Lenny Smith Reviews The Id by Macy Gray
Macy Gray The Id By Lenny Smith Macy Gray set the bar extraordinarily high for herself with her debut album, On How Life Is, her tremendously commercially and artistically successful 1999 release, but with her second offering, The Id, she may have surpassed it. It may take a few thousand more listenings to know for sure, but then, like her first LP, The Id is tremendously repeatable. While this album feels in no way like…
Ron Raymond Reviews 22 Dreams by Paul Weller
Paul Weller 22 Dreams Yep Rock Records, 2008 By Ron Raymond WMPG Music Director Once the musical force behind two memorable 80s bands, The Jam and The Style Council, Paul Weller has since made taken his Brit pop/rock to all different kinds of levels. His new album, his ninth solo effort titled 22 Dreams, is no exception. “After [2005’s] As Is Now, I thought the time was right to make the sort of record I wanted to make,” he…
Ron Raymond Reviews Don’t you know who I think I was? Best of the Replacements by The Replacements
The Replacements Don’t you know who I think I was? Best of the Replacements Rhino Records, 2006 By Ron Raymond WMPG Music Director Minneapolis rock heroes The Replacements (led by a rock hero in his own right, Paul Westerberg) have had a best-of compilation before (the fantastic 1997, 2-CD Reprise collection All For Nothing, Nothing For All immediately comes to mind), and I know what you’re saying – why review a compilation that’s already 2 years…
Ron Raymond Reviews Everything That Happens Will Happen Today by David Byrne & Brian Eno
David Byrne & Brian Eno Everything That Happens Will Happen Today Todomundo, Ltd./Opal, 2008 By Ron Raymond WMPG Music Director Alt-rock legends David Byrne and Brian Eno have teamed together for the first time since 1981’s brilliant My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts on a release that, on the one hand, is less experimental and funky than Bush Of Ghosts, and on the other hand, is a more mature recording. Bush Of Ghosts was…
Ron Raymond Reviews The Sound of the Smiths by The Smiths
The Smiths The Sound Of The Smiths Sire/Rhino Records; 2008 By Ron Raymond WMPG Music Director Over the years, 80s modern rock heroes, The Smiths, have had their share of greatest hits collections, including the brilliant 1987 collective LOUDER THAN BOMBS. Now, Sire and Rhino have teamed up once again to bring fans THE SOUND OF THE SMITHS, a 23-track, one-CD offering of this 4-man band’s most memorable hits. Included are favorites like “Hand In…
Ron Raymond Reviews 4:13 Dream by The Cure
THE CURE 4:13 Dream Suretone/Geffen Records; 2008 By Ron Raymond WMPG Music DirectorHow does a 32-year-old alt-rock/goth band get the fans excited about a new album months in advance of the album’s release date? Well, to prepare for the 13th album by 80s alt-rock/goth heroes The Cure, 4:13 Dream, the 4-man band led by Robert Smith, released singles on the 13th of each month leading up to the album’s initial release date of September 13th….
Ron Raymond reviews Merl Saunders’ “Blues From The Rainforest: A Musical Suite”
Merl Saunders Blues From The Rainforest: A Musical Suite Grateful Dead Records, 1990 By Ron Raymond WMPG Music Director The recent passing in October 2008 of legendary musician and frequent Grateful Dead collaborator, Merl Saunders, at the age of 74, reminded me of an album he did in 1990 titled Blues From The Rainforest. This was the album he was promoting when I actually got to meet him that same year. And, it’s one of…
