the Breeze - Rock 'n roll music reviews

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the Breeze - Music
Revised August 2005

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An eclectic selection of rock 'n roll is currently offered, although some would take issue with it being defined as rock 'n roll, including me....

	B.R.M.C. - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Published in year 2000. Yup, British, yup, punk. Yup - Rock 'n Roll. Yup, yup, yup. We like it, a lot. Fun old R 'n R. No nasely American clones of clones of clones. Go buy it if rock 'n roll makes your soul sing. Take Them On, On Your Own - Published 2003. Once you've tasted BRMC, you may need their second CD as well. It's a good likeness, with new tracks.
	Imogen Heap - I Megaphone - The movie Garden State grew on me as it concluded. It is not such a Hollywood way of telling a story. I also kept hearing the soundtrack in my head. As the movie ended I made a point of identifying one song, by lyric or name, so I could find the artist in the credits. Actually it was Colin who identified it. The song, Let Go, the group, Frou Frou. Their album Details, is trippy, dazed, catchy, hop, cool, beautiful, accentuated by the lead female vocalist, Imogen Heap. After several weeks in the car and at home, I decided to see what elso Imogen had done. I found an out of print CD from 1998, I Megaphone. It cost as much as a small venue live concert. I Megaphone arrived. At the start of the third song, I was talking out loud about it, to myself. Every ten years or so, I find one like this. It's all good. Better, it's all very fine. Rated eleven tracks - all of 'em. I just spent a morning, following two days with Immi's newest self-produced marvel CD Speak for Yourself. It was a download from Great Britain, so I went in quest of the lyrics, which haunt. Lyrics:Lyrics Site - A zillion more than just Imogen's Listen to Hide and Seek
	Carly Simon - VIDEO - Live from Martha's Vineyard - The video captures the true essence of a New England sunset. Returning fishing boats, coolness in the breeze, a time for relaxing. Carly, daughter of publisher Simon of Simon & Schuster, pal of Paul Simon, is a swirlingly well produced series of images on the dock. The music is stunningly Carly. The later introduction of her kids as backup singers is delightful, and a credit to the whole production. Carly Simon Video: Carly Simon Video Or, you can also get just the music on Carly's CD, Coming Around Again. Sample tracks from the CD: Coming Around Again
	Sheryl Crow - 1996 (31454) - Is Sheryl Crow a Texas rocker? Burning a bit of oil? Nah, Sheryl Crow is a performing artist. I've read reviews of her music. They give the wrong impression. Sheryl Crow is a worker. Her music reflects it. Accompanying musicians are true performers. I give this CD 12 great tracks. Try it. Sheryl Crow - Globe Sessions - Incredible! Finally the session musicians are replaced with true talent. Great guitar riffs, and Cheryl at her infinite best. More artist information: Sheryl Sample tracks: East Coast
	Bjork - Homogenic - You will like it, or not. It is new to my ear. I had heard songs from Bjork, always asking myself, "Who was that?" Now I know. This is my favorite Bjork album, really only the first I've listened to. Try Hunter, Immature.... More artist information: Bjork Sample tracks: East Coast
	Alanis Morissette - Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie - There is no way I will remember the title of this CD. I have tried. Who cares. Go buy it. It has been in my truck for a month now. I have not but once changed to another CD. Check out the track "One." I mark it the best on the CD. Listen for the laid back guitar licks - simply beautiful. Like Indian minors? Go for "So Pure." Given nine fine tracks of music. More artist information: Alanis Sample tracks: East Coast
	Ani Difranco - Not A Pretty Girl - An independent artist, refuses to compromise anything of her music. Her style may be punk folk or something like that. Pink hair, and great stage presence. The album has a least ten great tracks. Go for the title track if you've never heard her before. Ani Difranco is reviewed in the May issue of SPIN magazine. More artist information: Absolute Ani and Addicted to Noise, 4.04, April 1998, Features Sample tracks: East Coast
	Elastica - Elastica - The newest British rock 'n roll group. One song got tons of air time, Connections. Give the whole thing a listen. There are at least twelve great tracks. Saw them live at the TLA in Philadelphia in 1995. Saucy, fun, really snarky lyrics (Give Car Song a listen). Like Tricky, a subtle Indian influence from London (Indian Song). Where is there next album? Due out the 4th of July, 1998. It never made it. March 20, 2000 - Elastica has teamed up with dotmusic for their long overdue new album, 'The Menace'. September 2000 marked the release of 'The Menace' on Warner. My favorite track mix is 7,12,13,1,9,2,4,5,6,8 for ten great tracks! Just fits into a 29:19 minute slot. It is Elastica all the way. Fun rock, subconscious dream stuff, ripping guitar solos, and all well composed Brit rock'n roll! More artist information: Elastica Page - UK Sample tracks: East Coast (NOTE: East Coast sample tracks are from the vinyl rather than the CD)
	Seven Mary Three - Rock Crown - This is the rock 'n roll that the Rolling Stones should have come out with. More artist information: See Media Lab if you have MEGABYTES Sample tracks: East Coast
