Sunday, November 2, 2014

MATT'S MUSIC REPORT - AUTUMN 2014


Recent Releases of Note
  • The Band - Carter Barron Amphitheater, Washington DC, July 17th
  • The Beatles - The Beatles in Mono [14-LP reissue box set]
  • Beck - Song Reader
    • Featuring Loudon Wainwright III & 18 other artists interpreting songs Beck wrote as sheet music but did not record
  • Eric Clapton & Friends - The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale
    • featuring Mark Knopfler, Willie Nelson and Tom Petty
  • Bob Dylan - The Lyrics: Since 1962 [book]
  • Genesis - R-Kive
    • 3 CD career retrospective of the band, together and solo
  • George Harrison - The Apple Years, 1968-75
    • First six solo albums remastered with bonus tracks
      • Wonderwall Music [soundtrack; DVD was also reissued this year]
      • Electronic Sound [rare on CD; also unlistenable]
      • All Things Must Pass [last remastered/reissued in 2001]
      • Living in the Material World [last reissued in 2006]
      • Dark Horse; Extra Texture [not remastered since their first CD release in 1992]
  • Diana Krall - Wallflower
  • Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV; Houses of the Holy
    • Both reissues will be in the following formats-
      • Single CD or original album LP
      • Deluxe Edition - 2 CD or 2 LP with 2nd disc having unreleased audio
      • Super Deluxe Edition
        • Deluxe Edition CDs and LPs
        • Digital download
        • 80-page hardcover book
  • John Lennon - Icon [greatest hits package for the discount market]
  • Julian Lennon - Everything Changes box set
    • Album on CD and 2-LP picture discs
    • Acoustic version of the album on CD
    • Instrumental version of the album on CD
    • Documentary DVD
    • Limited to 1000; signed by the artist
  • Jenny Lewis - The Voyager
  • Paul McCartney - New
    • Reissue of 2013 studio album
    • 2nd disc of unreleased and live tracks
    • DVD of music videos and 'making of' stuff
  • Stevie Nicks - 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault
  • Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Hypnotic Eye
  • Ringo Starr - Icon
  • They Might Be Giants - First Album Live
    • free download on tmbg.com
  • Loudon Wainwright III - Haven't Got the Blues (Yet)
  • "Weird Al" Yankovic - Mandatory Fun
  • Soundtrack - Boardwalk Empire
    • featuring Elvis Costello, Regina Spektor & Loudon Wainwright III
  • Soundtrack - Mary Poppins: The Legacy Collection
    • 3 CD set
    • includes "The Lost Chords" - fully produced recordings of demos for songs not used in the final film



