This month, we’re thankful for the abundance of music we have received at the offices of SoundPress.net. We’ve laid them out on the table and there’s a great variety from E Streeters, to guitar wizards, to blues and soul and more. Where to start?
Let’s dig in with Nils Lofgren who for the longest time was the “new guy” in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. With a break in the E Street action Nils returned to his hot bed in the U.K. and recorded a run of solo shows that have been documented on UK 2015 Face The Music Tour. On this 15-song platter Nils serves up his classics with new flavors. Nils’ opening course is on the harp flowing into the edgy “Too Many Miles”. “New Holes In Old Shoes” showcases Lofgren’s guitar chops enhanced by looping techniques. “Lost A Number” is a darker piece from Nils’ Grin days. The CD features a full plate of songs from Lofgren’s lengthy career. It also demonstrates his skills on an array of instruments such as accordion, dobro, harp, guitar and piano. The CD closes brightly with “Shine Silently.” Nils is a well-respected member of Bruce’s band but on UK 2015 Face The Music Tour Lofgren proves all night that he a strong frontman and songwriter in his own right.
Eddie Manion is one of the newer members of the E Street Band. The sax player extraordinare joined that famous outfit for their most recent tours. Manion - also an acclaimed photographer - documented those excursions on film in the booklet that accompanies his new album, Nightlife an inspired collection of engaging instrumental numbers. Manion first honed his prodigious musical style with Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes in the late 1970’s leading to stints with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Willy DeVille, Diana Ross, Dave Edmunds and the Robert Cray Band. Manion has lived a life of Rock & Roll, R&B, Jazz, and Blues and these stylings all find their way into this album’s 12 tracks featuring songs that he has loved over his many years as a masterful player. Standouts are the title track and a stellar version of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Manion pays homage to that Jersey-shore vibe with Craig Wiseman’s “The Only One” and he tips his hat to his Boss with a stirring rendition of “City of Night” segued into “Soul Serenade.” This one smolders all the way through and is made for turning the lights down low when the night descends.
In his time Michael Stanley was slated to be the next big thing in the era that gave us singer-songwriter icons like Springsteen, Mellencamp and Petty. But a dispute with his label left the musical hero from Cleveland without the platform to reach the record-buying masses. Commercially he was wounded but artistically the man has never slowed down releasing countless albums independently and quite prolifically since. With the help of longtime friend, producer and engineer Bill Szymczyk Stanley returns with another solid effort titled, And Then... that opens with the raucous romp and roll of “All Together Now” complete with ample horns and B3 rising in the mix. This track is a feel good anthem to kick things off. “Radio Waves” is a more contemplative call to action to write your own song in life and know that what you do goes on and on. Stanley has had his share of loss and pain in recent years and on several tracks like “Circadian Rhythm” you can still hear him mourning the passing of his wife on a track that is filled with strength and sadness. But, there’s plenty of heart and heartland rock on “Sound Of A Train” along with the biting commentary of “Snakes” that proves that Michael Stanley is showing no signs of slowing down.
Charlie Musselwhite is an award winning electric blues harmonica player who is also well respected for his leadership, singing and songwriting. Charlie came into prominence in the 1960’s and he is still blowing strong in 2015 with his latest album I Ain’t Lyin’. Musselwhite declares “Good Blues Tonight” in the snappy opening track thus setting the bar high and then delivering on the next ten tracks. This is traditional blues played by a talented team of musicians with Charlie in control on harmonica and vocals. Musselwhite pays tribute to the Allman Brothers with his slower yet solid version of “Done Somebody Wrong” that flows into an old-school song about “Long Lean Lanky Mama.” Other high mark moments include “300 Miles to Go” a true blues travel tune along with “Long Leg Woman” with lavish guitar leads and luscious rhythms. Charlie is right when he says I Ain’t Lyin’ as he closes with an unedited “Good Blues Tonight”- cause that’s what this record is about.
Guitar great Walter Trout has many awards and over 40 solo albums to his credit in a career that spans 50 years. However, Walter’s greatest feat to date has been beating death as told on his latest CD Battle Scars. This 12-track collection is dark yet delightful packed with daunting leads paired with a personal and poignant story. Please read the record’s liner notes to fully appreciate the gift that this music is. “Almost Gone” is haunting as Walter shares “I won’t last too long” a point punctuated by a harmonica plus potent riffs and rhythms. The tension grows with the sound of an ambulance that moves into more ominous licks and lyrics in “Omaha.” Showing a sensitive side in Trout’s struggle is “Please Take Me Home,” which is softer in tone and underlined by soaring guitar leads. The aptly titled Battle Scars is a heavy yet hopeful record that ends with Trout triumphantly stating on the last track that he’s “Gonna Live Again.”
