Album Picks
Lana Del Rey, “Norman Fucking Rockwell”, by David Hicks
Sep 30, 2019
Lana Del Rey has made a career out of writing lyrics that subtly, or not (“my pussy tastes like Pepsi-Cola”), appeal to the desires of pubescent youth or simply come off as quirky/humorous to adults.
V.S.O.P., “The Quintet”, by Larry Deniston
Sep 30, 2019
My album pick for the October, 2019 Muse is The Quintet by V.S.O.P. , 2 record set, R2-34976 on Columbia Records, 1977. V.S.O.P.
Atomic Rooster, “In Hearing of Atomic Rooster, by Grant Stoner
Sep 20, 2019
My album pic for this month is In Hearing Of Atomic Rooster by the British rock band Atomic Rooster, Elektra records 1971, vinyl.
Darius Rucker, “wagon wheel”, by Alon Sagee
Aug 27, 2019
There’s an entire genre of music that, up to recently, I would summarily avoid, especially as an audiophile. No, it’s not Oompah bands, Polka, or Yodeling…
Blossom Dearie, “Blossom Dearie”, by David Hicks
Aug 27, 2019
Vocalist, composer, and tickler of the ivories, Blossom Dearie’s playfully girlish voice is sometimes described as an acquired taste. If that’s true, I think it’s because her masterful phrasing might get lost behind the subtlety of her vocal delivery- but not if you’re actually listening.
Racer X, “Extreme Live”, by Grant Stoner
Aug 25, 2019
Lest you all think I’m some ECM jazz snob, here is my album pic for this month, Racer X, Extreme Volume Live,
David’s August Music Pick- Kenney Chesney – Be As You Are
Aug 01, 2019
Kenny Chesney
Be As You Are
Kenney Chesney had the top-grossing country music tour of the year with his 2007 “Flip-Flop Summer Tour.” Flip-Flop refers to just what you’d wear on your feet while walking on a beach.
David’s July Music Pick: Jeff Sanford’s Jazz Orchestra, Nothing Wrong. The Music of Lenny Carlson
Jun 28, 2019
Jeff Sanford’s Jazz Orchestra
Nothing Wrong
The Music of Lenny Carlson
This CD’s happy brilliance is the result of a group of local world-class musicians who play together regularly and who have bribed,
The Vinyl Detective, by David Hicks
May 31, 2019
This is the first of four books in The Vinyl Detective series, and as it’s the only one in the series I’ve read, it is my “music pick” for this month’s Muse. “Written in Dead Wax” may be a recommendation that would interest you if you like mystery stories in general, or cats (?), but particularly if you like vinyl records and stories about the birth of Jazz and the music industry, albeit with some literary license applied to the tale. And there are actual references to recordings that you could listen to while reading this novel. Hence, I think this qualifies as a music pick, sort of.
Hugh Masekela, “Hope”, by Alon Sagee
May 28, 2019
Hope is a 1994 live album by South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Although it’s over 20 years old, it’s a great introduction to the powerful, soulful and poignant genre of South African music. It is re-issued by Analogue Productions and available as a heavy weight 200g 2 X 45rpm vinyl pressing by Quality Records. It’s a classic.