Galactic, a New Orleans band that has made immense strides from their early days as Galactic Prophylactic, is arguably one of the most important bands to come out of the Crescent City. Endless touring, not to mention years of inevitable hobnobbing with so many...
Posted September 1, 2011 | 09/01/11 07:30 PM ET
The Gourds have been making some of the most joyful sounds in music since they first began almost 20 years ago. Sure, they've stayed just a bit below the radar, but isn't that what we like best? Don't we tend to shy away...
Posted August 22, 2011 | 08/22/11 10:07 PM ET
Could they be the greatest rock and roll band of all time? I don't feel too ookey saying so. At least for their active period, there were few to rival Rockpile. This relentless new release from Eagle Rock took my breath away......
Posted July 27, 2011 | 07/27/11 01:32 PM ET
As I listened to The Who's Quadrophenia, savoring every massive bass lick by John "The Ox" Entwistle, I got to thinking about a few friends who have on several occasions helped precipitate a twitch by offering up comments like, "I won't listen to anything after The Who Sell Out," or,...
Posted June 19, 2011 | 06/19/11 05:54 PM ET
As I walked along Surf Avenue, first as a boy with my dad, then as a teenage, tough guy wannabe with my friends, I could feel Coney Island seeping into my pores. To not be intoxicated by its wheels of wonder, that ocean of...
Posted February 21, 2011 | 02/21/11 05:05 PM ET
Do you ever feel like sometimes you are just not in on a joke? The way I loved Radiohead's "OK Computer" is not unlike having that best friend that you shadowed 24-7. The friend you wanted to do everything with and go everywhere with. Then one day, he just wants...
Posted December 6, 2010 | 12/06/10 01:01 PM ET
Throughout the year I've posted daily doses of music commentary and record reviews over at Burning Wood. I try to be honest and shoot from the hip. Sometimes I can be bitter and chock full of snark. You see, I just don't believe the hype, and more times...
Posted August 7, 2010 | 08/07/10 09:39 AM ET
One must be made of stone to not feel for the great people of New Orleans, as well as everyone along the Gulf Coast. People like singer-songwriter Paul Sanchez, screenwriter Colman deKay, and Chris Joseph, head honcho and chief fundraiser of Threadheads Records should be recognized and rewarded for their...
Posted April 9, 2010 | 04/09/10 03:10 PM ET
When you think of New Orleans, some things are automatic -- Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, Louis Armstrong. But there is a new generation of people who without hesitation will add Stanton Moore to that list. In a city where the horn and...
Posted March 17, 2010 | 03/17/10 08:21 PM ET
On April 6th, the world will be blessed with new music from rock and roll legend, Peter Wolf. He is, of course, the man who once exclaimed, "Take out your false teeth, baby, I wanna suck on your gums," and we were all better for it.
It has been...
Posted March 11, 2010 | 03/11/10 02:07 PM ET
I've watched Maurice Brown grow up. Not in the traditional sense, but from the day I first saw him perform as a sideman in a New Orleans, all-star woodshed during Jazz Fest of 2004, to that very same evening where he held...
Posted February 9, 2010 | 02/09/10 05:16 PM ET
Yeah, I know it's only February, but I'm surrendering. Next week, Nick Curran & The Lowlifes will be releasing their new record, "Reform School Girl," and I'm going all in. This IS, and will continue to be, the best record of 2010.
(Sorry,...
Posted January 18, 2010 | 01/18/10 11:47 AM ET
TERRY ADAMS' ROCK & ROLL QUARTET- CRAZY 8s
NRBQ piano man follows-up his killer release "Holy Tweet" with another raucous run through a selection of songs that really...might as well be NRBQ. Hey Big Al, Joey, Tom...we're ready...
Posted January 13, 2010 | 01/13/10 09:15 PM ET
I know you can feel it. As a matter of fact, you can feel it from 37,000 feet up. Your heart's beating, your palms are sweating, your mind is racing. "What are we gonna do first?" Once that A 320 touches ground at Louis Armstrong International, you are no longer...
Posted January 11, 2010 | 01/11/10 08:54 PM ET
A smart and much needed fresh slice of Americana, from a man who spends most of his time sitting behind the drums for Rilo Kiley and Bright Eyes, "Hustler's Son" finds Boesel trading in his drum mount...
Posted January 7, 2010 | 01/07/10 06:53 PM ET
We, as a nation, didn't always hate Sting. As a matter of fact, didn't we love The Police? Even the first 2-3 Sting solo records were quite good, especially the still very essential Ten Summoners Tales. So, what happened?
One fairly obvious fact is that the solo records became...
Posted October 12, 2009 | 10/12/09 03:20 PM ET
BOB DYLAN- CHRISTMAS IN THE HEART
Not sure if it's me, Sony, or Bob Dylan, but someone is out of their mind. It's hard to listen Dylan squawking "Adeste Fideles" with the finesse of Lyle Alzado and not laugh just a little.
...Posted October 5, 2009 | 10/05/09 04:02 PM ET
French, electro-pop duo made a splash with their 1998 debut Moon Safari, a record that seemed to strike a chord with everyone, even those not too fond of the electro-pop genre. 10 somewhat quiet years later, they are back with Love 2, which is...
Posted September 28, 2009 | 09/28/09 04:29 PM ET
PICK OF THE WEEK.
7 WORLDS COLLIDE -- THE SUN CAME OUT
The brainstorm of singer-songwriter and New Zealand pop legend Neil Finn, 7 Worlds Collide first came about in 2002, when Finn and a stellar group of musicians that included Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr, Ed O'Brien &...
Posted September 21, 2009 | 09/21/09 10:51 PM ET
BEASTIE BOYS -- HELLO NASTY (DELUXE)
The Beasties' reissue campaign continues with an expanded, 2 CD version of their 1998 hit "Hello Nasty," now featuring an additional disc with 21 remixes and b-sides, including 7 unreleased songs.
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- YOUR SONGS
So much more than just...
Posted February 21, 2012 | 02/21/12 11:21 AM ET