Upcoming New Releases
  • John Denver - All of My Memories: The John Denver Collection [11/4]
    • Four CD box set
    • Hits, album cuts, rare & unreleased tracks
  • Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol. 11: The Basement Tapes Complete [11/4]
    • Six CD set
  • Bob Dylan - The Basement Tapes Raw [11/4]
    • Two CD or 3 LP condensed version of Vol. 11
  • Bob Dylan - Shadows in the Night [2015]
  • Genesis - Three Sides Live [11/4]
    • concert DVD & Blu-ray reissue]
  • Genesis - Sum of the Parts [11/17]
    • documentary DVD & Blu-ray
    • no US release date at this time
  • Jeff Lynne - untitled studio album [Spring 2015]
  • Paul McCartney - Venus and Mars [11/4]
  • Paul McCartney - Wings at the Speed of Sound [11/4]
    • both reissues will be in the following formats:
      • Standard Edition - 2 CD or LP w/ download card
        • 1 disc of the original album remastered
        • 1 disc of bonus material
      • Deluxe Edition
        • Standard Edition
        • DVD with archival video
        • Hardcover book with artifact reproductions
  • Paul McCartney - Hope [single][TBD]
  • The Monkees - The Monkees [11/11]
    • 3 CD/100 track box set
    • Original album in mono and stereo
    • Davy Jones' pre-Monkees solo album
    • Six tracks of pre-Monkees Michael Nesmith
    • 48 tracks of demos/rehearsals/alternate takes/odds and ends
  • Moody Blues - The Polydor Years 1986-1992 [11/24]
    • 6 CD/2 DVD/1 7" single
    • "The Other Side of Life", "Sur la Mer" and "Keys of the Kingdom" remastered
    • Bonus, rare and live cuts of the era
    • "A Night at Red Rocks" concert on two CDs
    • "A Night at Red Rocks" excerpted DVD
    • "The Other Side of Red Rocks" documentary DVD
  • Frank Sinatra - This is Sinatra [11/4]
    • vinyl reissue of 1956 'best of' album from Capitol
  • Frank Sinatra - Sinatra: London [11/25]
    • 3 CD/1 DVD box set
    • reissue of "Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain"
    • Session material, BBC radio show appearances, 1984 London concert
  • Bruce Springsteen - Outlaw Pete [11/4]
  • Bruce Springsteen - The Album Collection Vol. 1 1973-1984 [12/17]
    • first seven studio albums newly remastered
    • his first two albums have not been remastered since their original CD release in 1984
  • Ringo Starr - untitled studio album [3/15]
  • Take That - III [12/2]
    • includes tracks produced by Jeff Lynne
  • Neil Young - Storytone [11/4]
  • various - Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes
    • T-Bone Burnett produced album of various artists recording songs Bob Dylan wrote but did not record
  • various - The Art of McCartney [11/18]
    • Tribute featuring Bob Dylan, Barry Gibb, Billy Joel, Jeff Lynne, Steve Miller and Willie Nelson
    • 2 CD or 3 LP set with 34 tracks
    • Deluxe Edition includes 'Making of' DVD
    • Amazon Deluxe Edition includes two bonus tracks
    • Deluxe Box Set [record label exclusive]
      • Deluxe Edition
      • 3rd CD with 8 more tracks
      • 'Making of' audio documentary and hardback book
      • Limited to 1,000
  • soundtrack - Wild [11/10]
    • New song by First Aid Kit
    • Catalog songs from Leonard Cohen, the Hollies, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen and Wings


Black Friday Record Store Day - 11/28

  • Beatles - Long Tall Sally 7" [reissue of 1964 4 song EP]
  • First Aid Kit - America 10" [4 exclusive songs]
  • Genesis - From Genesis to Revelation [reissue of 1974 LP]
  • Jenny Lewis - The Pax-Am Sessions [2 alternate tracks from her recent album]
  • Little Richard - Little Richard [reissue of 1956 LP]
  • Ennio Morricone - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [reissue of 1967 soundtrack on red vinyl]
  • Roy Orbison - At the Rock House [reissue of 1961 Sun LP on colored vinyl]
  • Elvis Presley - Showroom Internationale [2 LP first release of 1970 dinner concert]
  • They Might Be Giants - Flood [reissue of 1990 LP on green vinyl]
  • Neil Young - Official Release Series Discs 5-8 box set
    • On the Beach
    • Time Fades Away
    • Tonight's the Night
    • Zuma
  • various - A Christmas Gift for You [reissue of 1963 Phil Spector produced LP on red vinyl]
  • various - American Hustle [2 LP soundtrack with 6 songs not on the CD version]
  • various - Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix, Vol. 1 [as it was meant to be heard - on cassette!]



