.......Sheryl Crow (self titled) Sheryl Crow is back and better than ever in the follow up to her Grammy award winning debut album Tuesday Night Music Club. On this CD she breaks new ground with a different sound and a completely new look. She recorded the whole CD in New Orleans, where she worked with a different producer. Her first release off the CD is " if it Makes You Happy." This song is a different sound for her but it seems to work very well with her new style. Other songs like "Maybe Angels" leave you wanting more. Sheryl Crow's self titled sophomore release could win her another Grammy for best album of the year. Van Halen Greatest Hits (vol-1)
.......I, along with many other people, have been waiting for the
release of this CD for almost a year. Every time I heard it was being
released, it would be set back three or four months. It was released
in the midst of the controversial departure of Sammy Hagar (where
have we heard this before) and the hopes of many fans who were
hoping upon hope that David Lee Roth with Van Halen at the MTV
music awards was just smoke and mirrors. On a better note, this CD
has some Classic Van Halen hits such as "Running with the Devil,"
"Jump," "Panama," and "Right Now." Being a fan of Van Halen for
several years I am very happy to see this CD finally released. I just
wish they could keep a lead singer, but that's a different story all
together.
Alice in Chains MTV Unplugged
.......This CD was recorded during Alice in Chains' live
performance on "MTV Unplugged" and has some really great music
on it. The success of "Unplugged" is in the ability to show the artists
in a more personal perspective than in their normal live
performances. This CD is no exception, especially with a band such
as Alice in Chains. There are some great versions of some of their
best music with songs such as "Rooster." You will like this release
from Alice in Chains even if you haven't listened to them before--
check out this CD!
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.......If you are a music lover who enjoys diverse artists, Taj Mahal's Phantom Blues is for you. He not only covers the deep, down-home kind of blues, but He continues to venture into almost every form of music imaginable.
.......This effort is Taj Mahal's 35th and is filled with songs from the 50s and 60s, taking you on a musical journey that reflects hints of R&B, Rock&Roll, Jazz, Zydeco, Country, and even Caribbean
.......In a recent interview with Dennis Hunt, Taj reflected on his need for this type of recording, "For the most part, this album was designed to go down some familiar trails, but to look for new things. I am committed to retaining the shape and form of these great songs, while putting my own spin on them."
.......The only song written by Taj is a charming, country- style song titled "Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes." Guitarist Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers adds to this song with his beautiful work on 12 string guitar.
.......Eric Clapton also joins in with blistering guitar works on "Here in The Dark" and Freddy King's "You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling." Freddy is one of my all-time favorites, and this version is exceptional.
.......Fats Domino's "Let The Four Winds Blow" is done with a decided Cajun Zydeco spice that's hot! "I need Your Loving Everyday" is a track that spotlights the vocals of Bonnie Raitt and Taj. If your feet don't start tapping to this one, you may need to have your pulse checked.
......."Lonely Avenue" is a song that has a taste of Ray Charles to it. Taj humbly states, "He's been an abiding inspiration to me. But you know what? His style isn't that easy to do. Doing a Ray-type song right really makes me push all my musical skills to the limit."
.......The last song Mahal revisits is "The Hustle Is On," a swinging tune previously done by the first electric-blues guitarist, T-Bone Walker.
....... Phantom Blues contains fourteen tracks of blues nostalgia at its best, including a song or two for every member of your household. This diversity is seldom seen in the music market today, and I feel that Mahal says it best, "My passion is to keep the tradition alive, both for people of my generation who lived through it and, of course, for the kids who really learn from it."
.......Fifty years from now, Phantom Blues will still
appeal to blues lovers through its diversity and the adventurous
spirit that is captured
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