In Defense of Good Sax, Part Two
Sean MurphyWherein five jazz saxophonists "slum" and make truly indelible contributions to five well-loved and much-played rock songs. Considering one of the all-time ALL TIME greats (Sonny Rollins) is on this…
In Defense of Good Sax, Part One
A writer whom I respect recently made an offhand observation that I'd like to challenge --not because his opinion isn't valid but rather because it seems representative of a casual…
Bill Evans: The Definitive Bill Evans on Riverside and Fantasy
The way the piano was played, like almost everything else in jazz, changed during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. With a new crop of young virtuosos churning out one…
Garage A Trois: Always Be Happy, But Stay Evil
Skerik & Co. do it again. One of the great things about supergroups is that they are…great (or super—take your pick). The reason so many so-called supergroups have flamed out,…
Amy Winehouse: Lack of Love is a Losing Game
Last year, when I was making the list of what I considered the 50 best (rock) albums of the decade, I had this to say about Amy Winehouse's Back To…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #1
1. Led Zeppelin, In Through the Out Door (1979) There are three distinctive types of Led Zeppelin fans. The first group knows Zep is great because of the classic songs…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #2
2. Black Sabbath, Never Say Die! (1978) Maybe Ozzy really did sell his soul to the devil. How else to explain his solo albums getting more love—even amongst old school…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #3
3. R.E.M., Monster (1994) Several theories could be advanced about why Monster was not so warmly embraced, and why it remains the least-loved of the original band’s works. One possibility…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #4
4. Pink Floyd, More (1969) Here’s another one that may not be accused of sucking so much as not being acknowledged at all which, we should agree, is even worse.…
Ten Albums That Supposedly Suck (But Do Not): #5
5. Belly, King (1995) This one is personal. If the world had been hip enough to get this, it would have had the success it deserved and Belly could have…