Welcome to another week. Hope y'all had a most wonderful weekend.
The weather got a little warmer here in Memphis and then dropped back into the low 30's...but all in all a nice weekend was had.
Beginning next week, I am traveling most of February. I will be posting as much as possible and hope to make visits to your blogs as much as possible.
You know something strange did happen this weekend. As y'all know, I am digitizing my vinyl and cassettes and for some reason I reached into one of the boxes on Saturday morning to look at some of the "box sets" I have collected over the years and found one I had totally forgotten I owned.
Have not received Bruce's new album, Working On A Dream, but as soon as I do, I will do my review.
I spent most of Sunday working on another box set; Frank Sinatra - The Voice; the Columbia Years 1943 - 1953, a 6 record set. Each album features different genres of his music; Saloon Songs, Standards, Screen, Love Songs, Swings and Stage.
Tomorrow, we will stick with music and present you with a biography of a man who was a huge part of the Memphis radio community for 26 years and thorough the use of tapes still lives. This is one man you will want to learn about.
For today, we are going to review two new albums...sit on down and let's have a listen...
For last week, we will be sending Astronauts Of Antiquity to
KIMMIE of "Pretty Amazing Grace", and the Bob Pressner CD to JOHN H of "Altjiranga Mitjina". Y'all both have to email me your snail mail addresses...
Now for this week...
Pat Monahan is the lead singer and songwriter for the Grammy award winning band Train. He is a successful solo artist, and has collaborated with multiple artists. Pat plays percussion, saxophone, mandolin, flute, electric violin, clarinet, trombone, and bongos.
His latest solo endeavor is Last Of Seven Acoustic, and was released as a digital download only, but I received a CD of the project.
Honestly, I was unfamiliar with his band Train, so I did not know what to expect when I put the CD in...
Mr. Monahan has a voice reminiscent of the rock stars of today. He seems to have a true love for his own voice. His vocals are pushed way to the front.
The collection of musicians on this CD number 29 with notable guest appearances by Brandi Carlile, who joins Monahan on the ballad, "Pirate on the Run," while Graham Nash sings backup on "Cowboys and Indians," and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora plays on "Someday."
Did I enjoy listening to this CD....honestly, at times it was very pleasing, then again at other times I tended to be bored by his sound.
Two songs...first the duet with Brandi Carlile and then the song "Her Eyes", one of my more favored cuts...
The CD is available - let me know in comments...
KIMMIE of "Pretty Amazing Grace", and the Bob Pressner CD to JOHN H of "Altjiranga Mitjina". Y'all both have to email me your snail mail addresses...
Now for this week...
Pat Monahan is the lead singer and songwriter for the Grammy award winning band Train. He is a successful solo artist, and has collaborated with multiple artists. Pat plays percussion, saxophone, mandolin, flute, electric violin, clarinet, trombone, and bongos.
His latest solo endeavor is Last Of Seven Acoustic, and was released as a digital download only, but I received a CD of the project.
Honestly, I was unfamiliar with his band Train, so I did not know what to expect when I put the CD in...
Mr. Monahan has a voice reminiscent of the rock stars of today. He seems to have a true love for his own voice. His vocals are pushed way to the front.
The collection of musicians on this CD number 29 with notable guest appearances by Brandi Carlile, who joins Monahan on the ballad, "Pirate on the Run," while Graham Nash sings backup on "Cowboys and Indians," and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora plays on "Someday."
Did I enjoy listening to this CD....honestly, at times it was very pleasing, then again at other times I tended to be bored by his sound.
Two songs...first the duet with Brandi Carlile and then the song "Her Eyes", one of my more favored cuts...
The CD is available - let me know in comments...
Next up is the debut album from a band called Glasvegas a Scottish rock band whose current lineup came together in 2006 in Glasgow. The band is James Allan on vocals, Rab Allen on guitar, Paul Donoghue on bass and Caroline McKay on drums.
The band came in fourth in the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll to find the brightest musical talent.
The overall sound is a bit pop, a bit rock, even some rockabilly behind a wall of guitar noise. Lyrically the band has some interesting material. The guitars are smashed together to give a furious sound to their music. On the first cut "Flowers & Football Tops", I had to go and restart it as it sounded like the recording was distorted in the pressing.
Singer James Allan says the group started by taking their lead from classic doo-wop groups.
"It's a minimalist approach to the rhythm, it's really simple, but that simplicity leaves a lot of room for other things," he says.
"And the other things... I really like a lot of orchestral music and classical music. I think that can be a good furious backdrop to something.
"A lot of the sound that I get with the guitars is to make it sound like an orchestra. But we've only got the bass, my guitar and his guitar."
Two from their debut album; "Daddy's Gone", a semi-autobiographical 'ballad' that opens with the lyrics "How you are my hero/ How you're never here though/ Remember times when you put me on your shoulders/ How I wish that it was forever you would hold us."
The second song is "Lonesome Swan", which carries the pounding beat, wall of guitars theme throughout.
Let us know if you want the CD...
The band came in fourth in the BBC's Sound of 2008 poll to find the brightest musical talent.
The overall sound is a bit pop, a bit rock, even some rockabilly behind a wall of guitar noise. Lyrically the band has some interesting material. The guitars are smashed together to give a furious sound to their music. On the first cut "Flowers & Football Tops", I had to go and restart it as it sounded like the recording was distorted in the pressing.
Singer James Allan says the group started by taking their lead from classic doo-wop groups.
"It's a minimalist approach to the rhythm, it's really simple, but that simplicity leaves a lot of room for other things," he says.
"And the other things... I really like a lot of orchestral music and classical music. I think that can be a good furious backdrop to something.
"A lot of the sound that I get with the guitars is to make it sound like an orchestra. But we've only got the bass, my guitar and his guitar."
Two from their debut album; "Daddy's Gone", a semi-autobiographical 'ballad' that opens with the lyrics "How you are my hero/ How you're never here though/ Remember times when you put me on your shoulders/ How I wish that it was forever you would hold us."
The second song is "Lonesome Swan", which carries the pounding beat, wall of guitars theme throughout.
Let us know if you want the CD...