On Tour in the Tri-State
  • Adrian Belew - Indy - 12/19; Cincinnati - 12/21
  • Iris Dement - Columbus - 1/16; Bloomington - 1/17; Cincinnati - 3/5; Louisville - 3/6; Bowling Green - 3/7
  • Dennis DeYoung - New Albany - 2/14
  • Neil Diamond - Columbus - 3/18; Indy - 4/17
  • Bob Dylan - Cleveland - 11/12
  • Fleetwood Mac - Louisville - 2/17; Cleveland - 2/18
  • Garfunkel and Oates - Cincinnati - 11/14; Indy - 11/15
  • Steve Hackett - Cleveland - 12/3
  • Herman's Hermits - Belterra - 12/30
  • John Hiatt - Bloomington - 11/24
  • Chrissie Hynde - Akron - 11/13
  • Nick Lowe - 12/10
  • John Mellencamp - Louisville - 1/23; Cincinnati - 1/24; Columbus - 1/30; Cleveland - 1/31; Bloomington - 2/3, 2/4; Evansville - 5/27; Indy - 8/4
  • Mike + the Mechanics - Cleveland - 3/15; Cincinnati - 3/17
  • Randy Newman - Carmel - 11/23
  • New Pornographers - Cleveland - 11/15
  • The Orchestra - Louisville - 5/24
  • Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - Cleveland - 11/9
Review by Matt Tauber



Hypnotic Eye - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers [Warner Bros] - I'm sitting here looking at the album cover, trying to think of a song from the album, an album I own and have heard at least three times.  I can't.  That's not to say it's a bad album.  It's a good album that has the signature sounds of the Heartbreakers.  But I keep waiting for that 'wow' moment, and it never comes.  Props to TP for getting it done at 64, and they're one of my all-time favorites.  I'm glad to see them chugging along with new material, but they don't seem to be taking any chances.  Fellow reviewer Jim Bates has told me he was similarly unimpressed, but rates it better than 2010's "Mojo".  I disagree, as I think that prior album had some sharp turns.  "Hypnotic Eye" keeps you on the straightaway.  It's a good ride, but your hoping for a detour.



and now…some wisdom from guest reviewer Jim Bates!

The Black Crowes Alumni Report

The Black Crowes have become an odd band in the new millennium.  Touring on and off since reforming in 2005, they release new material in dribs and drabs.  Only two albums of new material have hit the record store since the end of their first hiatus; they appear uninterested in the usual studio album and tour cycle.   In 2013, they hit the road with only a live album download and LP release to promote.  It almost smack of a band lacking anything new to say, but that isn’t the case, as the members’ side projects clearly illustrate.

So what are the Black Crowes alumni doing in 2014?  Read on dear reader...  (I am sad to say I have no Sven Pipien news to report. I hope we won’t find him filling burgers at some Atlanta McDonalds.)

Trigger Hippy – Steve Gorman

Trigger Hippy is the new side project of drummer Steve Gorman and touring guitar player Jackie Greene.  Also featuring guitarist Tom Bukovac and bassist Nick Govrik, the band’s secret weapon is vocalist Joan Osborne.  An eleven-song set covers all the bases of R&B, soul, country rock, funk, blues...you know, the usual rock and roll stuff…  The band really gets cooking on a few of the tracks, including “Turpentine,” “Cave Hill Cemetery” and “Nothing New.”  Jackie and Joan share a couple of nice ballads, “Pretty Mess” being the standout.  (Just as an FYI, the funky “Pocahontas” does not reference either Marlon Brando, the Aurora Borealis or the Astrodome).  As always, Gorman is the man, but what I took away from this album is  a reminder of how much I enjoy listening to Joan Osborne.

The Ceaseless Sign - Rich Robinson

Wow, Rich Robinson just made the best Keith Richards solo album ever.  From the Stonesy “I Know You” opener, this is the most Black Crowes-esque of al of the albums mentioned here (And “The Unfortunate Show” might even be a better Stones style rocker).  But it isn’t all riffs, just good roots rock.  “In Comes the Night” reminds me of the '80s.  “The Giving Key” is the kind of swaggery ballad you don’t hear much anymore.  “One Road Hill” is a pretty acoustic sing along, and it is hard to classify the drum-based “Trial and Faith.”  Rich continues to mature as a singer and his singing is no longer cringeworthy.  Add to that some well-done lyrics, and Mr. Robinson has hit another solo album home run in a row after a shaky first effort. 

Get the LP release because you get some bonus instrumentals on side four, some neat looking coloured vinyl and a copy of the CD to listen to in the car.  Sweet.

