7913 - THE WHO - HITS 50! (DELUXE EDITION), DISC TWO (2014)

THE WHO
''THE WHO HITS 50!, DISC TWO''
OCTOBER 27 2014
153:38

DISC ONE (73:51)
1 Zoot Suit 01:58
2 I Can't Explain (Mono Version 02:03
3 Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Mono Version 02:39
4 My Generation (Mono Version 03:15
5 Substitute (Single Version 03:46
6 The Kids Are Alright (Mono Version 03:03
7 I'm A Boy (Mono Version 02:38
8 Happy Jack (Single Version 02:09
9 Boris The Spider (New Remix 02:26
10 Pictures Of Lilly 02:43
11 The Last Time 02:52
12 I Can See For Miles 04:05
13 Dogs 03:04
14 Magic Bus (Mono Version 04:33
15 Pinball Wizard 02:59
16 I'm Free 02:39
17 The Seeker (Edit 03:10
18 Summertime Blues (Live At Leeds 1970 03:21
19 See Me, Feel Me (Single Version 03:34
20 Won't Get Fooled Again (Single Edit 03:36
21 Let's See Action 03:56
22 Bargain 05:32
23 Behind Blue Eyes 03:39

DISC TWO (79:47)
1 Baba O'Riley 04:57
2 Join Together 04:19
3 Relay 03:52
4 5 15 04:50
5 Love Reign O'er Me (Remastered) 05:48
6 Postcard 03:29
7 Squeeze Box 02:40
8 Slip Kid 04:31
9 Who Are You (Single Edit) 05:05
10 Trick Of The Light 04:21
11 You Better You Bet 05:34
12 Don't Let Go The Coat 03:40
13 Athena 03:45
14 Call Me Lightning 02:22
15 Eminence Front 05:38
16 It's Hard 03:41
17 Real Good Looking Boy (Radio Edit 03:49
18 It's Not Enough 04:01
19 Be Lucky 03:14

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The Who need no excuse to release a new compilation -- since 1994, a new collection has appeared roughly at the rate of one every three years -- but the band's 50th anniversary does provide the opportunity for a splashy new compilation, the first since 2009's Greatest Hits. Snappily titled The Who Hits 50!, by virtue of spanning two full CDs the set does cast a wider net than either Greatest Hits or 2004's Then & Now, beginning with the stiff R&B of the High Numbers' "Zoot Suit" and concluding with the brand-new "Be Lucky," a delirious revival of Pete Townshend's purple, overwritten '80s midlife crisis. In between those two songs come 40 tracks, including some genuine surprises -- the bonkers mod anthem "Dogs" and its Beach Boys-aping flip "Call Me Lightning," the band's cover of the Stones' "The Last Time," the first appearance of "Relay" in a comp in ages, John Entwistle's paranoid "Trick of the Light" -- but for the most part, this serves up the same songs that have popped up again and again on Who compilations over the years. This may be predictable but as a collection of basics, either for fair-weather fans or newcomers, it does its job well and it has nice artwork to boot.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7912 - THE WHO - HITS 50! (DELUXE EDITION), DISC ONE (2014)

THE WHO
''THE WHO HITS 50!, DISC ONE''
OCTOBER 27 2014
153:38

DISC ONE (73:51)
1 Zoot Suit 01:58
2 I Can't Explain (Mono Version 02:03
3 Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Mono Version 02:39
4 My Generation (Mono Version 03:15
5 Substitute (Single Version 03:46
6 The Kids Are Alright (Mono Version 03:03
7 I'm A Boy (Mono Version 02:38
8 Happy Jack (Single Version 02:09
9 Boris The Spider (New Remix 02:26
10 Pictures Of Lilly 02:43
11 The Last Time 02:52
12 I Can See For Miles 04:05
13 Dogs 03:04
14 Magic Bus (Mono Version 04:33
15 Pinball Wizard 02:59
16 I'm Free 02:39
17 The Seeker (Edit 03:10
18 Summertime Blues (Live At Leeds 1970 03:21
19 See Me, Feel Me (Single Version 03:34
20 Won't Get Fooled Again (Single Edit 03:36
21 Let's See Action 03:56
22 Bargain 05:32
23 Behind Blue Eyes 03:39

DISC TWO (79:47)
1 Baba O'Riley 04:57
2 Join Together 04:19
3 Relay 03:52
4 5 15 04:50
5 Love Reign O'er Me (Remastered) 05:48
6 Postcard 03:29
7 Squeeze Box 02:40
8 Slip Kid 04:31
9 Who Are You (Single Edit) 05:05
10 Trick Of The Light 04:21
11 You Better You Bet 05:34
12 Don't Let Go The Coat 03:40
13 Athena 03:45
14 Call Me Lightning 02:22
15 Eminence Front 05:38
16 It's Hard 03:41
17 Real Good Looking Boy (Radio Edit 03:49
18 It's Not Enough 04:01
19 Be Lucky 03:14

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The Who need no excuse to release a new compilation -- since 1994, a new collection has appeared roughly at the rate of one every three years -- but the band's 50th anniversary does provide the opportunity for a splashy new compilation, the first since 2009's Greatest Hits. Snappily titled The Who Hits 50!, by virtue of spanning two full CDs the set does cast a wider net than either Greatest Hits or 2004's Then & Now, beginning with the stiff R&B of the High Numbers' "Zoot Suit" and concluding with the brand-new "Be Lucky," a delirious revival of Pete Townshend's purple, overwritten '80s midlife crisis. In between those two songs come 40 tracks, including some genuine surprises -- the bonkers mod anthem "Dogs" and its Beach Boys-aping flip "Call Me Lightning," the band's cover of the Stones' "The Last Time," the first appearance of "Relay" in a comp in ages, John Entwistle's paranoid "Trick of the Light" -- but for the most part, this serves up the same songs that have popped up again and again on Who compilations over the years. This may be predictable but as a collection of basics, either for fair-weather fans or newcomers, it does its job well and it has nice artwork to boot.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7911 - PEGI YOUNG & THE SURVIVORS - LONELY IN A CROWDED ROOM (2014)

