Posts by Jason Macneil

Julian and Sean Lennon, Dhani Harrison, Jakob Dylan. All of them share the surnames of some of rock’s biggest icons and thus all have had to forge their own career from under a huge (and at times almost unfair) shadow that John Lennon, George Harrison and Bob Dylan have created. But if you’re father still is known in rock circles but doesn’t quite have that stratosphere level of fame, you can still carve your own road. And a perfect example of that comes in Chicago singer-songwriter Miles Nielsen.

Votolato has delivered another gem of a record, one which should be on year end lists without much question.

Released on the same day as his offspring's second birthday, is indicative of the musician's timeless, quality-heavy chops. Rock is better for having Brendan Benson in its world.

Whether with his work with ex-wife Linda Thompson that garnered him attention by some, or his routinely strong solo offerings which others have sought out, the musician rarely makes a creative, career-jeopardizing miscue. So it's not that much of a surprise that this live concert from Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall in January 2011, Thompson slowly warms up the audience with a first set featuring 11 of 13 tracks off his latest studio album Dream Attic.

Overall the package is perfect for fans of late '70s rock from a band that exemplifies that era.

Texas icons ZZ Top released a Live From Texas record in 2008, but as is the case with most artists releasing live albums later in their careers, the set is rife with warhorses that occasional has them on autopilot. Back in 1980 though, the band still had a hell of a lot to prove with “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man” still gleams in the eyes of the bearded Billy Gibbons and crew.

Now that the whirlwind in recent years that has been the film (Once), the band (The Swell Season) and an award (Oscar for “Falling Slowly”) has concluded, singer Marketa Irglova has branched out on her own. The personal relationship with Glen Hansard now off in the distance but the professional one still ongoing, Irglova has finally gotten around to recording her debut solo album. And it is as haunting, brilliant and spine-tingling as anything she did before in the other group.

Overall God Bless Ozzy Osbourne takes a little while to warm to, but the second half is well worth the wait. Jack says he wanted people to get to know the man from the documentary. He was primarily successful.

Vanish Valley made songs here that won’t vanish quickly, capped off by “Lion’s Den” that brings Sparklehorse to mind. They don’t have to get good because they are good.

Although disc two begins with a series of short, punk-leaning romps like “Speed Parade,” Slash shines on the later half with a winding “Beggars & Hangers On,” a delicious “Godfather Solo” and “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” The guitar solo in the middle of the album though is something to behold, exemplifying why Slash has remained a force with or without W. Axl.

A half century later, the genius of Ray Charles continues….

The guitar rock world lost a heavyweight earlier this year when British blues rocker Gary Moore died in early February. However, the Irish axeman made sure that the last gig he was to give – at the acclaimed Montreaux Jazz Festival last year – was a goodie

Hard rock/alternative outfit Placebo have never been the kind of band to be easily described. And it's that intangible that fuels most of this latest output from the group, a live 'Battle For Brixton” show that is rarely relenting.

You would think St. Louis and not Helsinki would be the backyard of The Latebirds, but alas they seem to nail a gorgeous, deliberate Americana style on the opening title track of Last Of The Good Ol' Days could be mistaken for a Jeff Tweedy solo track and not a seasoned Finnish-cana outfit. The bombast at the close might not be to everyone’s liking, but it seems to gel nicely. Meanwhile the sweet roots pop of “Among The Survivors” shines with its tight rhythm section and barroom keyboards.

It’s quite the distance from the Appalachians to Colorado, but for the duo of Fort Collins singer-songwriters Charlotte Formichella and Lynn Scharf – known as Driftwood Fire – they wouldn’t have it any other way

Following the well-received debut this “super group” got the last time around, it’s not that surprising that Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian would get back together for another kick at the rock and roll can.

 If the opener “My Mistakes” – which sounds like an early Rosanne Cash fronting The New Pornographers – doesn’t have you moving in your chair, seek help.

The latest offering – and with Robert Pollard I mean what he’s released basically since last night – from the Guided By Voices singer is a rollicking side project called Boston Spaceships (well now main side project) that has a huge ‘60s Brit rock feeling on the lead off “Blind 20-20” that morphs into a sweeter, spacey Beatles-esque romp. Alongside former GBV member Chris Slusarenko and The Decemberists’ John Moen, Pollard is in fine form on the all too short “Juggernaut Vs. Monolith.

Since the demise of The Fratellis a few years ago, people have waited for a punchy, catchy and sinfully infectious band to come along to carry the torch. And with Locksley, well they look to be that group. After being The Kinks’ Ray Davies backing band on a U.S. trek, the quartet has gotten much mileage from the huge sing-along nugget “The Whip.”

Whether it’s fate, the cosmos or just some huge enigma nobody can quite answer, there are some groups that are beloved, legendary icons in their homeland yet for some reason don’t quite make similar inroads internationally. In Canada you could probably say The Tragically Hip fit that bill and in South Africa, perhaps The Parlotones.