Posts by Joanne Schenker

Mountain's latest release, Masters of War is a Bob Dylan tribute album with original mountaineers West and Laing, Ritchie Scarlett, Brian Mitchell, Kenny Aronson and Todd Wolfe.   The CD arrives with uncanny timeliness – in the same way Dylan used his songmenship to protest against the Vietnam War,

It’s easy to overlook the dark heart at the core of Crisis Helpline, but don’t be fooled…under the tasty pieshell of some beautiful sounds lies a  deep, dark slice of life that Hoeffleur serves up so perfectly. 

They’re six cool cats from Melbourne, Australia who felt adventurous enough to travel beyond the beaches Down Under for their sophomore release as The Cat Empire.Havana, Cuba is the birthplace of Two Shoes – recorded at the famed Estudio Egrem and produced by Jerry Boys ( Buena Vista SocialClub).

Perry Farrell is breaking ground again…this time from far above the Earth with his latest creation, Satellite Party.

Looking at Stephen Marley you can see the resemblance to his father, Bob Marley. Hearing his music just confirms the power of genetics. Five time Grammy winning producer, singer and songwriter and the second son of the reggae master, is now stepping to the forefront for the first time in his 27 year career. His debut album, Mind Control combines the raw roots reggae of his childhood in Kingston with the rock, R&B and hip-hop influences of his formative years.

The spirit of Aqualung lives in a complex songsmith whose moody music he equates with both the underwater world and celestial space. His name is Matt Hales – singer/songwriter, pianist and multi-instrumentalist. A mastermind at mesmerizing us – first with his 2005 debut album in the U.S., Strange & Beautiful and now with the eagerly awaited successor, Memory Man.

He will not remain undiscovered for long. James Morrison’s debut album revamps the heyday of soul with a voice reminiscent of Stevie Wonder– but with a cleaner, crisper sound thanks to today’s technology. At a young age, this English soul singer turned to music as a way of channeling a painful upbringing – the result is a positive yet openly raw deliverance.

Richard Patrick, the man at the forefront of the rock band Filter for the past ten years has enlisted with bassist Robert DeLeo and guitarist Dean DeLeo –the brothers and musical architects behind Stone Temple Pilots. Add veteran drummer Ray Luzier, formerly of the David Lee Roth band and you have Army of Anyone. Together, the sum is even greater than its parts and the proof is in their self-titled debut album.

In today’s world of rock, it’s hard enough for musicians to get a good gig, no less shine in the sound department. Alexa Ray Joel, 21, is up for the challenge. Yes, she is the daughter of the one and only Billy Joel and super-model Christie Brinkley, but she’s far from living in her father’s shadow.

Joan Osborne’s debut album for Vanguard Records, Pretty Little Stranger brings this highly respected singer-songwriter back to her Kentucky roots with six originals and six cover songs that are subtle country-bluegrass blends.

Before most people ever heard of Pete Yorn there was one single drumbeat and one quirky movie, Me, Myself and Irene. The drumbeat evolved into an opener for the track, “Strange Condition” and as for the drummer…six years later and a full trilogy released, this singer-songwriter continues to hold listeners captive.

New York, a burgeoning blend of cultural arts, opens its eyes, ears and dance-club doors to Open Door

As sad as it is that CBGB’s is closing its doors at the end of the month, there couldn’t have been a better way to say goodbye to the Home of the Underground than with Pete Yorn. With his latest, Nightcrawler, just released, Yorn delivered some riveting new songs along with a repertoire of classics from his extensive catalogue.

Brett Dennen

Adam Green is back with his fourth solo album, and it

Their most recent Greatest Hits

The men behind U.K. soul outfit Zero 7 — producers Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker