By Mike Finkelstein As a coming-of-age 14 year old, I finally procured a small stereo system (with separate speakers!) in the Spring. This was a major development for me. I was ready to receive all the records I could handle! What could be better? One of the very first purchases I made was of a… Read More DVD Review: “Sensation: The Story of The Who’s Tommy”
For Last Minute Shoppers Only (We Need All the Help We Can Get) By Brian Arsenault Peggy Duquesnel All I Ask For Christmas (CD Baby) There’s a real neat Christmas music album that for whatever reason I didn’t get around to reviewing. Peggy Duquesnel’s All I Ask For Christmas is the complete package. You get… Read More Brian Arsenault’s Short Takes: CDs and DVDs from Peggy Duquesnel, Roy Orbison, Julie Cain and Favorites from 2013
Of West Coast Girls By Brian Arsenault The Left Coast is not taken seriously enough by the New York centric jazz “world” as a producer of any jazz, but maybe particularly female jazz singers. Of course, Queen Bentyne is based there now but she’s late of Manhattan Transfer so the East Coast still claims her.… Read More Record Rack: Lyn Stanley, Lisa Engelken
In Dreams The Last Concert 25th Anniversary Edition (Legacy) By Brian Arsenault There was a time – about when the British Invasion occurred and for some years thereafter — when Roy Orbison had faded from America’s musical consciousness. He hadn’t had a hit for a while after a seemingly unending stream of them in the… Read More CD Review: Roy Orbison
TriBeCaStan New Songs From the Old Country (Evergreene Music) By Brian Arsenault I’m a bit late getting to this gem and it is one. A rare gem that perhaps could only come out of New York — especially the “TriangleBelowCanalSt.” — where there is as much diversity as just about anywhere in the world. Diversity… Read More CD Review: TriBeCaStan’s “New Songs From the Old Country”
Roisin O’Reilly Secret Life of Blue (3 U Records) By Brian Arsenault Secret Life Blue of begins with the Irish instruments on “Here We Go” rising like a summer storm. Then a voice so pure, Roisin O’Reilly’s, which I have compared to Joni Mitchell’s, as I can think of no higher compliment. Yet she has… Read More CD Review: Roisin O’s “Secret Life of Blue”
By Brian Arsenault Daniel Kirkpatrick and The Bayonets Alibis (Rock Ridge Music) About the time I’m thinking well this guy and his three piece band are maybe more “singer/songwriter” than rock. I mean you can understand just about all the lyrics. Does this guy understand rock ‘n roll. Does he? But after two kinda boring… Read More Record Rack: Daniel Kirkpatrick and the Bayonets and Black Belt Karate
By Devon Wendell The late, great James Booker’s recording career was just as mysterious and inconsistent as his troubled life would allow. Some of his earliest studio recordings got lost, he’d often back up or collaborate with other major artists, many of whom he inspired greatly – like Jerry Garcia and Doctor John. Or Booker… Read More CD Review: James Booker’s “Classified: Remixed And Expanded” (Rounder Records)
Of One I Expected to Simply Love And One I Didn’t Expect to Like So Much By Brian Arsenault Halie Loren Simply Love (Just In Time Records) On the opening classic tune on Simply Love, “For Sentimental Reasons,” Halie Loren sings the line about “giving you my heart.” It seems to me she always does… Read More Record Rack: Halie Loren and Will Lee
Nikhil Korula And The NK Band Solo Sessions (Groove Infinity) By Devon Wendell Nikhil Korula And The NK Band has become one of the most popular and ambitious California based rock bands since its inception over six years ago. The market for the sensitive male singer with hipster appeal has been a dominating force in… Read More Rock Music CD: Nikhil Korula And The NK Band: Solo Sessions
The International Review of Music 