Blog | Music: Mixed Media Online

Elvis: The 2012 Comeback Special

The New York Roots Music Association (NYRMA) presents on January 28, 2012 at 8 PM The Elvis Show, an Elvis Presley tribute and charity event featuring more than 30 local musicians and vocalists at the YMCA Boulton Center for the Performing Arts in Bay Shore.

Some of the musicians performing include Los Blaggards, The Bluebeats, Butcher’s Blind, The Bossa Nova Beatniks, The Mary Lamont Band, Mike Drance, Tom Gould, Mick Hargreaves, Claudia Jacobs, Chris James, Steve Prisco, Tom Ryan, Paul Schmitz, Russ Seeger, Bill Walsh and many others.   

This year’s show will feature all 30 of the King’s number-one hits.

The annual Elvis tribute is the most anticipated local music event of the year. RockCANRoll, who will be collecting non-perishable food donations at the door, will also distribute the net proceeds to area food banks and outreach centers.

Presley was born on January 8th, 1935, and died on August 16, 1977.

To Know Him Is To Love Him

Phil Spector’s image is clearly tarnished by his current time in jail after being convicted of the murder of actress Lana Clarkson, but there’s no denying his musical legacy and his lofty place in the history of rock and pop music.

Phil Spector Presents the Phillies Album Collection (Legacy) is a beautifully packaged box set. It collects together for the first time on CD the six albums originally released on his Phillies label. The box also includes Phil’s Flipsides: a disc of rare B-Sides, many never before released since they were first pressed on 45 RPM singles. All the music is presented as it was originally recorded in glorious mono.

Spector’s often imitated Wall of Sound, laid the bedrock sound of popular rock music, but it retains it’s appeal, power and charm, even in case of some of the tracks, more than 60 years later.

As part of a massive Spector reissue project from Legacy, the label also released the two-disc set The Essential Phil Spector. Single-disc reissues include Wall Of Sound: The Very Best of Phil Spector 1961-1966; Be My Baby: The Very Best of the Ronettes; The DA Do Ron Ron: The Very Best of the Crystals and The Sound of Love: The Very Best of Darlene Love.

Smile

Maybe the only other popular rock figure to equal Spector in genius, eccentricity, talent and influence, is Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

While Pet Sounds is Wilson’s masterwork with the Beach Boys and his watershed moment, even influencing Sgt. Pepper, Smile, his 1967 aborted follow-up to Pet Sounds with the Beach Boys is his most infamous and mythic work.

Capitol has recently reissued new definitive boxes of the sessions, with the 2-CD box released on November 1, 2011 already out of print because of demand and a limited pressing. The 2-CD set includes core session tracks, alternate takes, various song versions and lots of collectible goodies.

Few reissues give insight into the creative process of one of the true geniuses of popular music as he is slipping from top form into chemically induced studio meltdown. Songs like “Surf’s Up,” “Heroes and Villains” and “Good Vibrations” would show up in different forms on other releases, but to hear them as part of the Smile sessions is to truly understand their brilliance.
         
The Complete Experience

While Phil Spector’s and Brian Wilson’s domain was the studio, Jimi Hendrix, who made ground- breaking albums with his Experience, is best heard live in concert.

The shows that Hendrix performed at Bill Graham’s famed concert venue in San Francisco, the Winterland Ballroom, in October of 1968 are some of his best, featuring the Experience just as Electric Ladyland was being released. This five-disc set is easily one of the best Hendrix reissues ever released, with jaw-dropping performances of Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone,” Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Killing Floor” with Jefferson Airplane’s Jack Casady on bass.

Many performances from the three-day, two-shows-a-night stint are released here for the first time and far exceed the long-out-of-print Rykodisc reissues from many years ago. An interview with Hendrix recorded a few weeks after the San Francisco shows backstage at the Boston Garden is also included. An official bootleg, soundboard recording, taking up the entirety of disc five, is included with Buddy Miles sitting in on drums for Mitch Mitchell doing Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” There is also a single-disc, best-of version of the Winterland box.