PEGI YOUNG & THE SURVIVORS
''LONELY IN A CROWDED ROOM''
OCTOBER 28 2014
36:13

1 I Be Weary 03:52
2 Obsession 03:41
3 Better Livin' Through Chemicals 03:48
4 Ruler Of My Heart 03:14
5 Lonely Women Make Good Lovers 03:20
6 Don't Let Me Be Lonely 03:53
7 Feel Just Like A Memory 03:18
8 In My Dreams 04:47
9 Walking On The Tightrope 04:20
10 Blame It On Me 01:55

Charlene Holloway/Vocals (Background)
Paula Holloway/Vocals (Background)
Kelvin Holly/Guitar
Phil Jones/Drums, Percussion
Spooner Oldham/Keyboards
Mickey Raphael/Harmonica
Rick Rosas/Guitar (Bass)
Neil Young/Guitar
Pegi Young/Guitar, Vocals

REVIEW
by Thom Jurek
Though Pegi Young began her musical career as a backing vocalist in Neil Young's band in 2000, it wasn't until 2006 that she began making her own records, showcasing simply constructed yet well-crafted songs that ranged through country, folk, rock, and retro R&B. Each album, from her self-titled debut through 2011's Bracing for Impact, was stronger than its predecessor. Lonely in a Crowded Room was produced by Niko Bolas. Young's Survivors include longtime cohorts keyboardist Spooner Oldham, guitarist Kelvin Holly, and drummer Phil Jones, as well as new bassist Rick Rosas and backing vocalists Paula and Charlene Holloway. Young wrote seven of these ten tunes. Bracing for Impact touched on Muscle Shoals-esque R&B more than once, but several tracks here -- notably the covers -- are steeped in it. "Ruler of My Heart," penned by "Naomi Neville" (aka Allen Toussaint), was a hit for Irma Thomas in 1963, and Jerry Ragovoy and Diana Haig's soul waltz "Don't Let Me Be Lonely" is here too. Both are emotionally wrenching and musically savvy, with well-placed backing vocals and Oldham's various funky keyboards woven throughout. Between these tunes is his own "Lonely Women Make Good Lovers," an oft-covered honky tonk standard that registered hits for Bob Luman (1972) and Steve Wariner (1983). Young's version is the only female cover in a long list. Oldham plays various keyboards including electric piano, organ, and upright piano, framed by blunted guitar vamps and a whining pedal steel. Emboldened by her accompaniment, Young takes no prisoners when she digs out the irony in the lyric. Her own songs meet the standard set by the covers. The country-rock in "I Be Weary" contains a poetic lyric that juxtaposes desire with the realities of life lived on its own terms, set atop blended acoustic and electric guitars with pedal steel and synths. "Better Livin' Through Chemicals" is a finger-popping jazz-blues indictment of the pharmaceutical industry with killer walking baritone saxophone. The poignant rocker "Obsession" is swaggering with tight, cracking snare, grooving electric piano, the Holloway sisters' soulful backing vocals, and Holly's roiling guitar. The Southern R&B feel returns in her "Feel Just Like a Memory," which reveals -- from both sides -- the black hole of love abandoned by half a couple. Her phrasing reveals an admiration for Dusty Springfield's. "Walking on the Tightrope," with Mickey Raphael on harmonica, is a gritty country-rocker about personal identity in a time of emotional and psychological uncertainty. The set closes with "Blame It on Me," a short honky tonk toast to the futility of accusation. Lonely in a Crowded Room extends the promise Young displayed on her earlier records. Her working relationship with this band -- especially Oldham and Holly, who arranged the material -- is more commanding; it illuminates her burgeoning confidence and skill as both singer and songwriter.

7910 - PAT BEASLEY BAND - BACK DOWN TO GEORGIA (2014)

PAT BEASLEY BAND
''BACK DOWN TO GEORGIA''
OCTOBER 18 2014
31:07

1 Back Down To Georgia 02:44
2 Full Size Truck 03:50
3 Dumb Boy 02:37
4 Hold On Me Now 03:55
5 Money 03:01
6 Robbing Banks 03:33
7 Tell Her 04:59
8 Whiskey Blues 03:34
9 Loose Hand Cannon 02:51

Album Notes
By CdBaby
"Back Down to Georgia" is an album influenced by southern life, culture, and experiences. Lyrically, the album touches on common themes from the south. Musically, the album uses various styles including rock, country, bluegrass, folk, and others.
Pat Beasley Band considers the album to be 'Americana', in that it includes many influences from american life and music.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7909 - ERIC GALES - GOOD FOR SUMTHIN' (2014)

ERIC GALES
''GOOD FOR SUMTHIN'''
OCTOBER 28 K2014
60:58

1 Come a Long Way 5:07
2 1019 5:51
3 Going Back to Memphis 4:56
4 Good for Sumthin 4:28
5 Six Deep 6:59
6 You Give Me Life 4:27
7 Heaven's Gate 4:05
8 Tonight (I'm Leaving 4:31
9 Show Me How 4:15
10 Miss You 5:12
11 Steep Climb feat. Zakk Wylde 5:24
12 E2 (Note For Note) feat: Eric Johnson 5:37

Eric Gales - Guitar, Vocals
Eric Johnson - Guitar
Zakk Wylde - Guitar
Raphael Saadiq - Bass, Background Vocals
Joel Whitley - Bass
Lamar Carter - Drums
LaDonna Gales - Background Vocals

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7908 - HARD WORKING AMERICANS - THE FIRST WALTZ (2014)

HARD WORKING AMERICANS
''THE FIRST WALTZ''
OCTOBER 27 2014
79:09

1 Blackland Farmer 07:37
2 Another TrainWorking Man Blues 07:04
3 Play a Train Song 06:39
4 Mission Accomplished 06:03
5 Run a Mile 05:14
6 I Don't Have a Gun 04:43
7 The Mountain Song 07:04
8 Straight to Hell 06:44
9 Stomp and Holler 05:18
10 Guaranteed 12:33
11 Wrecking Ball 05:46
12 Come from the Heart (with Rosanne Cash 04:19