	Heather Nova - Oyster - But for the legalities - "Money back if not satisfied." Heather Nova's talent in lyrics and voice is outstanding. A Dynamic range of voice and emotion. It is a SHOCK! Heather Nova - Siren - Here we have her second release in the USA. It is destined to be as successful as the first album. It is a wee bit more sophisticated, and undoubtedly Heather! By my tally tracks 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,12,13 and 14 are more than worthy of your time. By the way, this reviewer has gone the route of the Minidisc, and find it wow. Seventy four minutes of recordable, erasable music, with 'Walkman' playback at least as good as original CD sound quality. Report to follow as time allows. Contact via EMail if you are considering Minidiscs. More artist information: Heather Nova Oyster Sample tracks: East Coast Siren Sample tracks: East Coast
	Tricky - Pre Millennium Tension - This Brit started off as a rapper, and still has some elements of rap in his music. Did I say music? YES. In an interview on West 54th with Chris Douridas, DJ of KCRW in LA, he recalled when it dawned on him that he could make money as a rapper, but he wanted to make music. Listen for his pre-counterpoint to the beautiful female voice of Martine on Christiansands first. Tricky is reviewed in the May issue of SPIN magazine. Sample tracks: East Coast
	Sarah McLachlan - Surfacing - Perhaps the best production (best sound to the CD) in a long time. Listen to tracks 1, 3, 8, 6, 7. Her voice is clear and breaky. The music might be country rock, but the guitar work is definitely hard rock. A great change for the ears. Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Through Ecstacy - Just go buy it. Sarah McLachlan - Rarities, B-Sides & Other Stuff - For eighteen bucks, track #2 is worth the price of the whole CD, 'I Will Remember You.' About five new tracks, and several retakes. Some done in a very dance-beat theme. #11 is so heavy. More artist information: Sarah McLachlan Sample tracks: East Coast
	Genghis Blues - Paul "Earthquake" Pena & Kongar-ol Ondar - Mistaking the Siberian-Mongolian setting and music for Tibetan, I sat in front of the tube mesmerized by the story, the sounds, and the man. Akin to the Tibetan Buddhist monks droning 'Ooo-mmmmhh' which creates sympatheic vibrations with the soul, this guy was keenly enriching it with the deepest of deep blues. More than music, it's a definition of blues, and the man who created this mix. Paul Pena is the real story here. Favorite track mix is 1,3,7,8,11,12,13!,14,15,16,17! totalling eleven earthquaking tracks of Tuvan throatsinging originals and the purest blues. Paul Pena wrote the Steve Miller Band's 'Jet Airliner' way back when, which should have made him a millionaire. His 'You Gotta Move,' track 13, popularly done by the Rolling Stones on Sticky Fingers, is alone worth the price of the CD. Brilliant source music like Paul's forces appreciation for the roots of rock 'n roll. Go to the sites following for details on the music and the man. Paul Pena; a truly brilliant artist. It is with certain sadness that I write; God bless his soul, and comfort him. Paul died in 2005. More artist information: SixDegreesRecords, and Paul Pena
	Mississippi Hill Country Blues/Rock - My favorite rock 'n roll instrument has to be the guitar. The music recorded here almost exclusively features one man and one guitar, which is pretty much how this stuff is done anyway. This music features cadence, a march beat, a field labor beat, perhaps a funeral walk beat. The old bluesmen commented about the cadence at the beginning of a tune this way. "We just play it until we're good and ready." The other feature of this music is improvisation, usually associated with jazz. Many regard rock 'n roll's improvisation as the instrumental part in the middle of the song. Many of these songs were chosen because my foot was found to be tapping, Other selections are for the guitar licks, others are here for the sheer simplistic beauty of the music. You may have a little trouble locating this CD. Tracklist: Tracklist
	Music to Cruise by - Nostalgia, initiated by God-knows-what, yet there it was. Ah! It was the music in the movie with Piper Laurie, Jason Robards and Corey Feldman, Dream A Little Dream. By day’s end I had compiled a tracklist for the makings for a personal CD. Now a graphic for the label… The photo of cousin John’s Chevy. It prompted a theme, and slight revision to the tracklist. You may have a little trouble locating this CD. Tracklist: Tracklist
	Béla Fleck and The Flecktones - Outbound, Live Art - Pat Metheny? Talking Heads? Weather Report? Bela (Béla - Bay-la) Fleck! Geri first suggested this group to me last winter. I picked up their first CD, Béla Fleck and The Flecktones, made in 1990. Earl Scruggs bluegrass was my first impression, with a far greater masterful banjo, played by Béla Fleck himself. However, it wasn't Geri. A few nights ago I saw the group in a live performance on Cable. I was stunned. Well, first, they're together for twelve years as it turns out. Their music has evolved, which is a vast understatement. It's now a fusion of rock, rap, jazz and bluegrass, with a bit of Bach, Eastern and South African sounds. Anything left out? Béla's group is just about as far as music has come to date. They signed a five recording package with Sony. Outbound, published in 1999, is the first, and it's outrageous. The musicians are another story. I'll leave it to the reader to do that research, with three hints - Victor Wooten, Andy Narell and synth-axe drumitar. Live Art is from 1996, and captures the evolution and original roots of the band. Ready yourself for many internal questions on the first listen. More artist information: Flecktones Sample tracks: Outbound Sample tracks: Live Art

