Category: Reviews

Larry Coryell

Tricycles

Favored Nations Cool

Recorded in the studio in 2002 while on tour in Germany, and originally released in that country last year on In+Out Records, this set finds Coryell in good company: drummer Paul Wertico and bassist Marc Egan (both of whom were sidemen for Pat Metheny, although separately).

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1287 Views

The Bees

Free the Bees

EMI/Virgin (UK import)

The Mamas & the Papas meet the Beatles and early Pink Floyd, open the Doors and party with the Monkees, while riding a late-model Buffalo Springfield and talking to the Byrds, at the same time shimmying with Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, throwing old Stones at the Standells, planting the Seeds and spreading Love after working out a few Kinks, but not before taking the 13th Floor Elevators to see Moby Grape, abandoning their Chocolate Watch Band for a Strawberry Alarm Clock, only to redeem their Box Tops while acting like Young Rascals looking for some Pretty Things.

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1188 Views

Wilco

A Ghost Is Born

Nonesuch Records

Wilco’s evolutionary days appear to be over — at least for now.

Their first album, “A.M.,” was cut from the same mold as the band that spawned them: the alt-country outfit Uncle Tupelo. Their second, double-disc affair, “Being There,” saw the group spreading its wings and trying a little straight-ahead pop here and there. The third release, “Summerteeth,” was completely bereft of twang, and paved the way for a wave of bands to make albums that paid homage to their LP collections, in this case mainly the Beatles and the Beach Boys with a dash of Neil Young. The fourth CD, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot,” benefited from record-label rejection, leakage to the Internet, free streaming on Wilco’s website, a documentary about the making of the album and, last but not least, a new record company deal; plus it was simply an amazing piece of work, with the group seemingly settling on an identity.

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821 Views

The Polyphonic Spree

Together We’re Heavy

Hollywood Records

What do you do next after folding your rock group following the lead guitarist’s drug-related death?

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1490 Views

dios

dios

StarTime International

Right out of the gate, dios makes their musical philosophy clear: There isn’t a lot of music worth listening to these days, and the best music was made in the late ’60s and early ’70s, so quit wasting your time looking for the next big thing and just groove.

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828 Views