Author: Jim Allen

Folk New Wave Pop Rock 

Think Too Much: Paul Simon’s Hearts and Bones at 40

November 4, 2023November 4, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1983, 40th Anniversary, Al Di Meola, Art Garfunkel, Bernard Edwards, Hearts and Bones, Nile Rodgers, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel

Why this Graceland run-up deserves a better rep

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Pop Psychedelics Rock 

Penny Arkade: Shining a Light on the Shadow Band of ‘60s Psych

October 4, 2023October 5, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1967, Buffalo Springfield, Chris Ducey, Craig Smith, Los Angeles, Maitreya Kali, Mike Nesmith, Not the Freeze, Penny Arkade, Sundazed Music, The Monkees

Their lost, Mike Nesmith-produced album is finally on vinyl

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Pop Progressive Rock Rock 

That’s All: the Self-Titled Genesis LP at 40

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 1983, Atlantic Records, Cabaret Voltaire, Devo, Genesis, Mama!, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, That's All, Tony Banks

Looking back on the band’s last grasp at art-rock glory

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Country and/or Western Remembrance 

Happy 100th, Hank Williams: 10 Great Rock Revamps of Hank Tunes

September 17, 2023September 17, 2023 Jim Allen 2 Comments 100th Birthday, Billy Haley and His Comets, Cowboy Junkies, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, Hank Williams, Screaming Blue Messiahs, Social Distortion, The Breeders, The Replacements, The Residents, The The

Celebrate the country king’s centenary with some killer covers

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Fusion jazz Progressive Rock Rock 

Soft Machine Plots New Directions on Other Doors

August 31, 2023August 31, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 2023, Fred Thelonious Baker, John Etheridge, John Marshall, MoonJune Records, Other Doors, Roy Babbington, Soft Machine, Theo Travis

The veteran fusion band isn’t done exploring

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Records 

Saluting Jerry Moss: 10 A&M Obscurities You Need to Know

August 23, 2023August 23, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments A&M Records, Bobby Hart, Byzantium, Herb Alpert, Jerry Moss, Paul Kelly, Paul Kelly and the Messengers, Piper, RIP, Roger Nichols, Ron Davies, Sisters Love, Tamba 4, The Keys, The Merchants of Dream, Tommy Boyce

Honoring a legend with regal rarities he helped to make a reality

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Indie Rock Pop Rock 

The Clientele’s Alasdair MacLean Isn’t Afraid to Put His Ass on the Line

August 3, 2023August 3, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 2023, Alasdair MacLean, Alicia Macanas, drum loops, I Am Not There Anymore, James Hornsey, Jessica Griffin, Mark Keen, Merge Records, samples, The Clientele

The band goes for the gusto on dizzying double album I Am Not There Anymore

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Rock Stones 

Mick Jagger’s Eight Greatest Guest Spots

July 26, 2023July 26, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 80th birthday, Buddy Guy, Carly Simon, Don Henley, Mick Jagger, Peter Tosh, Peter Wolf, The Chieftains, The Jacksons, The Rolling Stones

A birthday visit through the Stones singer’s side hustles

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Alternative Rock Art Pop New Wave Pop Power Pop Records Rock 

Ten Under-the-Radar Gems from Sire Records

June 21, 2023June 21, 2023 Jim Allen 1 Comment Duncan Browne, Greenberry Woods, Lilys, Richard X Heyman, Seymour Stein, Sire Records, Stackridge, The Assembly, The Beckies, The Nitecaps, The Paley Brothers, Weekend

Digging into the under-the-counter stash of Seymour Stein’s legendary label

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Folk North Americana Rock 

The David Bromberg Big Band Bids Adieu at The Beacon

June 12, 2023June 12, 2023 Jim Allen 3 Comments David Bromberg, George Harrison, Jeff Tweedy, John Hiatt, Mr. Bojangles, New York City, The Beacon Theater, The David Bromberg Big Band

An all-star swan song with Jeff Tweedy and John Hiatt

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Folk Pop 

The Lord Is His Record Producer: Paul Simon’s Seven Psalms

May 18, 2023May 20, 2023 Jim Allen 3 Comments 2023, Edie Brickell, Jamey Haddad, Legacy Recordings, Paul Simon, Seven Psalms, The Decemberists, The Punch Brothers, Voces8

On his new album, the king of singer / songwriters faces down eternity and wins

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Punk Rock 

“We’re Not Gonna Go Quietly”: Captain Sensible on The Damned’s Darkadelic

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 Jim Allen 1 Comment 2023, Beware of the Clown, Captain Sensible, Darkadelic, Dave Vanian, Edgar Allen Poe, Machine Gun Etiquette, Nuggets, T.Rex, The Damned, The Invisible Man, The Sweet

The punk O.G. talks politics, Pink Floyd and flipping off the grim reaper

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Dream Pop Electronic Electronics New Wave Pop Remembrance Soundtracks and Film Scores 

Out of Noise: Remembering Ryuichi Sakamoto

April 4, 2023February 19, 2024 Jim Allen 0 Comments David Bowie, David Sylvian, Iggy Pop, Japan, Kazumi Watanabe, Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, RIP, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Youssou N’Dour, Yukihiro Takahashi

The Japanese giant’s career ranged from electronic to orchestral and beyond

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Progressive Rock Rock 

Is the BBC Broadcasts Box a Genesis Revelation?

March 30, 2023March 30, 2023 Jim Allen 0 Comments 2023, Anthony Phillips, BBC Broadcasts, Chester Thompson, Daryl Stuermer, Duke, Genesis, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Rhino, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Watcher of the Skies

What does the career-spanning five-CD live set reveal?

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New Wave Pop Soul 

How Spandau Ballet Embraced Their Inner Soul Boys 40 Years Ago on True

March 16, 2023 Jim Allen 3 Comments 1983, 40th Anniversary, Al Green, Altered Images, Bananarama, Duran Duran, Gary Kemp, Grover Washington Jr., Marvin Gaye, Spandau Ballet, Tony Hadley, Trevor Horn, True

The third time was the charm for the New Romantics-turned-R&B merchants

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