Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.
MiniReview
Grand Atlantic “Constellations” – Brisbane modern rock band Grand Atlantic is back with their third offering, following the acclaimed 2009 effort “How We Survive” (review here). “Constellations” has a darker, more solemn atmosphere to it in general, perhaps due to the fact that the album was recorded in an abandoned psychiatric hospital. Par for the course, Phil Usher unleashes some head bobbing riffs and has a smoky rasp that makes the music sizzle with excitement. The songs are powerful and exert a more prominent dose of psychedelic rock this time around, but I don’t feel that the melodic hooks are as sharp. Standout tracks include the epic opener, “Searchlights”, the engaging “Carved From Stone”, and the energetic blues of the first single, “Fresh Ideas In Home Security”. If you like Oasis, Jet, or Kings of Leon, be sure to check out Grand Atlantic here. “Constellations” will be available September 2nd.
Surprise of the week
Chad Smith is too busy on the road with The Red Hot Chili Peppers…so who is the replacement for Chickenfoot’s drummer? Hint: not Jack, not Diane, but…see here.
News
The new album from KISS will be called “Monster” (R.E.M. anyone?). Paul Stanley reports: "That was a pivotal album in the sense we were aware of who we were as a performing band, but we had to re-establish who we were as a recording band…There are no ballads”. Story here.
Details on the inevitable “deluxe” version of the forthcoming sophomore effort from Chickenfoot called “Chickfoot III”.
Sadly, we lost a few giants of songwriting. Nickolas Ashford, who co-wrote hit singles for the likes of Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, and Jerry Leiber, who wrote hits for Elvis, The Drifters, and The Coasters.
Random iPOD song of the week
What a great old song! One of my favorite duets – Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks sound awesome. This song appeared on the excellent Loggins CD “Nightwatch” from 1978.
Showing posts with label kenny loggins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kenny loggins. Show all posts
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Odds and Ends
Each week I use this space to post some mini-reviews, cool tracks, random thoughts, neat news, or whatever else I damn well please.
MiniReview
Bowery Beasts “Heavy You” [EP] – This L.A.-based rock outfit pays homage to classic rock acts such as Thin Lizzy and Mott the Hoople on their latest five song EP entitled, “Heavy You” (release date July 5). Describing their own sound as “Blue Jean Glam”, one can hear the bright melodies of groups like Slade or even Sweet percolating up to the surface above the fuzzy guitars and wailing vocals. To my ears, there is just as much modern influence from the likes of Modest Mouse or The Killers in their tunes as well. Check them out if you want a fresh spin on the late 70s classic rock sound. Highlights include the lyrically seductive “He Was Your First Tattoo” and the feisty “Young Rockers”. Learn more about the band and their music here.
Surprise of the week
Ozzy Osbourne had a pair of unlikely guest vocalists on his 1988 album "No Rest for The Wicked": Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, better known as Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and The Turtles (of “Happy Together” fame). Read all about it here.
News
The Trews (reviewed here) are releasing “Live From Montreal” on iTUNES June 21. THE TREWS released Hope & Ruin last month and their fourth full-length studio album is also available on vinyl courtesy of Bumstead Records/CEN. The quartet just completed a leg of the "Born Free Tour" with KID ROCK in the Great White North and will summer in New York with five shows covering the state from Niagra Falls to Houston Street in June. To prepare the U.S. for their enthralling stage-show, THE TREWS are releasing LIVE FROM MONTREAL, exclusively through iTunes on June 21, 2011.
Def Leppard is releasing their first ever live album, “Mirror Ball”, and you can stream the 2CD collection in its entirety right here.
New Jayhawks coming September 20 – “Mockingbird Time”! The 12-track album is the first full-band studio release featuring both founding members Gary Louris and Mark Olson since 1995's Tomorrow the Green Grass. Read more about it here.
Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, and his wife, Sharon Finn's Pajama Club have set a September 13th release date for their self-titled debut and have announced some U.S. shows this month with more coming this summer. More info here.
Charity auction for Trekstock. This week the third and final lot of plectrums will be auctioned, which includes the likes of Band Of Horses, Ronnie Wood, Duff McKagan, and Paramore to name just a few of the artists involved. The plectrums signed by these bands are now up for auction on Ebay.
You can learn more about the auction and the charity project over at Benshermanvip.com and for further updates on twitter check out the hashtag #BSVIP and the account @bensherman1963
Random iPOD song of the week
“Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina. One of the most beautiful songs ever, written by Kenny in 1970 for his brother Danny to celebrate the birth of Danny’s boy. Brings a tear of joy to my eyes.