Another recent Legacy Hendrix reissue is the long out of print Hendrix in the West. It includes definitive live recordings from the late 60s of both versions of the Experience, prior to the birth of Band of Gypsys. South Saturn Delta, also recently reissued, includes rarities from all four bands Hendrix led and is very much for the Hendrix die-hard fan. Finally, check out Blue Wild Angel, a DVD of Hendrix filmed at the Isle of Wight festival in August 1970. This three-hour disc includes lots of rarities and special features.
           
Etc.

Three other Legacy reissues from this period worth searching out are the Legacy Edition of Elvis Presley; Live Around the World; Bootleg, Vol III from Johnny Cash and The Bang Years from Neil Diamond.

Our Christmas holiday season in England (part Charles Dickens and part British rock) continues with some recent reissues, DVDs, CD/DVD packages and CDs.

Boxing Day

The following are released primarily as box sets and are perfect for Boxing Day.

Along with the Derek & the Dominoes Layla box, released earlier this year, 25 Years (A&M) from Sting is one of the best box sets of 2011. The beautifully packaged box contains three CDs of music from Sting’s solo career, including rarities and live performances. There is also a lavish hardcover book and a DVD of a recent concert from Irving Plaza. This collection primarily features Sting’s solo rock music and not his classical or holiday/winter music. Hopefully, a collection of his non-rock music will also be released with rarities. It’s hard to believe that Sting’s solo career is so much longer than his short seven years with the Police.

Two Deluxe Edition two-CD box sets not to be missed are Quadrophenia (Geffen) from The Who and Achtung Baby (Island) from U2. Both releases appear in other various configurations.

Achtung Baby is now 20 years old and is arguably the group’s best work, although certainly The Joshua Tree must also be given serious consideration. Along with the original release, there is a 14-song bonus disc of B-sides and rarities. My favorite rarities are covers of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” and Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love.” On its most recent tour, the group played more songs from this album than from any other album it released through the years.

Fans of The Who could certainly argue Quadrophenia from 1973 is the group’s best album, although Tommy, Who’s Next and even Live at Leeds would also be in the running. What makes Quadrophenia so fascinating to explore is the unreleased material. The unreleased tracks give insight into the genesis of this mod epic. Eight previously unreleased demos of Pete Townshend’s original ideas for his second rock opera are illuminating. These often bootlegged gems are long coveted by serious Who collectors. It’s amazing to listen to Townshend’s demos and hear how fully realized his ideas were long before The Who took them into the studio. Also included are two books and essays written by Townshend.

A reissue of more recent music is Sigh No More (Glassnote) from Mumford and Sons. This beautifully packaged, three-CD set includes the original album from 2008, a concert disc, Live At Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London and a DVD. The DVD is the documentary Gentlemen of the Road, Parts 1, 2 & 3.

CD/DVDs
     
A CD/DVD package not to miss is Live At The Royal Albert Hall (Columbia) from Adele. 2011 was Adele’s year and this London concert captures her at her peak. The music is primarily from her two solo albums. Along with her originals are some covers. The best of the covers is her version of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Adele makes great recordings, but she is a powerhouse performer.

Another recent CD/DVD set is Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton Play the Blues - Live From Lincoln Center (Reprise) from Eric Clapton and Wynton Marsalis. This once-in-a-lifetime concert finds one of the great champions of jazz (Marsalis) and one of the blues (Clapton) finding common musical ground. Since a blues song can be jazz and a jazz song can be bluesy, it’s not much of a stretch for these two artists to make beautiful music together. Other than keyboardist Chris Stainton, the musicians here are mostly from the jazz world of Marsalis, with Taj Mahal handling vocals on “Just A Closer Walk With Me” and also banjo on “Corrine, Corrina.” This is a living, breathing musical concert and not a stuffy, museum-piece approach to making music. These are two artists who keep moving in new directions while also preserving and exposing to a larger audience great roots music.

