Cyril Neville "Magic Honey"

Scrolling my Facebook feed about six weeks ago I found an old compadre from the Sound Shop/Music 4 Less days and current Shrimp-Slingin' Daddy, Todd C., had planted this video on his page...



Well, shit................I bought it the next day.  Shared the video with another old friend from the M4L days, who is a monumental Rush fan, for his reaction.  "Killer!  That's the first time I've unmuted my computer in weeks and it was well worth it."   The Neville Brothers and Rush wouldn't normally be considered similar in anybody's mind, I wouldn't think, but this really worked.  Maybe it was CN's recent experience touring with Galactic which introduced him to the rock classic, but my guess is it was Mike Zito who did the deed.  CN and Zito, along with Devon Allman, are in the Royal Southern Brotherhood, a band I now have down on my waiting list for something new.  Zito won Song of the Year at the 2010 Blues Music Awards for a track he co-wrote with Neville.  He also co-wrote two songs on "Magic Honey" and played a little gee-tar, too.  Joining in on the party with a pen and their respective instruments are Dr. John and Walter Trout.  "Mean" Willie Green, longtime drummer for the Brothers Neville, sits behind the kit and New Orleans legend, Allen Toussaint, guests on the piano.  There are covers of songs written by Warren Haynes, Paul Butterfield, Michael Bloomfield, and one by the tandem of Eugene Gales and Paul Ebersold.  I have an upcoming post on a project by Gales' brother, Eric, but it was the other name that rang deep from within the catacombs of my musical lobe.  Ebersold was one of the young bucks working at Ardent Studios in Memphis during their heyday.  He engineered the albums of one of my favorite bands from the 90's, Sonia Dada.  Allow me to throw out some others he worked on, some you may know, some not:  The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies (my guess is not); Skillet (maybe); Sister Hazel (probably); 3 Doors Down (yes); and he produced one of my favorite albums of 2002 by a band none of you know, Pseudopod.  Only recently did I remove that CD from my Featured 500 rack in the office.  Give me that record over any Dave Matthews disc every day.  Here's a track for your enlightenment...  Tying it all together is producer David Z., who emerged in the 80's from the Prince stable in Minneapolis, subsequently producing bands like Fine Young Cannibals and a-ha before hitting a blues phase in the late 90's.  He helmed breakout recordings by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Chris Duarte and Jonny Lang.  He's probably got about eighty credits on records this century alone, too. 

I made two audio notes during the three spins of "Magic Honey" and on both I included, "I really like this album a lot!"  More blues than "working man" rock, there's plenty of Neville's N'Awlins percussion and his great soulful voice.  Closest blues comparisons I can make are a taste of Gary Moore's style with a side of Robert Cray.  More on the funk/rock side is a track deep in the album that could have been a Lenny Kravitz tune.  There's not much official video available other than the above clip, but what I did find was a reasonable version of the Butterfield song by the RSB last August...



I suppose the only way to see Neville now is with RSB as they head back out on the road in a week.  Closest they get to me is the Wanee Festival in early April, and damn if it doesn't have a better lineup than Bonnaroo this year. 

Maybe if I was twenty years younger........

Glen Hansard "Drive All Night" EP

I loved The Commitments back in the early 90's but Andrew Strong was the star, not this guy.  I remember The Frames but don't believe they ever had any impact domestically.  I stocked some titles for my UK customers but can't recall hearing any of the music.  Fast forward to last year and a trip to NYC.  Included in the itinerary was the Broadway show,"Once," "...the celebrated new musical based on the Academy Award®-winning film and winner of 8 Tony Awards."  Film???????  Oscar-winning?????????  I swear on my life that I never heard "Falling Slowly" before hearing it in the play, which was absolutely mesmerizing.  Wish I had gone to see it again instead of "Wicked."  So when the Orlando Broadway Series announced this season, which included the traveling troupe for "Once," I bought season passes to assure good seats.  Went as far as renting the movie it was based upon (skip it, the play is superior).  Well, Glen Hansard wrote the music and starred in the movie.  If you like your music Irish in nature and you're a fan of Hothouse Flowers or some guy nicknamed Brown Eyed Morrison, or you're drawn to the passionate power of, say, David Gray, you will love this man's style.  When I saw this EP release in early December, I knew I had to make the buy, not for the charity aspect or the Springsteen cover with Eddie Vedder (don't get me started on this guy...), but for Mr. Hansard and the fact that the record was produced by Joe Henry (don't get me started on this guy, either, but that rant would be positive...).  I found this Portuguese broadcast of the title song...



