Sonic Youth: Guitar Mayhem and Madness
Sonic Youth are not noted for their musical subtlety, especially when it comes to guitar playing. Yes, occasionally the band does sound like an overdriven 747 during a test run
Sonic Youth are not noted for their musical subtlety, especially when it comes to guitar playing. Yes, occasionally the band does sound like an overdriven 747 during a test run
It isn’t often that I come across an album that’s so good I have to listen to it multiple times in a row. When I sat down to check out Devi’s album Get Free I found myself doing just that
Dubbed the “anti-Oliver Stone” documentary, in reference to the controversial movie staring Val Kilmer as troubled lead singer Jim Morrison, Tom Dicillo’s documentary When You’re Strange aims to tell the “real” story behind the meteoric rise and tragic end to the ’60s rock band The Doors. The story that photographers, cameramen and interviewers captured in real time as the band redefined the rock genre and encapsulated what it meant to be a true Rock Star in the 1960s.
Singularity is a creatively conceived album by former Doors guitarist Robby Krieger. Walking the line between being highly improvised and carefully arranged, the album is a kaleidoscope of genres, sound, tone colors and timbres, directly representing the wide variety of Krieger’s musical influences.
Having recently had a chance to preview the new documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage, I was looking forward to checking out the latest compilation record from Magna Carta Records, New World Man.
Without viewing my article published seven months ago as a shameless plug here, I’d like to mention that when I wrote “Supergroups – Vultures, Chicks, and Other Picks,” I was certain that Slash was about to do something big, even though I knew nothing of his plans.
The long awaited, highly anticipated and well overdue follow up to Lynch Mob’s debut album Wicked Sensation is finally here, and Smoke and Mirrors is by far the bands best work to date. Lynch Mob has released several marginally successful albums since putting out their debut record back in 1990, but this is the first time since then that guitar virtuoso George Lynch and vocalist Oni Logan have released an album together. The outcome is pure magic.
Eagle Vision recently released“Double Down Live” by ZZ Top, a dual DVD set featuring two hard rockin’ shows, from 1980 and 2008.
By A Thread, the latest studio release from Gov’t Mule, is a straightforward audio testimonial that classic hard rock is alive and well in the 21st century. And unique only to bands of this fine quality, Warren Haynes and gang prove once again that they’re able to adjust and evolve in a positive way with each CD. Barring the more than plentiful live material circulated over the years, the reggae infused “Mighty High” as well, the studio albums that come out every two to three years or more are what it’s really all about, and they get better all the time.
Halloween II: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a collection of classic rock and pop tunes, modern originals and short excerpts taken from Rob Zombie’s 2009 hit movie of the same name.
