Fanatical Elton John fans—and I’m one of them—frequently get into knife fights over which is the better album, 1974’s Elton John’s Greatest Hits or 1977’s Elton John’s Greatest Hits Volume II. I prefer the former—and have the scars to prove it—for three reasons: 1) It was the album that began my love affair with the […]
Celebrating Taj Mahal on his 80th birthday. —Ed. Taj Mahal’s been at it for longer than some of us (myself included) have been alive, and he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. He’s got an extensive rack of recordings under his belt, with his self-titled ’68 debut being the most sensible place to begin. […]
Celebrating Graham Gouldman, born on this day in 1946. —Ed. Looking for some sophisticated English entertainment? Well put on the old school tie, break out the crumpets and watercress tea sandwiches, offer Viscount Basil Clement-Clawsey a cup of Earl Grey tea, and put 10cc’s Sheet Music on the gramophone. Then unstiffen your upper lip just […]
The Marina Orchestra has been around the New Orleans music scene for about ten years. They got their first booking at the Jazz Fest in 2020. We all know what happened to that. Now they are back and opening the second Saturday on the Lagniappe stage. The band is another of my favorite local acts […]
Start the day bright and early with the Stooges Brass Band on the Congo Square stage or for something considerably more intimate, trombonist Charlie Halloran and his Tropicales make for some fine Caribbean music-inspired listening. If only the Cultural Exchange Pavilion served rum boogies or painkillers! Staying in the Caribbean, consider checking out Cimafunk (of […]
I always like to get “Locals Day” started with the music and spectacle of the Black masking Indians of New Orleans. It’s hard to go wrong with Big Chief Kevin Goodman and the Flaming Arrows. Hailing from the downtown 7th ward neighborhood, Goodman, like most of the Mardi Gras Indian community, comes from a long […]
Harry Nilsson is best remembered for his once-in-a-lifetime voice and delicate and often quirky songs. Oh, and as the guy who sang “You’ve broken my heart/You’ve torn it apart/So fuck you.” And for being the instigator of much of John Lennon’s bad behavior during the ex-Beatles’ booze-fueled “Lost Weekend.” In short he was a bundle […]
When Peter Gabriel split Genesis to venture out on his own in 1975, his first solo album was 1977’s eponymous Peter Gabriel. In hindsight, he would judge it overproduced. But artists rarely prove the best judges of their own work. Come the end of his life Picasso would say, “What’s with the weird faces? Nobody […]
3 Reasons You Should Ditch The MP3 And Listen To Vinyl Records Instead: “Vinyl gives you a deeper appreciation of music.” If you grew up in the early ‘80s, it’s probably not your first time to see a vinyl record, which has been re-emerging in the circles of music enthusiasts and collectors over the last […]
Part two of the TVD Record Store Club’s look at the new and reissued releases presently in stores for August 2021. Part one is here. NEW RELEASE PICKS: Lung, Come Clean Right Now (Sofaburn) On the Cincinnati-based Lung’s third album (and the first I’ve heard), the sound reminds me quite a bit of the Alt-indie-grunge […]
Looking for some sophisticated English entertainment? Well put on the old school tie, break out the crumpets and watercress tea sandwiches, offer Viscount Basil Clement-Clawsey a cup of Earl Grey tea, and put 10cc’s Sheet Music on the gramophone. Then unstiffen your upper lip just long enough to say in your poshest English accent, “You’ll […]
VIA PRESS RELEASE | World Circuit announce the reissue of two essential records from their celebrated catalogue. Cumbia Cumbia 1 & 2, compiled by the label’s own Nick Gold, will be released on deluxe 180G, limited edition, red and blue vinyl on 26th March. Ali Farka Touré’s revered breakthrough album Red will be available on […]
Anyone can listen to good albums. But truly awful albums? They should be left to the professionals who receive combat pay for that sort of thing. Listening to a truly awful album is like tiptoeing across a minefield. You never know when you’ll get your ears blown off. Such is the case with 1994’s The […]
As operated by Deano Sounds, the Boston label Cultures of Soul has been methodically documenting the global reach of the once-derided musical phenomenon known as disco through a series of various artists compilations, the latest being Saturday Night: South African Disco Pop Hits 1981 to 1987. Offering ten selections from seven acts, the set illuminates […]
London, UK | New record store to open in London this month: A new record store is opening in London in August. Next Door Records will open in Shepherd’s Bush on Wednesday 12th August as a store, bar and café. After smashing its crowdfunding target of £3000, the three-man team behind the store promise to […]