Jesse Aycock/Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Neal Casal/Guitar, Vocals (Background)
Rosanne Cash
Dave Schools/Guitar (Bass), Vocals (Background)
Todd Snider/Vocals
Chad Staehly/Keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Duane Trucks/Drums, Percussion

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7907 - ERIC JOHNSON MIKE STERN - ECLECTIC ECLECTIC ECLECTIC (2014)

ERIC JOHNSON/MIKE STERN
''ECLECTIC ECLECTIC ECLECTIC''
OCTOBER 27 2014
71:47

1 Roll With It 05:22
2 Remember 06:23
3 Benny Man’s Blues 04:26
4 Wishing Well 07:34
5 Big Foot (With Intro) (Chris Maresh) 07:04
6 Tidal 05:24
7 You Never Know 06:38
8 Dry Ice (Bill Maddox) 06:48
9 Sometimes 08:05
10 Hullabaloo 03:06
11 Wherever You Go (With Intro 06:03
12 Red House (Jimi Hendrix) 04:49
Tracks By Johnson (3, 6, 10), Mike Stern (1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11) And As Indicated

Eric Johnson - guitars, synthesizer, piano, vocal
Mike Stern - guitars, vocal
Chris Maresh - electric and acoustic bass
Anton Fig - drums, percussion
Plus special guests:
Malford Milligan - vocal
Christopher Cross - background vocal
Leni Stern - n'goni, vocal
Guy Forsyth - harmonica
James Fenner, Wayne Salzmann II - percussion
Mike Mordecai - trombone
Andrew Johnson - trumpet
John Mills - saxophones

REVIEW
by Steve Leggett
The seed for this project was planted when Eric Johnson played on a few tracks for Mike Stern's 2009 album Big Neighborhood. The two guitarists discovered a shared affinity for jazz and blues, along with those two genres' rambunctious stepchildren, R&B and funk, and both players had always embraced a stylish fusion approach to their respective work. It seems only obvious and natural that they do a full album together. Eclectic was recorded in mostly live takes at Johnson's studio in Austin, Texas, and included a rhythm section of drummer Anton Fig and Johnson's longtime bassist Chris Maresh, along with guest spots from singers Malford Milligan, Leni Stern (Mike Stern's wife), and Christopher Cross, blues harpist Guy Forsyth, and a horn section of John Mills (saxophone), Mike Mordecai (trombone), and Andrew Johnson (trumpet). The versatility on display here from track to track is impressive, ranging from blues to Wes Montgomery-inspired guitar jazz, new age fusion shuffles, and huge-sounding, jazz-inspired big-band imaginary soundtrack themes, and there's no lack of amazing guitar playing, both guitarists blending and flowing together like the two edges of a single river. Highlights include the opener, Stern's driving, jazzy, and funky "Roll with It" (it turns out Stern has a pretty good singing voice, by the way), the lovely, haunting, and chiming "Wishing Well," Johnson's "Hullabaloo" (which sounds like the opening theme to some long-lost Hollywood-based 1960s detective show), Stern's modal "Remember" (modeled on John Coltrane's "Impressions"), and the set's closer, a reverent and vibrant take on Jimi Hendrix's "Red House," which brings everything back to the late-night jazzy approach to the blues that Johnson and Stern both hold so dear.

7906 - DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT - Z2, DISC TWO (2014)

DEVIN TOWNSEND
''Z2, DISC TWO''
OCTOBER 28 2014
116:58

DISC ONE (56:36)
1 Rejoice 04:16
2 Fallout 04:30
3 Midnight Sun 04:58
4 A New Reign 04:52
5 Universal Flame 04:40
6 Warrior 03:31
7 Sky Blue 03:52
8 Silent Militia 04:28
9 Rain City 07:45
10 Forever 03:45
11 Before We Die 08:24
12 The Ones Who Love 01:30

DISC TWO (60:22)
1 Z² 03:59
2 From Sleep Awake 03:00
3 Ziltoidian Empire 06:25
4 War Princess 08:17
5 Deathray 04:43
6 March of the Poozers 06:24
7 Wandering Eye 03:40
8 Earth 07:38
9 Ziltoid Goes Home 06:20
10 Through the Wormhole 03:43
11 Dimension Z 06:09

Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming
Dave Young – guitars, keyboards
Brian Waddell – bass
Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums
Mike St-Jean – keyboards, programming
Morgan Ågren – additional percussion
Kat Epple – flute
Anneke van Giersbergen – vocals
Chris Jericho – vocals (as "Captain Spectacular")
Dominique Lenore Persi – vocals (as "War Princess")
Mark Cimino – vocals (as "Poozer")
Chris Devitt – vocals (as "Planet Smasher")
Bill Courage – narrator
Randy Slaugh – orchestrations, string arranging
Florian Magnus Maier – orchestrations
Eric Severinson – choir and orchestra conducting
Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra

