Record Reviews

DAVID CROSBY ~ CROZ BLUE CASTLE 1142 (Barcode: 852550011421) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is the fourth studio album by the iconic American singer / songwriter David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, released twenty one years after the release of its predecessor "Thousand RoadsFind albums with this title" (1993). Although some live recordings by Crosby, like the live album "It`s All Coming Back To Me Now...Find albums with this title" (1994) and other recordings with his old mates released as Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist and Crosby & NashFind albums by this artist, as well as the band CPRFind albums by this artist which he formed with his son singer / songwriter / keyboardist James RaymondFind albums by this artist, this solo album marks the end of an excruciatingly long wait for a new solo album by his many fans and followers. It also marks a renewed, almost feverish, span of activity which so far produced two additional new albums: "LighthouseFind albums with this title" and "Sky TrailsFind albums with this title". The album presents eleven songs, nine of which were written by Crosby or co-written by Crosby and Raymond and two which were written by Raymond. A great support band featuring Raymond (who also co-produced the album) on keyboards and other instruments, drummer Steve DiStanislaoFind albums by this artist, guitarist Marcus EatonFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and others and surprise appearances by guests like guitarist Mark KnopflerFind albums by this artist and trumpeter Wynton MarsalisFind albums by this artist create an ideal sonic environment for the songs. The album presents a sensational collection of beautiful songs, which match the creative juices that flew when Crosby wrote the material for his seminal debut album "If I Could Only Remember My NameFind albums with this title" forty three years earlier. Musically the album returns to the typical Crosby songwriting of low key introvert conversations with himself, with awe-inspiring melodic and harmonic contents. His vocals are expressive and touching like in the old times. The music and the texts are sublime and the contemporary production and superb instrumental work all add up to create one of the best Classic Rock albums recorded in the new Millennium. All Crosby fans around the world should find this simply irresistible. Of course Crosby´s figure has a meaning way beyond his musical activity. For people my age Crosby is a voice of a generation and in retrospect a symbol of the tragically short lived American cultural and social Revolution of the late 1960s, which is sadly almost completely forgotten by now. His recent activity is a proof that our generation is not completely dead yet, although the light at the end of the tunnel is getting dimmer. Everything Crosby touched during his lifetime eventually turned to gold, and this album is a classic of the genre, definitely worth returning to or being discovered by the generation of our children and grandchildren. Peace!

Updated: 18/01/2019Posted: 23/03/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

CROSBY, STILLS & NASH ~ 2012 CSN 851813004095 (Barcode: 851813004095) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2012 Released: 2012 This is a stunning live album by the iconic Classic Rock group Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist captured on audio and video during their 2012 tour on April 22, 2012 at The Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. The album offers over two and a half hours of sublime music (on two CDs and a DVD), with some bonus DVD footage featuring interviews with David CrosbyFind albums by this artist, Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist and Graham NashFind albums by this artist. The trio is accompanied by a terrific band, which includes keyboardists James RaymondFind albums by this artist and Todd CaldwellFind albums by this artist, guitarist Shane FontayneFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Steve DiStanislaoFind albums by this artist. The album presents twenty five songs, which span the entire Crosby, Stills & Nash recording career as well as the individual recording careers of the three legends. The three heroes appear completely ageless and although both Crosby and Nash have white hair (Stills admits to dyeing his), they are full of energy and vigor and most importantly their voices are in top form, both individually and harmonically, to the delight of the audience present at the show and of course everybody who can listen to this album subsequently. Stills also plays some amazing guitar licks, proving again that he is one of the most original Rock guitarists, a fact that is sadly often forgotten. I had the immense please to be present at a Crosby, Stills & Nash concert during their 2015 tour, and the same divine experience was repeated again. The music is of course absolutely Godly from start to finish and the fact that these three musicians managed to achieve so much in their lifetimes is both amazing and miraculous. There are absolutely no week moments on this album and a devoted fan like myself finds himself mesmerized and unable to detach himself from the music even for a moment. Although there are many superb Rock albums around, this audio / video package is certainly one of the finest around and an absolute must for the group´s fans and connoisseurs. If any Rock group deserves the title of "The Voice of a Generation", this is the one without a shadow of a doubt.

Updated: 19/01/2019Posted: 19/01/2019

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Box Set Recommend To A Friend

JOHN MAYALL ~ ROLLING WITH THE BLUES - LIVE INDIGO 004 (Barcode: 5036436131228) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1982 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of an archival release by the Godfather of British Blues vocalist / guitarist / keyboardist / songwriter / bandleader John MayallFind albums by this artist presenting live recordings captured between 1972 and 1982 by several different lineups of his groups. The 2CD album was initially released in 2003 and also included a DVD with an interview by Mayall, which is omitted on this release. All the music, except for two tracks, which are Jazz / Blues standards, was composed by Mayall. CD1 presents twelve tracks recorded in Germany in 1972 and 1973, which feature the sextet version of Mayall’s group with trumpeter Blue MitchellFind albums by this artist, saxophonists Clifford SolomonFind albums by this artist or Red HollowayFind albums by this artist, guitarist Freddie RobinsonFind albums by this artist, bassist Victor GaskinFind albums by this artist and drummer Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist, which document the period when his groups featured brass instruments, as documented on the live “Jazz Blues FusionFind albums with this title” and “Moving OnFind albums with this title” albums and the “Ten Years Are GoneFind albums with this title” studio album recorded at that time. CD2 presents four tracks recorded in the US in 1980, which feature the quintet version of his group with saxophonist Red Holloway, guitarist James Quill SmithFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Soko RichardsonFind albums by this artist. These are followed by six tracks recorded in the US in 1982, which feature the classic quartet version of the BluesbreakersFind albums by this artist, with guitarist Mick TaylorFind albums by this artist, bassists John McVieFind albums by this artist or Steve ThompsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Colin AllenFind albums by this artist, as documented later on the “Return Of The BluesbreakersFind albums with this title” album. The album is a great document of Mayall’s dexterity and diversity, with his music and the lineups of his groups constantly changing, but never leaving the Blues path. Overall, this is a wonderful glimpse at the continuous life story of one of the greatest musicians to walk the earth, who now, for over six decades, still keeps making great music and laughing at the time passing by. A must to all Mayall many fans, followers and collectors of his recordings.