Peter Gabriel has two separate, yet connected projects out on CD and DVD. New Blood (Real World) is his second orchestral covers release. His first, from 2010, Scratch My Back, is orchestral covers of other artist’s music and with repeated listens becomes engaging. This new release of his own compositions is more readily likeable. Gabriel’s more intimate knowledge of his own music and by a subtle use of rhythms, he better evokes the inherent musical intention of the original, with new musical ideas. On the DVD New Blood Live In London (Real World/Eagle) Gabriel masterfully conveys his new orchestral approach to his music and others. Gabriel is an electrifying performer. The DVD draws from performances culled from two nights at the Hammersmith Apollo London, in March of 2011, with the backing of a 46-piece orchestra. This extraordinary, 22-song, nearly three-hour concert disc, with bonus features, is yet another Peter Gabriel music video that raises the home concert viewing experience to its highest potential.

A Saucerful Full of Reissues

The most ambitious reissue project of 2011 is Capitol’s massive, complete Pink Floyd catalog overhaul. The group’s entire catalog beginning with The Piper at Gates of Dawn in 1967 and ending with The Division Bell in 1994 are been reissued in various configurations.  This is for the Floyd fan who simply wants the latest CD remasters of the group’s 14 albums, nicely packaged in affordable editions that are easy to find. These discs may be the final re-mastering of the group’s classic catalog. For the fan who wants a bit more, check out the Experience versions of two of their best releases Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. Dark Side of the Moon includes a bonus disc of an entire live performance of the album recorded in 1974 at The Empire Pool, Wembley in London. The reissue of Wish You Were Here includes three more live performances from the Wembley show, an alternate version of “Have A Cigar,” a track from the rare Household Objects project and a version of “Wish You Were Here,” with Stephane Grappelli.
                 
A Collection of Acoustic Curios      

A single-disc compilation, Acoustic Gold (Witchwood Media), from the Strawbs gives a wonderful overview of the music of the group from the past ten years. Primarily headed by Dave Cousins and Dave Lambert, the group eschews its heavier, synthesizer sound and is primarily now featuring acoustic guitars. While the classic sound of the band still sounds great on the old vinyl records, this new approach is also excellent.
                         
Live In Concert

Live at the Mar Y Sol Festival ‘72 is Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s third vintage live release on Shout Factory. While A Time and a Place is a massive, career-spanning live box and Live at Nassau Coliseum ‘78 featured the band in its waning days, this single-disc release, previously available only on the group’s six-disc definitive box From the Beginning, reflects the group’s earliest live sound. Of particular note is the more dominant presence of Greg Lake’s vocals in the band’s earlier music. This is a must-have for Prog-rock fans.

Paul Rodgers continues to make solo albums, while reuniting with Bad Company, performing with the surviving members of Queen and of course as part of other bands such as The Firm and The Law. Along with his first band, the celebrated Free, and his blues releases, Rodgers is as good as just about any British contemporary front-man in rock. On Paul Rodgers & Friends Live at Montreux 1994 (Eagle), Rodgers performs songs from the many different periods of his long career. The backing band is a supergroup made up of such players as Jason Bonham, Brian May and many others. It’s nice to see this concert finally available on CD.
     
DVDs

From the British Invasion DVD series through Reelin’ In The Years comes The Hollies Look Through Any Window 1963-1975 (Eagle). This series contains the best DVDs of British music of the 60s. There are 22 performances here from the Graham Nash period and from after he left during the group’s 70s hitmaking peak. There are also film clips of the band in 1967 recording at Abbey Road studios, home movies, backstage tour footage and interviews. This is a must-have DVD and runs more than three hours.

Also from Eagle is Live at the Union Chapel filmed in December of 2003 from Procol Harum, which was originally released in 2004. The concert was taken from one of the last tours when organist Matthew Fisher was part of the band. There are 21 songs from the group’s entire career, including music from its most recent studio album, The Well’s On Fire. There is an interactive interview with Gary Brooker and other special features. This disc makes an excellent companion to the group’s previous Procol Harum: In Concert with the Danish National Concert Orchestra & Choir.

Sounds of the Season

Once again it’s time to go through the latest batch of holiday music releases. It seems each year a handful of new offerings add to this ever-growing musical genre.

My favorite release this year is A Very She & Him Christmas (Merge) from She & Him. The duo is actually producer M. Ward and the multi-talented Zooey Deschanel. This is their third release and it has a sparse, at times retro feel. While their holiday selections are not very unusual, they manage to make music with an authentic feel but with a fresh take.