List of Other Fine Music Sites

Rockmine - Europe's Largest! - Rockmine is Europe's largest independent rock music archive, providing information for researchers and the media. Rockmine first went online in 1995 but has continued to develop since. One of the more notable recent additions is the Archive, which currently contains a gallery of over 100 posters and handbills from the famed Fillmore Auditorium and Avalon Ballroom; all thirteen issues of the Mojo Navigator, one of the first rock music newspapers; and the Vault, a collection of police, coroner, and legal files presently featuring 94 pages of FBI files on the Doors and Jim Morrison. The Cyclopedia, which is still under construction, will contain "a full alphabetical listing of artists, giving band details, session details, brief biographies, photographs, [and] links. Contains basic information on a huge large number of musicians and bands. Rockmine's main site offers a host of articles, original documents, and audio interviews with individuals and groups that inhabit rock's Mount Olympus.

Virgin Radio - London - Live broadcasts (although not always) of great rock 'n roll.
I enjoy the commentary between tracks not only for the accent, but for the brash content - stuff we never hear on USA radio.

KCRW - Santa Monica College - For leading edge music, this station is a must. Review Morning Becomes Eclectic, previously recorded contents hosted by Chris Douridas who also does Public TV's sessions at West 54, if the live broadcast doesn't suit you. Downloads at 33k take about two minutes for a thirty minute concert.

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