Guitarist Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Night Ranger & TSO) has enough clout in his own right but he takes no chances on his latest solo project 13. Joel’s 11-track CD is packed with power chords and an impressive list of artists including two strong lead singers Russell Allen along with Jeff Scott Soto. All boldly backed by Vinny Appice (drums) and Tony Franklin (bass). The result is a riveting record that runs the range from melodic to metal in catchy, well-constructed tunes. 13 opens with the hard hitting “Say Goodbye to the Sun” with Russell at the helm of this Dio-esque styled song. The animated “Anymore” builds on that strength with potent riffs, rhythms and a striking refrain. “Until I Left You” is Jeff at his dramatic vocal best paired with Joel’s blazing guitar leads in a track that demands radio play. Soto shows off his metal side in the daunting and dynamic “Scream”. 13 is a varied and vivacious record that should be a very lucky one for Hoekstra.
Larry Campbell (multi-instrumentalist/singer) a three time Grammy award winning producer has teamed up with Teresa Williams (vocals/guitar) to release their delightful self-titled debut album. Both worked extensively with Levon Helm thus this record reflects an organic style that the married couple honed while jamming with Levon. Helm even plays drums on “You’re Running Wild” which was recorded prior to his passing. Larry and Teresa’s music crosses country, gospel and rock lines. Both are expressive storytellers starting with the sassy “Surrender to Love” through the serious closer “Attics of My Life”. Other highlights include the lively “Everybody Loves You” along with a fiery reminder of a day of reckoning in “Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning” but until then Larry and Teresa are shining brightly on their new record.
Vintage Trouble has a vintage yet vibrant sound that’s a little bit blues, a little bit rock and a lot of soul. The quartet hits the ground running with “Run Like The River” the opening track on their latest record 1 Hopeful Rd. The tune flows fast on bluesy riffs and rhythms cascading into a catchy refrain. “From My Arms” a sweet soulful number follows. Both songs reflect Vintage Trouble’s varied musical influences that echo of the past but are very much in the present. Also of note is the hot “Strike Your Light” with its lively pace paired with striking vocals, the touching “Before The Tear Drops” and the animated “Another Baby.” 1 Hopeful Rd traverses from racing rockers to smooth soul from a band that has been well tested on the road to success since their founding in 2010.
EVEN MORE NOTABLE RELEASES! Critically-acclaimed progressive rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra have released their highly-anticipated new studio album, Letters From The Labyrinth through Lava Records/Republic Records. Known for elaborate production and thematic CDs, TSO has crafted a bold, conceptually provocative album that pushes the proverbial envelope once again -- this time with what TSO creator, lyricist and composer Paul O’Neill calls TSO’s “first hybrid album”. Letters from the Labyrinth, TSO’s first full-length album since 2009’s Night Castle, is a major change for the way Trans-Siberian Orchestra creates new works. It is the first album not built around a completed story with songs dealing with subjects as broad as humanity’s journey through the ages (“Time & Distance”), and as specific as the fall of the Berlin Wall (“Prometheus”), the world banking controversies (“Not Dead Yet”) and bullying (“Not The Same”), which O’Neill co-wrote with his daughter... Neil Young has announced that the latest Performance Series release from the Neil Young Archives is Bluenote Café an album that collects various performances captured during Neil’s 1988 tour. This superb live 2-CD, 4-vinyl LP set documents one of Young’s most funky and heartfelt periods and features seven unreleased songs: “Soul of a Woman,” “Bad News Comes to Town,” Ain’t it the Truth,” “I’m Goin’,” “Crime of the Heart,” “Doghouse,” “Fool for Your Love,” and a searing 19+ minute version of the immortal “Tonight’s the Night” from The Pier in New York City. SoundPress.net’s Rockin’ Rich Lynch had the pleasure of seeing this tour and says, “It was my favorite Neil show and I’ve seen a bunch. The Blue Note band had it all from jazz, to jam, blues and soul. Maybe Neil will reprise this grouping some day.” This was blue collar Neil Young at his best and it’s get no better than the anthemic and energizing ‘Ten Men Workin’ “... Brian Keenan’s Fits and Starts is the artist’s second full length album and the record captures the many moods and influences of the man - from Wilburys-esque road songs to Scott Walker ballads, Replacements burners and syrupy sweet Donovan folk numbers. In total, there are 10 tracks of vivid imagination and storytelling that add color and definition to the singer-songwriter’s catalog. He is joined by a cast of veteran players including James Preston (Zachary Cale, Heaven’s Jail), Rob Heath (Justin Townes Earle, Allison Moorer), and Kirk Schoenherr (Chet Faker). Also featuring Jen Keenan in her debut on keyboards and vocals... See ya next month!
