Friday, May 21, 2010

T. Rex - "Electric Warrior" (1971)



Marc Bolan's fever infused swagger on stage as leader of T. Rex helped bring to bear the glittery glam side of fellow Brit rockers David Bowie and Mick Jagger. Rock & Roll was already sexually charged, but Bolan's amped up style and flirtatious voice reshaped the rock archetype in a way that was heard decades later in the music of Prince and Beck. The crunchy guitar licks and lip curling grooves forged a sound that rippled well past their time, seeding the last decades raw rock resurgence in bands like The White Stripes, The Strokes, and The Vines. Be sure to grab the mirror ball and feather boas for this slinky dance bash. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Mambo Sun"
2. "Cosmic Dancer"
3. "Jeepster"
4. "Monolith"
5. "Lean Woman Blues"
6. "Get It On"
7. "Planet Queen"
8. "Girl"
9. "The Motivator"
10. "Life's a Gas"
11. "Rip Off"

Sunday, May 16, 2010

The Living Sisters - "Love To Live" (2010)



Now this is comfort music. The most delicate of songs that sway you in harmony's arms and playfully move and float you on a cloud of soul and lullabies. This angelic trio of pixies blend their voices in the tradition of the greatest 1940's radio booth groups and evoke the same firefly chasing, wrap around porch sitting nights where time moves slower and the days are filled with heavy eyelids and the softest of smiles. The combined talents of these three enchanted singers spin you a dreamy pillow and ease the hardest of troubles away with simple warmth and celestial delight. -- Chris Baginski

1. "How Are You Doing?"
2. "Ferris Wheel"
3. "Blue"
4. "Cradle"
5. "Good Ole Wagon"
6. "Hold Back"
7. "The Mountain Has Skies"
8. "Double Knots"
9. "(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am"
10. "Don’t Let The Sun Go Down"

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - "Follow The Lights" EP (2007)



I was a little miffed to hear Ryan Adams had injured his hand again right before the start of his Summer 2007 tour to promote Easy Tiger. While this time it was the result of a skateboarding accident and not falling off stage during a concert, I wondered what the shows would be like with Ryan unable to play guitar and only sing. With band and audience all seated and hushed, Ryan intently focused on his vocals creating pristine and sharp performances with emotion wrapped around each note. Coupled with his new found sobriety and ever maturing songwriting, Ryan and the Cardinals turned out one of my favorite tours they've done to date. He began playing guitar again mid way through the tour and when it ended they thankfully went into the studio to record this EP. The seven tracks capture the band during a peak in their cohesion and snapshots one of the many variations of Ryan's live performances. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Follow the Lights" (3:03)
2. "My Love for You Is Real" (4:52)
3. "Blue Hotel" (5:11)
4. "Down in a Hole" (4:37)
5. "This Is It" (3:32)
6. "If I Am a Stranger" (4:44)
7. "Dear John" (5:12)

Blue Sky Blues - BBC4 Sessions