REVIEW
by James Christopher Monger
To call Z², the seemingly hundredth collection of original material from musical polymath/heavy metal overachiever Devin Townsend, ambitious is to do it a disservice. Comprised of two completely different albums, Sky Blue and Dark Matters, Townsend (operating under the Devin Townsend Project moniker) has crafted a gonzo batch of progressive hard rock confections that flirt with nearly every genre imaginable, from icy electronica and shoegaze to fantasy metal and art rock, before settling into something that sounds vaguely like a mash-up of ELO, Janelle Monae, Evanescence, and King Crimson. Of the two, the soaring Sky Blue feels the most cohesive, despite lacking the rigid sci-fi narrative of its sister album. Offering a bevy of signature Townsend licks and crafty melodies, as well as the near constant presence of the otherworldly Anneke van Giersbergen, whose distinctive voice lends the whole affair some considerable gravitas, the 12-track set is a pop-driven, anthem-heavy gem with highlights arriving via the triumphant "Rejoice" and "Fallout," the decidedly Enya-esque "Forever," the chilly electro-pop-kissed title cut, and the epic Therion-meets-Avenged Sevenfold closer "Before We Die," all of which manage to skillfully toe the line between style and substance. Billed as a sequel to Townsend's 2007 sci-fi rock opera Ziltoid the Omniscient, Dark Matters is more problematic, as it goes all in, narrative-wise, spending as much time engaging in cartoon-like voice-overs and character development as it does unveiling a near constant stream of immaculately crafted, over-the-top progressive metal architecture with which to move the relatively thin story forward. This is for hardcore fans only. Both albums will undoubtedly please Townsend devotees, as between the two, they cater to both sides of the remarkably talented musician's persona, but when the smoke clears it will be the aptly titled Sky Blue that shines the brightest.

REVIEW BY WIKIPEDIA

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7905 - DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT - Z2, DISC ONE (2014)

DEVIN TOWNSEND
''Z2, DISC ONE''
OCTOBER 28 2014
116:58

DISC ONE (56:36)
1 Rejoice 04:16
2 Fallout 04:30
3 Midnight Sun 04:58
4 A New Reign 04:52
5 Universal Flame 04:40
6 Warrior 03:31
7 Sky Blue 03:52
8 Silent Militia 04:28
9 Rain City 07:45
10 Forever 03:45
11 Before We Die 08:24
12 The Ones Who Love 01:30

DISC TWO (60:22)
1 Z² 03:59
2 From Sleep Awake 03:00
3 Ziltoidian Empire 06:25
4 War Princess 08:17
5 Deathray 04:43
6 March of the Poozers 06:24
7 Wandering Eye 03:40
8 Earth 07:38
9 Ziltoid Goes Home 06:20
10 Through the Wormhole 03:43
11 Dimension Z 06:09

Devin Townsend – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming
Dave Young – guitars, keyboards
Brian Waddell – bass
Ryan Van Poederooyen – drums
Mike St-Jean – keyboards, programming
Morgan Ågren – additional percussion
Kat Epple – flute
Anneke van Giersbergen – vocals
Chris Jericho – vocals (as "Captain Spectacular")
Dominique Lenore Persi – vocals (as "War Princess")
Mark Cimino – vocals (as "Poozer")
Chris Devitt – vocals (as "Planet Smasher")
Bill Courage – narrator
Randy Slaugh – orchestrations, string arranging
Florian Magnus Maier – orchestrations
Eric Severinson – choir and orchestra conducting
Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra

REVIEW
by James Christopher Monger
To call Z², the seemingly hundredth collection of original material from musical polymath/heavy metal overachiever Devin Townsend, ambitious is to do it a disservice. Comprised of two completely different albums, Sky Blue and Dark Matters, Townsend (operating under the Devin Townsend Project moniker) has crafted a gonzo batch of progressive hard rock confections that flirt with nearly every genre imaginable, from icy electronica and shoegaze to fantasy metal and art rock, before settling into something that sounds vaguely like a mash-up of ELO, Janelle Monae, Evanescence, and King Crimson. Of the two, the soaring Sky Blue feels the most cohesive, despite lacking the rigid sci-fi narrative of its sister album. Offering a bevy of signature Townsend licks and crafty melodies, as well as the near constant presence of the otherworldly Anneke van Giersbergen, whose distinctive voice lends the whole affair some considerable gravitas, the 12-track set is a pop-driven, anthem-heavy gem with highlights arriving via the triumphant "Rejoice" and "Fallout," the decidedly Enya-esque "Forever," the chilly electro-pop-kissed title cut, and the epic Therion-meets-Avenged Sevenfold closer "Before We Die," all of which manage to skillfully toe the line between style and substance. Billed as a sequel to Townsend's 2007 sci-fi rock opera Ziltoid the Omniscient, Dark Matters is more problematic, as it goes all in, narrative-wise, spending as much time engaging in cartoon-like voice-overs and character development as it does unveiling a near constant stream of immaculately crafted, over-the-top progressive metal architecture with which to move the relatively thin story forward. This is for hardcore fans only. Both albums will undoubtedly please Townsend devotees, as between the two, they cater to both sides of the remarkably talented musician's persona, but when the smoke clears it will be the aptly titled Sky Blue that shines the brightest.

REVIEW BY WIKIPEDIA

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7904 - DAVE DAVIES - RIPPIN' UP TIME (2014)

DAVE DAVIES
''RIPPIN' UP TIME''
OCTOBER 27 2014
38:55

1 Ripping up Time 04:42
2 Semblance of Sanity 04:25
3 King of Karaoke 03:53
4 Front Room 04:09
5 Johnny Adams 04:17
6 Nosey Neighbours (Davies, Russ Davies, June Moseley) 02:37
7 Mindwash 04:00
8 Between the Towers 03:33
9 In the Old Days (Davies, Russ Davies) 03:46
10 Through My Window (Davies, Russ Davies) 03:30

Kristi Callan/Harmonica
Dave Davies/Drums, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Russ Davies/Drums, Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Dennis Diken/Drum Arrangements
Jonathan Lea/Guitar (12 String)
David Nolte/Bass, Cello, Drums, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonium, Keyboards, Piano, Producer
James Nolte/Percussion
Rebecca G. Wilson/Vocals (Background)

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7903 - BDL - BLUES DE LUXE - RETRIBUTION (2014)

BDL - BLUES DE LUXE
''RETRIBUTION''
2014
46:41

1 Retribution 04:11
2 Nowhere Else To Go 03:45
3 Fat 04:58
4 The Hard Way 04:12
5 Still Breathing 03:36
6 Bitter Man 03:41
7 Storm Is Coming 04:25
8 Help Me 03:37
9 I Don't Care 02:56
10 Never Going Back 05:42
11 The Ballad Of John Henry 05:31

