of post-punk/pre-grunge rock ‘n’ roll fused garage band greatness with powerful pop beauty. Fueled by both thrashing energy and a lyrical and emotive sonic flow, The Replacements’ kamikaze live shows and richly textured albums made them music legends.  (less)

Big Dada and Counter Records, has come from and where it's heading. Now, one could wax poetic about how amazing the label is and how great the artists are and how this album contains new, old, rare and unreleased tracks, but the tracklisting speaks for itself:  (less)

sounds naively utopic, but always manages to stay effortless and pure. As usual, the songs are brimming with unusual sounds, this time much of the songs revolve around a lightly prepared piano, hammered dulcimer, a string quartet, marimbas, guitars, ukuleles and in the background of a few of the songs one can hear ™rvar's parent's parakeet singing with the piano.  (less)

this raw sound. Part John Lee Hooker, part Slim Harpo, King's grubby, swampy, backwoods approach won't be mistaken for his unrelated namesake Freddie King's, even at the Texan's most primitive. Joined by right-hand-man drummer and songwriter "Wacko" Wade Wright (who also shot the cover photo), Little Freddie locks onto a riff and rides that groove for an entire song. Loops on "Looking for My Woman" and a remix of "Chicken Dance" only add to the primal atmosphere, as they did for fellow Fat Possum act R.L. Burnside, who also experimented with the technique. King remains relaxed and connected as he apparently improvises lyrics between jagged guitar licks that make Bo Diddley's seem slick in comparison. With bass, drums, and occ...  (less)

is made up of several of Nashville’s premier session players, who successfully capture the spirit and sound of classic country music. All songs were written by Country Music Hall of Fame inductee (1997), Cindy Walker. At 87, she has a long list of writing credits to her name, which include: "Dusty Skies" recorded by Spade Cooley, Bob Wills, & The Sons of the Pioneers, "Cherokee Maiden" recorded by Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, & Mel Tillis, "Warm Red Wine" recorded by Ernest Tubb and George Jones, "You Don’t Know Me" recorded by Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Jimmy Dean, Henry Mancini, & many more The single, "You Don’t Know Me" was made most famous by Willie’s close friend Ray Charles on The Modern Sounds of Country and Western Music. "I loved her music," Nels...  (less)

title cut) and three stellar guests: two of the best tenor saxophonists in jazz, Houston Person and Jerry Bergonzi and vibraphonist Gary Burton, an old friend, with whom she previously recorded. Each guests on a number of vintage selections. In her earlier years, Rebecca,like Dinah Washington in her prime, possessed the vocal authority to confront a formidable song and overpower it if she so chose. Today she is more the stylist who can read lyrics with the all-knowing assurance of a Carmen McRae, Billie Holiday or Peggy Lee. --Bob Perkins, jazz program host, WRTI Philadelphia.  (less)