The other stellar holiday release this year is Christmas (Reprise) from Michael Buble. Buble is an old hand at holiday music with limited-edition, now rare releases worth searching out. The Canadian crooner, who carries on the tradition of the great American popular singers such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, finds just the right balance between tradition and today’s sounds. Buble is one of the most likeable singers in music today and the runaway success of this beautifully produced instant Christmas classic is no surprise.

Speaking of Tony Bennett, his The Classic Christmas Album (RPM/Columbia/Legacy) is reissued again. Bennett’s interpretations of Christmas music rank among the greatest recordings of the genre. Whether the recordings come from the earliest days of his career or more recently, and are backed by a big band or a small jazz group, these are American musical treasures.

A Holiday Carole (Hear Music) is Carole King’s first holiday album in her career that spans 50-years. The opening track, an interpretation of “My Favorite Things,” is given a production treatment much like her Tapestry hit “It’s Too Late.” This is a wonderful holiday release and sure to become a favorite.

Another new holiday entry this year that is destined to be a classic is A Vince Guaraldi Christmas Live at Middletree (Alderman) from The Ornaments. This live recording perfectly captures the spirit of Guaraldi’s score for the animated Peanuts television classic. The group focuses on the simple joy and beauty of Guaraldi’s compositions and also pays homage to one of the great jazz pianists of the cool West Coast era.

An Appalachian Christmas (OMAC) from Marc O’Connor mixes touches of folk, country, classical and jazz in a mostly instrumental album. There are also tracks that feature the vocals of Jane Monheit, Renee Flemming, Steve Wariner, Alison Krauss and James Taylor.

Easily the hippest, most progressive rock take on sounds of the season this year is Winterland (Vibro-Phonic) from the Jigsaw Seen. The band’s pop psychedelic sound is light and fun. What’s really great about this album is the band recorded its unique compositions and made an album one will play long after the egg nog has soured.

Jack Johnson’s label has its second holiday release, This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 2 (Brushfire) featuring Johnson, along with artists such as Rogue Wave, Matt Costa and others. This quirky and cool singer-songwriter compilation, much like the She & Him release, feels like something new to refresh the holiday genre.

There are a few other holiday releases not to miss. They include the original Broadway cast recording of Elf, The Broadway Musical (Ghostlight). Vanessa Carlton’s lovely four-song EP, Hear the Bells (Razor & Tie) includes a cover of John and Yoko’s Happy Xmas and an acoustic version of her smash hit “A Thousand Miles”. Schuyler Fisk, who will appeal to fans of Colbie Caillat, Sara Bareilles and others, delightful new six-song EP, Sounds of the Holiday (Cassidy Barks), comes on the heels of her excellent Blue Ribbon Winner The Album (Cassidy Barks). Billy Burnette’s “Rock N Roll Christmas” single and his Rock N Roll With It (Rock N Roll With It) album are recently released. Check out the trippy Polyphonic Spree on their groovy new holiday single, “It’s Christmas.”

CDs of Christmas Past

If you missed Mandy Barnett’s Winter Wonderland (Rounder) from last year it’s worth seeking out for this season. Barnett is one of the great voices in country music. Unlike the slick, overproduced, image-conscious country hit-makers of today, Barnett’s music recalls a sophisticated country sound happening 50 years ago.

Christmas at the Speed of Sound

To segue into our continuing musical Christmas in England, seek out Winter Guitar (Solid Air) from Laurence Juber. This acoustic collection of holiday favorites from 1999 from the former Wings guitarist is a Master’s class in acoustic music and a beautiful recording. Also on Solid Air, Juber has recorded many excellent solo albums, including a CD of Wings music entitled, One Wing and two collections of interpretations of the music of the Beatles, LJ Plays The Beatles and LJ Plays The Beatles Vol. 2.

McCartney’s Tragical New York City Tour

The Love We Make (Eagle) is a DVD of Paul McCartney’s experiences in New York in the aftermath of 9/11. This heart-wrenching, yet ultimately uplifting film includes performances from the historic 9/11 concerts McCartney produced, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals and interviews. A number of filmmakers were involved in the film, including celebrated documentary director Albert Maysles. This is one of the most ambitious and moving visual projects ever from McCartney.

