Unbiased reviews of new vinyl releases, audiophile reissues, and more

Monday, July 26, 2010

Miles Davis: Someday My Prince Will Come -- Analogue Productions 45 RPM Vinyl

Someday My Prince Will Come (Ogv)

While not everyone's favorite title from Miles Davis, Someday My Prince Will Come has a strong contingent of fans. Released in 1961, after the departure of John Coltrane, but prior to the formation of his second classic quintet, this record features tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley on all of the tracks but one. Coltrane actually shares the tenor duties on one track and handles them alone on the track in which Mobley lays out.

Elvis Costello: This Year's Model -- Mofi 180 Gram Vinyl




Mofi is back with This Year's Model, the 1978 follow-up to Elvis Costello's debut album, My Aim is True, which they reissued earlier this year on 180 gram vinyl. This Year's Model was recorded with what would become his legendary backing band, The Attractions. It offers more of the catchy hooks, cynical lyrics, and propulsive beat, that introduced him to the world with My Aim is True, but adds more keyboard and synthesizer, bringing him to the fore of the New Wave movement.

Beck: Sea Change -- Mofi 180 Gram Vinyl

Sea Change [Vinyl]

Although I've had the SACD of Sea Change for years, and listened to it a few times, it never hit me the way this vinyl pressing from Mofi has. The first thing I discovered listening to it, was that this isn't an album that can be listened to on your car stereo as you blast down the freeway. Sea Change begs to be listened to at night, in your listening chair--either alone or perhaps with one other person.

Lee Morgan: Vol 3, Kenny Dorham: Round About Midnight at The Cafe Bohemia -- Music Matters 45 RPM Mono Vinyl

Volume 3 (Mono) 200g 33RPM LP


Music Matters continues to set the standard for the ultra-premium 45 RPM jazz reissue, with monthly releases of incredible sounding reissues of the best of the Blue Note catalog.  When the series was first introduced several years ago, Music Matters made sure to point out that, unlike some other Blue Note reissue campaigns, all of their releases would be in stereo unless only mono was available--or if there was something wrong with the stereo tapes. And in keeping with that promise, most--if not all of their releases for the first year or so were done in stereo.

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes -- Classic Albums Blu-Ray


Classic Albums: Damn the Torpedoes (Sub) [Blu-ray]


















This installment in the Classic Albums DVD series, to be released August 3, 2010, comes amidst a North American tour from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, promoting their latest release, Mojo.  Originally released in 1979, Damn the Torpedoes, was a breakthrough record for the band, in terms of song quality, overall production values, and sales. It has gone on to become one of the top rock albums of the past thirty years.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Neil Young in Concert--Fox Theater, Oakland CA

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Nearly forty years ago, when Neil Young took the stage at Massey Hall , Toronto,  he announced to the crowd that night that he was going to play almost all new songs. Many of those new songs would go on to take their place in the Neil Young pantheon. On Wednesday night, Young played his third and final Bay Area show at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Mojo -- 180 gram Vinyl (w/bonus hi-res download)





















When I saw Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform live last month--and they played a half-dozen cuts from their new record, Mojo, I wasn't quite sure how to react.  Mojo certainly doesn't contain the jangly pop we've all gotten used to hearing from TP over the past thirty years. Instead, guitar-driven, bluesy--even progressive, are what come to mind when listening to Mojo--with songs like First Flash of Freedom, evoking the Allman Brothers, and even Led Zeppelin--rather than the Byrds and Bob Dylan.