album reviews
Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.
Santana's Blessings and miracles - Album review
Here we are once more, another new release for us to dwell upon. I was looking forward to take me time and proper listen to this new material by Santana. Coming from the outstanding Santana IV, my expectations were high on this one. Even thought his Africa Speaks was forgettable to say the least. Santana has this ability to come up with new material and surf the wave of trends. When the hippie movement was in full blossom, he managed to flawlessly blend latin music with rock. The result, songs that moved the audience, rhythms so contagious that people were simply compelled to dance and leave their inhibitions behind.
By Giovanni Profeta4 years ago in Beat
Dawn by Yebba | Album Review
If you’ve read any of my previous work, you might have seen the mention of “The Drake Effect”, which in short is the boom in popularity of any particular artist after working with Drake. Personally, Drake has introduced me to Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd (through Take Care), Tems and now Yebba. The Memphis artist is already an award-winning singer songwriter, having won a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance in 2019 for her single, “How Deep Is Your Love”. In addition, Yebba has racked up as a feature with prominent artists (and producers, like Mark Ronson) such as Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, Stormzy, and most recently, Drake on Certified Lover Boy.
By Josh Herring4 years ago in Beat
My Second Favourite Album: El Dorado by The Electric Light Orchestra
The genesis of the Electric Light Orchestra was a band that would take over from the Beatles at the fade outs to “Strawberry Fields Forever” and ”I Am The Walrus” , both heavy on strings but still steeped in rock. The Beatles had not been scared of orchestral arrangements and “Eleanor Rigby” contained only Paul McCartney on vocals , the music being provided double string quartet arranged by George Martin.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 4 years ago in Beat
'October Road'
Following the success of 1997's Hourglass, James Taylor laid low professionally for a few years. In 2001 he married current wife Kim Smedvig, with whom he subsequently had twin boys Rufus and Henry. Despite his dedication to his new domestic life, by 2002 James had assembled enough songs for a new album. To produce this album he brought in a face from his past--Russ Titelman who had co-produced (with Lenny Waronker) James's 1970s albums Gorilla and In The Pocket. The album was made in fits and starts--was recorded at various studios from 2000 through 2002. Finally, on August 13, 2002, the completed October Road was released.
By Sean Callaghan4 years ago in Beat
'Ghost and a Guess' -- Toby Kane and Brian Masek [Album Review]
There’s a raw energy that permeates the entirety of Toby Kane and Brian Masek’s musical experiment “Ghost and a Guess.” Recorded remotely with the help of regional musicians during the pandemic, the effort feels like an escape from the stresses of being a citizen of Earth in current times. It’s light and breezy, clocking in at around 37 minutes and having fun for every second of them.
By Samuel Lenz4 years ago in Beat
Punk — Album Review. Top Story - October 2021.
It’s been a while since I’ve indulged in trap music. I’m more attracted to the calming nature of R&B music. But this highly anticipated Young Thug album gained my attention, primarily from the live Tiny Desk Concert provided by NPR. Thug has always been a master at blending and even creating new genres, and this album is no different. You still have the traditional hard rap and trap elements with the introduction to — as the album name alludes to — a rock element (shoutout Travis Barker), and a straying from the norm with some slower, more intimate songs that take advantage of classical string instruments. Despite traversing through several genres, Young Thug still holds tight to his signature sound and creates an enticing listen.
By Josh Herring4 years ago in Beat
'The Quest' – Yes Music to My Ears
A new Yes studio album without Chris Squire was always going to be a hard sell for some people. Squire had been on every Yes studio album prior to this new one, titled The Quest. He appeared on 2014’s Heaven & Earth, which did not get the best reception from fans, to put it simply. When he passed away in on June 27, 2015 due to leukemia, fans were in shock. But the band carried on, with Squire’s longtime friend and collaborator Billy Sherwood fulfilling his wishes of taking up the Yes bassist role. He carried on with his fellow Yes members: vocalist Jon Davison, keyboardist Geoff Downes, guitarist Steve Howe, and drummer Alan White. There was a lot of pressure in terms of touring without Squire, and eventual reports of a potential new studio album surely meant more pressure. There were certainly many challenges for the band over the last several years.
By Steven Shinder4 years ago in Beat
Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight
Following the breakout performance from Travis Scott in Rodeo, the modern rockstar was highly touted for his addition to new trap music. Scott added to his high-quality repertoire with Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight. With help from some of the game’s biggest stars, the artist added to the excellent year of music in 2016. Such features include Andre 3000, Kid Cudi, NAV, 21 Savage, Young Thug, and Kendrick Lamar. 5 years after it’s release, it kinda flies under the radar due to the explosion of popularity from the coveted Astroworld. In order to reach that level, it is entirely necessary to acknowledge how he got there with Rodeo and Birds In The Trap.
By Josh Herring4 years ago in Beat
