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Elmhurst singer-songwriter Dean Milano has been part of The New Seekers and opened for Cab Calloway, but it seems his biggest achievement is his latest CD, Songs About Stuff, which manages to be tuneful, intelligent, sometimes humorous, and well-executed from beginning to end. Milano’s songs are streetwise and smart, a welcome addition to anyone’s collection […]
Rhyming For A Cause
Somali musician K’naan plays a rhythmic stew of hip-hop-influenced poetry that borrows from ancient Somali culture as much as it does from contemporary American influences. A refugee who fled his home at 14, he retains the quiet dignity of his heritage and yet fires lyrics with a swagger that has been compared to Eminem.
Mixmaster, Cut Faster
ALESIS iMultiMix 8 USB Alesis have come up with an impressive addition to their popular MultiMix series, spearheaded by the ingenious iMultiMix 8 USB, which features an iPod mounting dock that records directly to any second-through-fifth generation iPod.
The Return Of Garry Meier
My parents, who divorced in 1972, will never get back together – they’re dead. But now there may be hope for the pioneering radio duo of Steve Dahl and Garry Meier.
Studio Happenings
At ARS STUDIOS in Alsip, local rockers Hunting The Rabbit mastered their album, This Just In, with Larry Schara . . . Gary Cobb has been restoring Stan Kenton masters for re-release on Tantara Productions.
Journey To The Center Of Being
Otis Taylor was a surprise guest at last year’s Chicago Blues Festival. I did not get a chance to hear his performance but had the pleasure of meeting him and his beautiful daughter, Cassie, backstage. I also had the opportunity to listen to a few tunes from Taylor’s then work-in-progress Definition Of A Circle. I […]
Hello, My Name Is Neil
Hello, My Name Is Neil IE: How often do you get the “What’s it like to be Vince Neil’s son?” question? Neil Wharton: I get it all the time. It’s either that or “Vince Neil doesn’t have a son.” I use to get irritated with the second one, but hey, it comes with the territory. […]
File: April 2007
Selling Out Drama DJ Drama busted, Eric Clapton brings his friends to Chicago, Paul McCartney likes his music like his coffee, and the suburbs battle the nightclubs.
DVD Zone: April 2007
Casino Royale Rocky Balboa MGM/Sony Pictures When it was announced Pierce Brosnan would no longer be filling the tux of Bond, James Bond, the chatter among industry insiders and the blogosphere reached a kind of critical mass. Would it be Clive Owen? What about Colin Farrell? When little-known actor Daniel Craig was chosen, the response […]
An Evening With Jimmy Burns
“According to most people’s thinking, a guy that sits on a big bucket lookin’ north, wearing a cap with the bib of the cap turned east, and he’s got a jug of corn whiskey on his left side on the ground and his pants are torn on the south side of it, and he has […]
Committed To Tape
Saying analog recording is becoming a lost art is no longer even a debatable subject. Heck, just a few years ago it seemed the technique was on the verge of extinction when Quantegy Inc., the last company to manufacture reel-to-reel tape, abruptly shut its factory doors and filed for bankruptcy, putting studios in a tizzy […]
In Through The Out Door
It’s a lesson in taking the high road and not bashing your ex in public. Make that ex-boss.
Got Pedal?
In honor of International Guitar Month, “Gear” takes a look at some of the newest guitar pedals hitting the market in 2007.
Flamenco Fusion
If you think flamenco music means a lace mantilla, castanets, and responsive guitar licks, then Ojos De Brujo (Wizard Eyes) have got something for you. In Spain, flamenco isn’t just music but a culture, and the ramshackle, 10-member ODB collective represent the evolving nature of that culture and serve up a hypnotic fusion that demands […]
Local CD Reviews
Young indie rockers The Alpha Couple carry a sound that’s primed for major radio and “TRL” play. Of course, working with an established producer like Dan Duszynski has helped this Frankfort quintet perfect the polished pop rock the band provide on The Alpha Couple & Me EP. While not entirely distinguishable from their suburban counterparts, […]
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