There's a time in life for Hoagy Carmichael. There's a time in life for Claude Debussy. There's a time in life for Jerry Lee Lewis. There's a time in life for Destiny's Child. All these things have their moment. ~Elvis Costello
The fact that private sellers on Amazon.com price British singer-songwriter Shelly Poole’s out-of-print debut album at around $200 speaks to the injustice of its current lack of availability.
Poole, who was previously one half of sister duo Alisha’s Attic, hasn’t been heard from since this single solo release. But what a rare gem of genre-slipping pop it is. Falling between the cracks of chillwave, trip hop, R&B and introspective country-folk, the unforced vibe and appealing melodies remain the constant as steel guitar, flute, and electronic sounds sneak in and out of breezy, understated arrangements.
After a debut that Amazon.com rated as the third best rock album of 2010, the Orange County modern rock band fronted by full-voiced frontman Sameer Gadhia are back with the follow-up, Mind Over Matter. The title cut is a highlight, and contains a fish hook of a chorus that might ricochet around in your brain all day.
Irish-Italian David J. Caron released a double CD album, Thru Never Ending Black, in 2013–a move usually made by an artist with an established following. The unusual thing here is that the mammoth 28-track work is his debut. Caron wrote, performed and produced one of the best rock debut albums in recent years, a work that lives up to its own ambition with solid consistency over its abundant length.
Categorizing the music is more difficult than appreciating it. Caron seems to straddle the worlds of progressive rock (the genre suggested by the album’s cover, artwork and, at times, lyrics) modern rock and AOR. Caron’s work has echoes of 80’s neo-prog, but with a fresh, modern rock-informed sound. It really defies easy categorization.
But while it doesn’t fit neatly into a particular genre, any fan of modern melodic rock with intelligent, captivating lyrics and infectious choruses will find something appealing here–and a generous helping thereof.
As Scott Mervis wisely pointed out on his Pop Noise blog (I’d forgotten), Jimmy Page turned 70 yesterday. No long biographies here. No attempt to be definitive here. You can get the obvious stuff anywhere. Here’s some Page material from the lesser-known earlier corners of his career.
1957:
The budding skiffler at 13. From the BBC’s “Hugh Weldon Show. 13 year old page was playing Skiffle, the British musical craze of 50’s just before rock and roll. The music is just a mix of folk, blues, country and jazz, the same stuff John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison played in Liverpool as the Quarrymen…
Note young Page wanted to become a “biological researcher” at the time. Right…
1965:
Page’s solo single: “She Just Satisfies.” Page was a successful London studio guitarist at the time he made this single, doing both guitar and vocal. The song and sound are a steal from the Kinks of the “You Really Got Me” era (which contrary to decades of rumors, Page did NOT play lead guitar on).
Mid-1966:
Playing bass with the Yardbirds. Jeff Beck on lead guitar, Keith Relf on vocals, Chris Dreja playing second guitar and drummer Jim McCarty, from French TV. “Train Kept A-Rollin'” Page replaced original bassist Paul Samwell-Smith.
November, 1966:
Page and Beck: Dual Guitars: When Chris Dreja moved to bass, Beck and Page both shared guitar duties. This live version of “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” comes from an appearance on “The Milton Berle Show.”
March 9, 1968:
The Yardbirds’ Lead Guitarist. From French TV. With Jeff Beck gone, Page took the guitar spot. Here they play both “Train” and “Dazed and Confused.” When Relf and the others left, Page began forming the “New Yardbirds,” the original name of Led Zeppelin.
1969:
Early Zep: “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You.”
1972:
Zep In Australia. “Let’s Have A Party” Plant and Page loved throwing in Elvis Presley covers onstage. A bootleg live CD of them appeared at one point.
2001:
Back To Skiffle? Reunited with Robert Plant and others performing “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It,” from a televised tribute to Sun Records tribute, honoring Sonny Burgess’s rockabilly version. Oh, the elderly guy who talks with encyclopedic musical knowledge is another legendary label founder and producer: Ahmet Ertegun, the man behind Atlantic Records.
Postmodern Jukebox has folded some of 2013’s most popular tunes into a very retro-sounding mashup. What would “Blurred Lines” sound like if it had been recorded in the 1920’s? Here ya go.
Blurred Lines, Robin Thicke, featuring T.I., Pharell
Holy Grail, Jay-Z, featuring Justin Timberlake
We Can’t Stop, Miley Cyrus
Roar, Katy Perry
Royals, Lorde
What Does the Fox Say, Ylvis
The fact that private sellers on Amazon.com price British singer-songwriter Shelly Poole’s out-of-print debut album at around $200 speaks to the injustice of its current lack of availability.
Every Moment Has A Song 