The folks over at KEXP, that venerable institution of all things musically cool, have put together a third mix tape, culled from their back catalogue of live, in-studio performances.
The recently announced late 2007 New York appearances of Sly and the Family Stone will no doubt focus attention on the re-mastered limited-edition catalog titles released earlier in the year.
"5 Times Out of 100" should please longtime fans and while it would easy to point out several other standout tracks, it may just be easier to go ahead and recommend Happiness as the best of Hot Hot Heat's career.
Some bands cover songs, others rename songs, but Magnet School has made an album out of a song.
Listen My Friends, a twenty track Moby Grape compilation, is arguably superior to the now out-of-print double-cd Vintage simply because this one focuses solely on the group’s strengths.
Appreciating Mighty High means allowing for Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule to indulge their recent surge of interest in dub and other reggae flavors. There's a lot to like on Mighty High and a lot to discard. Even haters of the CD–some Mule fanatics have called it un-listenable, and they're not totally wrong, should feel comfortable knowing the band has no plans for a holding pattern with this musical output. Trust in that.
In over 40 years of performing, Van Morrison has released records on a variety of labels. Until now, there has apparently not been a best of culled from his entire catalog. Still on Top is a single volume anthology of Van the Man's hits ranging from his time in the mid-60s with Them up to 2005's Magic Time. As such, it is a bit inconsistent as were the times.
Warren Zevon invaded the mainstream only briefly during his career but in so doing forged a memorable persona with the public. Preludes, a double disc package of unreleased demo recordings combined with an interview on cd, illustrates how much more there is to the man than the combination of comic absurdity and latent violence in songs such as “Excitable Boy” and “Werewolves of London.”
The Perishers made great inroads during a North American tour with Sarah McLachlan. The Swedish outfit then created some perfect, timeless and melodic pop songs on 2005’s Let There Be Morning, that left many wanting more. And while there is always the thought of on Victorious with the tender, earnest opener “Midnight Skies” that builds into a rich pop tune.
I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child is the debut by the Manchester Orchestra hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Although they are a considerable distance from Manchester, England, this is an encouraging pop rock album, catchy enough to get radio airplay while still managing to be unique and engaging.
