment makes perfect sense. A majority of the selections will be familiar to longtime fans, having reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart. Purists might scoff because the sound isn’t entirely acoustic and doesn’t veer too far from the original arrangements. But longtime band Kentucky Thunder does an excellent job as usual backing up Skaggs, who plays multiple instruments here.
Standouts from the multiple Grammy winner include “Heartbroke” and “Honey (Open That Door)” - among many spotlighting that famous "high lonesome" vocal sound, “Lovin’ Only Me,” featuring extended twangy soloing, “Country Boy,” driven by fast-fingered fretwork and “Cajun Moon.” The piano-led version of Flatt & Scruggs’ Don’t Get Above Your Raising” works well. Gentle closing track “Somebody’s Prayin,’" featuring the Nashville String Ensemble, is more in line with Skaggs' 2010 gospel effort “Mosaic” though and doesn’t fit the bluegrass mold.
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George A. Paul

Artist: Styx

Title: Regeneration, Volume I & II

Worth buying: Yes

You will be interested if you are a fan of: Styx, Damn Yankees, Night Ranger

Tell Me More: Released in September 2011, Regeneration, Volume I & II is a two-disc collection that features newly-recorded versions of many of the band's best-known songs as well as covers of several Damn Yankees tunes (remember Tommy Shaw was a member of that '90s supergroup) and even a new song titled "Difference In The World" that is a strong sonic fit with the familiar stuff.

Up until recently, Regeneration was only available at Styx' concerts. Highlights on the collection include a stellar "Crystal Ball" (which features dazzling guitar work and emotive vocals courtesy of the aforementioned Shaw), a rocking "Blue Collar Man," and truly-epic "Coming of Age." It is hard to believe, but the 2011 version of Styx has been together than any other line-up of the band; that said, it's not hard to see hear how Regeneration, Volume I & II finds Shaw, James "JY" Young, Chuck Panozzo, Lawrence Gowan, Ricky Phillips and Todd Sucherman delivering the goods in full. "Come Sail Away," indeed.

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Robert Kinsler

 

Artist: The Red Button

Title: As Far As Yesterday Goes

Worth buying: Yes

You will be interested if you are a fan of: The Beatles, Fountains of Wayne, Nick Lowe, Seth Swirsky's "Watercolor Day"

Tell Me More: Anyone who has ever wondered if it's possible for a modern-day artist to write and perform original music in sync with the sound and style of the early Beatles, wonder no more. Instead, grab a copy of the Red Button's wonderful sophomore effort, As Far As Yesterday Goes. The latest disc from the Los Angles-based duo (Seth Swirsky, Mike Ruekberg), the 12-song "As Far As Yesterday Goes" boasts infectious rockers ("Caught in the Middle," "I Can't Forget"), power pop jewels ("On A Summer Day," "Girl, Don't") and tender ballads (the piano-anchored "Picture"). All of the cuts feature strong vocals, solid musicianship and smart arrangements that recall the magic of the Fab Four. And for those who additionally wonder what had happened if John, Paul, George and Ringo had performed into the 1970s, my money is on the last two songs featured on the disc; the jazz-tinged "Genevieve" mines a bit of Sir Paul's WINGS territory while the folk-rock gem "Running Away" conjures up John Lennon's confessional solo work.

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Robert Kinsler

Fountains of Wayne and The Ettes - Episode 74

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The Bangles and Matthew Sweet - Episode 72

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Live Release Roundup: The Doobie Brothers, Rockpile, Whitesnake

Artist: The Doobie Brothers
Title: Live at the Greek Theatre, 1982
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this CD if you like: Christopher Cross, “American Idol" Taylor Hicks, Michael McDonald’s solo work, 1970s soft rock
Tell Me More: By the time the Doobies' farewell tour hit this Berkeley, Calif. venue, they had racked up multiple platinum albums and top 40 pop/rock singles over the course of a decade. This gig found them in solid form, giving several songs a more laid back treatment than the studio incarnations. Whenever McDonald takes over lead vocals from Patrick Simmons, the audience seems to get more excited (a testament to McDonald’s then-burgeoning popularity). In fact, his rich, soulful singing on “You Belong to Me (written for Carly Simon), “What a Fool Believes" and “Taking It To The Streets" are standouts among the set.

Former members Tom Johnston, John Hartman, Tiran Porter and Michael Hossack all make guest appearances. The CD booklet includes background on the show and a dozen live color photos (The CD has 15 tracks + 4 bonus songs; a companion DVD is also available).

Get Live at the Greek Theatre, 1982 Here

Artist: Rockpile
Title: Live at Montreaux, 1980
Worth buying: Yes
You might be interested in this CD if you like: Graham Parker, Marshall Crenshaw, Elvis Costello, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe’s early solo material
Tell Me More: By the time this critically acclaimed pub rock group released its lone studio album (1980’s Seconds of Pleasure), the U.K. musicians - Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremmer and Terry Williams - had already been playing on each others' records for years. The first two guys even notched a few hits along the way. Tours were infrequent, so this appearance from Switzerland’s long-running Montreaux Jazz Festival was a real treat. The quartet sounds great throughout and turns in a raucous, high energy set with lead vocal tradeoffs. Although the sonic quality wavers a bit at the start, irregularities are corrected promptly.

