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Tom UsetedFeatures
Alan Parsons Project ReduxNow that the Alan Parsons Project catalogue has been reissued, it's time for a reappraisal. Will anyone bite? [1 April 2009] Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970For the first time, the musical and attitudinal highs and lows of the Bay Area scene are on full, accurate, and coherent display. Forty years was a long time to wait. [9 November 2007] Reviews
Leonard Cohen: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970Thank god Leonard Cohen is back on top, because otherwise we may never have gotten to hear this incredible show. [23 October 2009] 
Tim Buckley: Live at the Folklore Center, NYC - March 6, 1967Even in a solo, voice-and-guitar setting, Tim Buckley was never the typical folksinger. This unearthed concert recording offers an essential glimpse into his evolution. 
Woody Guthrie: My Dusty RoadIt's no replacement for The Asch Recordings, but the sound quality is revelatory. And besides, it's Woody Guthrie. [16 October 2009] 
Miranda Lambert: RevolutionIt's hard to follow one of the decade's finest albums. But you can't really fault Miranda Lambert's music, even when she makes a long and uneven record. [28 September 2009] 
Diane Birch: Bible BeltDiane Birch's first songs aren't all that memorable, but she's got a remarkable voice and her record sure sounds good, even if it's straight out of 1971. [2 September 2009] 
Ray Charles: Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volumes 1 & 2He made better country records a few years later, but these are the ones that broke new ground. [21 August 2009] 
Richard Thompson: Walking on a Wire: Richard Thompson (1968-2009)It took long enough, but there's finally a great way to sample Richard Thompson's long and prolific career. [14 August 2009] 
Various Artists: Music Inspired by the Film Scott Walker: 30 Century ManAn interesting collection of covers to complement the long-awaited DVD release of the Scott Walker documentary. It's no match for the man's own work, but it's a treat for fans. [24 June 2009] 
Hot Burritos: The True Story of the Flying Burrito Brothers by John Einarson with Chris HillmanIt seems like Einarson was more eager to include multiple perspectives, no matter how much they overlapped, than he was to craft a flowing narrative. [21 April 2009] 
Fotheringay: Fotheringay 2A second Fotheringay album is little more than a footnote to the larger stories of Fairport Convention and British folk-rock, but a pleasant and lovingly-assembled footnote. [24 March 2009] 
Joe Cocker: Cry Me A RiverJoe Cocker is the only person in this entire hour-long program who seems oblivious to the fact that he's being filmed. The fact that he won a Grammy two years later seems like a miracle. [4 December 2008] 
Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006The Bootleg Series acknowledges that Dylan's career has extended past 1975. It's an album to sit proudly alongside his recent triumphs. [24 October 2008] 
Billy Joel: The StrangerBilly Joel's long-admired and often-purchased career peak has been given a 30th-anniversary deluxe treatment. Is it worth it? Mostly. [25 July 2008] 
Bob Dylan: 1978-1989 [DVD]Someone, somewhere could make a fantastic film about this period. This is not that film. [8 July 2008] 
Carole King: Welcome to My Living Room [DVD]As fine as the music is, Carole King's efforts to engage her audience are the real reason this modest delight works as well as it does. [19 December 2007] 
Various Artists: Stax/Volt Revue: Live In Norway 1967 [DVD]This 75-minute concert is a wonderful find, a tour-de-force of "clap your hands just a little bit louder" performer-audience interactions, jacket removals, sweat, and some of the sweetest soul music ever created. And its presentation here could hardly be better. [25 October 2007] 
Johnny Cash: The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show [DVD]Unlike much of what's come out since his death, this is worthwhile to both the casual Cash fan and anyone interested in American popular music. [16 October 2007] 
Incredible String Band: Live at the Lowry [DVD]Anyone interested in the Incredible String Band, who were one of the finest semi-forgotten groups of the '60s, owes it to themselves to see the warm, charming Live at the Lowry. [3 October 2007] 
Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island DiscsMost anthologies are meant to be dipped into rather than read front-to-back, but for those who take the plunge, Marooned is an enlightening glimpse into 20 of the infinite nooks and crannies of (mostly) contemporary music. [27 September 2007] 
Jerry Lee Lewis: Greatest Live Performances of the 50s, 60s and 70s [DVD]This is absolutely essential for Jerry Lee Lewis fans, if only for an incendiary 1964 set, which features Lewis working the audience into an absolute frenzy. For everyone else, it's a worthwhile history lesson with a Killer soundtrack. [10 August 2007] 
The Remains: The RemainsThe Remains might not have deserved a better fate than being included on Nuggets, but they certainly didn't deserve a worse one. [7 August 2007] 
Bryan Ferry: DylanesqueDylanesque is the rare album that envisions Bob Dylan's songs in unfamiliar musical settings, and it does so without sacrificing the soul of the lyrics. [12 July 2007] 
Various Artists: Soulvation [DVD]Why such an amateurish presentation for this supposedly beloved music? Perhaps someone will make a northern soul documentary that puts the music in context, and that does so with some measure of class. This is not that film. [5 July 2007] 
