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November 01, 2009

THE ROLLING STONES -- GET YER YA-YA'S OUT! THE ROLLING STONES IN CONCERT

Band's best live album gets deluxe treatment

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There's no disputing that 1969 was a year of major triumph and tragedy for The Rolling Stones.

Brian Jones left the group in June ’69 and was replaced by guitarist Mick Taylor. Less than a month later, Jones was found dead in his swimming pool, his mysterious death deemed by a coroner to be a drowning while under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

On July 5, two days after Jones' body was found, Taylor made his concert debut with the Stones during a free concert before 250,000 at London's Hyde Park. The band’s subsequent attempt at a freebie on Dec. 6 at California's Altamont Speedway, though, was marred by chaos and violence, most notably the stabbing death of a black teenager in the crowd.

But between the Hyde Park and Altamont gigs, the Stones rocked New York during a two-night stand in late November '69 at what was then a relatively new fourth edition of Madison Square Garden, resulting in one of the best concert albums by any rock band ever. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!, ABKCO has given the album the deluxe reissue treatment, and it's a must for any serious Stones fan.

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July 27, 2009

IN WITH THE NEW

John Wesley Harding and the English UK
Riverside Gardens Park -- Red Bank, N.J.
July 24, 2009

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On his new track "Top of the Bottom," British singer/songwriter John Wesley Harding offers a tongue-in-cheek , mostly farcical chronology of his career’s ups and downs. A true-to-life version of it would have to mention that with his current release, Harding is re-emerging from the longest break of his two-decade recording career.

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May 18, 2009

THE BLUE VAN -- MAN UP

Attention to quality dampens spirit

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The growth of young rock musicians always is a fascinating thing to watch unfold -- especially acts that take a few albums to really catch on. The classic case is Bruce Springsteen, who had to wait until album No. 3 for the masses to fully embrace him.

Denmark's The Blue Van is at that point now, and as its new album’s title would suggest, it's time to Man Up and try to reach the next level.

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April 16, 2009

DISC DISCUSSION: JOHN DOE AND THE SADIES -- COUNTRY CLUB

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A "drunken promise" made by John Doe to Yep Roc label mates The Sadies planted the seed for them to make music together. The end result is Country Club, and Medleyville.us staffers Chris M. Junior, George Henn and Mike Madden share their thoughts on the album.

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April 01, 2009

SUPERDRAG -- INDUSTRY GIANTS

Original lineup tosses in a few surprises

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The mid-1990s were a great time for talented, passionate acts, and one such band from that era was Knoxville, Tenn.-based Superdrag. Best known for "Sucked Out," Superdrag released four acclaimed full-length albums and shifted lineups a few times before splitting in 2003.

Following a successful reunion tour in 2007, the original lineup hit the studio to record the recently released Industry Giants (Superdrag Sound Laboratories), on which Superdrag doesn't exactly attempt to reinvent the wheel.

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February 25, 2009

THE DAMNWELLS -- ONE LAST CENTURY

Dezen carries on with unadorned, personal songs

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Running down Alex Dezen's busy past few years, you could be forgiven for thinking he was on his way out of the music business.

His Brooklyn, N.Y.-based band, The Damnwells, seemed poised for a breakthrough before it lost its major-label record contract and, later, also lost a couple of members not long after its sophomore LP was released in 2006. The singer/songwriter was recently married and moved to Iowa, where he is enrolled in a writers' workshop at the local university.

But with the sudden release of One Last Century earlier this month, Dezen proved The Damnwells still are alive, even if the "band" is basically a vehicle for his songs at this point (only bassist Ted Hudson remains as a full-fledged member, and a slew of guest musicians contribute to the disc).

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January 18, 2009

DISC DISCUSSION: THE GOURDS -- HAYMAKER!

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Medleyville.us staffers Chris M. Junior, George Henn and Mike Madden attempt to wrap their heads around the latest studio album by this rootsy yet unconventional quintet from Austin, Texas.

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December 03, 2008

SUPERSUCKERS -- GET IT TOGETHER!

Showing signs of newfound maturity

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Chalk it up to all those hell-raising anthems they have penned over nearly two decades. Or the fact that their front man, in a don’t-even-think-about-taking-us-seriously move, long ago dubbed himself Eddie Spaghetti.

