review Archive
09 Jul 2024
Album Review: Min Xiao-Fen – Metta
I’ve written before about virtuoso musician and composer Min Xiao-Fen. Min has carved out a fascinating and unique niche in the musical world. With a foundation in classical music, she […]
07 Jul 2024
Album Review: The Hollywood Stars – Starstruck
It’s fair to look with skepticism upon a revived lineup of a long-lost band from days gone by. Recapturing past glories is a worthy enough goal, but it’s one that […]
06 Jul 2024
Album Review: The Supremes – We Remember Sam Cooke
Gospel-informed soul singer Sam Cooke died tragically in December 1964 in murky circumstances; at the time, Cooke was enjoying a sustained peak as a songwriter, performer and recording artist. In […]
29 Jun 2024
Album Review: Philip Sayce – The Wolves Are Coming
England-born and Canada-raised guitarist Philip Sayce released his first album, Philip Sayce Group, in 1996. Tracks like that album’s “Morning Star” showcased the guitarist’s funk-heavy, Jimi Hendrix-influenced approach. High profile […]
23 Jun 2024
Album Review: The Temptations – Wish it Would Rain
Detroit soul/r&b vocal group The Temptations were early stars on Berry Gordy’s Motown label. The group had its roots in earlier vocal groups The Cavaliers, The Primes, The Siberians and […]
16 Jun 2024
Album Review: Benjamin Croft — We Are Here to Help
When it comes to music, you can often take accurate measure of an artist by finding out who their friends are. And while it’s true that in 2024, all manner […]
13 Jun 2024
Album Review: Sun Ra – At the Showcase: Live in Chicago 1977-1978
Zev Feldman has applied his “jazz detective” approach to a dizzying array of artists, unearthing previously unheard recordings by landmark artists ranging from Bill Evans to Mel Lewis to Les […]
12 Jun 2024
Album Review: Foghat – Slow Ride: Live in Concert
Too often, Foghat gets a bad rap. They’re unfairly lumped in with faceless boogie bands of the 1970s. They deserve better. An offshoot of Savoy Brown, Foghat were at their […]
11 Jun 2024
Album Review: The Brat – Straight Outta East L.A.
Time has an odd way of changing our perception. Most anyone who heard Sex Pistols in the 1978 would have found them abrasive, chaotic and noisy. As Never Mind the […]
09 Jun 2024
Single Review: Dave McLean – “Faintly Blowing”
When it came to ‘60s psychedelia of the British variant, the prevailing approach was a kind of twee popsike (if you will). Songs with titles like “Toffee Apple Sundays” from […]