I can take Vedder if he's not leading, I guess.  The studio version features sax interludes by the nephew of Clarence Clemons...a nice touch.  The other three tracks are originals and get better with repeated listens.  One track features his movie co-star (and collaborator in a band called Swell Season...who knew?), Markéta Irglová, on backing vocals and it's very reminiscent of the "Once" ST, which I have also recently purchased.  That's right, I bought a nearly seven-year-old album......that should tell you something...

Though introduced to this man over twenty years ago, I've only now added him to my vault.  The titles page will surely grow longer...

Paul McCartney "New" Deluxe

Half of the greatest songwriting team ever and not so bad on his own, either.  However, I don't immediately buy every project he does, much like other heritage artists such as Elton John, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, etc., etc., etc..   First, they don't need my money, and second, chances are the records aren't worthy.  For example, Macca's last solo in 2012, "Kisses On My Ass," or something like that, was absolutely horrendous.  No post to link for you because I won't buy garbage when I know it's garbage, no matter who throws it out there. I believe it was the 12/12/12 concert for Sandy Relief when the reunited Nirvana joined him for a new song that dropped my jaw to the floor (only two stitches).  The track ended up on the Sound City project three months later so I figured it wouldn't be included on this record, but I had to see if the energy had legs.  The title track/first single didn't thrill with its Magical Mystery Tour vibe but it has since buried itself under my skin.  A few others had the Beatles Blue years influence, as well.   It was the album's opener that tipped my hand to purchase...



Very Wings-like.  A couple of other tunes carried the Band On The Run flavor, too. 

All in all, this is a solid album through the first nine tracks.  It tails off slightly through the remainder of the album proper and skip the deluxed extras, even if they are free.  They will only diminish your take on what is truly a remarkable recording.

London Grammar "If You Wait" (Deluxe Version)

 

I stumbled across this band in late September and really liked the music in this video (normally wouldn't embed something with 5.7 million views but it's the set up, OK?). 



Bought it the next day and slipped it into the queue since it wasn't out in the US...well, I couldn't find it.  Got wind of them making a NYC appearance about a month ago and moved the record into my player, the thinking being an impending release date was near. And boy, was I wrong...

Wrong because I think the record is still import-only for a physical copy.  Wrong because I expected more of the album to impress like the above song.  I'm going to keep just one more from the proper eleven tracks (deluxe extras in a minute), and it's a cover, no less.  This in no way means the record isn't good.  There are plenty of excellent elements involved, the most prominent being the young lass and her voice.  I'm guessing she and her band mates are approximately 24 years old so there's plenty of future for them.  I just don't believe the girl's voice is strong enough to carry the band, though many disagree.  Most comparisons are to Florence + the Machine (yuck...), which if I'd read those before making the purchase I doubt I would have.  I find this girl's pipes more accessible than Ms. Welch's yowl (I just shuddered at the thought).  I also saw Kate Bush's name in a couple of reviews (but I didn't get that at all) and others said it's like Fiona Apple fronting the xx.  Can't admit to knowing much about the extra large band but what I heard included Annie Lennox, Everything But The Girl, Christine McVie, Cowboy Junkies, All About Eve, even Sade at one point.  I've seen the music labeled trip-hop, chillout, electronica, etc., yet none of those truly fit.  My audio note said, "...this album requires a deeper state of stoned than I get anymore, the kind where you liquefy onto a chair or sofa and need to be peeled off."  Any suggestions of a one-word definition will be willingly accepted. 

I mentioned the deluxe extras earlier and they seem to have more momentum than the majority of the album proper.  I can't seem to find much else about them.  The album contains tracks from an earlier EP, one song was featured in a movie, another is actually by an artist called Disclosure (???????) and London Grammar was featured on it. 

One of my other concerns was whether or not LG's young chanteuse could sing live or was the record studio magic.  I found this segment from right about the time I discovered them...



OK, so she can pull it off.  Rather easy on the eyes, too, don't you think?  That doesn't hurt in this music market.  The band comes back stateside for about fifteen shows beginning one month from today.  I hope the attendees will shut the fuck up and show some class this time around as the band's previous gigs here were plagued by loud, rude Americans.  They aren't coming to Orlando, and I'm slightly disappointed, even though I'm only keeping a quarter of this release. 

But there is mucho potential here...
   

Blue October "Sway"

I briefly considered to not post on this record because Blue October is one of my favorite American bands and a no-brainer when they release something new.  I can't really add much to the two previous posts.  Since the one from 2009 is short (I had just begun blogging and hadn't started having as much fun doing it as I get from it now!), here it is in its entirety...

Blue October - Approaching Normal

I think they are one of the best rock bands to arrive this decade. Angst my ass, this guy is truly pissed off and unafraid to commit it to record, which is probably why I like it so much and many reviewers don't.  Pansies. "Hate Me" from the previous album got them the attention they deserved, but make no mistake, you won't get an album full of "Hate Me" clones just because it was a hit. I don't listen to much terrestrial radio but I did hear one of the new tracks on a drive through Atlanta recently and damn near drove off the road in shock!

Labeled it one of 2009's best albums.  Here's a link to the post on 2011's record.  As I said earlier, there isn't much to add.  The man wears his heart on his sleeve, but this time around he's in a much improved mood, damn near happy, as a matter of fact.  "Sway" is full of pop-rock hooks (you'll catch yourself singing along to "let that shit go-o-o-o-o,"......yeah, the f-bombs are still included, too) and the basis is positively lighter, which should translate at least one track to "hit" status on CHR.  Here is the most recent official video release...



I don't think that's the track to do it but you get the idea.  The following is one of a couple songs I believe would be huge if sprung on the American public...



Big ol' sappy ballad but a hit, nonetheless.  The band heads back out on the domestic road next month for another 30+ shows and I recommend seeing them live.  They have a big arena rock presence that impresses. 

Maybe this change from "depressive" to "enlightened" will win them more fans.  Obviously, it's done so in Germany where "Sway" landed in an entertainment industry's Top 5 for 2013 behind Daft Punk, tied with Bowie's latest, and ahead of Depeche Mode and Paul McCartney!

It's another keeper, but I think I like him pissed off more...

The Rides "Can't Get Enough"

 

Was drawn to this by the KWS name, not Stephen Stills.  Had to get a hint on the other guy.  The album came out late last summer with little fanfare......well, that is, I heard next to nothing about it.  I've had such a backlog of releases and this got pushed deep in the rotation because I read that Stills voice has lost more than a step...and they were right, but his guitar work is still a fine accompaniment to KWS.  I also read where this release is based on the Super Session album from 1968 by Stills, Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, whose name I knew from one of my favorite bands at the time, Blood Sweat & Tears.  A friend's older sister (she was hot, too...hey, I was only ten but I still recognized "sexy."  She demonstrated for me a few years later... :D) had the album so my buddy and I listened to it over and over.  The "other guy," Mr. Goldberg, played some keys on that album so that's why he's on "...Enough."  The same blueprint is employed, a couple of originals and some choice covers.  This original opens the record...



"...playing my music for a bunch of college kids."  And yes, that's Chris "Whipper" Layton of Double Trouble fame on drums.  He's the studio drummer, too.  Speaking of studio, the record is produced by KWS long-time helmsman, Jerry Harrison, whom most of you may know from his days in the Talking Heads.  Not that this album is a sonic stew, but he does have a flair for featuring the instrumentation/vocals at precisely the optimum time.  Speaking of vocals, I'm more than happy to see that KWS has stepped to the microphone and let loose (he usually employs a lead vocalist).  As an example, this is a cover of the Stooges...



Strong suit is still the guitar, and since any support for this record is probably over, he's back out on the road with the Experience Hendrix Tour beginning in a month. 

All in all, this is a solid 48 minutes of fun.  Hearing Stills sing Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" is worth the price of admission alone...