Whatever the case, let’s just say that the Supersuckers had pretty much established themselves as the band perhaps least likely to grow up in a hurry someday. But darn if the Seattle's favorite hillbilly punks haven't done just that in the five years between albums (not counting an EP and live releases).

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November 19, 2008

LOUD AND PROUD

AC/DC
Wachovia Center -- Philadelphia
Nov. 17, 2008

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AC/DC has made headlines of late as much for its music as its business decisions. The venerable hard-rock act struck a deal with Wal-Mart to make the department store the exclusive retailer of its hot-selling new CD, Black Ice; it has remained one of the few major acts that refuse to allow its material to be sold at online destinations such as iTunes; andit has signed on for its own version of the popular Rock Band video game.

At this stop on its first full-fledged tour in eight years, AC/DC proved that while it may be navigating new music-biz models these days, the business of being a live band remains remarkably unchanged.

Continue reading "LOUD AND PROUD" »

August 28, 2008

SENSORY STIMULATION

King Crimson
Nokia Theatre Times Square – New York
Aug. 17, 2008

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Flying under the radar of a summer filled with mega-tours (The Police being one) was the definitive progressive-rock group King Crimson, touring in tribute to its 40th anniversary as a group.

The Crimson lineup has changed through the years, but the one constant has been 62-year-old founder/guitarist Robert Fripp (above), who once again assembled a stunning lineup of expert musicians to interpret the band’s catalog of noncommercial songs.

Continue reading "SENSORY STIMULATION" »

August 05, 2008

STILL A POWERFUL FORCE

The Police
PNC Bank Arts Center -- Holmdel, NJ
Aug. 3, 2008

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For the fourth-to-last show of The Police's lengthy reunion tour, 56-year-old Sting (above) looked his usual sculpted self in a skin-tight, long-sleeved shirt, but also sported a scruffy, gray-speckled beard that showed he is a long way from his days as a pinup and movie star.

Continue reading "STILL A POWERFUL FORCE" »

August 01, 2008

DISC DISCUSSION:
PAUL WELLER -- 22 DREAMS

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Medleyville staffers Chris M. Junior and Donald Gavron go over the latest solo album by one of British rock's most respected musicians.

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PAUL WELLER -- 22 DREAMS" »

July 21, 2008

BECK -- MODERN GUILT

Guilt-free pleasure from veteran indie rocker

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There's an old saying about guilt being counterproductive. Beck's new album, Modern Guilt (DGC Records), has paid no attention to this corollary.

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BOSS MARTIANS -- PRESSURE IN THE S.O.D.O.

Another round of high-energy tunefulness

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It has been an eventful five years for the Boss Martians since their last album. The quartet has shuffled its rhythm section, been embraced by Little Steven Van Zandt's garage-rock empire and even recruited Iggy Pop to co-write and appear on a track on its new MuSick Records disc.

But as the Martians' new Pressure in the S.O.D.O. (a reference to a neighborhood in the band's hometown of Seattle) shows, little has changed musically. And while that doesn't make for much variety, that's still largely a good thing.

Continue reading "BOSS MARTIANS -- PRESSURE IN THE S.O.D.O." »

May 26, 2008

AL GREEN -- LAY IT DOWN

Star guests contribute to uplifting results

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Soul legend Al Green always has put his best foot forward in the recording studio. He's an institution for his songs of positivity, spirituality and just plain heart and soul.

With his latest offering, Lay it Down (Blue Note), the Rev. Green gets a little help from some contemporary R&B powerhouses to collaborate and pay reverence to his legacy.

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May 05, 2008

STEVE WINWOOD -- NINE LIVES

Traffic-esque effort adds to impressive body of work

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Steve Winwood's ninth solo album, Nine Lives (Wincraft Music/Columbia Records), is a strong set of musical arrangements featuring songs that confront an uncertain world. Musically, there also is more than a passing echo to Traffic, Winwood's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band.

Continue reading "STEVE WINWOOD -- NINE LIVES" »

February 21, 2008

TWO WELCOME THROWBACKS

The Black Hollies/The Insomniacs
Maxwell's -- Hoboken, N.J.
Feb. 17, 2008

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The Black Hollies' new album contains ditties about changing seasons, flowers and candles, stately, sprawling chateaus, and even odes to ballerinas and (gasp) perishable fruits.

Onstage, they're not afraid to boast the blazer-and-turtleneck look and, on a given night, multiple ascots. And while quite possibly an homage, their name cops that of a revered '60s hitmaking group.