Dennis Eminger- lead vocals, guitar
Jochen Eminger - bass
Frank Mellies - drums
Martin Hötte - guitar
Georg Mahr - keyboards



OFFICIAL WEBSITE

7902 - TIN SPIRITS - SCORCH (2014)

TIN SPIRITS
''SCORCH''
2014
55:37

1 - Carnivore 4:39
2 - Summer Now 6:07
3 - Old Hands 7:10
4 - Binary Man 5:17
5 - Little Eyes 8:23
6 - Wrapped And Tied 5:24
7 - She Moves Among Us 3:15
8 - Garden State 15:04

NEW ALBUM FROM TIN SPIRITS – FEATURING FORMER XTC GUITARIST DAVE GREGORY
Esoteric Antenna are pleased to announce the release of the album 'Scorch', the much anticipated follow up to Tin Spirits debut album 'Wired to Earth'.

As you would expect of a band that includes XTC’s 6-string genius Dave Gregory, ‘Scorch’ is a celebration of guitars and harmony with songs that immediately captivate and engage. Lovingly crafted over two years ‘Scorch’ was mixed 'old school' with fingers on faders by acclaimed producer Paul Stacey (Black Crowes, Noel Gallagher), resulting in a sonic experience guaranteed to be a highlight of this year’s new releases.

Along with Dave Gregory, Tin Spirits’ fellow Swindonians Mark Kilminster (Vocals, Bass) and Doug Mussard (Drums), as well as the Australian import Daniel Steinhardt (Guitar, Vocals) notably of TheGigRig, have carved themselves a unique niche being unashamedly progressive yet entirely accessible. From the rapturous tones of the instrumental opener 'Carnivore', to the introspective anthem 'Little Eyes' and the progressive epic 'Garden State', "Scorch” is an album that shows Tin Spirits have truly come of age with one of the most exhilarating and satisfying releases of 2014.
By CherryRed.co.uk

OFFICIAL SITE

7901 - BARRY MANILOW - MY DREAM DUETS (2014)

BARRY MANILOW
''MY DREAM DUETS''
OCTOBER 27 2014
36:43

1 The Songs Gotta Come from the Heart feat: Jimmy Durante
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne 2:06
2 Goody Goody feat: Frankie Lymon
Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer 2:15
3 Dream a Little Dream of Me feat: Mama Cass
Fabian Andre / Gus Kahn / Wilbur Schwandt 3:07
4 I Believe in You and Me feat: Whitney Houston
Sandy Linzer / David Wolfert 3:56
5 Sunshine on My Shoulders feat: John Denver
John Denver / Dick Kniss / Mike Taylor 4:38
6 Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart feat: Judy Garland
James F. Hanley 3:22
7 Moon River feat: Andy Williams
Henry Mancini / Johnny Mercer 3:37
8 The Look of Love feat: Dusty Springfield
Burt Bacharach / Hal David 4:14
9 The Candyman feat: Sammy Davis, Jr.
Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley 3:07
10 I Wanna Be Loved by You feat: Marilyn Monroe
Burt Kalmer / Harry Ruby / Herbert Stothart 2:16
11 What a Wonderful World/What a Wonderful Life feat: Louis Armstrong
Barry Manilow / Bruce Sussman / Bob Thiele / George David Weiss 4:05

REVIEW
By Stephen Thomas Erlewine
At 71 years old, Barry Manilow has reached the age when he can do anything he pleases, and what pleases him is singing along with old records by dead singers. That's all My Dream Duets is: Manilow brushing off his old cabaret routine so it can spruce up vintage records by Jimmy Durante and Judy Garland. He's not the only new element on these electronically rejiggered duets -- instrumentation, usually synthetic, sometimes as incessant as the drum loop that runs underneath "The Candyman," has been added -- but he's the notable addition, crooning full verses in addition to sliding in some corny asides. For all his showboating, he doesn't do much to distract from his idols. Time and time again, the singer who stands out on My Dream Duets is the original vocalist, the one who cut the track originally and stamped it indelibly with his or her own personality. Manilow recedes out of deference but also practicality: he's not duetting with a living singer; he's singing over an existing track and tailoring his performance to suit established contours. Consequently, there's not much dynamism here, but it's also not stiff because Manilow is so over the top. Perhaps that's Barry's natural response because there's nothing left for him to do but ham it up on the margins but, ultimately, that means My Dream Duets isn't much more than an exceedingly odd curiosity.

OFFICIAL SITE

7900 - YUSUF - TELL 'EM I'M GONE (2014)

YUSUF
''TELL 'EM I'M GONE''
OCTOBER 27 2014
35:57

1 I Was Raised in Babylon 3:53
2 Big Boss Man (Luther Dixon, Al Smith) 3:10
3 Dying to Live (Edgar Winter) 3:47
4 You Are My Sunshine (Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell) 3:13
5 Ediing Floor Blues 3:42
6 Cat & the Dog Trap 3:22
7 Gold Digger 4:34
8 The Devil Came from Kansas (Gary Brooker, Keith Reid) 3:42
9 Tell 'Em I'm Gone 3:12
10 Doors 3:22
Tracks By Yusuf Islam, Except As Indicated

Iyad Ben Abderahmane/Guitar (Electric)
Pete Adams/Keyboards
Peter Adams/Hammond B3, Piano, Wurlitzer
Abdallah Ag Alhouseyni/Vocals (Background)
Eric Appapoulaye/Guitar (Electric)
Trevor Barry/Bass
Bonnie "Prince" Billy/Vocals (Background)
Lenny Castro/Percussion
Chris Dave/Drums
Stefan Fuhr/Bass
Monique Harcum/Vocals (Background)
Nick Ingrams/String Arrangements
Jason Lader/Bass
Eyadou Ag Leche/Guitar (Electric)
Adam MacDougall/Keyboards, Wurlitzer
Neville Malcolm/Bass
Bonginkosi Motha
Happy J. Motha
Charlie Musselwhite/Harmonica
Paul Samwell-Smith
Al Smith Composer
South African Vocal Choir
Mike Sweeney/Guitar (Electric)
Linda Thobela
Ian Thomas/Drums
Richard Thompson/Guitar (Acoustic)
Tinariwen/Clapping, Percussion, Vocal Drone
Assaleck Ag Tita/Translation
Frank Tontoh/Drums
Yoriyos/Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Yusuf/Guitar, Guitar (12 String), Guitar (12 String Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Percussion, Synthesizer, Vocals

