with Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
Every couple weeks Keith
"MuzikMan" Hannaleck will check in with 2 to 4 featured reviews. Keith
is a veteran syndicated music critic, his reviews appear in over 35 publications
world-wide. To read more of Keith’s work visit muzikreviews.com
Now on to this this installment of MusikMan where Keith tells us about
new cds from .
O-Genio:
Ray Charles 1963 Live in Brazil
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You know what is nice about writing a review
on Ray Charles? He was celebrated while he was here in the world of the
living, not after his passing.
O-Genio-Ray Charles 1963 Live in Brazil
is an early performance in black and white film of Ray and his incredible
band performing live in Brazil in 1963. While the quality of the video
is suspect at times, particularly on the second set, the performance by
Charles and his orchestra is simple mesmersizing. To be honest I never
delved into this man’s music as I did on this DVD. Much to my delight,
I absolutely loved every minute of this.
Charles really was a musical genius. His
ability to take ordinary standards like “You Are My Sunshine” and
“My Bonnie” and turn them into soulful jazz workouts was a true wonder
of musicianship and technical brilliance.
I can easily overlook the quality of the
video for the historical importance and musical treasure that this performance
captures. If you like the music of Ray Charles, or music in general for
that matter, you will sincerely appreciate what this timeless DVD has to
offer.
Check
out the eCard for the DVD
David
Bowie and the Spiders From Mars - Inside Bowie and the Spiders (1969-1974)
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I have always had a fascination with the
artistic genius of David Bowie. I think the man is brilliant, and he continues
to reinvent himself every time he decides to release an album. Ziggy Stardust
is the most famous role he ever played. What he sang about on the classic
album was not too far from the truth, while it was fiction, it certainly
seemed as though Bowie was living out the story in real life, finally breaking
up the band at the height of their success just like his on stage alter
ego. The lyrics touch a sensitive spot in all of us, particular on the
outstanding track “Five Years,” where David seems like a clairvoyant discussing
the future of mankind.
The ongoing series of independent critical
reviews continues with an in depth analysis of Bowie and his Spiders from
Mars from 1969-74. Mick Ronson (guitar), Trevor Bolder (bass) and Woody
Woodmansey (drums) were one of the very best glam rock outfits of the entire
decade that brought us classic rock. Ronson, Bolder and Woodmansey were
brilliant players, and Bowie knew exactly what he was doing when he put
the band together. Check out Ronson’s solo material, it is quite good.
I concur with one of the critics; Ronson was a dreadfully underrated guitar
player.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable two-disc
set with plenty of rare concert and backstage footage released for the
first time, including a lovely hardcover book with some interesting reading
inside to absorb before or after your viewing. I always seem to read afterwards
because I am so excited about watching the DVDs! I have yet to take in
one of the Classic Rock Production a set that was not a superb production
from top to bottom. I suggest you snag up this prize if you are a Bowie
fan and make sure you check out all the other titles the label has to offer,
their catalog is becoming quite extensive. Long live Classic Rock!
Jethro
Tull - Stormwatch
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Stormwatch is yet another underrated
Jethro Tull album. This also signaled the end of an era. It would be the
last album for the most effective JT lineup. John Glasock, their beloved
bass player, passed away in the middle of this recording after open heart
surgery, hence he played on only three tracks, some of the best ones at
that, “Flying Dutchman,” “Orion” (my favorite), and “Elegy.” Ian Anderson
finished the bass parts for the rest of the album.
The artwork is strikingly beautiful on
this album. Ian’s cover concept was brilliant, and brought to life splendidly
by artist David Jackson. Anderson truly was the key man in this band; he
brought together an album from top to bottom and made it happen in a magical
way. Martin Barre was typically outstanding, this entire band was special,
and it is too bad it had to end; then again, Jethro Tull would not have
evolved into what it is today if the history books were written differently.
The two mainstays, Anderson and Barre, are managing to keep it all alive
to this day thank god.
This is a very strong effort from JT and
beautifully remastered for optimal sound by the label. Four bonus tracks
make this reissue that much more interesting and desirable. It is difficult
not to be biased when you love a band so much; however, it is easy to review
such consistently great music.
Ryan
Drolet - Trippin’ Wet
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Ryan Drolet adopts a simple approach to
recording, what you hear is what you get, there is no cutting and pasting
of parts or technological wizardry involved with his creative process.
Trippin’ Wet is an all-instrumental free form live recording right off
the floor. Drolet likes to call it ambient or acid jazz, I refer to it
as jazz fusion.