Black and Blue Christmas

In order to be fair and balanced, we must give equal time this holiday season to the Rolling Stones. The group’s Some Girls period has been given special treatment this year. Some Girls is reissued by Universal Republic as a two-CD set, including a full disc of bonus tracks. The album is the group’s best recording after its seminal 60s singles era and classic late 60s/early 70s album period. Like it did with Exile On Main Street, the group went back and fleshed out some unreleased tracks with dazzling results. Of particular interest is the release of the much-bootlegged and controversial “Claudine,” about Claudine Longet, who was married to Andy Willams and allegedly murdered skier Spider Sabich in a lover’s quarrel, but who was convicted of a lesser crime instead.

A concert from the 1978 Miss You tour, The Rolling Stones Some Girls Live In Texas 1978 (Eagle), is also now available on DVD. This excellent concert from one of the group’s most underrated and stripped down tours shows the band at its first full peak with Ron Wood. There are some amazing extras on this disc, including such television appearances as the group’s historic Saturday Night Live spot. This is a must-have concert DVD for Stones fans, as it captures the band at one of its best, yet often overlooked and forgotten peaks.

Speaking of the Rolling Stones on television, 6 Ed Sullivan Shows Starring the Rolling Stones (Sofa Entertainment), on two-discs, not only captures the band in some of its finest television appearances of the 60s Brian Jones period, but offers a rare glimpse at the cultural collision of variety shows, mass entertainment and the pop explosion. Along with 17 performances from the Stones, there are also performances from Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark and my own personal favorite Topo Gigio. These discs contain full episodes and run for more than five hours.

Write It In Black

Three new books on the Rolling Stones not to miss are Jagger: Rebel, Rock Star, Rogue (Gotham) by Marc Spitz; The Lost Rolling Stones Photographs (It) by Larry Marion and The Treasures of the Rolling Stones (Sterling) by Glenn Crouch.

Stones On Film

On December 27th at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington, Bill Shelley will present another night of the music of the Rolling Stones, billed as the Mick Taylor years, as part of the Rock Legends Live! series.

Beatles for Sale

Here’s a roundup of all things fab four for your Beatles fan holiday shopping list.

Beatles for the Record

The Beatles With Tony Sheridan: First Recordings 50th Anniversary Edition (Time Life) is a two- CD set marking the 50th anniversary of the recordings the original Beatles (John, Paul, George, Pete Best and Stu Sutcliffe) made with Tony Sheridan in 1961 and 1962, produced by Bert Kaempfert for Polydor. This is the first U.S. reissue to include both stereo and mono versions and to omit the post-sessions overdubs from 1964. The historical value of these recordings, the surprisingly good sound quality and the beautiful packaging make this a must for real Beatles fans.

The well-received Ocean Kingdom (Hear Music) is another classical outing for Paul McCartney, this time composed for the New York City Ballet, with music performed by The London Classical Orchestra. Both McCartney’s pop music fans and the classical community embraced this recording. This is yet another side of a great songwriter and also the kind of musical project bringing new fans to ballet.

Another interesting McCartney project out, released through his MPL Communications is: Rave On Buddy Holly (Fantasy). A longtime Holly booster for years, McCartney owns the Holly song catalog. This tribute CD features Holly songs as interpreted by a wide variety of artists including McCartney, Graham Nash, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Nick Lowe My Morning Jacket, Julian Casablancas, She & Him and many others. Listen To Me: Buddy Holly (Verve/Forecast) is another excellent Holly set. It includes interpretations form Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett and many others.

Two really fun Beatles-inspired projects recently released are: Rubber Soulive (Royal Family) from the San Francisco-based, jazz-soul band Soulive; a gritty album of Beatles covers and Abbey Dub (Goldlion) from Yellow Dubmarine, billed as a reggae Beatles tribute, a fun and original take on the fab four’s music.

One of the classic Beatles-inspired albums of all time, McLemore Avenue, an interpretation of Abbey Road from Booker T. & The M.G.’s, is reissued with six bonus tracks. This, along with George Benson’s The Other Side of Abbey Road, ranks as one of the best albums of Beatles music ever recorded. Two members of Booker T. & The M.G.’s recently released excellent solo albums: The Road From Memphis (Anti) from Booker T. Jones and Dedicated: A Salute to the 5 Royales (429), from Steve Cropper.