REVIEW
by Mark Deming
Cat Stevens quietly retired from his career as a pop star after the release of 1978's Back to Earth to pursue a spiritual path. Stevens became a devout Muslim and adopted the name Yusuf Islam, quietly making spiritually oriented recordings but avoiding the mainstream, especially after the controversy that followed his comments about the fatwa declared against author Salman Rushdie in 1989. However, Yusuf has been quietly inching back into the public eye since he released the album An Other Cup in 2006 and set out on an extensive concert tour documented on the 2009 live disc Roadsinger. Released in 2014, Tell 'Em I'm Gone finds Yusuf in part paying homage to the blues and R&B sounds that inspired him as a young man while also looking back to the canny mixture of pop and folk that informed his best work of the '70s. For the most part, Tell 'Em I'm Gone works best when Yusuf follows the latter path; while he remains a committed and canny vocalist, Yusuf's voice has never boasted the force or grit of an R&B shouter, and he seems far more comfortable with the gentle fable of "Cat & the Dog Trap" or the parables of "I Was Raised in Babylon" than the Lead Belly-influenced title cut or the blues-shot reworkings of "You Are My Sunshine" and "Big Boss Man." Tell 'Em I'm Gone also seems curiously long on covers, especially since Yusuf has a great deal to say in his originals; "Editing Floor Blues" is an autobiographical piece that ponders the ebb and flow of fame (as well as the Rushdie controversy), "Gold Digger" rails against corruption in the South African mining trade, and "Doors" quietly but eloquently deals with his spiritual beliefs. Rick Rubin produced the bulk of the album (and brought in guests who include Richard Thompson, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, and Charlie Musselwhite), and while the dry, spare sound of the sessions works for the band, it doesn't always make the most of Yusuf's vocals, which could use a bit of sweetening. (It's worth noting that Paul Samwell-Smith, who produced Cat Stevens' best albums, was brought in to mix this material, perhaps in an effort to give it more of a vintage sound.) Tell 'Em I'm Gone confirms that Yusuf still has the talent and passion that made him a star as Cat Stevens, but the efforts to find a new sound for him don't quite work, and Rubin doesn't quite catch the light but emphatic touch of Yusuf's salad days; maybe a full reunion with Paul Samwell-Smith would be worthwhile for Yusuf's next album.

OFFICIAL SITE

7899 - RUDY ROTTA - THE BEATLES VS THE ROLLING STONES (2014)

RUDY ROTTA
''THE BEATLES VS THE ROLLING STONES''
2014
66:21

1 - Sympathy For The Devil - Come Together 7:39
2 - Get Off Of My Cloud - Ticket To Ride 5:19
3 - Ruby Tuesday - Strawberry Fields Forever 6:31
4 - Under My Thumb - Things We Said Today 4:26
5 - Tell Me - While My Guitar Gently Weeps 6:29
6 - As Tears Go By - Here, There And Everywhere 5:36
7 - Miss You - Rocky Raccoon 8:07
8 - (I Can Get No) Satisfaction - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 3:40
9 - You Can't Always Get What You Want - Let It Be 4:41
10 - The Last Time - Day Tripper 4:47
11 - Lady Jane - Julia 6:07
12 - Con Le Mie Lacrime 2:52

Rudy Rotta - Vocals, Guitars
Pippo Guarnera - Keyboards
Enrico Cecconi - Drums
Renato Marciano - Bass
Special Guests:
GNU Quartet - On 3
Quintorigo - On 11
Ernest Tico - Percussions
Laura Masotto - Violine On 6 (As Tears Go By), 7 (Rocky Raccoon)
Mauro Ottolini - Trombone On 7 (Rocky Raccoon)
Nicola Cipriani - Lead Guitar On 6
Luca Degani - Accordeon On 6 (Here, There And Everywhere)

REVIEW
by JazNews
Fifty years on from the first Rolling Stones record and the landing in America of both bands, Rudy Rotta presents "The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones, " a precious album that collects and compares the music, the history and the rivalry, true or assumed, between the two iconic bands that have moved and revolutionized the music that preceded them. The idea began as a labor of love (and devotion) towards these "giants" of rock music, in which Rudy Rotta plays some of the most beautiful songs, developing an original theme of two of them in one piece, all adapted and arranged with personal touch. A message that is not only exciting but also challenging to those who still conceive and outline their career in the guise of pure replicants, without being able to give their music a touch of personality and originality that should be inherent in every artist.

OFFICIAL BIOGRAPHY
Rudy Rotta is a name you won’t easily forget once you’ve heard or seen him perform. This native born italian has the blues not only in his blood, but deep down in his soul as well.

After making it big in his home country, Rudy stormed across Europe like hurricane leaving Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, France, England and Ireland in its wake. The reputation of this guitar killer reached the hearts of American blues lovers and it’s been a continuous journey through the blues heartland of America ever since. his music is a demonstration of hid outstanding talent as a singer guitarist and composer; he subtly combines a modern style with blues roots and a rocky funk soul character.

He has truly proved himself to be, cream of the crop of the Euro blues bands. He was a sensation on the European blues circuit before crossing the ocean and creating waves in the USA. He’ s now considered one of the best blues musicians worldwide by the European and American specialized press.

