Blues singer Shemekia Copeland is set to release her fifth studio album, and her first album for the noted Telarc Records label, on February 24th, 2009. Titled Never Going Back,...
Blues legend Willie Dixon was the secret weapon of Chicago's Chess Records. A talented musician, arranger, producer, and songwriter, Dixon penned some of the greatest songs in the Chicago blues...
The good folks at Stony Plain Records have announced a June 2, 2009 release date for Stomp! The Blues Tonight, the latest and greatest from blues guitar guru Duke Robillard....
This is a follow-up of sorts to fellow Blogcritic Glen Boyd’s recent “Whatever Happened To The Live Album?” article published on BC a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed Glen’s piece. But there seemed to be an essential element of the Seventies live album absent from his article.
Whatever happened to the drum solo?
When you went to a concert in the Seventies, the drum solo was a given. And it was never really an issue. It simply provided you with an opportunity to reload the bong, or to take a whizz. Kind of an intermission basically. But then someone got the bright idea to include the drum solo in the inevitable double live album, and all hell broke loose.
Blame it on Iron Butterfly, or I. Ron Butterfly as Bart Simpson calls them. At one point their In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida was the biggest selling album in Atlantic Records’ history. The centerpiece
The big news this week is of course Green Day's much-anticipated punk-opera 21st Century Breakdown . Green Day's album is one which is sure to be carefully watched by industry bean-counters. Their last album, American Idiot , was an all too rare modern-day multi-platinum selling physical CD in the MP3 era. But decades from now it may well also be remembered as symbolizing the Bush era in the same way that people like Bob Dylan are considered synonymous with the sixties. Our own Jordan "J-Rich" Richardson will be along shortly to provide his own 21st century breakdown of sorts on whether or not Green Day have once again delivered the goods.
As uncompromising in his personal life as he is in his music, Steve Earle is one of the few guys left from the original era of outlaw country who has managed to survive despite his excesses with his artistic integrity
Taylor Hicks' new album is a solid mix of rock, soul, and blues that's well worth the listen.
Taylor Hicks’ new album, The Distance is a surprising mix of soul, rock, blues, country and even a little Bossa Nova. The Distance is the first album to be released on Hicks’ own label, Modern Whomp Records. The album features an array of notable musicians who have long history of recording with rock, blues and country artists. ...
But tonight I got to thinking, who really is the best modern day rock band out there? Coldplay? White Stripes? Kings of Leon?
I mean let's face it, we really haven't got that many really great candidates waiting in the wings to assume the throne right now. There certainly isn't any Beatles, Stones, or Who standing in waiting and ready to step up to the plate -- to say nothing of a future Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd.
As far as songwriters go, I likewise can't see the next Dylan, Springsteen, Brian Wilson, or Neil Young anywhere out there on the horizon -- as much as I would really like to. I mean, I like Conor Oberst as much as the next guy, but honestly speaking I just don't see him filling the shoes of Bob or Bruce.
These are different times than the sixties or the seventies were, and I understand that. Believe me, I do.
Highly anticipated new studio album to be released on March 10, first single sees digitial release on January 27.
As season eight of the hit show American Idol gets underway, season five winner Taylor Hicks is preparing to release his new studio album, The Distance, on March 10. Hicks’ fans have been long awaiting the new release, many looking forward to a more soulful sound than what was heard on his first post-Idol album (Taylor Hicks). The album will...