MiniReview
Bowery Beasts “Heavy You” [EP] – This L.A.-based rock outfit pays homage to classic rock acts such as Thin Lizzy and Mott the Hoople on their latest five song EP entitled, “Heavy You” (release date July 5). Describing their own sound as “Blue Jean Glam”, one can hear the bright melodies of groups like Slade or even Sweet percolating up to the surface above the fuzzy guitars and wailing vocals. To my ears, there is just as much modern influence from the likes of Modest Mouse or The Killers in their tunes as well. Check them out if you want a fresh spin on the late 70s classic rock sound. Highlights include the lyrically seductive “He Was Your First Tattoo” and the feisty “Young Rockers”. Learn more about the band and their music here.
Surprise of the week
Ozzy Osbourne had a pair of unlikely guest vocalists on his 1988 album "No Rest for The Wicked": Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, better known as Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and The Turtles (of “Happy Together” fame). Read all about it here.
News
The Trews (reviewed here) are releasing “Live From Montreal” on iTUNES June 21. THE TREWS released Hope & Ruin last month and their fourth full-length studio album is also available on vinyl courtesy of Bumstead Records/CEN. The quartet just completed a leg of the "Born Free Tour" with KID ROCK in the Great White North and will summer in New York with five shows covering the state from Niagra Falls to Houston Street in June. To prepare the U.S. for their enthralling stage-show, THE TREWS are releasing LIVE FROM MONTREAL, exclusively through iTunes on June 21, 2011.
Def Leppard is releasing their first ever live album, “Mirror Ball”, and you can stream the 2CD collection in its entirety right here.
New Jayhawks coming September 20 – “Mockingbird Time”! The 12-track album is the first full-band studio release featuring both founding members Gary Louris and Mark Olson since 1995's Tomorrow the Green Grass. Read more about it here.
Crowded House frontman Neil Finn, and his wife, Sharon Finn's Pajama Club have set a September 13th release date for their self-titled debut and have announced some U.S. shows this month with more coming this summer. More info here.
Charity auction for Trekstock. This week the third and final lot of plectrums will be auctioned, which includes the likes of Band Of Horses, Ronnie Wood, Duff McKagan, and Paramore to name just a few of the artists involved. The plectrums signed by these bands are now up for auction on Ebay.
You can learn more about the auction and the charity project over at Benshermanvip.com and for further updates on twitter check out the hashtag #BSVIP and the account @bensherman1963
Random iPOD song of the week
“Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina. One of the most beautiful songs ever, written by Kenny in 1970 for his brother Danny to celebrate the birth of Danny’s boy. Brings a tear of joy to my eyes.
Friday, June 4, 2010
News: Malea McGuinness To Join Kenny Loggins On Tour
Malea McGuinness (review here) will join AOR favorite Kenny Loggins on Tour this summer. Here is the press release:
Malea McGuinness is proud to announce that she will be hitting the road with iconic singer Kenny Loggins for 5-day stint on his 2010 US Summer tour. After joining The Crash Test Dummies for a special performance at Brixton South Bay in Redondo Beach, CA, she will kick off her series of dates with Kenny on June 15th in Sylvania, Ohio.
Fresh off the heels of her sophomore release, ‘CLOSE AS AIR’, Malea has increasingly garnered attention for her intimate, Americana-tinged style of contemporary pop-rock that Associated Content referred to as “elegant, restrained, triumphant, redemptive, forward leaning.” Produced by Michael Patterson (Jennifer Lopez, She Wants Revenge), her inspirational lead single, “Spinning” has been steadily building at national radio while receiving heavy rotation from Music Choice.
Later this summer, Malea is set to take the stage at Milwaukee’s annual Summerfest Music Festival, opening for alt-rock mavens, The Counting Crows. On June 5th, she will perform at the Avon Breast Cancer Charity Concert at the Dakota Music Lounge in Santa Monica, CA.
Malea McGuinness is proud to announce that she will be hitting the road with iconic singer Kenny Loggins for 5-day stint on his 2010 US Summer tour. After joining The Crash Test Dummies for a special performance at Brixton South Bay in Redondo Beach, CA, she will kick off her series of dates with Kenny on June 15th in Sylvania, Ohio.
Fresh off the heels of her sophomore release, ‘CLOSE AS AIR’, Malea has increasingly garnered attention for her intimate, Americana-tinged style of contemporary pop-rock that Associated Content referred to as “elegant, restrained, triumphant, redemptive, forward leaning.” Produced by Michael Patterson (Jennifer Lopez, She Wants Revenge), her inspirational lead single, “Spinning” has been steadily building at national radio while receiving heavy rotation from Music Choice.
Later this summer, Malea is set to take the stage at Milwaukee’s annual Summerfest Music Festival, opening for alt-rock mavens, The Counting Crows. On June 5th, she will perform at the Avon Breast Cancer Charity Concert at the Dakota Music Lounge in Santa Monica, CA.
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