Monday, June 30, 2008
CD Review: Blondie
Blondie
Parallel Lines—Deluxe Collector’s Edition
Capitol
By David Chiu
Blondie’s third album, Parallel Lines, which was released 30 years ago, launched the band to greater success. Although having come from the downtown New York City punk rock scene, Blondie scored its biggest hit from the album with the uncharacteristic disco tune, “Heart of Glass.” To this day, that great song still sounds like it could have been recorded today—it’s timeless. It’s just one of the eclectic songs on Parallel Lines along with the somber art rock of “Fade Away and Radiate”; the ‘60s mod pop of “Pretty Baby”; the punkish “11:59”,; and the cool French pop of “Sunday Girl.” Of course the two other beloved Blondie songs, “One Way or Another” and “Hanging on the Telephone,” appear on the album and still retains their power pop grit. Parallel Lines was a definitive turning point in the band’s career and it deserves a further appreciation with its 30th anniversary. This new reissue carries four bonus songs; the DVD portion contains videos to the singles and a Top of the Pops performance of “Sunday Girl.”
Read my Spinner.com interview with Blondie’s Deborah Harry in which she talks about Parallel Lines 30 years on.
Watch the video of Blondie's "Heart of Glass":
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# posted by NewBeats @ 5:34 AM
CD Review: Love
Love
Forever Changes—Collector’s Edition
Rhino/Elektra
By David Chiu
This latest edition of the classic 1967 album by the late Arthur Lee and company is a substantial upgrade from the original version: there are alternate mixes of Forever Changes’ tracks on the second disc as well as demos and outtakes. But even without those bonuses, Forever Changes on its own remains a masterpiece of brilliant musical arrangements, lush beauty, and psychedelia—Love made its L.A. counterparts the Doors sound coherent and pop friendlier. The album definitely spoke of the changing tide in the counterculture as the Sixties were nearing the end with a sense of disillusionment and pending fear (i.e. “The Red Telephone”). Charismatic frontman Arthur Lee dominated the record with his vision and songs, while fellow guitarist Bryan MacLean showed he was a formidable writer himself with his composition “Alone Again Or.” Sadly this would be the last album by the original lineup before Lee went to hire new guys to carry on the Love name. This great record is a prerequisite for those appreciate ‘60s underground rock.
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# posted by NewBeats @ 5:30 AM
Sunday, June 15, 2008
CD Review: Donna Summer
Donna Summer
Crayons
Burgundy Records
By David Chiu
The Queen of Disco is back after a 17-year absence between studio albums. Her latest Crayons is a return to form with some hi-NRG dance songs such as “Fame (The Game)” and the sexy “I’m a Fire.” Yet she also shows some stylistic range from the reggae/hip-hop of the album’s title song,l electro-blues “Slide Over Backwards” (with harmonica—who’d think of such thing on a Donna Summer album!); and Afro-Cuban influences on “Bring Down The Reign.” The album’s obvious surefire hit is “Stamp Your Feet,” an infectious and empowering dance track. Judging from the lyrics, Crayons is Summer’s personal album: spiritually uplifting as it is soulful. Summer is still in strong voice and Crayons is a further testament of this diva’s influence.
See Donna Summer perform "Stamp Your Feet" on American Idol:
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# posted by NewBeats @ 7:13 PM
CD Review: John Coltrane
John Coltrane
The Impulse! Albums Vol. 2 (John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963), Impressions (1963), Live at Birdland (1963), Crescent (1964), A Love Supreme (1964)
Impulse!/Verve
By David Chiu
There is no arguing with the classic selections on this second volume of this multi-disc set of John Coltrane’s work from his early to mid ‘60s Impulse! albums. It spotlights the musical evolution of the legendary saxophonist going from traditional romantic standards (John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman from 1963), through ambitious music (1963’s Impressions), to something truly masterful ( A Love Supreme from 1964). Backed by the legendary musicians of drummer Elvin Jones, bassist Jimmy Garrison and pianist McCoy Tyner, Coltrane infused both passion and ferocity in his sax playing whether it’s on a ballad or a long form work. No bonus tracks or new sleeve notes are on this set—it contains the albums in their original form. For even casual fans of Trane, this set is essential.
Watch the great John Coltrane Quartet perform "Alabama":
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# posted by NewBeats @ 7:09 PM
Preview: Queen and Paul Rodgers
Queen and Paul Rodgers are preparing for the release of their upcoming album The Cosmos Rocks. Here is a performance of their newest song “C-lebrity” courtesy of YouTube:
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# posted by NewBeats @ 7:07 PM
CD Review: Carole King
Carole King
Tapestry
Ode/Epic.Legacy
By David Chiu
Carole King’s second solo album Tapestry (1971) helped herald the singer/songwriter movement during the ‘70s with her introspective lyrics. The album’s music was worlds away from the catchy pop hits King wrote with her then-songwriting partner/husband Gerry Goffin in the ‘60s. Several of the album’s hit songs, including the smash “It’s Too Late,” the lovely “So Far Away,” and the upbeat “I Feel the Earth Move,” are still popular; other great songs include the album’s title song; her takes of hits song she earlier co-wrote, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman”; and “You’ve Got a Friend,” which friend James Taylor made it his own #1 song. King’s expressive singing and piano playing complemented the intimate songs of love and yearning on Tapestry. Legacy’s deluxe reissue of this influential album contains an additional disc of previously unreleased live ‘70s performances of nearly all of Tapestry’s songs, with just King on voice and piano.
Watch a performance of Carole King singing "So Far Away":
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# posted by NewBeats @ 7:01 PM
CD Review: Midnight Oil
Midnight Oil
Diesel and Dust
Columbia/Legacy
By David Chiu
Even during a decade known mainly for its crassness and materialism, it’s still comforting to know that there were musical acts that had a social conscience in the ‘80s. Australia’s Midnight Oil was one of them. The group fronted by the tall and distinctively head shaven Peter Garrett conveyed in their music themes messages of justice and social rights, particularly for their country’s indigenous people. Those sentiments are reflected on the band’s breakthrough 1987 album Diesel and Dust, which has been reissued with a bonus DVD containing a documentary of their ’86 tour. The group’s best known song is “Beds Are Burning” but it shouldn’t overshadow the majority of the album’s fervent and passionate songs such as “Dream World” and “The Dead Heart”; and poignant tracks like “Arctic World,” and “Whoah.” The messages don’t sound outdated—Midnight Oil was concerned about what was important in human terms.
See a clip of "Beds Are Burning" by Midnight Oil:
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# posted by NewBeats @ 6:56 PM
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