The musicians that participate with Drolet
get an opportunity to spread their wings and fly on this inventive and
engaging project. The outcome is an amazing work of musical art.
I admit it, it took more than one listen,
actually several, to take this entire recording in for what its worth.
There is a lot going on here. God bless the rhythm section of Brad Ferguson
(bass) and Tim Proznick (drums), they lay down some complicated rhythms
and odd time signatures while Dan Graham (keyboards) adds a touch of class
to the mix. Drolet’s fine six-string improvisation makes the top layer
of this multi tiered jazz treat into something unique and entertaining.
Even though Drolet may seem like a jazz
purist with his methodology, he certainly takes on a decidedly progressive
outlook like an Al Di Meola or Chick Corea. The best way to make your music
is to take a page out of the book of the masters from the past then add
your own chapter. Drolet writes his own novel on this strong release. For
the rock and progressive fans there is equal amounts of enjoyment on this
album like on “A Minor Jam” and “Stratosfear” (he probably uses a Stratocaster
on this cut). Then you take a step back into a jazzier funky workout with
“Modus Operandi” and “Monkeys.” I loved the opening track “Spy Song,” it
had some nice twangy surf parts that caught my ear; it is quite different
and it gives absolutely no indication as to what is coming next. Its all
great music, there is no other way to explain it.
If you have not heard of Ryan Drolet yet,
trust me, you will a lot more as time passes. This young man is masterful.
John
Amen - All I’ll Never Need
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John Amen is baked from the mold of the
Bob Dylan’s of the world. He gives his audience All I’ll Never Need to
digest, 13 tracks of emotionally moving music. He has some of the most
interesting lyrics I have heard and the music is quite good as well, particularly
on the electrified “Daddy” and “Wild Dogs and Ostriches.”
Amen has a primary focus; he is a poet/singer/guitar
player that carries his message through well thought out lyrics and a folk-rock
country sound (for the most part).
At first I thought he sounded a little
bit too much like Dylan but after the album moved on it became clear that
he does have his own sound, there are similarities to other artists, which
is a commonality amongst anyone that records music, that is a fact of life,
we all have our influences. I appreciated his emotion and passion; it is
more than obvious from the outset that this man performs from a place in
his heart and soul.
If you like folk and rock with a poetic
justice and sense of reason, this is music for you.
Ayreon
- Into The Electric Castle
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Arjen Lucassen a.k.a. Ayreon, is well known
for his epic progressive rock space operas. In 2001, he released an absolute
masterpiece, and one that I ashamed to say, that I missed somehow. Well
time is the healer and now three years later, Inside Out Music signed a
deal with Lucassen to reissue his music and Into The Electric Castle,
a double album of progressive rock stories and sci-fi fantasy, is one of
those releases. This special edition features a Quicktime movie of Arjen
in the studio discussing the album. In the liner notes, he refers to this
recording as a classic, and no doubt, it most certainly is.
Typical of Ayreon, he engaged many of the
brightest stars available to help tell his story and play the music to
set the stage for his characters. Artists such as Fish and Damian Wilson
perform vocal parts (look at the credits for the extensive list) and Clive
Nolan and Robby Valentine provide keyboards, and Arjen is on everything-
guitars, vocals, mandolin, bass, moog and mellotron.
This is an incredibly eclectic mix of rock
music. You can hear all the influences of Lucassen come bubbling to the
surface, those wonderful classic rock bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin,
Alan Parsons, and of course, the immortal Beatles. Were would prog-rock
be without Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band?
You cannot help it; you become sucked into
the story by the mesmerizing music and the incredible vocals of all the
contributors. Essentially the story revolves around a group of stolen souls
that come from different times to enter a strange portal that takes them
on a dangerous journey. All of their trials and tribulations are explored
in each song, until they reach the Electric Castle were they must choose
between door number 1 or 2, nuclear portals that take you back to your
own time or into an eternal abyss of oblivion.
This is truly a fascinating work of music
and story. Arjen really should sit down and write a science fiction novel,
he certainly has the imagination and talent to do so. This music is so
powerful and melodic that it becomes easy to envision everything that is
happening during the story. I think they should make this into a movie
it would be fantastic! I cannot say enough about how excellent all of the
instrumentation and vocals are throughout this album. For this much music,
you would expect some filler, it never happens, every track is superb.
Do you call yourself a prog-rock fanatic? You do not qualify as such until
this album is part of your collection.
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