What Are You Listening To?

Theme From Hawaii Five-O - The Ventures

-Good call, Palmetto-  A buddy's older brother's band used to do a great take on that one...

-Maybe you could be the "blog meister" for that when you get back, Fan66

-I must confess that while I love thoughtful lyrics and great singing, Rock, I am more of an instrumental listener myself-  but then, being as familiar with my listening habits as you probably are by now, I'm sure that you've already figured that out...

Current Track:

Phenomenon Compulsion

-Dang, John & Billy Cobham (one of the better drummers you're likely to hear) smoke on this one-  they fly along at warp 12...

Now Playing:

Lucero:  Tennessee

AMG Review:

Ben Nichols, leader of Memphis alt-country rockers Lucero, claims he had never heard of Uncle Tupelo back when he traded in his punk stripes for a more roots rock sound. While this may sound like typical rhetoric from upstarts trying to avoid being cast into the alt-country ghetto, Tennessee, the group's sophomore outing, is strong enough evidence to back up that claim. Listening to this defiantly organic and strong release, one gets the sense that Nichols adopted a countrified sound simply because it seemed the shortest path to the heart. The album is packed with leather-tough Americana such as "Nights Like These," — which is all guitar-crunch, rolling B-3 organ, and Nichols' hot-tar emotive rasp — and the gliding, melodic country-rock of "Ain't So Lonely." There are also plenty of ruminative, bruised numbers on the album, such as "Sweet Little Thing," which eventually bursts out of a stark verse to reveal a Replacements-style hear-tugging rocker. The songs get a big kick in the pants from Nichols' vocals; he's a raw singer in the tradition of Steve Earle, Paul Westerberg, and Matthew Ryan. Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars — who also happens to be the son of legendary producer Jim Dickinson (Big Star, Replacements) — produced this album and added keyboards.

Angel Eyes - The Jeff Healey Band

You were much too young for us to have lost you, Jeff.

When I wrote that, DF, I thought about how you and how you and I are opposites in that regard.  Funny how we get along so well, huh?

-Ain't it tho, Rock?  Lol...

-More instrumental stuff on the way here, speaking of which.  I'm now moving away from pure jazz into fusion territory, as laid out by my pervious spin,,,

Now Playing:

Al DiMeola  Consequence of Chaos

AMG:

The sticker on the disc's cover states that this is "a return to his solid-body electric guitar," and while that may be true in parts, Consequence of Chaos is still pretty far from the tense, nonstop electric sizzle of di Meola's first three albums, which are landmarks in the jazz fusion genre. And while there is plenty of electric guitar here — and a musical reconnection with Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, and Barry Miles, all of whom have previously worked with di Meola — this is still dominated by the world music and more subtle framework that have characterized the guitarist's playing for the last few decades. The performances are uniformly excellent, and even though the approach shifts from prog to acoustic to electric and world, di Meola's distinctive style and classy approach congeal the music with authority. "Tao" alone takes more turns than a craggy mountain road, but never gets predictable or pretentious. Di Meola knows when to hold back and when to unleash his precise, percussive, fret-shredding Latin lines, and it's that sense of restraint that makes this disc, and much of his recent work, so successful. These instrumental pieces lay down a groove upon which di Meola solos with different combinations of musicians. Melodies are difficult to pinpoint, but the sublime playing keeps the listener's interest despite a tendency to wander. Four brief, low-key interludes feature an unaccompanied di Meola playing all the instruments, and provide a more relaxed counterpoint to the busier band tracks. Percussionists Ernie Adams and Gumbi Ortiz's standout work, especially on the subtle "Hypnose," add hot, bubbling flavor to the project. Chick Corea only appears on two tracks, but both are highlights. The lovely acoustic duet on "Cry for You" brings out the best in both musicians as their interplay reaches new heights. Di Meola calls the nine-minute "Tempest" his most complex piece — which is saying a lot — as it twists through different moods and tones utilizing varying rhythms in an impressive display of the guitarist's dazzling skills. It's a summation of this album that shows di Meola, after 30 years as a solo artist, to be on the top of his game.

Book 'em Dano.  Gotta love the Hawaii 5-0

Crazy Love--Van Morrison

Kissing You - Faith Evans

Dan

Book 'em Dano.  Gotta love the Hawaii 5-0

-Kinda funny, Mando, I was thinking of that very line only just this morning...  Classic stuff...

If you like the genre, Jessica by the Allman Brothers is a strong instrumental.

-Good call, Mando-  The Allman's dd some great instumentals...