Reeves Gabrels - Ulysses (Della Notte)

Reeves Gabrels - Ulysses (Della Notte) - 1999

ULYSSES (Della Notte) was the second full-length solo album for Gabrels. It appeared originally in 1999 as a then-pioneering digital-only release that comprised eight songs and won a Yahoo! Internet award. E-Magine Entertainment then put it out on CD in 2000, adding a ninth track. After a hiatus of several years in availability, the rights reverted to the artist and the album is now being offered again for digital download and on CD.

Gabrels' inventive style on guitar and ironic style in writing songs--with lyrics by turns acerbic, by turns sweet--both shine in this recording. ULYSSES (Della Notte) is first and foremost a collection of finely crafted songs, all of which organically incorporate genre-bending, mind-bending guitar playing as well. All nine songs feature Gabrels on vocals, and some in addition include notable guest appearances by talented musical colleagues.

"Jewel" is one of these special tracks: it combines vocals by Gabrels with Frank Black (Pixies), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) and David Bowie. "Yesterday's Gone" is a beautiful ballad sung by Robert Smith of The Cure and representing a dreamy songwriting collaboration for Gabrels and Smith, who at the time were simply friends. It would take another fifteen years for then to become band mates.

01. Arrow (feat Dan McCarroll / Mark Plati / Amanda  Reisman)
02. Lines
03. Thirteen Years (Della Notte)
04. Jewel (feat Frank Black / David Bowie / Dave Grohl / Mark Plati)
05. Accident
06. Trap (feat Mike Levesque / Mark Plati)
07. Yesterday's Gone (feat Jason Miller / Robert Smith)
08. Standing (feat. Mark Plati)
09. Party Puppet




+@320

Tin House - Winds of Past

Tin House - Winds of Past - 2009

TIN HOUSE was formed in 1969 by original members Floyd Radford (Guitar), Mike Logan (Drums) and Jeff Cole (Lead Vocal and Bass). They were one of the first progressive rock bands to be signed to a major label out of the Central Florida area. Their debut album entitled TIN HOUSE was released on Epic Records in 1970. This album produced by Rick Derringer went on to win international acclaim.

Fast Forward to 2009 TIN HOUSE releases their second  album “WINDS OF PAST”. The new lineup of the band still includes Floyd Radford and Mike Logan. In addition joining them now are new members David Mikeal (Lead Vocals, Guitar and Keyboards), Robby Crouse (Guitar) and Jimmy Smith (Bass).

01. What Your Head Says
02. Thundercloud
03. Don't Destroy Our Future
04. Long Gone
05. World of Ours
06. All Your Love
07. Be Good and Be Kind
08. It's Your Day
09. Allusion
10. Straight and Cold
11. Photograph
12. Winds of Past






+@192

Young Ancients - Fishstory

Young Ancients - Fishstory - 2015

Young Ancients unites three renowned performers - John Magnie (accordion, keyboard, vocals), Cary Morin (guitar, pedal steel, vocals), and Steve Amedée (drums, percussion, vocals) - whose musical roots intertwine in an inspired blend of blues, folk-rock, soul, gospel, Native Americana, and New Orleans R&B. Fusing three remarkable musicians’ signature styles, Young Ancients’ sound features rich vocal harmonies and unexpected instrumentation - soulful accordion, maverick percussion, and deft fingerstyle guitar. This alchemical collaboration combines an acoustic earthiness, brilliant musicianship, and a dynamic, ragged edge - a singular feat of seasoned musicians in the prime of their creative power.

Magnie and Amedée’s previous collaborations include internationally acclaimed band The Subdudes, as well as The 3 Twins, renowned on the Colorado-Wyoming music scene. In 2010, both artists portrayed themselves in New Orleans-based HBO series Treme. Known for his skill as a musician, songwriter, and producer, Magnie’s credits include numerous movie and TV soundtracks and appearances. He is a pioneer of accordion in the rock and roll genre, realizing its untapped rhythmic possibilities. Amedée has been a mainstay drummer/percussionist on the Colorado music scene for decades, and has traveled extensively as a studio musician. His iconic sound is instantly recognizable, particularly his use of tambourine - from which he coaxes a range of tones and effects. With The Atoll and The Pura Fé Trio, and also as a solo artist, award-winning blues/world groove musician Cary Morin has performed internationally on stage, TV, and radio. His stage credits include co-authorship of Turtle Island, a 50-member production that played two consecutive years to sold-out audiences in Northern Colorado. In 2013, Morin was named Colorado’s International Blues Challenge Solo Champion.

Each an accomplished artist in his own right, all three band members have performed across the globe, sharing stages with such legends as B.B. King, Ray Charles, Al Green, and Al Jarreau. They’ve played celebrated venues including New York’s Lincoln Center, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Paris Jazz Festival, and Folk Alliance International. As individual artists, these three have shared many a local stage for over 25 years, and stand side by side in the Jazz Alley Mural in their home base of Fort Collins, Colorado.

01. Live a Little
02. Angels and Devils
03. Cheap Guitar
04. Nobody Loves You (The Way I Do)
05. Me and My Broken Heart
06. Idle No More
07. Rosemary
08. She Caught the Katy
09. Yellowbird
10. Exception to the Rule
11. Going Back to Tulsa
12. Not Ever Again




+@192

Rod Argent - Red House

Rod Argent - Red House - 1988

This comes off as a New Age movie soundtrack, but a good New Age movie soundtrack. It's mostly instrumental, and mostly done on synthesizers - even the drums sound like drum machines - augmented by occasional sax, guitar (Clem Clempson, ex-Humble Pie), or bass (Mo Foster, ex-Jeff Beck). Argent scat sings on "Salvation Song" and delivers fantastic soul vocals on "Helpless" and "Baby Don't You Cry," but that's it. He'd been doing movie and TV scores for years at this point, and he really had the form figured out: even though some of the numbers drag over six minutes, you hardly notice because they're so light, tuneful, and relaxing. When Argent breaks from the New Age thing to deliver a sparkling, slowed-down 3/4-time classical piano solo ("A 4th Gymnopedie," reprised with synth and sax on "In Memory")

01. Teenage Years
02. Salvation Song
03. A 4th Gymnopedie
04. Helpless
05. Sweet Russian
06. In Memory
07. Baby Don't You Cry
08. First Touch
09. Suite T
10. Spirits

Rod Argent - Keyboards, Vocals
Clem Clempson - Guitar (2, 4, 5, 7)
Dave Bronze - Bass (4)
Mo Foster - Bass (9)
Peter Van Hooke - Drums, Percussion
Phil Todd - Soprano Saxophone (5, 6)

+@256