Music CDs Reviews - Page 4

The ultimate gift for music lovers who grew up on the sounds of the ’60s and early ’70s, this colossal box brings back the far-out, hippy-dippy, heavy-metal-thunder, tie-dye memories with more than 290 groovy tunes that defined the times. Get down, rock on and chill out to Sonny & Cher, Jim Croce, Donovan, Cat Stephens, Canned Heat, T. Rex and dozens of other artists—some of them sadly shortchanged in other musical roundups of the era, but not here—in this delightfully exhaustive trek back to days of yore when peace, love and music were the trifecta on which pop culture optimistically placed its bets.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Haggard wanted to do something he’d never done before, and he did with The Bluegrass Sessions, his first bluegrass album. Recorded in a relaxed, down-home “picking-parlor” session over the course of two days at Ricky Skaggs’ studio, and featuring the guest talents of Alison Krauss and Marty Stuart, it’s a tasty, hot-licks ramble through a mix of Haggard standards, country classics and a handful of new tunes, all dressed up in a bright bluegrass suit.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Nelson saddles up a hot new co-producer for his latest musical ride: young-buck chart-topper Kenny Chesney, who brings a refreshing twist of subtle innovation to Nelson’s classic style on Moment of Forever. Vocally, Chesney stays almost completely behind the curtain, sidling up to the microphone only for “Worry B Gone,” a bluesy drinkin’-song duet with a distinctly Willie-esque tweak at the end. Elsewhere, Nelson revels in the words and textures of Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Chesney, Big & Rich’s Big Kenny and other writers—including his sons, Lukas and Micah—for this invigorating dip into a fresh pool.
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Draping her languid voice around the repertoire of late British songbird Dusty Springfield, Shelby Lynn lovingly re-creates the studio feel of the ‘60s with stripped-down arrangements, old-school recording technology and a spiritual alignment with the sensual, blue-eyed soul of “Breakfast in Bed,” “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” “How Can I Be Sure” and seven other ear-caressing tracks.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Here’s one collaboration you probably didn’t see coming. Bluegrass songbird Alison Krauss and Led Zeppelin’s rock god Robert Plant combine their distinctive vocal talents on this unique, genre-bending excursion through 13 tunes that stir their individual styles into a bubbling musical stew of country, rock, bluegrass and folk. It’s an unexpected treat for ears of all types.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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The coolest cats in the casino cut loose with this collection of Yuletide classics, all originally recorded between the late ’50s and 1970. Ol’ Blue Eyes, Dean-o and Sammy stir up one swingin’ cocktail party as they weave their way through 21 holly-jolly tunes, including “The First Noel,” “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”
Neil Pond, American Profile

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Dick Clark isn’t the father of rock ’n’ roll, but he was certainly its chaperone. As host of TV’s seminal music showcase, he introduced America to hundreds of stars, thousands of songs and a hip-shaking encyclopedia of dance-floor moves throughout four musically evolving decades. This lavish collection is packed with 201 original, digitally re-mastered hits from artists who performed on the show, a photo-filled booklet and a bonus DVD of Bandstand interviews. It’s a sprawling, swinging, boppin’, hoppin’ good time—with a good beat, and you can dance to it.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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In the last ten years, Wilson’s music has taken a back seat to her other media appearances, including a gig as an Entertainment Tonight correspondent, spots on Celebrity Fit Club, The View and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, and a cybercast of her gastric bypass surgery. This warm, welcoming collection of some of her favorite Christmas classics is a reminder of the tuneful vocal talent she inherited from her dad, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, that helped fuel the sugary-sweet sounds of the ‘90s pop trio Wilson Phillips.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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The evergreen antics of Alvin, Simon and Theodore get a newly remastered holiday re-release with these 24 Christmas tunes, including “Up On The House-Top,” “Deck the Halls,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and, of course, “The Christmas Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”—both the 1958 original and an additional version on which the ’Munks are joined by ’60s rock band Canned Heat. Yes, Canned Heat. Hey, in an audio world of harmonizing Chipmunks, anything can happen. Right, Alvin? Alvin? Al-VINNNNN!
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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Charlie Daniels threw a party and the guests lined up down the hall to sing with their “Long Haired Country Boy” host. At least that’s what it sounds like on this fun-and-festive, all-star cover-song collaboration. Country acts Brad Paisley, Travis Tritt, Dolly Parton, Gretchen Wilson Brooks & Dunn, Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, Brenda Lee and Montgomery Gentry, bluegrass titans Del McCoury and Earl Scruggs, blues belter Bonnie Bramlett, and Hootie and The Blowfish’s Darius Rucker help put a distinctively CDB spin on “Let It Be Me,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered,” “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” “What’d I Say” and eight other familiar tunes—including a couple of Daniels’ own—that sample the celebrated country rocker’s deliciously diverse palette of musical influences.
—Neil Pond, American Profile

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