Continue reading "TWO WELCOME THROWBACKS" »

February 01, 2008

NADA SURF -- LUCKY

Misery continues to be the band's specialty

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Nada Surf's fifth album kicks off with "See These Bones," a mini-epic that finds singer/guitarist Matthew Caws resigned to mortality ("You'll be dust") as morose verses build to a sweeping chorus (not to mention a killer pun: "Look alive! See these bones").

The track serves a quick reminder that few acts mine misery better than the New York trio, and an instant indicator of where the band is headed for the duration of Lucky (Barsuk Records), perhaps the moodiest and broodiest release yet by Caws, bassist Daniel Lorca and drummer Ira Elliot.

As for whether it also rates among the band's best, that depends on the listener's threshold for doom and gloom.

Continue reading "NADA SURF -- LUCKY" »

January 13, 2008

RADIOHEAD -- IN RAINBOWS

Rewarding music and unique CD packaging

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Last October, Radiohead released its new album on the Internet with a risky pay-what-you-choose option, and the marketing strategy apparently was a major success. But despite the numerous downloads, In Rainbows (TBD) also made a splash this month in its physical form, selling enough CDs to hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

No matter the form, it's a rewarding collection of music from a band still at the top of its game.

Continue reading "RADIOHEAD -- IN RAINBOWS" »

January 01, 2008

TEN YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN 2007

Once again, I, Gary Pig Gold, lived the year with ears wide open, forever scouting far under the socio-musical radar for sounds that may just have passed you by over the past twelve months and counting.

So, here then is a Top 10 of sorts, respectfully listed, as always, in strictest alphabetical order.

Continue reading "TEN YOU MAY HAVE MISSED IN 2007" »

November 13, 2007

LUCINDA BLACK BEAR -- 'CAPO MY HEART' AND OTHER BEAR SONGS

Dark, atmospheric and monotonous

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If nothing else, the debut disc from Lucinda Black Bear boasts what has to be one of the most accurate titles in indie rock history. Which is to say that, yes, 'Capo My Heart' and Other Bear Songs (Eastern Spurs) not only contains cuts that touch on taming said wild beasts, but also embodies the pretentiousness that its name suggests.

Continue reading "LUCINDA BLACK BEAR -- 'CAPO MY HEART' AND OTHER BEAR SONGS" »

October 01, 2007

DISC DISCUSSION: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- MAGIC

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Bruce Springsteen is back with the E Street Band for his latest studio album.

Is Magic the same ol' Boss, or does Springsteen have some new tricks up his sleeve? Medleyville.us staffers George Henn, Mike Madden and Michael Corby hash it out.

Continue reading "DISC DISCUSSION: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- MAGIC" »

July 12, 2007

REVIEW: ROCKIN THE COLONIES

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1980s package tours can be intriguing prospects, but not always for the best reasons.

Before the sensible concert-goer plunks down his cash to see some bands who were in their prime in a time when synthesizers ran wild, MTV was a tastemaker and the Internet was years from being dreamed up by Al Gore, a few key questions often come to mind: Who exactly is in the band, anyway? Can they get through a song without being winded? And, most importantly, can they still play?

With this in mind, Medleyville checked out the Rockin the Colonies tour this week at Jenkinsons in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J., featuring The Psychedelic Furs, The Fixx and The Alarm. Here is a handy
breakdown of each act (in the order in which they played):

Continue reading "REVIEW: ROCKIN THE COLONIES" »

June 11, 2007

DISC DISCUSSION -- ANCHORED IN LOVE

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Some very familiar names have joined forces to honor the late June Carter Cash. George Henn and Mike Madden have the lowdown.

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May 16, 2007

IAN HUNTER -- SHRUNKEN HEADS

Veteran singer makes his lyrics count

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"I got a big mouth," Ian Hunter warns on the lead track to his latest album. To Hunter's credit, when he has chosen to open it lately, he has made it count.

Continue reading "IAN HUNTER -- SHRUNKEN HEADS" »

May 11, 2007

PORCUPINE TREE -- FEAR OF A BLANK PLANET

Stretching the boundaries of progressive rock

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Porcupine Tree's ninth studio album, Fear of a Blank Planet (Atlantic/Lava), is a tour through the malaise of the 21st century, featuring songs that illustrate a culture overtaken by distractions and boredom.

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May 03, 2007

PATTI SMITH -- TWELVE

Well-chosen covers are in line with singer's sensibilities

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Patti Smith's unique imprint on rock 'n' roll and the early New York City punk scene cannot be denied. Her influence on countless female rock singer/poets is indelible, and her recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was long overdue.

That said, she isn't resting on her laurels with Twelve (Columbia), an all cover-tunes project.

Continue reading "PATTI SMITH -- TWELVE" »

April 23, 2007

TWO COW GARAGE -- III

Band's soul-searching third album has its moments

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Two Cow Garage has made a firm commitment to slogging it out in clubs across the country, having played hundreds of mostly low-profile dates annually in recent years.

Continue reading "TWO COW GARAGE -- III" »

April 04, 2007

DISC DISCUSSION

Grant-Lee Phillips -- Strangelet

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Less than a year from releasing his last album, nineteeneighties, Grant-Lee Phillips returns with Strangelet (Zoe). Chris M. Junior and Mike Madden have the lowdown.

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March 28, 2007

GRAND CHAMPEEN -- DIAL T FOR THIS

Texas band takes steps in the right direction

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The old expression "With age comes wisdom" can be a curse rather than a blessing within the parameters of rock 'n' roll.

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December 08, 2006

NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE -- LIVE AT THE FILLMORE EAST

A legend-to-be establishes his trademark sound

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The long-awaited first release from Neil Young's archive series is a rough-honed gem that will be a welcome delight to his legion of aficionados.

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December 06, 2006

THE WHO -- ENDLESS WIRE

Mixed-bag effort offers flashes of the past

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The Who is undoubtedly one of the premier bands and concert acts in rock history, and arguably only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones can compare in terms of influence and quality of output.

Roughly 24 years after its last new album, The Who is back with Endless Wire (Universal Republic), and it’s difficult to judge it within the context of the band’s history.

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December 04, 2006

JAY-Z -- KINGDOM COME

Rapper's comeback effort has its ups and downs

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Arguably one of this fall's most anticipated album releases, no matter what genre, is Jay-Z's comeback album, Kingdom Come (Roc-A-Fella), and with it he is looking to reclaim his throne as rap's kingpin.

That leads to the question: Was it worth it for him to go back on his word and come out of retirement?

Continue reading "JAY-Z -- KINGDOM COME" »

October 31, 2006

THE EXPLODING HEARTS -- SHATTERED

An aptly named CD for a promising band with a tragic story

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Rock's multi-death travel tragedies include the 1959 airplane crash that claimed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, as well as the 1977 plane crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant and other Lynyrd Skynyrd members.

Lesser-known acts have lost personnel while on tour, too.

Continue reading "THE EXPLODING HEARTS -- SHATTERED" »

October 06, 2006

CELEBRITY DUETS WRAPUP

Fox's Celebrity Duets is over. In case you missed it, here is a brief overview of the series.

Continue reading "CELEBRITY DUETS WRAPUP" »

September 29, 2006

DISC DISCUSSION -- THE LEMONHEADS

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Evan Dando is back, and he's revived the Lemonheads name. George Henn and Mike Madden take a look at the group's new studio album.

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September 22, 2006

CELEBRITY DUETS, Episode 4

Sept. 21, 2006

This Fox competition is down to five contestants, with two being let go this week before next week's series finale. Here's what happened in the fourth episode:

Continue reading "CELEBRITY DUETS, Episode 4" »

September 15, 2006

CELEBRITY DUETS, Episode 3

Sept. 14, 2006

The third round of this Wayne Brady-hosted Fox singing competition is in the books. Here's a recap:

Continue reading "CELEBRITY DUETS, Episode 3" »

September 08, 2006

CELEBRITY DUETS, Episode 2

Sept. 7, 2006

The second round of this Fox series is in the books, and here's what went down:

Continue reading "CELEBRITY DUETS, Episode 2" »

August 10, 2006

IT'S MILLER'S TIME

Rhett Miller
Riverside Garden Park -- Red Bank, N.J.
Aug. 4, 2006

When one thinks of summertime, the thoughts and imagery of vacations come to mind. In the rock music community, a vacation may encompass a musician leaving his or her usual backing band and forming a touring band to perform solo material.

But there are other times when an artist just has to bask in his or her own solitude. That was the case on this particular summer night for Rhett Miller as he continues his touring apart from The Old 97's and in support of his most recent solo effort, The Believer (Verve Forecast).