Over the past few years he’s been exploding on the scene appearing at important blues festivals and performing with world-renown artists on both sides of the Atlantic. Recently he starred at the Ultimate R & B Cruise in the Mediterranean where he was in the company of some of the finest: Luther Allison, Buckwheat Zydeco, Marcia Ball and John Mayall, who made a special request to sit with Rudy at one of his shows.

He was invited to the Kansas City Blues Festival where he shared the limelight with Al Green, Taj Mahal and Brian Setzer before an audience of 20,000 enthusiastic fans. He was selected Europe’s Top Act. Shortly thereafter he flew back to Kansas City to the Grand Emporium, considered to be the Olympus of blues clubs, to cut his live sound.

In 1996 Rudy was on the prestigious stage of the Tenco Festival in Sanremo (Italy) with Lowell Fulson. The show went on the National tv Rai.

In January 1997 he participated in the Ultimate R & B Cruise in the Caribbean with legendary greats such as Etta James, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Taj Mahal, and many others.

His future looks starred and striped after having played with top names like B.B. King, The Allman Brothers, Double Trouble, Valerie Wellington, Zora Young, Carey Bell, Sugar Blue, Karen Carrol, Roomful of Blues, Clarence Gatemouth Browm, Maria Muldaur and Joe Louis Walker. Rudy Rotta is destined to make his mark in the story of blues. From 5 to 12 June 1998 Rudy Rotta has been selected for “The Eight Ultimate R & B Cruise” in the islands of Greece with Taj Mahal, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Son Seals, Duke Robillard, John Hammond and Marcia Ball.

Guest of John Mayall at “Delta Blues”, “Nave Blues” and at Boston’s “House of Blues” in Summer 1998.

In these last years, Rudy is continuously requested to perform in Europe, he has registered a show for English BBC as also for the well known radio channel Jazz FM in London. He has participated to the The Great British R&B Festival in Colne. He had the great honour of having the ‘mythic’ Hammond player, Brian Auger, playing with him in 5 tours since 2000 and recording a live album, as well as performing with Robben Ford. In July 2001 B.B. King wanted him on stage, with him, for his performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.

In 2003 the CD entitled ‘the Beatles in Blues’ is a great success of public and critics. In the same year Rudy plays for 800,000 spectators at the famous 1st of May Festival in Rome (Italy), a historic Italian workers feast.

In 2004 and 2005 Rudy has bring 2 albums; the first is a charity project supported by the presence of Brian Auger, John Mayall, Robben Ford, Peter Green, with pop, blues and rock standards from ’70.

The other is the live CD recorded in Verona during the tour with Brian Auger (2003); it’s an extraordinary document of the traditional dark blues with strong sensations and energy, style and good feelings. “Winds of Louisiana” is the event of the year 2006. Entirely recorded in New Orleans with the cream of American musicians is considered a masterpiece by the international press, it was followed by an amazing tour in England and Scotland.

In 2006 for the fifth time he was at the Montreux Festival and at the “MISSISSIPPI BOAT CELEBRATING B.B. KING” cruise with B.B. King in person.

Finally, Rudy gets the honor to enter the Olympus of the greatest world guitarists, thanks to the first “Rudy Rotta Signature” Stratocaster, produced by Fender Europe, followed by a second Signature edition given him by the Italian Fender dealer at the DISMA music fair of Rimini (Italy).

OFFICIAL SITE

7898 - LITTLE BIG TOWN - PAIN KILLER (2014)

LITTLE BIG TOWN
''PAIN KILLER''
OCTOBER 21 2014
46:19

1 Quit Breaking Up With Me 03:24
2 Day Drinking 02:57
3 Tumble And Fall 04:39
4 Pain Killer 03:08
5 Girl Crush 03:12
6 Faster Gun 04:10
7 Good People 03:39
8 Stay All Night 02:44
9 Save Your Sin 02:44
10 Live Forever 04:14
11 Things You Don't Think About 03:37
12 Turn The Lights On 04:08
13 Silver And Gold 03:28
Tracks By Little Big Town

Johnny Duke/Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Pedal Steel
Jedd Hughes/Banjo, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Jay Joyce/Banjo, Bass, Bells, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Keyboards, Mando, Pump Organ, Synthesizer
Seth Rausch/Drums
Giles Reaves/Drums, Keyboards, Percussion, Synthesizer Horn, Synthesizer Pads, Vibraphone, Vocoder
Phillip Sweet/Drums
John Thomasson/Bass
Ryan Tyndell/Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Acoustic)

REVIEW
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Little Big Town have long been compared to Fleetwood Mac, usually due to their lush harmonies and taste for sun-kissed melodic pop. If that analogy holds water -- and it does -- then Pain Killer is Little Big Town's Tusk, the record where the group bends, twists, and reshapes expectations of what the band can do. Coming after the sweet, shiny Tornado, the restless over-saturation in Killer is something of a shock. As pure description, the elements sound strictly mainstream: there are gnarled, distorted guitars, flirtations with electronics, thick walloping rhythms, everything that would seemingly amount to a full-fledged arena-country crossover. Instead of following a predictable pattern, the quartet embarks on a series of detours, seizing each individual track as an opportunity to veer a little further off course. While there's none of the frenzied madness that pulsates underneath Tusk, Little Big Town do slide into a bit of minor-key madness on "Faster Gun" and have to hold their tongue on "Quit Breaking Up with Me"; otherwise they'd spit out profanity. That mischievousness is intertwined with aural adventure on Pain Killer: there's a sense that the group members are goading each other on, daring their bandmates to dabble in a bit of reggae ("Pain Killer"), to add a whistle to a chorus ("Day Drinking"), to write a swaying slow dance about a "Girl Crush," or to turn a bit of back-porch picking into a funky stomp ("Stay All Night"). Even though this record settles into a finale of three successive folk-rock tunes -- all three softly gorgeous -- it's the previous series of left-hand tours that gives Pain Killer its kick: this is the rarest thing in contemporary country, a record with an expansive world-view delivered with a kinetic kick and infallible melodies, a record that gives no indication of where it's going upon first listen but remains compelling upon further spins, after all the dazzle dissipates and Little Big Town's craft shines through.