Early new wave, rock ‘n' roll and even roots enthusiasts will find plenty to savor here, including Rockpile’s takes on Parker’s “Crawling From the Wreckage," Costello’s “Girls Talk," Chuck Berry’s “Let it Rock" (incorporating a key lick from Bill Haley & the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock”), the Fats Domino-popularized “I Hear You Knockin' (Edmunds' biggest solo single), “Queen of Hearts" (later a career
best mark for Juice Newton) and Lowe’s own “I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll)." The CD booklet includes a few live photos and background about the band and concert.

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Artist: Whitesnake
Title: Live at Donington, 1990
Worth buying: Yes, for those into mammoth guitar solos
You might be interested in this CD if you like: Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Motley Crue, Quiet Riot
Tell Me More:Whitesnake was frequently a stopping ground for some of hard rock’s most prominent guitarists - including Steve Vai and Vivian Campbell, later of Def Leppard, as well as a lengthy list of other musicians prominent in the genre. The sleazy hair metal band reached its commercial peak in the mid-to-late Eighties. This double disc set was taken from a headlining appearance at the Monsters of Rock Festival at England’s Donington Park. A few tracks broach and even surpass the 10-minue mark, thanks to Vai and Adrian Vandenberg’s blazing fretwork bonanzas.Since I used to enjoy the pop-oriented Whitesnake (1987) and Slip of the Tongue(1989) albums and subsequent radio hits, I was interested to hear what they sounded like on tour around that time. Yet it really takes a diehard fan to get through these songs. Leader David Coverdale’s raspy voice is in ok shape. He provides a brief introduction in the CD booklet, which has stage and memorabilia shots from the 1989-90 world tour. Music from the performance (also available as a separate DVD) was remixed too.

Get Whitesnake: Live at Donington 1990 (2011)

George Paul 

Read more of George Paul's music coverage on his Music Minded site

Live Music DVDs Roundup: Sheryl Crow, Primal Scream, David Byrne

Artist: Sheryl Crow

Title: Miles From Memphis : Live at the Pantages Theatre

Worth buying: Yes

You might be interested in this DVD if you like: Bonnie Raitt, Delaney and Bonnie, Al Green, Dusty Springfield

Tell Me More: Crow took an organic approach on latest album 100 Miles From Memphis , delving into the R&B and southern soul-styled music that served as formative influences. The groove-based material translated well to the concert stage, as this DVD - filmed at the vaunted Hollywood venue last year - attests. Together with a large band consisting of guitarist/frequent collaborator Doyle Bramhall II (Eric Clapton), horn players, female backing vocalists and others, they succeed in creating a soulful sound.  

 

Shot in crisp-looking high definition, with digital 5.1 and DTS surround sound options, the 18-song DVD finds Crow and company getting into a funky groove on old faves like “Soak Up the Sun,” giving “Strong Enough” a starkly beautiful treatment and unveiling some surprising covers: “Sideways” (Citizen Cope), “Got to Give it Up" (Marvin Gaye) and “I Want You Back” (Jackson 5). The 20-minute Behind the Scenes segment comprises soundcheck rehearsals of “Eye to Eye” and “Stop,” plus Crow candidly talking about what the band and the venue meant to her. It’s almost worth the DVD price alone.   

 

What about the packaging? Crow writes about the album/tour in the booklet, which is adorned with a few large concert photos

Get Miles From Memphis : Live at the Pantages Theatre here!

Artist: Primal Scream

Title: Screamadelica Live

Worth buying: Yes

You might be interested in this DVD if you like: Stone Roses, Happy Mondays, Kasabian, UNKLE

Tell Me More: Released in 1991, Screamadelica was among the more prominent and influential albums to emerge amidst England's acid house/rave music scene. Using psychedelic and classic rock as touchstones, Scottish frontman Bobby Gillespie and his cohorts deftly used film samples, gospel and more to create a unique atmosphere. At London ’s Olympia Theatre in 2010, the band performed the album front-to-back for the first time with a choir and brass section in tow.

 

Divided into two sets – one for the full album and another for rock material, the DVD/CD package (a separate Blu-ray edition adds the “Classic Albums” series episode seen on VH1 Classic and elsewhere) is best suited for diehard enthusiasts. Gillespie has never been a riveting presence onstage; ample crowd shots, “no frills” lighting and camera work and the druggy music itself, don’t help matters. The second set, with such high energy songs as the bluesy “Jailbird,” “Accelerator” and the menacing “Swastika Eyes,” almost makes up for the listlessness.       

 

What about the packaging? Minimal; no booklet

Get Screamadelica Live (2011) here

 

Artist: David Byrne

Title: Ride, Rise, Roar: A Live Concert Film

Worth buying: Yes

You might be interested in this DVD if you like: Peter Gabriel, Brian Eno, Talking Heads

Tell Me More: Byrne has always been a trailblazer of the visual medium, dating back to his days with Talking Heads (particularly the seminal concert film “Stop Making Sense”) and many memorable music videos. “Ride, Rise, Roar” is a hybrid performance and documentary. Behind the scenes details about 2008-09 tour preparations for his exceptional Everything That Happens Will Happen Today album with Eno are interspersed with dancers interpreting songs that Byrne and his band perform. The dance rehearsal and choreographer interview footage is moderately interesting; the chats with Byrne and Eno about the album and band practices, much more so. Through 90 minutes, Byrne mixes spirited Heads songs (“Once in a Lifetime,” I Zimbra,” “Road to Nowhere,” “Burning Down the House”) with Everything That Happens tracks – all intriguingly staged.        

 

What about the packaging? Minimal; no booklet

 

Get Ride, Rise, Roar: A Live Concert Film here:

 

George Paul 

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