Month: January 2022
8-note review: John Mellencamp’s Strictly A One-Eyed Jack
I barely resisted the temptation to go with a one-sentence review: Nothing matters and what if it did? John Mellencamp has said that Strictly A One-Eyed Jack reflects a number of songs about (or more accurately, from) one particular character….
Beatles’ ‘complete rooftop concert’ streaming rollout includes Norah Jones, Cirque du Soleil
The Beatles’ complete rooftop concert hits outlets as a streaming-only release at midnight on January 28. It boasts newly remixed stereo and Dolby Atmos audio mixes from Giles Martin and Sam Okell. The band’s final live performance reaches its 53rd…
Gateway Prog: Brad Mehldau explores rock roots of his jazz and spiritual paths
Whether via a range of collaborators, his choice of cover material, or even his piano work within a traditional jazz/standards setting, Brad Mehldau has spent a career pursuing his adventurous side. Mehldau takes a look back and another step forward…
What did Neil Young think would happen?
I don’t know what else Neil Young expected Spotify to do. There’s just no way they could let an artist dictate a decision like that about another content creator and say, “OK, Neil. See ya, Joe.” He left them no…
Albums That Surprised Me: It’s Like This / Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones tried a variety of approaches between 1995-2001 — originals, acoustic versions, live album at Red Rocks. But in the middle, she accomplished the unusual: a quality all-covers disc, coherent in sound and reflecting the artist’s diverse tastes in…
Aiofe O’Donovan and Jethro Tull: new albums, Springsteen covers, and … Indian food?
Jethro Tull breaks a a nearly 20-year drought in one week with The Zealot Gene. It’s the first Tull studio album since a Christmas album in 2003. The title track sports a rather involved animated video that may feel stylistically…
DMB unveils ’22 Warehouse disc (plus full-show bonus)
After last week’s U2 fan club gift announcement, Dave Matthews Band has followed suit (except with more details) for its own diehards. Warehouse members will receive two downloads – one is the contents of the traditional Warehouse CD, along with…
“Oh Girl” by The Chi-Lites
The 888/88/8 Project: Song #002. Do you have a better chance at musical success if your name is Eugene Record? Things worked out pretty well for the one Mr. Record we know about. The Chi-Lites had scores of successful singles,…
8 things about Elvis Costello’s The Boy Named If
A clearly inspiring lyric concept for the songwriter + strong vocals and muscular work from The Impostors. When I Was Cruel might’ve had a higher high, but The Boy Named If strikes me as the most consistently enjoyable Elvis Costello…
U2 reveals Achtung theme, leaves wiggle room on sources for 2022 fan club gift
What we know + a little speculation + a look at each track’s live track record: On the heels of an only slightly belated Achtung Baby 30th-anniversary vinyl-and-digital-only release, U2 is rolling with the Achtung theme for its 2022 fan…