Back Street Crawler is an interesting act, that is perhaps almost more a music history footnote than anything else. That said, their music is strong enough that they deserved better.
This band was such an interesting outfit. Of course, for some the main claim to fame for them was the fact that Ginger Baker was the "Baker" of the group's name.
Bane - The Note Review by Gary Hill I am probably one of the more unusual progressive rock fans in that I always liked hardcore - you know that raw, frantic version of punk rock of which the most well known band was probably The Dead Kennedys - well, Suicidal Tendencies, but they were a bit more metal. While that may not seem a very progressive rock thing to admit, it's the truth.
More
This album really feels like it could have been released in the 1970s. It has a lot in common with the music of artists like Carole King and Joni Mitchell.
The vocals on this set have a definite reggae element, but the music for the most part is not set in that style. The music is also not confined to any one style, except the wide ranging pop rock heading.
While I like everything here at least to some degree, for my money these guys do best when they stick closer to pure reggae. The disc features that sound along with more pop oriented soulful music.
Beautiful Creatures - Deuce Review by Greg Olma Bang Tango never got the credit that they deserved but as they say in business, timing is everything. They came out during the saturation period of glam/hair metal and got lumped in with them.
More
This three-song EP is exceptionally effective. I'm not even a huge fan of this kind of music, but this works so well that it makes a believer out of me.
If you like hard rock that's hook laden, but a bit rough around the edges, this set is for you. Every cut here works quite well, and some manage to stand out from there rest.
This set features a blend of music that's often set within a folk rock zone. That said, there are things like T-Rex's brand of glam, hints of things like The Doors and even Tom Petty in the mix at various points.
I don't know if I have ever heard an album that sounds more like the cover looks like it would than this one does. The brand of bluesy hard rock here just fits that cover image so well.
Before I actually listened to this track, I assumed (based on the cover) that it would be modern pop music. I was pleasantly surprised as this is so much better than that.
Parts of this disc are likely to convince you that this is an old album. That's because so much of the music here is set in the jazz of the 20s and 30s.
It's a pretty safe bet that for a lot of people out there Big Country is represented by one song - their big hit "In a Big Country." This new collection shows that the band had more than one trick up their sleeves.
This is an interesting double disc set. One third of this band is Lydia Lunch, and anyone who knows anything about her will have an idea of what this is about.
When looking for new holiday music, this album is a great place to start. The arrangement here are generally traditional (leaning toward jazz mostly, but also classical music).
After Alice Cooper the man and Alice Cooper the band parted ways, the members of the band formed Billion Dollar Babies. They only ever recorded one studio album - Battle Axe.
Long ago Alice Cooper was a band. The lead singer, Vincent Furnier took the name Alice Cooper as his own, but the first few albums were recorded by the band Alice Cooper.
Black 47 - Fire of Freedom Review by Gary Hill This disc is a fine combination of many varied musical styles. There is a definite Irish bent that is always present on the album (sometimes in the music, sometimes the vocals, sometimes the lyrics, sometimes all of them). More
Black 47 - Live In New York City Review by Gary Hill A document of a live show of this intriguing band, this is a fun album. Black 47 combines Irish sensibilities, instrumentation and lyrical content with jazzy horn sections and punk, rock and reggae musical styles into a very entertaining stew of musical entertainment. More
This album is unique and a bit hard to pin down. I suppose the easiest reference is to say "Gothic rock," but there is a lot of range and stylistic alteration within that description.
Home-made folk music is probably the best description of this music. I would say that the music works better than the vocals for me, but your mileage may vary.
Bliss - Chasing the Mad Rabbit Review by Gary Hill F eaturing some of the best song writing I have heard in a long time, this is a very strong and entertaining release. There was a solid temptation to include this album in the progressive rock section because many of the cuts have very strong prog leanings, but the influences here are so varied, non-prog seems to fit better. More
Blondie - No Exit Review by Gary Hill For fans of the classic Blondie sound, this album is certainly a welcome return. The band seems to have stayed faithful to their old sound, while updating it. More
Blondie - Live Review by Gary Hill Upon listening to this disc a question comes to mind. As good as this album is, why is this the first live album this band has released? More
This disc is full of effective songs. There are a few words that could be used to describe nearly every piece here, including "moody," "atmospheric" and "dreamy."
There is nothing Earth-shattering or decidedly original here. Instead, this is effective modern pop music, cut from much the same cloth as a lot of similar music.