Continue reading "IT'S MILLER'S TIME" »

July 20, 2006

THOM YORKE -- THE ERASER

Radiohead leader takes the minimalist route

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Ardent admirers of Radiohead will not be disappointed by Thom Yorke's first solo record, The Eraser (XL), which is a solid effort but far from sublime.

Continue reading "THOM YORKE -- THE ERASER" »

July 10, 2006

SOUL ASYLUM -- THE SILVER LINING

Uneven effort has its share of appealing, memorable moments

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Judging by Soul Asylum's first album in eight years, The Silver Lining (Sony Legacy), little would seem to have changed since the band was last heard from.

If only that were the case.

Continue reading "SOUL ASYLUM -- THE SILVER LINING" »

July 05, 2006

VARIOUS ARTISTS -- STRUMMIN’ WITH THE DEVIL: THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF VAN HALEN

Diamond Dave guests on instrumentally ambitious effort

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To many, the idea of bluegrass musicians mining the early Van Halen catalog undoubtedly sounds like a joke. After all, is it really feasible to meld bare-bones, blue-collar, esteemed American roots music with arena-schlock material originally sung by a man fond of wearing pants with the rear end cut out?

Continue reading "VARIOUS ARTISTS -- STRUMMIN’ WITH THE DEVIL: THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF VAN HALEN" »

TOM VERLAINE -- SONGS AND OTHER THINGS

Crafty guitar work, oblique lyrics add up to a meaningful disc

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Television guitarist Tom Verlaine's first solo recordings in 14 years will give his fans reasons to rejoice.

Continue reading "TOM VERLAINE -- SONGS AND OTHER THINGS" »

June 22, 2006

INSPIRED AND REWARDING

Tommy Keene/The Figgs/Seth Tiven
Maxwell's -- Hoboken, N.J.
June 16, 2006

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An unofficial Tommy Keene (above) itinerary for the past decade would read like this:

Release critically praised but modestly selling indie album every three or four years. Follow it up by hitting the road with backing band to support the disc on a short tour of small clubs. Perform tight and often smoldering shows, even if the club is half full on many nights.

Continue reading "INSPIRED AND REWARDING" »

June 12, 2006

CHEAP TRICK -- ROCKFORD

Skills remain intact, but most songs don't measure up

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In the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, teen ticket scalper Mike Damone (masterfully played by Robert Romanus) sings a medley of now-classic Cheap Trick songs to a female fan who's on the fence about purchasing seats to the band's upcoming concert.

Had the movie been made today, Damone probably would have included only one or two of the 12 tunes found on Cheap Trick's Rockford (Cheap Trick Unlimited/Big3 Records), an overall mediocre effort.

Continue reading "CHEAP TRICK -- ROCKFORD" »

ROCKIN' THE SWAMPS OF JERSEY

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Pearl Jam/My Morning Jacket
Continental Airlines Arena -- East Rutherford, N.J.
June 3, 2006

Those fans who entered Continental Airlines Arena on June 3 to check out the opening set by My Morning Jacket received more than advertised.

Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder (above) kicked the night off by treating the early arriving crowd to a solo-acoustic performance of Bruce Springsteen's "No Surrender." Vedder then introduced My Morning Jacket and joined the group for a version of The Band's "It Makes No Difference."

Continue reading "ROCKIN' THE SWAMPS OF JERSEY" »

May 30, 2006

PAUL SIMON -- SURPRISE

A textured, vivid disc that ranks among his best

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Paul Simon has triumphantly set foot (musically, that is) in the 21st century with his first album of new material in six years.

Continue reading "PAUL SIMON -- SURPRISE" »

THE YAYHOOS -- PUT THE HAMMER DOWN

All-star bar band has a load of fun

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There's always room for a good collaborative effort, and with their second joint venture, Put the Hammer Down, The Yayhoos are out to do a whole lot of sharing.

Continue reading "THE YAYHOOS -- PUT THE HAMMER DOWN" »

May 18, 2006

NEIL YOUNG -- LIVING WITH WAR

A meaningful album done quickly and effectively

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Neil Young's Living with War (Reprise) proves unequivocally that the man dubbed the godfather of grunge also is the godfather of the protest song.