Paperback Writers

Beatles For Sale on Parlophone Records by Bruce Spizer (498 Productions) is yet another extraordinary book on the Beatles from one of the giants of Beatles scholarship. Spizer, an attorney who   lives in New Orleans, self-publishes the books himself. His new Parlophone book takes the same route of his previous books. He looks at the music of the group through the prism of a record label the group recorded for, presented in a hard-cover book with a graphic presentation beautifully rendered and exhaustive. Anyone who says there are no need for any new books on the Beatles, isn’t aware of Bruce Spizer.

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (Abrams), by Olivia Harrison, is the companion book to Martin Scorsese’s epic HBO documentary. This gorgeous coffee-table book emotionally evokes the man and the musical artist whose solo career is finally being given its proper due.

Beatles Memorabilia: The Julian Lennon Collection (Goodman) from Julian Lennon and Brian Southall is a collection of the John Lennon memorabilia Julian Lennon owns. The collection mostly includes guitars and gold records and adds further to the history of John Lennon’s time with the Beatles and as a solo artist.

The Lost Beatles Photographs: The Bob Bonis Archive, 1964-1966 (It Books) contains long-lost photos of the Beatles. Most of the pictures reveal the band relaxing while on its American tours and greatly add to the background of the few short years the Beatles performed live in America.

Lennon: The Man, the Myth, the Music - The Definitive Life (Hyperion) by Tim Riley an exhaustive and certainly up-to-date book on the life of one of the most iconic figures in rock history. Riley’s previous Tell Me Why: A Beatles Commentary is one of the most enduring books on the Beatles and this Lennon biography is even better.

The Beatles in Hamburg: The Stories, the Scene and How It All Began (Chicago Review Press) by Spencer Leigh is the most visually arresting book on one of the most important periods in Beatles history. Leigh brings the period alive much the way he did with his book on the Cavern Club and takes the story up to today.

A Hard Day’s Night (Limelight Editions), by Ray Morton, part of the Music on Film series, presents a condensed exploration of the making of the Beatles’ film debut. This detailed and insightful book puts the movie into context in terms of the evolution of the Beatles’ impact on culture and reflects the important place the A Hard Day’s Night holds in film history.

Fab Gear: The Beatles and Fashion (Prestel), by Paolo Hewitt, is a beautiful hardcover book on the 60s fashion and style influence of the Beatles. Hewitt, who chronicled The Jam and Oasis, runs his own mod fashion company in Italy and is one of rock music journalism’s most respected writers. He is the perfect person to do this long-overdue book.

Here’s a baker’s dozen roundup of CDs to complement holiday turkey and treats

Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong (ATO)
Dawes, on its second album, is drawing many new fans primarily through the song “Time Spent In Los Angeles.” The group’s vocal approach occasionally recalls Jackson Browne, who appears on the album. Also, the influence of Browne’s former guitarist David Lindley’s guitar sound is evident throughout the album. The group, led by two brothers, backed-up Robbie Robertson on a handful of television appearances with talk of a possible tour. This is easily one of the best albums of the year.

Wilco - The Whole Love (dBpm)
Once again Wilco declares its independence and flees a major record company for its own label. While Nonesuch seemed a sympathetic home for the group, change and independence seem to be the hallmarks of one of the best American bands on the scene today. In their uncompromising musical stand, unpredictability and respect for its audience, the group carries the torch high passed on from groups like R.E.M. Weird, fun, melodic and filled with all kinds of rhythms, The Whole Love may be the band’s best album.

The Jayhawks - Mockingbird Time (Rounder)
Fans of the Jayhawks can hardly believe their luck: after eight long years the group makes its triumphant return. The group’s gorgeous harmonies, midwestern twang and more than ever well-crafted compositions make this an album to treasure. In the context of American music, the Jayhawks are to The Byrds what Uncle Tupelo is to Buffalo Springfield.