Blue Öyster Cult - Curse of the Hidden Mirror Review by Gary Hill Blue Oyster Cult has always been an unusual band. They have many cuts in their history that are classic hard rocking pieces. I'm talking the kind of songs that really rise heads above the vast majority of music out there More
Blue Öyster Cult - Extraterrestrial Live Review by Gary Hill Released in 1982, this album is a very solid chronicle of a BOC live during the height of their career. Combining prog elements with accessible hooks and potent metal, this album definitely qualifies as prog metal.
More
Blue Öyster Cult - Heaven Forbid Review by Gary Hill Although the cover art leaves a bit to be desired, Heaven Forbid can certainly be looked on as a rebirth for BOC. This album seems to take the best of old BOC and bring up to date, while still staying true to those original concepts.
More
Blue Öyster Cult - The Revolution By Night Review by Gary Hill Released in October of 1983, Revolution by Night was the 12th album by Blue Oyster Cult. The music on the album is definitely in the hard rock/heavy metal sort of genre, while showing many indications of more progressive leanings, both in writing and arranging. More
Blue Öyster Cult - Workshop of the Telescopes Review by Gary Hill This two disc compilation covers the majority of the band`s career, and hits upon many of their styles. From time to time, the music leans to metal, prog-metal, pop and hard rock.
Bodragaz - Bodragaz Review by Gary Hill Although the production on this disc is a bit flat at times, it is quite a listenable and entertaining release. The music here has prog leanings, but is more in a classic rock format.
More
Bodragaz - Somewhere In Switzerland Review by Gary Hill The second album from Colorado`s Bodragaz, this release continues their musical mode focusing on the `70`s classic rock sound. This band is quite accomplished at that sound, and incorporating occasional progish leanings into it. More
Boetz - Call to Arms Review by Mike Korn Here is one dinosaur that is not going to extinction quietly. Ernie Boetz is one huge real-life statement of defiance, giving a stiff middle finger to the rock of the new millennium. More
There is no question that Joe Bonamassa was heavily influenced by the British Blues Movement. It could be argued, though, that the movement was one of the biggest influences on popular music in the last 70 years or so.
This is the brand new release from Joe Bonamassa, and he's outdone himself. While I can't say that I've heard every album he's done, I've followed his career quite a bit.
This new album from Joe Bonamassa might be his best release to date. The opening track, which definitely leans toward progressive rock in a big way, could well be the best song he's ever done, too.
Even if all you know from Graham Bonnet is his two best-known bands, Rainbow and Alcatrazz, you have to know that there is a wide range of sounds in his repertoire.
Joe Bouchard is best known as one of the members of the classic lineup of Blue Oyster Cult. You wouldn't really need to know that if you heard this album.
Brain Surgeons - Piece of Work Review by Gary Hill This album really seems to show that this band is not content to be working in one particular style. Indeed, the styles on this double disc release range from jazzy barbershop singing to hard rock to ballads to progish material
More
This act is apparently being billed as alternative rock, but also progressive rock. That might be part of the sort of disconnected effect of the disc right there.
This is the new holiday set from Norine Braun. I previously reviewed another release from her, and I would say that this is definitely the superior set.
Ben Brookes' style of music seems most closely tied to Cat Stevens, but there is also plenty of reference here to acts like Al Stewart and Donovan. All these songs are well written and performed.
A CD landed on my doorstep from Malaysia a short while ago which took my interest and inevitably ended up doing it's revolutions in my CD player on and off over a few weeks.
This new collection from Bear Family gathers up a lot of recordings (some that are previously unreleased) from Ed Bruce and puts them all together on one CD.
The new single from Michael Bruner, this is an entertaining and intriguing piece. It is likely to pique listeners' interest enough to make them dig into Bruner's catalog a bit.
Eric Burdon - My Secret Life Review by Josh Turner This artist is best known for the hit House of the Rising Sun. During the song's golden era, he was the lead singer for The Animals.
More
The Burrito Brothers were one of the original country rock acts. It's good to know that they are still keeping the musical concept alive in the 21st century.
I previously reviewed another set from this act. I said that the release had some strong music, but that there wasn't enough variety, making it feel a little samey at times.
This 1973 album is being presented in a great remastered CD version here. The sound of this album ranges from bluegrass-driven to more mainstream rocking.