Continue reading "NEIL YOUNG -- LIVING WITH WAR" »

May 05, 2006

MARK KNOPFLER AND EMMYLOU HARRIS -- ALL THE ROADRUNNING

Vocal restraint, production values minimize overall effort

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Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler and country/folk music legend Emmylou Harris have been working (when their busy schedules allowed) on an album for the past seven years, and the end result, All the Roadrunning (Nonesuch), finally saw the light of day last month.

At first glance, this may seem an odd pairing -- and it is.

Continue reading "MARK KNOPFLER AND EMMYLOU HARRIS -- ALL THE ROADRUNNING" »

May 02, 2006

DISC DISCUSSION

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Alejandro Escovedo -- The Boxing Mirror

He's healthy again, and that also means Alejandro Escovedo is back to making music. Staffers Chris M. Junior and George Henn pull no punches in their comments about Escovedo's latest effort, The Boxing Mirror (Back Porch).

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April 08, 2006

SXSW '06: JOE BELOCK'S RECAP

Writer-at-large and Three Chord Monte radio host Joe Belock goes to Austin, Texas, every March during the South by Southwest music festival/conference and scours the city's clubs. Here's a summary of what he checked out in 2006.

Continue reading "SXSW '06: JOE BELOCK'S RECAP" »

SXSW '06: PONDEROSA STOMP

If the spirit displayed by the Gulf Coast musicians featured in the two Ponderosa Stomp shows at this year's South by Southwest music festival/conference is any indication, the region will no doubt fully recover from Hurricane Katrina.

Continue reading "SXSW '06: PONDEROSA STOMP" »

SXSW '06: ROKY ERICKSON

A troubled soul manages to hold his own

Comebacks by 1960s icons/drug casualties with long histories of mental illness, declining talents and other troubles should be approached with caution. One too many rambling “performances” from Sky Saxon or expensive tickets to watch Brian Wilson read a teleprompter and bang on an unplugged keyboard will make any diehard a little gun-shy.

And so, Roky Erickson's four appearances during this year’s South by Southwest week in Austin, Texas, were cause for tempered enthusiasm.

Continue reading "SXSW '06: ROKY ERICKSON" »

April 03, 2006

LESS IS MORE

Stripped-down Minus 5 packs verve and volume

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The Minus 5
Southpaw -- Brooklyn, N.Y.
March 26, 2006

The Minus 5 has always boasted a loosely constructed cast of members and contributors, but revolves around two constants: bandleader Scott McCaughey (above), who formed the collective of mostly Seattle-based musicians in the mid-1990s as a side project as his previous band, the Young Fresh Fellows, was winding down; and his two-pronged gift for churning out measured, wry, observational guitar pop as well as full-on garage rockers (not unlike one of his major influences, Ray Davies of The Kinks).

Continue reading "LESS IS MORE" »

March 29, 2006

A U.K. DOUBLE PLAY

For both acts, older material still scores with fans

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Coldplay/Richard Ashcroft
Continental Airlines Arena -- East Rutherford, N.J.
March 25, 2006

Every few years, music seems to birth a new band from England that is hailed as the beginning of the next British Invasion.

Continue reading "A U.K. DOUBLE PLAY" »

March 21, 2006

DMC -- CHECKS THUGS AND ROCK N ROLL

Guest artists dominate spotty solo outing

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After roughly two decades with now-disbanded Run-DMC, Darryl McDaniels (DMC) has finally gone solo, even if he is not quite ready to go it alone.

Continue reading "DMC -- CHECKS THUGS AND ROCK N ROLL" »

March 18, 2006

SXSW '06

Sights, sounds and observations from Austin, Texas -- March 17

* Judy Collins concluded her interview with radio personality Pete Fornatale by singing a moving version of "Amazing Grace."

* Chrissie Hynde took issue with the oversized, animal-hide covered chair she was provided for her interview with Bill Flanagan, at one point sitting on the floor before she parked herself in a cloth-and-metal chair like those available for the audience.

* Teddy Thompson was in fine form on KGSR-FM (107.1), performing "I Should Get Up" in advance of his evening set at Eternal.

* Street marketing at its most effective: Nearly, if not all, of the streetlight posts along Sixth Street had red posters pushing The Back Room, the new Editors album, due March 21.

* "This is set for Dave." -- Rodney Crowell, after stopping his first song at Parish to raise the microphone stand. Crowell had been introduced by writer Dave Marsh.

-- By Chris M. Junior

March 17, 2006

SXSW '06

Sights, sounds and observations from Austin, Texas -- March 16

* "If you try too hard, you're not going to get there." -- Neil Young talking about the songwriting process during his keynote conversation.

