Posts by Joey Willis

As the holiday season approaches, Barenaked Ladies fans have an extra reason to celebrate with the worldwide vinyl debut of Barenaked for the Holidays, brought to listeners for the first time by Craft Recordings. Originally released in 2004, this festive album quickly became a favorite among fans of the Canadian alt-pop group, known for their […]

Sonora Ponceña’s Sabor Sureño is a sparkling gem from the salsa golden era, and the 50th-anniversary reissue highlights why this album remains a cornerstone of Puerto Rican music. Released in 1974, Sabor Sureño captures the band’s inventive fusion of traditional Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, and intricate storytelling. Bandleader Papo Lucca’s signature touch on the piano and […]

The 50th anniversary reissue of Celia & Johnny, a 1974 masterpiece from Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco, celebrates an album that redefined salsa music and cemented Cruz’s status as an icon. Originally released on Vaya Records, Celia & Johnny captures the electrifying synergy between the Cuban singer, affectionately known as “The Guarachera of Cuba,” and […]

Craft Latino’s reissue of Traigo de Todo, marking Fania Records’ 60th anniversary, breathes new life into the 1974 classic from Ismael Rivera—a seminal figure in Latin music, often affectionately known as “Maelo.” This album, released during Rivera’s post-prison renaissance, radiates the sounds of resilience, cultural pride, and spiritual rebirth. Traigo de Todo finds Rivera at […]

Héctor Lavoe’s sophomore album, De Ti Depende, released in 1976, builds on the success of his debut La Voz and elevates his artistry, firmly establishing him as one of salsa’s most compelling voices. While La Voz introduced Lavoe as a solo artist with undeniable charisma, De Ti Depende demonstrates his growth as a bandleader, revealing […]

The Craft Recordings reissue of Howard McGhee and Teddy Edwards’ Together Again!!!! is a celebration of two monumental figures in post-bop jazz, brought back into the sonic forefront with pristine detail. This 180-gram vinyl edition, mastered from the original tapes by the legendary Bernie Grundman, is not just a reissue but a reverent preservation of […]

Anna Butterss’ Mighty Vertebrate is a striking album that defies easy categorization, blending jazz, indie, and experimental music into a cohesive and imaginative body of work. Hailing from Adelaide, Australia, and now based in Los Angeles, Butterss has gained recognition as a versatile bassist and collaborator, contributing to a wide range of projects, including Tortoise, […]

Brenton Wood is an unsung hero of the 1960s soul era, a name that may not ring as many bells as Marvin Gaye or Smokey Robinson but deserves just as much attention. Born Alfred Jesse Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana, he moved to Los Angeles, where his musical career took shape. Influenced by the rich R&B […]

Fifteen years ago, Alice In Chains did the unthinkable: they released an album with a new lead singer, William DuVall, stepping into the immense shadow of Layne Staley. Black Gives Way to Blue, released in 2009, was a pivotal moment not only for the band but for their fans, who were grappling with the loss […]

The Mystery Lights’ latest album, Purgatory, is a captivating sonic exploration that sees the Brooklyn-based quintet carving out new territory in the psychedelic rock landscape. Known for their relentless energy and genre-blurring approach, the band’s third studio effort is a bold departure from their earlier work, blending raw, unpolished garage rock with layers of nuanced […]

Lutalo’s debut album, The Academy, is a compelling exploration of the complexities of privilege, identity, and the elusive American Dream. Through a dynamic fusion of genres and a narrative rich in personal history, Lutalo crafts a body of work that is both musically daring and thematically profound. Rooted in the artist’s experiences as an outsider […]

The 2024 release of Live at the Opera House is a long-overdue triumph, offering fans a chance to relive a moment in musical history when Sylvester transformed the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House into a dazzling celebration of love, liberation, and disco. This concert from 1979 has always been legendary, but now with over […]

Hataałii’s Waiting for a Sign is an atmospheric and introspective album deeply rooted in both the vast landscapes of the American Southwest and his Navajo heritage. At just 21, Hataałii (pronounced: hah-toth-lee)—whose real name is Hataałiinez Wheeler—crafts music that captures the sense of isolation, longing, and history that permeates his homeland, Window Rock, Arizona, the […]

Teaches of Peaches, the documentary chronicling the life and career of the Canadian electroclash icon Merrill Nisker, AKA Peaches, offers a visceral, unapologetic exploration of an artist who has spent decades challenging norms and dismantling boundaries. The film profiles Peaches life and her tour in celebration of the 20th anniversary of her breakthrough album, The […]

The 2025 Big Ears Festival announcement is nothing short of a symphonic surge of excitement, a signal that one of the world’s most forward-thinking musical gatherings is set to once again push boundaries from March 27 to 30 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Known for its genre-defying curation, the festival returns with a lineup that spans cultures, […]

Zimmer90’s What Love Is EP is a vibrant blend of indie-pop, disco, and synth-driven nostalgia that beautifully captures the duo’s artistic evolution. Across its six tracks, the EP showcases Finn and Joscha’s ability to craft lush, sophisticated pop soundscapes while maintaining an irresistibly catchy groove. The duo’s musical influences shine through in the EP, drawing […]

Two decades ago, Atreyu released The Curse, a defining album that solidified their place in the metalcore scene. Now, with the 20th-anniversary reissue, the band offers not just a nostalgic trip down memory lane but a chance for both old fans and new listeners to rediscover the raw power and emotional depth that made this […]

Released in 1962, The Cry is an ambitious and compelling album that stands as a testament to the experimental spirit of the early 1960s jazz scene. The Prince Lasha Quintet, featuring the dual talents of Prince Lasha on alto saxophone and flute and Sonny Simmons on alto saxophone and English horn, explores the outer limits […]

Constitution, the expansive double album by South African drummer Asher Gamedze and his ten-piece ensemble, The Black Lungs, is a bold and profound exploration of musical and philosophical themes. Released by International Anthem, Constitution was recorded in a single day at Cape Town’s Sound and Motion Studios and is a fellowship of sound, thought, and […]

The reissue of Chalino Sanchez’s Nieves de Enero on vinyl by Craft Recordings, over three decades after its original release, is not just a revival of a classic; it’s a celebration of a cultural milestone. This album, originally released in 1992, is deeply embedded in the heart of Latin music, resonates with themes of love, […]