BIOGRAPHY
by William Ruhlmann
The country vocal quartet Little Big Town began with Kimberly Roads and Karen Fairchild, two Georgia natives who began singing together in college. Arkansas-born and Alabama-raised Jimi Westbrook, a friend of Fairchild's husband, joined them to make a trio, and the group was completed by the addition of Arkansan Phil Sweet in 1998. From the outset, Little Big Town devoted their sound to harmony and multiple lead vocals, a combination that made the band a hard sell at first. They finally landed a deal at Mercury Records, but it fell through due to disagreements about musical direction. In the wake of the success of the Dixie Chicks, however, Little Big Town suddenly seemed a more likely commercial proposition, and they were taken up by the Dixie Chicks' label, Monument Records, in 2000.

Recording sessions lasted longer than usual for a country release, but Monument finally issued the band's debut single, "Don't Waste My Time," in the winter of 2002. The song was on its way up the charts when its accompanying album, Little Big Town, arrived in May. Although the debut produced several minor hits, Little Big Town didn't become a superstar act until 2005, when The Road to Here yielded four Top 20 singles (including the ballad "Bring It On Home") and earned the group its first platinum record. A Place to Land followed in 2007 and netted three singles, none of which made it into the Top 30, but the band's profile continued to grow due to incessant touring and supporting acts from Sugarland to Carrie Underwood. Fairchild also guested with John Mellencamp on his album Life Death Love and Freedom. In May of 2010 "Little White Church" appeared as a single that peaked at number 14 on the Billboard country chart; in August of that year, Little Big Town's fourth studio album, The Reason Why, was released by Capitol. The band returned in 2012 with the single "Pontoon," which wound up topping Billboard's country charts. The band's fifth full-length album, Tornado, followed in September 2012. It was their first release to be produced by the ex-In Pursuit member Jay Joyce, and it became their highest placed album on the Billboard 200 up to that point, reaching number two. Joyce was retained for their next album's sessions and the resulting record, Pain Killer, appeared in October 2014, preceded by the single "Day Drinking."

OFFICIAL SITE

7897 - SIMPLE MINDS - CELEBRATE - LIVE AT THE SSE HYDRO GLASGOW, DISC TWO (2014)

SIMPLE MINDS
''CELEBRATE: LIVE FROM THE SSE HYDRO GLASGOW, DISC TWO''
AUGUST 5 2014
89:59

DISC ONE (39:47)
1 Waterfront 07:59
2 Broken Glass Park 05:27
3 I Travel 04:54
4 All The Things She Said 04:09
5 Promised You A Miracle 02:48
6 Glittering Prize 02:43
7 Theme For Great Cities 04:28
8 Mandela Day 06:58

DISC TWO (50:11)
1 Someone Somewhere In Summertime 06:38
2 The American 04:54
3 Love Song 04:34
4 See The Lights 05:14
5 Don't You (Forget About Me 08:05
6 New Gold Dream (81, 82, 83, 84) 05:03
7 Big Music 04:13
8 Sanctify Youself 05:02
9 Alive And Kicking 06:05

BIOGRAPHY
by Steve Huey
Best known in the U.S. for their 1985 number one hit "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from the film The Breakfast Club, Scotland's Simple Minds evolved from a post-punk art rock band influenced by Roxy Music into a grand, epic-sounding pop band along the lines of U2. The band grew out of a Glasgow punk group called Johnny and the Self-Abusers, which featured guitarist Charlie Burchill and lead singer Jim Kerr. The inaugural 1978 lineup of Simple Minds featured a rhythm section of Tony Donald on bass and Brian McGee on drums, plus keyboardist Mick McNeil; Donald was soon replaced by Derek Forbes. Their early albums leaped from one style to another, with Life in a Day consisting mostly of dense, arty pop songs; critical acclaim followed the darker, more experimental art rock of Reel to Real Cacophony and the Euro-disco of Empires and Dance. The group began a transition to a more accessible pop style with the albums Sons and Fascination and Sister Feelings Call, originally issued together and subsequently split up. New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) became their first chart album in the U.S., and the tour-shy McGee quit owing to burgeoning popularity, eventually being replaced by Mel Gaynor. Following the Steve Lillywhite-produced Sparkle in the Rain, Jim Kerr married Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde (the two groups had toured together).

After Bryan Ferry rejected the opportunity to sing "Don't You (Forget About Me)," Simple Minds almost did so as well; Kerr was dissatisfied with the song's lyrics, which he regarded as formulaic. His change of heart gave Simple Minds their only American chart-topper, and the song later became an international hit as well; however, Kerr's feelings about the song remained ambivalent, and it did not appear on the follow-up album, Once Upon a Time. This album went gold and reached the U.S. Top Ten, in spite of criticism for its bombastic, over-the-top approach. A live album and the uncompromisingly political Street Fighting Years squandered Simple Minds' commercial momentum, however. By the time the group returned to more personal themes and its straightforward, anthemic rock on 1991's Real Life, personnel changes and audience loss left the group's future viability in doubt. But they weren't totally deterred, however. Kerr and Burchill trudged on, releasing Good News From the Next World in 1995 while the single "She's a River" received moderate airplay. A short tour of North America soon followed, but Simple Minds' direction also quickly faded. They needed a break to clarify their own personal stance in music. Derek Forbes returned for 1998's Néapolis, but that, too, wasn't strong enough to sustain Simple Minds' newfound creativity. Their famed pop songs had diluted a bit; however, the new millennium proved poignant. Jim Kerr and Charlie Burchill signed to Eagle Records in early 2001 and constructed their first covers album, Neon Lights, later that fall, paying tribute to Patti Smith, Neil Young, David Bowie, and others. In summer 2002, Kerr and Burchill issued Cry, Simple Minds' first batch of new material since 1995's Good News From the Next World. Our Secrets Are the Same, an album that was intended for release in 2000, saw official release in 2003.

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