Phosphorescent Harvest - Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Everyone’s favorite jam band - the Brotherhood - are back and spacier than ever.  “Shore Power” opens this album with Adam MacDougall’s space keyboards once again on full display and a big New York City breakdown.  It, along with “Meanwhile in the Gods...” and “Jump the Turnstiles,” are the only upbeat rockers.  The rest of the album is slower and trippier, with “Clear Blue Skies & The Good Doctor” almost entering ELO territory.  I was excited to see the Black Crowes’ lost classic, “Tornado,” recast into a full band track.  “Help yourself to some of my disaster...”  The closing track on the CD- “Burn Slow”- might be the best review possible of this album (oh, and the track itself isn’t bad either...think Crazy Horse on serious downers).

The LP release includes two bonus tracks...the electronic instrumental “Humboldt Windchimes” and “Star Crossed Lonely Sailor” which should have been included on the album itself.  That is the good news; the bad news is how it sounds.  Something went wrong at the pressing plant that day...snap, crackle, and pop! I’ve heard LPs sound better after warping in the sun...Glad they included a free download code!

The CRB is better live, and the song on this album are, too, but this is the closest they have come to putting their live sound down on tape.  My understanding is that they worked on this album for quite a while and it shows.  Can’t wait to hear what the next album sounds like.
Holy Ghost - Marc Ford

Who expected this?  Guitar-slinger Marc Ford doing a mostly acoustic Americana album?  The results are pretty damn good.  Sure, there isn’t much electric guitar and Marc never really lets loose, but he has some good songs here.  His lyrics have improved, but still occasionally fall into cliché.  “I once had a problem as big as a truck, I was running on empty, shit out of luck” from “Dream #26,” for example.  However, the same song does have a nice chorus - “Easy like Sunday with the Reverend Al Green.”  The songs work with Marc’s vocals, and while this isn’t the kind of album that will change rock and roll, it is an enjoyable listen with a strong spiritual undercurrent.  It makes me wonder if this is the kind of album Eric Clapton wishes he had made in the '90s.



has the hooka smoke cleared?  ok, then
…here's guest reviewer Lucas Hardwick!

Leonard Cohen - "Popular Problems"

Released two days before his 80th birthday, Mr. Cohen seems to have overcome the mortality dilemma he was facing in “Old Ideas,” and takes on well, “popular problems” for his latest album.

He starts off reminding us that, yeah, he’s got his way of doing things, and gives us great rhyme and rhythm with “Slow.”  That said, he’s rather prolific for his age, giving us his second album in as many years.  You don’t get that from many pop artists or even today’s Top 40 folks.

“Almost Like The Blues” is the first single release from the album and takes on the theme of the record’s title. “There is no God in heaven / there is no Hell below / so says the great professor of all there is to know. / But I’ve had the invitation / that a sinner can’t refuse / It’s almost like salvation / It’s almost like the blues,” is the most profound lyric of the song and suggests themes like “Jesus only loves a man who loses,” and asks why do bad things happen in the world.

He also addresses regular relationship troubles in “Did I Ever Love You” and “A Street.”

Not a single miss on this album, and in spite of it’s bummer of a theme, I find it more relatable and upbeat than “Old Ideas.”  I’ll catch myself listening to this one many more times.

Standout tracks include:  “Samson In New Orleans,” “A Street,” “Nevermind,” and “You Got Me Singing,” which provides a call back to his classic “Hallelujah.”

P. S.  It really is a great album, but I joked about the album art not being one of the “problems.”


Other recent great purchases:
Scott Walker and Sunn(O))) - “Soused”:  Nightmare music and a song about Marlon Brando

Prince - “Art Official Age”:  Experimental and overproduced, but good to see him back

Prince & 3RDEYEGIRL - “Plectrumelectrum”:  Rock and roll with a little R&B inside.  Fantastic album!!!  One of my favorites from The Artist.


Thanks so much Lucas and Jim!