* "We have the cream of the crop." -- Sam Moore, referring to the stars on his upcoming album, Overnight Sensational, which features Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Sting and others.

* Justin King dazzled the Driskill Hotel crowd during a Sony artists showcase with his percussive fingertapping guitar work, also showing he has solid tunes to go along with impressive chops.

* Catherine Wheel singer Rob Dickinson flashed a sense of humor prior to his solo acoustic set at Friends, saying he was the lead singer of Iron Maiden (that distinction belongs to Bruce Dickinson).

-- By Chris M. Junior

March 16, 2006

SXSW '06

Sights, sounds and observations from Austin, Texas -- March 15

* Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets fame performed an awful version of "Lake of Fire" on KLBJ-FM (93.7), his off-key voice as bad as his cheap-sounding guitar.

* Albie Monterrosa, Soto and James Guerrero of the New Jersey band deSol looked and sounded animated in the convention center during the afternoon despite a long drive to Austin that ended around 6 a.m. that morning.

* "I think peer-to-peer [file distribution] is great -- it's great for everyone . . . but it has to be monetized. Monitizing [peer-to-peer] is what we have to do." -- Martin Mills of Beggars Group during the panel Billboard's Indie Label White Paper.

* The notorious Beatle Bob looked foolish as always as he did something that resembled dancing combined with air drumming while next to the Mother Egan's stage during a set by The Silos.

-- By Chris M. Junior

March 06, 2006

HERE COMES THE SON

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Thompson proves the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Teddy Thompson
Feb. 22, 2006
Mercury Lounge -- New York


The life of a famous musician's kid must be bittersweet. When said parent is successful, it often equals money, little responsibility and media attention based solely on who your father or mother is (see Nicole Richie).

But when your goals are to follow in your parent's footsteps, all of a sudden the expectations start to rise and the criticism can be harsh. Teddy Thompson, son of Richard and Linda Thompson, set out to attract some attention of his own during a recent show at New York's Mercury Lounge to promote his second album, Separate Ways (Verve Forecast).

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February 24, 2006

WILL HOGE -- THE MAN WHO KILLED LOVE

Southern rock, soul highlight self-released album

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Most of the time, life as a musician is not as glamorous as one might think. For every pop star profiled on an episode of VH1's The Glamorous Life, there are many who can barely put enough gas in the tour bus to get to the next gig.

While some cry over Internet piracy and lost sales, others beg to have people hear their material. These are the themes Nashville, Tenn.-based singer-songwriter Will Hoge (above) ponders on his third studio long-player, The Man Who Killed Love.

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February 07, 2006

THE UNLIMITED SUNSHINE TOUR

Poor pacing plagues the entire show

Cake/Tegan and Sara/Gogol Bordello
Hammerstein Ballroom -- New York
Jan. 20, 2006

"Now tickets to concerts and drinking at clubs,
Sometimes for music that you haven't even heard of.
And how much did you pay for your rock 'n' roll T-shirt
That proves you were there,
That you heard of them first?
How do you afford your rock 'n' roll lifestyle?"

-- Cake, "Rock 'N' Roll Lifestyle" (1994)

With its song "Rock 'N' Roll Lifestyle," Cake snidely skewers the idea of concert-goers eagerly shelling out money for tickets, booze and T-shirts at inflated prices. It was a highlight, if also a potentially bite-the-hand-that-feeds anthem, from the band's debut album in 1994, when the Sacramento, Calif., band was playing clubs so tiny that its fans needn't have worried about leaving a show with too light a wallet.

So naturally, the thousands of people who forked over 34 bucks (and many of whom could not swill $7 beers fast enough) to see Cake's package tour in New York made for quite a sight. Of course, these days the band has five albums and a handful of alterna-rock hits to its credit, and enough of a loyal following to fill concert halls for the third installment of the Unlimited Sunshine tour.

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January 25, 2006

STEVE WYNN & THE MIRACLE 3 -- ...tick...tick...tick

Varied, passionate and among Wynn's best works

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Rare is the mention of Steve Wynn that does not include a corresponding nod to the Dream Syndicate, the acclaimed post-punk group he led up until its demise in the late 1980s. While that band would make an admirable anchor for just about anyone's indie-rock resume, the "former Dream Syndicate frontman" tag does not begin to do Wynn justice -- not after the solid solo career he has carved out, and especially not when the music he is making with his current backing musicians is so vital and vibrant.

