Thirty Tigers
Following up on their 2001 Nashville songwriting marathon that yielded more than 30 songs (13 of which ended up on 2004’s spectacular “Headed for the Hills”), Lauderdale and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter this time penned their material during three visits by Lauderdale to Hunter’s home in San Rafael, Calif.
Spark & Shine
The Portland, Ore.-based power pop quintet finally releases its sophomore effort, six years after “Comes Back to You” and four years after the stopgap “Ghost Sessions” EP.
Aglaophone
If a compilation of tone-heavy instrumental electric guitar music were ever issued (“Titans of Tone” would be a great title), it would have to include cuts by artists such as the Hellecasters, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck, Steve Morse, Johnny Hiland, Jazz Is Dead, Ronnie Earl, Steve Howe, Redd Volkaert, Albert Lee, Danny Gatton — and Johnny A.
Epic
The best instrumental music emotionally engages the listener at a stratospheric level, making up for the lack of words. When it comes to Satriani, not many guitarists fly higher — his ultramelodic rock is the genre’s gold standard.