J.D. Blackfoot: The Ultimate ProphecyFor fans of obscure but mostly accessible early-'70s rock. [29 June 2007] 
The Charlie Daniels Band: Volunteer Jam [DVD]At its most focused, it'll make you wonder why Daniels is rarely mentioned in the same breath as the Allman Brothers or Lynyrd Skynyrd or any number of other southern rockers. [21 June 2007] 
Tim Buckley: My Fleeting House [DVD]This is a glorious find, further proving the depth of the rock video vault and offering compelling evidence of Tim Buckley's talent in a long-overdue way. [30 May 2007] 
Jeff Buckley: So Real: Songs from Jeff BuckleyFor what listener is this intended? Ultimately, the motives behind this release don't matter too much when the music is so rich with emotion and power. [22 May 2007] 
Leonard Cohen: Under Review 1934-1977 [DVD]When a DVD is almost entirely worthless from a visual standpoint, that's poison. The attitude of the film, combined with the inexcusable dearth of music, vintage film clips, and specific opinions, is enough to send it straight to the garbage. [17 May 2007] 
Patti Smith: TwelveSerious Patti Smith fans will no doubt be pleased, and people who enjoy covers records will likely find much to appreciate, as her conviction is apparent and her commitment is respectable. [24 April 2007] 
John D. Loudermilk: The Open Mind of John D. LoudermilkA fantastic-sounding reissue of one of the most original songwriters in 1960s Nashville, who penned hits for Johnny Cash and Paul Revere and the Raiders. [23 April 2007] 
The Bloody Hollies: Who to Trust, Who to Kill, Who to LoveThe Bloody Hollies are a bass-less, blues-drenched riff monster fronted by a powerfully hoarse singer-guitarist, and they will turn your ears and limbs to jelly if you let them, which you should. [5 April 2007] 
Various Artists: Rock Relief: Live in Concert [DVD]When Michael Bolton turns in the most restrained performance of the program, something has gone dreadfully wrong. [30 March 2007] 
Bang Gang: Find What You Get EPIceland's Bang Gang, judging by the music on the Find What You Get EP, should record a live album, and right away. [15 March 2007] 
Larry Williams: Specialty ProfilesProfiles is, top-to-bottom, the best Larry Williams disc on the market for anyone with a less-than-fanatical interest in the man's work. [16 February 2007] 
The Lovely Sparrows: Pulling Up Floors, Pouring on (New) PaintThe Lovely Sparrows seem to be another (potentially) great band that's taking the one-toe-in-the-water-at-a-time approach to recording. [9 February 2007] 
Various Artists: Five Way StreetAt last this key band has been memorialized on a tribute album. For devoted Buffalo Springfield buffs, it's a must-hear. [17 January 2007] 
Goat: Twisted HeartGoat is just a generic, okay voice, drained of every last drop of personality, and it fits the clean, flawless music perfectly. [8 January 2007] 
The Who: The Who: Whos next [DVD]Classic Albums: Who’s Next will whet your appetite for more from this productive period of the Who’s career, and make you return to Who’s Next with the utmost attentiveness. [2 January 2007] 
Goldenboy: Underneath the RadioThis is an uncluttered, attractively produced record, performed with skill and care. But if a record doesn't do anything new or fill some sort of void -- and this one fails on both accounts -- then what's the point? [6 November 2006] 
Mad Tea Party: Big Top Soda PopMad Tea Party forgo the crumpets and dish up a plateful of whimsy, with attractive, ear-catching melodies and a determination to rescue the kazoo from pop music's instrumental toybox. [2 November 2006] 
J.J. Cale - To Tulsa And Back: On Tour With JJ CaleTo Tulsa and Back merely reinforces the common perception that J.J. Cale is laid-back and uninterested with stardom. As a result, it's also a wasted opportunity. 
Cale Parks: Illuminated ManuscriptThe idea itself sounds like quite a bit of fun, but there's precious little humor to be found. [11 October 2006] 
Maria Muldaur: Heart of MineDon't let the sugar-sweet candy coating keep you from what's inside, because the music is pretty good and the singing is excellent. Various Artists: Seven Dead Roses Vol. 1Maybe these performers do some fine stuff on their own albums, but this sampler isn't ideal. [10 October 2006] 
The Brass Kings: The Brass KingsThe Brass Kings conjure up a unique multicultural musical fusion, one that sounds like very little of what gets labeled "Americana". And thank goodness for that. [9 October 2006] 
Kenny Smith: One More DayNo lost classics, but exceptional unpredictability and high interest factor. [3 October 2006] 
Mohair: Small TalkIt's not hard to imagine Mohair becoming one of those great bands known for being equally skilled as album artists and crafters of classic pop singles. [29 September 2006] 
Old Crow Medicine Show: Big Iron WorldWhere many other groups feel the need to approach traditional material with an eye on preserving it, Old Crow Medicine Show intend to make it live and breathe. [27 September 2006] 
Old 97s: Hit By a Train: The Best of Old 97sAs an introduction to Old 97's, Hit by a Train simply can't be beat. [4 August 2006] 
Johnny Cash: Man in Black: Live in Denmark 1971 [DVD]If you're on a budget, and hankering for some vintage Cash on video, well here you go. But it's a bit stiff. [3 August 2006] BlogsConsuming Consumables: The Best of Johnny Cash TV Show 1969-1971 [$39.98] [18 December 2007]Consuming Consumables: Various Artists - Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965-1970 - Rhino [$64.98] [27 November 2007] |
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