Bloggerhythms

It's always a pleasure to find a young adult who appears to be wise beyond his or her years. Such is the case with twenty-five year old Brandi Carlile who proves with her songs that she is one who indeed may be far more mature than her age may indicate. Playing music that can best be categorized as folk-rock, Carlile writes thought provoking lyrics that prove she has intelligence, feelings, and despite growing up in extremely rural surroundings in the state of Washington, she knows there is a world that stretches far beyond her horizon. The Story , Carlile's second CD, has the acoustic folk music ("Josephine" and "Have You Ever") that is obligatory of most female singer-songwriters, but this young lady also likes to rock. The title cut is a very catchy and melodic rocker that very well may be the song of the year. The talented twin brothers, Phil and Tim Hanseroth, who have been in her band from the beginning are more than just sidemen. In addition to...

For the most part I have never been a fan of musicals and I probably never will be. There are only a few exceptions. The ones I do like usually have story lines about music and are enjoyable because the songs do not get in the way of the plot. Such is the case with Jersey Boys whose curtain was raised for their 600th performance on Broadway this past Saturday afternoon. For those who don't know Jersey Boys is the true story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, one of the most popular rock groups of the 60s. They were primarily known for Valli's falsetto vocals and the group's harmonies. The quartet's popularity was so great that, of all the rock artists who predated The Beatles, only they and The Beach Boys were able to survive the onslaught of the British Invasion of 1964. Despite their success The Four Seasons were largely forgotten until Jersey Boys hit the stage because the group was never considered hip, meaning they never appealed to...

Benny Goodman's 1962 visit to the U.S.S.R. was the first time a jazz band from the United States toured the country at the invitation of the Soviet government. It was also the first time an American jazz band was recorded there in concert. The King Of Swing assembled a big band that played to an audience that was mostly unfamiliar with the genre. Benny Goodman In Moscow is a double live LP released on RCA Records shortly after the tour. No CD has ever been released in America and only a bootleg version has ever been issued in Europe. According to Ken Dryden, writer for the All Music Guide , the bootleg CD omits a couple of tracks, and has mistakes in the liner notes, so if you can find a copy of this extremely rare LP you've uncovered a gem. For many reasons this is a big band jazz recording worth hearing. The sound quality of the performance is exceptional, and not just when compared to the recording standards of the day. Then, of course, there is the music. Goodman af...

Lewis Taylor's latest CD, The Lost Album , was recently released in America on a new indie label, Hacktone Records. The disc is generating a lot of positive heat with both radio and critics. Taylor's music has often been described as psychedelic soul. The British rocker is frequently compared to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Todd Rundgren, Paul McCartney, and The Beach Boys. His influences on the The Lost Album seem to be narrower than advertised, (mostly Prince and The Beach Boys) and it is more rock and roll than soul. That doesn't matter, it's still a CD loaded with great music. There are catchy melodies and gorgeous harmonies all over the album. Imagine you are on the beach listening to the Wilson Brothers harmonize when suddenly, out of nowhere, Prince storms out with a mighty, rocking, electric guitar solo that takes over the song. The two divergent styles blend well together into a cohesive whole that is never jarring. At times Taylor's music sou...