Released in December 1986, 25 years ago, “Tutu” divided the world of jazz: some loving it, others labeled as “not jazz” and quite hating it. As Marcus Miller said in a recent interview: “I bought a Downbeat magazine when I was 15 years old and they were arguing about that. The last time I looked at Downbeat, they were still arguing the same stuff.” Thinking of music in genres, I believe, it’s a quite stupid approach. And there’s not even “good” or “bad” music, eventually there’s music we like or we don’t. It’s about the vibe I guess. And about our perception and not at least it’s about the moment and the mood, not to mention the contradictious matter of taste. I won’t definitively play Morbid Angel or Slayer when I’m in mood for sex. I admit, I discovered Miles Davis through “Tutu” and for years I did paint exclusively on Miles Davis and Jan Garbarek’s music. And still, I prefer to paint on jazz.
Marcus Miller wrote and produced “Tutu” at the age of 27 while by age of 13, Marcus was already proficient on clarinet, piano and bass guitar, and already writing his own songs. Miller soon became a top call session musician, gracing well over 500 albums, a short list of which includes Herbie Hancock, Mariah Carey, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner, Frank Sinatra, Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Grover Washington Jr., Donald Fagen, Bill Withers, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Bryan Ferry, David Sanborn, Billy Idol, Chaka Khan, LL Cool J and Me’shell NdegOcello and Flavio Sala. Read more Marcus Miller – Tutu Revisited (2011)
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The Lollipops – Hold! (2011)
Available in many flavors and shapes, mounted on a stick and intended for sucking or licking, the lollipops are hard candies. Chosen as band name is not quite inspired, plenty of artist/bands all over the world use it in different forms. This time, this “The Lollipops” are from Olsztyn, Poland and “Hold!” is filled up with smooth, kind of retro and tasty rock with gloomy indie flavor mixed with some blues, pop and punk spices, reminds me mainly of the good-old days Blondie combined with the doo-wop taste of the song “Blue Moon” in the version of The Marcels from ’61. Kasia Staszko – vocals, Jacek Ruczko – guitar, Romek BaÅ‚tuszka – guitar, Jakub Roszkiewicz – bass and Wojtek Zamaro – drums put 12 (plus one bonus) on this “Hold!” and it’s actually a nice, extremely listenable album. Read more The Lollipops – Hold! (2011)
SIN-atra – The metal tribute to Frank Sinatra (2011)
Butchering disaster. I became skeptical back in January right after I listen “New York New York” covered by Devin Townsend, an absolutely genius guy otherwise, but not even his talent and powerful voice could bring out something exciting from this project. The idea itself might be alright, but the result is horrible. Eagle Rock thought to give another shot to the team that put together “We Wish You A Metal Xmasâ€, the supergroup made of Richie Kotzen – guitar, Bob Kulick – guitars, Doug Katsaros – keyboards, Billy Sheehan – bass and Brett Chassen – drums and putting to the microphone legendary rock singers such as Glenn Hughes (ex-Deep Purple), Geoff Tate (Queensrÿche), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Tim “Ripper†Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth), Devin Townsend (Devin Townsend, Strapping Young Lad, etc), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Joey Belladonna (Anthrax), Doug Pinnick (King’s X), Jani Lane (ex-Warrant), Franky Perez (Scars on Broadway) and Elias Soriano (Nonpoint). So, only and exclusively a line-up made of (rock) super-stars. Read more SIN-atra – The metal tribute to Frank Sinatra (2011)
Of Mice and Men – The Flood (2011)
For a year or two I’m at least suspicious if not directly sick only when I hear of “indie” or “alternative” labels, this year I got myself a new syndrome, I get sick when I hear of “metalcore”. Too many faceless bands does the same kind of shit and it becomes pretty boring. Fortunately there are always few exception, and talking bout metalcore, Of Mice and Men are still manage to put on the table exciting materials.