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January 11, 2006

WANDERING THROUGH THE BLUES

Dion revisits his roots during hometown gig

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Dion
Joe's Pub/New York
Jan. 9, 2006

Neil Diamond isn’t the only New York-bred veteran rocker who's put the acoustic guitar at the forefront of his latest album.

So has Dion, who performed material from his CD Bronx in Blue (Dimensional Music Recordings) on the eve of its official release during a solo show at Joe's Pub in Manhattan.

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December 30, 2005

CONVERSATIONS WITH TOM PETTY

Reflecting on a life shaped by rock 'n' roll

In his music, Tom Petty can be vague or specific in his lyrics, and he also can tell a good story. Petty can be just as general, detailed and engaging when talking about his life, too.

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December 12, 2005

TOP ALBUMS OF 2005

It's time to recap the best discs of the year, and here are the picks from Medleyville staffers.

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GUILTY PLEASURES OF 2005

They're the songs that, despite one's best efforts, enter the brain and take up unoccupied space for a long time. Chris M. Junior reveals the five hits from 2005 that he secretly hoped to hear on his car radio.

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December 05, 2005

GUIDED BY VOICES -- THE ELECTRIFYING CONCLUSION

Robert Pollard and band let it all hang out one last time

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Much like the band's career itself, the final Guided By Voices performance was an exercise in excess and stamina. As captured on the concert DVD The Electrifying Conclusion (Plexifilm), the group's swan song from New Year's Eve 2004 in Chicago proved a fitting finale for the legendary indie-rock heroes.

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November 28, 2005

THE MENDOZA LINE -- FULL OF LIGHT AND FULL OF FIRE

Lone core members maintain quality, variety of past efforts

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It has been a long journey for The Mendoza Line, in terms of both geography and output.

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November 21, 2005

SANTANA -- ALL THAT I AM

Styles, performances clash on latest star-studded effort

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In the case of Carlos Santana, apparently you can't teach an old guitarist new tricks.

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November 07, 2005

NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 SONGS

Stripped-down approach is very rewarding

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There's Neil Diamond the entertainer, whose gaudy shirts and concert showmanship often rival that of Elvis Presley during his bloated jumpsuit era.

Then there's Diamond the singer/songwriter, whose discography isn't without glitz, bombast or even cringe-worthy sentiment (the Barbra Streisand duet "You Don’t Bring Me Flowers," anyone?).

But it is restraint, not overkill, that runs throughout Diamond's 12 Songs (Columbia) -- and the quality of the material matches the performances.

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November 01, 2005

MARAH -- IF YOU DIDN'T LAUGH, YOU'D CRY

Self-effacing yet assured; flawed yet memorable

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Marah, a band always long on critical acclaim yet lacking mass appeal, ventured toward commercial success with the polished power-pop sounds of its third album and mellow narratives of its fourth.

It never materialized.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS -- DIMENSION MIX: THE SONGS OF BRUCE HAACK AND ESTHER NELSON

Having fun with classic youth-targeted tunes

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For many youngsters of the 1960s and '70s, the late Bruce Haack’s music was a gift of sorts. Apparently, plenty of musicians who grew up singing along to it are all too eager to return the favor to a new generation of listeners.

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October 24, 2005

DISC DISCUSSION

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Big Star -- In Space

Roughly twelve years since making an unexpected return to the concert stage, the legendary power-pop band Big Star has released a new studio album on the Rykodisc label. Staffers George Henn and Chris M. Junior share their thoughts on the CD.

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A HOBOKEN HOMECOMING

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The dB's
Maxwell's -- Hoboken, N.J.
Sept. 19, 2005

The dB's are perhaps most famous for not being famous at all. That is, there is a prevailing feeling that the band should not have had to settle for being critically acclaimed cult favorites, unlike, say, early 1980s college-rock contemporaries (and future multi-millionaires) R.E.M.

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THE JONES GANG -- ANY DAY NOW

Star power amounts to nothing

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There is no shortage of classic rock credentials in The Jones Gang. The core of the group is drummer Kenney Jones (The Small Faces, The Faces and The Who), bassist Rick Wills (Peter Frampton, Foreigner and Bad Company) and singer Robert Hart (Bad Company).

But impressive resumes only matter so much.

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