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Soul Man
The Torch (Watchdog), the third album by guitarist, singer-songwriter Ronnie Baker Brooks, is a musical gumbo of blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul, funk, rock, and hip-hop with a touch of folk and rockabilly added to the mix. The son of blues legend Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie was raised on the blues but brings a contemporary sensibility […]
Full Volume
Forgive us for not fully fleshing out last month’s inaugural Metal Issue. While we’re mighty proud of it, if we really had it together we would have featured Sanford Parker of Volume Studios in that “Studiophile” instead of this month.
The Unheard Music?
Last spring we reported public radio station WBEZ-FM (91.5) and its satellites (Chesterton, Indiana’s WBEW-FM (89.5) and Morris’ WBEQ-FM (90.7)) would scrap music programming altogether when they switch to all news and talk in January. Now Chicago Public Radio says it plans to retain a smidgen of music on WBEZ.
Who’s The BOSS?
BOSS Micro BR Digital Recorder BOSS‘ new Micro BR Digital Recorder attracted big crowds at the Summer NAMM trade show, and it has finally arrived in stores just in time for Christmas.
Local CD Reviews
The four songs on The Accord‘s demo swing between reggae beats and prog/ethereal yearnings – oft’ times within the same cut – with a “recorded live” sound that further reinforces the band’s integrity. Playing (keyboards especially) far outshines songwriting, however, primarily because the melodies too strongly bring other artists’ tunes to mind and some lyrical […]
Around Hear Page 2
Few And The Proud are nothing if not loud. So much so their angry, curse-laden lyrics belted out with fervor on such songs as “Let It Die” and “Mutant” are little more than senseless rants raging against a hardcore wall of sound. With a total running time of just more than 22 minutes, the 11 […]
Around Hear Page 3
Alisa Simms‘ Remember consists of the title track plus two remixes. The original is a mix of simple keys, drums, minimal guitar, and some nice string touches near the end, keeping the spotlight on Simms’ warm, silky vocals. The second, “Remixber,” has a little more percussion in its groove. The final, “Reminder Drum ‘N’ Bass […]
Hello, My Name Is The Great Kat
Hello, My Name Is The Great Kat IE: How is the Great Kat these days? The Great Kat: Brilliant! The Great Kat is The Metal Messiah/New Beethoven of the 21st Century and is a classically trained genius who is systematically resurrecting both classical music and heavy metal!
File: November 2006
Must Be Election Time In the spirit of talking out of both sides of one’s mouth, Universal Music made a pair of separate statements as it adapts awkwardly to digital. Coinciding with Google’s acquisition of YouTube for a cool $1.65 billion — Google’s estimated worth is $100 billion — several record companies including Universal reached […]
DVD Zone: November 2006
THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE HBO Video It seems almost quaint now. It’s also a little sad. In 1955, Senate hearings were conducted looking into the effects of pornography on the nation. The main target: a mild-mannered businessman and photographer named Irving Klaw and his sister Paula. Also in the crosshairs, the Klaws’ most famous model, […]
It’s A Jazz Life
If You Got To Ask, You Ain’t Got It (Bluebird/Legacy) is a meticulously organized three-disc musical chronicle of the short but prolific career of stride piano master, composer, vocalist, and bandleader/ entertainer Thomas “Fats” Waller. Waller was a musical genius who came streaking through life comet-like, leaving behind a musical legacy still felt today.
Studio Happenings
The Artist Formally Known As Vince finished his new release, Welcome To The Show, set for release November 21st. Recording took place at OXIDE LOUNGE RECORDING in Bloomington. It was produced, engineered, and mixed by studio owner Tony San Filippo.
Male Monarch Of Most Media
Move over media royalty Howard Stern and Oprah Winfrey, and make way for renaissance rocker Rob Zombie.
Drum Solo!
Tama Star Classic Mirage November is International Drum Month, and it gives us a chance to discuss our favorite acrylic drum set of 2006, the Tama Starclassic Mirage, a kit that brings backs memories of Led Zeppelin basher John Bonham’s Vistalite (Ludwig) drums from the 1976 film, The Song Remains The Same.
Soul Survivor
A distinctly American hybrid, soul music traces its illustrious creation to gospel, R&B, and jazz. While classic soul was produced in the ’60s and ’70s, the ’80s and ’90s witnessed the neo-soul movement. The British have proven to be much more reverent to American music than Americans; when classic soul gave way to disco in […]
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