The band was formed by Austin Carlile – original vocalist of Attack Attack! – and bassist Jaxin Hall during mid-2009 after Carlile’s departure from his former band. After reaching 1,000,000 plays from their Myspace profile in just two months since its launch, the band uploaded a cover of Lady Gaga’s song, “Poker Face” and a copy of the demo was sent directly to Rise Records.
The band released their self-titled debut album in March 2010. On “The Emptiness Tour” in 2010 Carlile fell in to a conflict with the other members and the band and Carlile decided to part ways. The group thereafter invited Jerry Roush – vocalist for Sky Eats Airplane and American Me – to front Of Mice & Men. But after nine months the group confirmed in January 2011 that they reached a decision to have Jerry Roush leave Of Mice & Men in favor for former vocalist and founding member, Austin Carlile to return to the group. Read more Of Mice and Men – The Flood (2011)
Versailles – Holy Grail (2011)
This is the third album by the Japanese visual kei metal band Versailles – also known as Versailles -Philharmonic Quintet. Pretty strange combination of classic heavy and power metal with sometimes theatrical, opera-like vocals, other times pretty typical Japanese, pop taste vocals. “Visual kei”, literally “visual style” or “visual system”, is a movement among Japanese musicians,that is characterized by the use of make-up, elaborate hair styles and flamboyant costumes, and Versailles key characteristics are their rococo-esque costumes, correlated musically with dueling guitar sounds – Iron Maiden’s trademark – and heavy but melodic arrangements.
The band was formed in 2007 by Kamijo (ex-Lareine), Hizaki (ex-Sulfuric Acid), and Jasmine You (ex-Jakura). Later, Teru (ex-Aikaryu) and Yuki (ex-Sugar Trip). Read more Versailles – Holy Grail (2011)
Weird Al Yankovic – Alpocalypse (2011)
Who didn’t laugh his self to death on Yankovic’s parodies back in the 80’s and 90’s, it wasn’t there or he didn’t heard/saw them. Or he/she have serious problems. Since his first-aired comedy song in 1976, he had sold more than 12 million albums – as of 2007 -, recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and has performed more than 1,000 live shows, earned three Grammy Awards among nine nominations, four gold records, and six platinum records in the United States.
“Another One Rides the Bus” – a parody of Queen, “I Love Rocky Road”- a parody of “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” as recorded by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, “Eat It”, a parody of the Michael Jackson song “Beat It” and the killer “Fat” or “Smells Like Nirvana” are only a very few of his mind-blowing parodies. And Dave Grohl of Nirvana said that the band felt they had “made it” after Yankovic recorded “Smells Like Nirvana”, a parody of the grunge band’s smash hit, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. On his Behind the Music special, Yankovic stated that when he called Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain to ask if he could parody the song, Cobain gave him permission, then paused and asked, “Um… it’s not gonna be about food, is it?” Yankovic responded with, “No, it’ll be about how no one can understand your lyrics.” According to members of Nirvana interviewed for Behind the Music, when they saw the video of the song, they laughed hysterically. Additionally, Cobain described Yankovic as “a musical genius.” Read more Weird Al Yankovic – Alpocalypse (2011)
Bono And The Edge – Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – OST (2011)
The Spider-Man comics were created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, and published by Marvel Comics for the first time in 1962. As kid, I saw “The Amazing Spider-Man”, which aired in ’77-’78 and obviously Spidey was one of my heroes. Based on a book by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” is the most expensive – $70 million and counting – Broadway production in history, a rock musical with music and lyrics by U2’s Bono and The Edge. Two Irish guys writing a rock musical for Broadway, it is something. While U2 fans waiting for the new album, we’ve got “Duals” and now this soundtrack. Bono said: “If we thought it would take this long, there is not a chance on earth we’d have done it.”
