Music Review: Various Artists - Stax: The Soul Of Hip-Hop

Some rare gems from the Stax label catalogue finally see the light of day. The Stax label was formed in 1957 and issued some of the finest rhythm and blues in music history. It was always the alternative to Motown’s smooth, soul sound (with apologies to Marvin Gaye). It was gritty, natural, energetic, and in your face. Artists such as Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, The…

The Book of Lists – Red Arrows (CD)
The Book of Lists really feel as if they come out of the early-nineties alternative scene. This album starts off with “Through Stained Glass”, and it honestly feels as if Depeche Mode, The Smiths and R.E.M. sat down for a bonfire. Not quite college-rock, the lightly-tinted (with grunge) style of music that The Book of Lists play maintain a relevancy even as the tracks tend to look back. For example, “Pacifist Revolt” uses the very confident and simple guitar work of Depeche Mode’s “Personal Jesu

Music Review: Karl Sanders - Saurian Exorcisms
A creepy, atmospheric piece of music from Nile’s Karl Sanders. With cavernous, swelling feeling and spine-chilling sonicscapes, Karl Sanders’ Saurian Exorcisms is a stunning piece of work. Many might know Sanders best as the founding member of Nile, a death metal band accented by Egyptian overtones. His rapid, skillful guitar work is the stuff of legends in the death metal world, with Sanders ranked…

Music Review: Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Against The Wind
Bob Seger: Chapter 8. Bob Seger would release Against The Wind in February of 1980. Following on the heels of Night Moves and Stranger In Town, it would complete the trilogy of his most famous and commercially successful albums. It would also be his only album to top the American charts, spending six weeks at Number One.Bob Seger was now far removed from the raw and…

The Boils – Hockey Anthems (CD)
This is a six-song EP, and this is even a shorter album considering that The Boils never get above two and a half minutes on their tracks. “The Orange and the Black” is the first track on this EP, and it represents The Boils’ love for the Philadelphia Flyers. Did I say this is about hockey? Yeah. Even though hockey sucks, the music that is put out on this EP is solid enough to mcake a believer out of anyone that might be listening in. However, the one thing that individuals might notice is that

Black Eyed Peas: Boom Boom Pow (Remix) [Feat. KiD CuDi]
MP3 : Boom Boom Pow (Remix) Ft. KiD CuDi Shouts to YN

Music Review: Crystal Antlers - Tentacles
Crystal Antler’s Tentacles is a remarkably consistent album that bridges soul with the sublime. There’s an unrelenting sense of sincerity and passion upon first listen of Crystal Antlers’s full-length debut, Tentacles.It’s hard to pinpoint exactly. Part of it might have something to do with lead singer and bassist Jonny Bell’s emotive vocals that, from time to time, switch between cries and screams to the world. Part of it…

Leo Brouwer Wrote ‘Un Dia de Noviembre’ for a 1972 Film by Humberto Salas
[A day in November; Adam Khan, guitar; Dinmore DRD052] AfriClassical recently posted a research inquiry from Timothy Mahn, “Was Leo Brouwer’s Guitar Work ‘Un Dia de Noviembre’ Originally Composed for Piano?”. Today Tim writes: Mr. Zick — recently I requested information on Leo Brouwer’s work. Apparently the information I received — that ‘Un Dia de Noviembre’ had originally been composed for piano — is erroneous. But I did get some interesting history on the piece from the Library of Congress

Music Review: Bob Dylan - Together Through Life (Blogcritics.org)
Even now, no one turns a phrase quite the same way as Bob Dylan. When it comes time to crack the plastic on a new Bob Dylan album every couple of years or so, the thing I always find myself immediately missing is the lyric sheet. Despite being one of musics greatest lyricists ever, Dylan rarely, if ever, includes them.The fact is — especially at his ripe old age — Bob Dylan has no business …