Updated: 05/11/2021Posted: 05/11/2021

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

RIDES ~ CAN`T GET ENOUGH PROVOGUE 7412 (Barcode: 819873010142) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is the debut album by American Blues-Rock band The RidesFind albums by this artist, formed in 2013 by the legendary singer / songwriter / guitarist Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist with singer / songwriter Kenny Wayne ShepherdFind albums by this artist and veteran keyboardist Barry GoldbergFind albums by this artist. The band also includes bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Chris LaytonFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten songs, four of which are originals co-written by the three founding members of the band, one is written by Neil YoungFind albums by this artist, one is written by Stills, one is written by Iggy PopFind albums by this artist and three are Blues standards. Stills is able to put his ego away and embrace a much younger Blues-Rock star like Shepherd in order to create what he calls "the blues band of my dreams" in order to revisit his Blues roots. Surprisingly this unlikely coalition works out splendidly and the album is full of a true camaraderie and more importantly some superb Blues songs with scorching guitar solos all along the way. The new songs are all first class and the covers are updated with sparkling and ass-kicking rejuvenated arrangements, altogether resulting in an album that might have been recorded fifty years earlier – and I mean this as a compliment. For all the Classic Rock / Blues-Rock enthusiasts, who still listen to real music today, this is as good as this type of music ever gets. Nostalgia, "heard it all already", etc. – who cares! This music is alive and kicking and all you contemporary zombie-music lovers eat your hearts out! This music truly rocks!

Updated: 27/04/2019Posted: 27/04/2019

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

RIDES ~ PIERCED ARROW PROVOGUE 7461 (Barcode: 819873013341) ~ USA ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016 This is the second album by American Blues-Rock band The RidesFind albums by this artist, formed in 2013 by the legendary singer / songwriter / guitarist Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist with singer / songwriter Kenny Wayne ShepherdFind albums by this artist and veteran keyboardist Barry GoldbergFind albums by this artist. The band also includes bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Chris LaytonFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten songs, nine of which are originals co-written by the three founding members of the band and the bassist and one is a Blues standard. This album is decidedly less Blues oriented than the debut and offers mostly American Rock with some Bluesy spicing, but the songs are all as good as Rock songs get and are all perfectly executed. Stills still sings wonderfully as does Shepherd and both play tasty guitar solos, so what else can one ask for. At least these guys play what they believe in and they have something to say, which is better that most other "music" maker these days. One can wonder if these guys have it in them to deliver another album of their songs – time will show. Shepherd has a stardom career to run, which personally leaves me rather cold, and it is Stills who made me to listen to The Rides, and I honestly don´t regret it. For all the Classic Rock / Blues-Rock enthusiasts, who still listen to real music today, this is as good as this type of music ever gets. Nostalgia, "heard it all already", etc. – who cares! This music is alive and kicking and all you contemporary zombie-music lovers eat your hearts out! This music truly rocks!

Updated: 28/04/2019Posted: 28/04/2019

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

STILLS & COLLINS ~ EVERYBODY KNOWS SONY 190758010625 (Barcode: 190758010625) ~ USA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2017 Released: 2018 This is a sensational album by two of the American Folk / Rock icons: vocalist / guitarist / songwriter Stephen StillsFind albums by this artist (born 1945) and vocalist / songwriter Judy CollinsFind albums by this artist (born 1939), making an album together for the first time, which is hard to believe but true. They are accompanied by organist Russell WaldenFind albums by this artist, bassist Kevin McCormickFind albums by this artist and drummer Tony BeardFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten exquisite songs, three by Stills, two by Collins and five (one each) by other Pop / Rock icons: George HarrisonFind albums by this artist, Leonard CohenFind albums by this artist, Tim HardinFind albums by this artist, Bob DylanFind albums by this artist and Sandy DannyFind albums by this artist. The music is everything one might expect from these two legends – wonderfully melodic, mostly melancholic and low key, full of brilliant harmonies and accompanied by elegant instrumental work, which is simply perfect for this kind of atmosphere. The arrangements of the five songs, which most music lovers are familiar with in their original versions is fresh, intelligent and truly inspired. Both Stills and Collins sound surprisingly fresh and clear, as if untouched by the tides of time, and Stills delivers some sweet solo guitar work, which remains unparalleled. The closing track of the album sounds as strong as the best work of Crosby, Stills & NashFind albums by this artist, but the entire album is completely coherent and absolutely top notch both vocally and instrumentally. Although "instant classic" is a much overused term these days, if any album deserves to be called that – this is the one. Could have been (or perhaps should have been) recorded in the 1960s, but here and now, fifty years later, it is definitely better late than never! A complete unadulterated delight from start to finish!

Updated: 01/04/2018Posted: 01/04/2018

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend