Jim Allen, Author at Rock and Roll Globe

Quiet Life At 40: How Japan Traded Glam Rags for the New Romantic Crown

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020 Jim Allen 1 Comment 1979, 40th Anniversary, Classix Nouveaux, David Sylvain, Duran Duran, Giorgio Moroder, Life in Tokyo, Mick Karn, Quiet Life, Robert Fripp, Spandau Ballet, The Velvet Underground, Ultravox

At the end of 1979, David Sylvian’s arty crew was born anew

Experimental jazz Rock Soul

Chicago Transit Authority’s 50th Anniversary Recalls a Time When Chicago was Cool

December 17, 2019December 17, 2019 Jim Allen 1 Comment 1969, 50th anniversary, Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority, Peter Cetera, Rhino, Terry Kath

Despite a controversial new remaster, the double-length debut of this legendary big band at its most experimental continues to reveal new shades of fancy colours a half-century later

Folk Pop Roots

ALBUMS: Thanks for the Dance is Leonard Cohen’s Letter from Eternity

November 22, 2019November 27, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments 2019, Arcade Fire, Beck, Damien Rice, Daniel Lanois, Feist, Happens to the Heart, It's Torn, Jennifer Warnes, Legacy Recordings, Leonard Cohen, Thanks for the Dance, The National, The Night of Santiago, You Want it Darker

The master songwriter’s posthumous envoi arrives

Alternative Rock Folk Rock

Across A Crowded Room: Live at Barrymore’s 1985 Pulls Up a Piece of Richard Thompson’s Past

November 8, 2019November 10, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments Across A Crowded Room, Across a Crowded Room – Live at Barrymore's 1985, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Richard Thompson

This previously unreleased concert album rocks amidst the throes of the British guitar titan’s most transitional period

Blues Rock

Noah: The Album That Nearly Ended Bob Seger’s Career

November 5, 2019November 12, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1969, Bob Seger, Capitol Records, Detroit, Mongrel, Noah, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, Smokin' O.P.'s, The Bob Seger System

The Detroit rocker’s second LP from 1969 remains a bizarre blindspot in his catalog

Bluegrass Folk Rock Roots

A Simple Twist of Fate: Jerry Garcia’s Late Live Peak

October 11, 2019October 11, 2019 Jim Allen 1 Comment David Kemper, Garcia Live Vokume 11, Gloria Jones, Grateful Dead, Jaclyn LaBranch, Jerry Garcia, Jerry Garcia Band, John Kahn, Melvin Seals

The 11th volume of the JGB live archive showcases a highlight from the Grateful Dead icon’s final years

New Wave Rock

Mark Mothersbaugh Wants You to Know Ward White

October 5, 2019October 8, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments Devo, LaunchLeft, LaunchLeft podcast, Mark Mothersbaugh, Rain Phoenix, Slam the Musical, Summer Phoenix, The Phoenix Sisters, Tony Hawk, Ward White

The Devo King puts over an impressive young talent on a podcast hosted by Rain and Summer Phoenix

New Wave Rock

New Wave’s Ne Plus Ultra: The Cars’ Candy-O Turns 40

September 16, 2019September 16, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1979, 40th Anniversary, Benjamin Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, Ric Ocasek, The Cars

With their second LP, the Boston band downshifted into mainstream success

Folk Indie Rock

ALBUMS: Joanna Sternberg Speaks Straight from the Heart on Then I Try Some More

August 21, 2019September 10, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments Acoustic, Joanna Sternberg, New York, Team Love, Then I Try Some More

Their new LP was released in July via Team Love

Psychedelics Rock

The Amazing Aoxomoxoa

August 9, 2019August 9, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1969, Aoxomoxoa, Bob Weir, Grateful Dead Fillmore West 11/7/1969, Grateful Dead on Tom Snyder, Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Phil Lesh, Pigpen, Rhino Records, The Grateful Dead, Workingman's Dead

In 1969, The Grateful Dead swung from Psychedelic to Sylvan on their underrated third studio LP

New Wave Power Pop

‘Get The Knack’ Turns 40: Sizing up a Problematic Pop Landmark

June 19, 2019June 19, 2019 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1979, 40th Anniversary, Doug Fieger, Get the Knack, My Sharona, The Knack

For a brief, shining moment, The Knack’s 1979 debut album made the fledgling band The Beatles of the New Wave era. But how does it stand up four decades later?