The musical get mixed, but mainly negative reviews. “Upon a preliminary viewing back in February, “Spider-Man” was a spectacular mess. The finished version is reasonably improved but somewhat less spectacular.” – Steven Suskin wrote in Variety. The Hollywood Reporter called the show a “bloated monster” while The New York Times branded it “a bore”. Peter Marks for The Washington Post said about the new show – “a definite upgrade” to its previous version, “this effects-driven musical is still situated a wide canyon’s distance from good”. The Associated Press summed up its opinion by saying: “It may not be the best thing in theater, but it is far from the worst show in Broadway history.” Read more Bono And The Edge – Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – OST (2011)
Queensryche – Dedicated To Chaos (2011)
I cut the crap and I’m gonna tell you directly what to aspect: if you’re looking for a quality and quite exciting hard rock album, “Dedicated To Chaos” might just fit your taste. Those who still waiting for what actually meant till ’88/’90 (the genius “Operation: Mindcrime” (1988), respectively “Empire” (1990), well, maybe it’s time to accept that “this” Queensrÿche is not “that” Queensrÿche anymore and probably they will never be again. On the other hand, while I was absolutely disappointed by their previous effort, the quite pale “American Soldier” released two years ago, “Dedicated To Chaos” is an absolutely fair material, a mixture of hard and heavy schemes with maximum taste and the unquestionable skill of writing and playing of these guys from Seattle. Because it’s almost impossible to avoid comparison, it’s somewhere between “Promised Land” (1994) and “Empire” (1990) with a taste of experimental sounds from “Tribe” (2003). And I must say: this is far the best Queensrÿche album for almost two decades. Read more Queensryche – Dedicated To Chaos (2011)
Muslimgauze – Beirut Transister (2011)
Based in Britain, Muslimgauze present themselves as staunchly supportive of Palestinian Arabs, although their are vaguely defined politically and focusing to altering beats, pulses, and samples in every way possible, bringing to the surface hypnotizing Arab percussion and mysterious fragments of Arab chants mixed with minimalist electronica. I always loved the untainted Arab/Eastern music, I love the pulse of their rhythms and the sparking harmonies of their melodies. Muslimgauze focusing mainly on the rhythms, but they have hidden a few spicy melodies as well and this “ethnic/electronic” and “world beat” mixture they delivering sounds deeply authentic.
Having a quite impressive discography , since 1982 Muslimgauze released over 200 materials, albums and compilations included. Read more Muslimgauze – Beirut Transister (2011)
Fire! – Unreleased? (2011)
Pour les connaisseurs! Fire! are the trio compound of Mats Gustafsson (The Thing), Johan Berthling (Tape) and Andreas Werliin (Wildbirds & Peacedrums) and “Unreleased?” is their second full length album, but this time they bring into the supergroup one more individual: Jim O’Rourke. Mats Gustafsson is an improviser, free jazz saxophone player, in 2000 he put together the Swedish/Norway trio, The Thing with bass player Ingebrigt HÃ¥ker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love. The Thing is one of the must “media unfriendly” band: no MySpace, no YouTube channel, they mainly sell their records at the gigs, lucky me, I saw them once live. Swedish trio Tape (@ MySpace ) was set up in 2000 by brothers Andreas and Johan Berthling with Tomas Hallonsten and they merging pop and experimentalism in minimalist manner using both, acoustic and digital instruments. Wildbirds & Peacedrums (@ MySpace) is an experimental band from Sweden consisting of two members, Mariam Wallentin and her husband Andreas Werliin, merging experimental rock with psychedelic folk. Jim O’Rourke (@ MySpace) maybe knowned for played bass guitar, guitar and synthesizer with Sonic Youth, in addition to recording and mixing duties with the group, he joined the band in 1999 and left in 2005. O’Rourke is long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene, he has collaborated with Thurston Moore, Derek Bailey, Mats Gustafsson, Mayo Thompson, Loren Mazzacane Connors, Merzbow, Nurse With Wound, Phill Niblock, Fennesz, Organum, Henry Kaiser, Flying Saucer Attack, also he was once a member of Illusion of Safety and Gastr Del Sol and also released many albums under his own name on a variety of labels exploring a range of electronic and avant-garde styles, exploring different genres from jazz, noise to electronica and rock music. Read more Fire! – Unreleased? (2011)