Ryan Adams - Ashes & Fire (Pax Am)
Adams released two albums last year (and three in 2005), but seems like he is about to begin a new phase in his career with the production, engineering and mixing assistance of Glyn Johns. Ashes & Fire is an album of happiness and deep reflection. It’s about a man who came through the fire and found peace. There is still no solo artist in music today more prolific and who writes better songs than Adams. It’s hard to say if this is Adams best album, but it’s certainly the most enjoyable to listen to.

John Hiatt - Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (New West)
It’s hard to believe John Hiatt first released an album in 1974, with many phases, brushes with stardom and projects that were somewhat out of the singer-songwriter genre. At this point in his career, he’s become an artist incapable of making a bad album and in fact is someone whose is vastly underrated. Like the album it references (Mudslide Slim and the New Horizon), this release places the songs in very distinct times and places, mixing rootsy singer-songwriter reflection and southern twang. John Hiatt is one those legends without a big audience but one who just get better with age.

Shelby Lynne - Revelation Road (Everso)
After her tribute to Dusty Springfield in 2008 on Verve, Shelby Lynne started her own record company and released a stripped-down love chronicle Tears, Lies and Alibis as well as a holiday album Merry Christmas, in 2010. While both of those albums were solid releases to get her label off the ground, this new one can stand alongside her best work and may be her most personal and accessible release to date. On this CD Lynne went for a more fleshed-out sound. Surprisingly, she wrote all the songs, played all the instruments, did all the singing and produced the album herself. Lynne proves again what a truly rare talent she is.

Ollabelle - Neon Blue Bird (Thirty Tigers)
With Levon Helm’s daughter Amy, Ollabelle has always made likeable roots music. The album has just the right production touch to make the music more than simply a roots outing. Now, on its third album the group tapped a songwriting vein producing the best crop of songs it ever recorded, resulting in its best album and one that should finally propel the band into the big leagues.

Rachel Yamagata - Chesapeake (Frankenfish)
After two albums on two different major labels, Rachel Yamagata takes the indie route on her first full album in three years. A truly gifted singer-songwriter, she sounds relaxed and grounded on this superior collection of songs. The music reflects a languid, embracing glow, like the beginning of a love on a summer vacation. Yamagata possesses the ability to write and sing songs of effortlessness and may blossom more naturally away from the unforgiving spotlight of major label expectations.

All of You - Colbie Caillat (Universal Republic)
Through three albums, Colbie Caillat continues to make sunny folk-pop that’s irresistible. She is able to write light-hearted and joyous love songs without sounding saccharine or juvenile. Her newest is even more confident and bold. Her music reminds listeners of the potent pop L.A. sound that flourished in 1970s. This is an artist who is so young and who is so talented that she should be around for a long time to come.

Pieta Brown - Mercury (Red House Records)
The daughter of Greg Brown, Pieta Brown quietly releases superb albums that mix great songs with a rootsy yet inviting approach. Brown co-produced the album with Bo Ramsey (one of the most underrated producers in music today) and continues to refine her sound. By slowly building a following on her own terms, Brown is emerging as an artist poised to break through to a larger audience.

Mat Kearney - Young Love (Aware/Universal Republic)
Like Amos Lee, Matt Nathanson and a few other artists, Mat Kearney is exploding after years of toiling on the singer-songwriter scene. While “Hey Mama” has become a hit, there are plenty of other tracks here destined for the charts. Kearney is one of those rare artists who can balance being a singer-songwriter and employing modern instrumental and production techniques.

Brett Dennen - Lover Boy (Dualtone)
Brett Dennan, like Mat Kearney, figured out how to maintain his personal style as a singer-songwriter with songs like “Comeback Kid” and Sydney” becoming big hits. Without abandoning his quirky sound or vocal style, Dennen is now writing songs that are so upbeat and fun that one can’t resist his musical charms.

NEEDTOBREATHE - The Reckoning (Atlantic)
Yet another band with brothers, NEEDTOBREATHE possesses an anthemic, country-inflected, big rock sound. While rock radio formats continue to disappear, great rock bands keep emerging in such large numbers, eventually a groundswell of support should reverse the tide. While the group doesn’t exactly sound like either Bruce Springsteen or U2 it makes the kind of grand musical sound that is perfect for arenas filled with passionate fans.