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November, 2000POP & ROCK REVIEWS |
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YES
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MIKE
KENEALLY
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DASH
CROFTS Listen to RealAudio sample: Today  The
latest release on Nuance, the
label recently begun by guitar great Louie
Shelton, is the first ever solo album by singer-songwriter Dash
Crofts. A fortunate twist of fate indeed because it was Shelton who
arranged and produced all those great albums by Seals
& Crofts, which featured the high harmonies and mandolin work of
Dash. Although not appearing himself, Jimmy
Seals is credited as co-composing many of the tracks on Today
with Crofts. In addition to arranging the sessions, Shelton also
co-composed the albums’ only two instrumentals, while his superb
guitar work and fitting drum programming is featured throughout the CD.
Recalling his great singing with Seals & Crofts, Dash lays down a
sumptuous wall of sound with his lead and background vocals really
filling up the sound stage. Ranging from jazzy pop to breezy rock and
tasty guitar instrumentals, Today is
a solid comeback from an artist too long away from the spotlight of the
music world. www.lightyear.com
/ www.nuancerecords.com
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EDDY
“THE CHIEF” CLEARWATER
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ERIC
CLAPTON & B.B. KING
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SOUTHERN
GENTLEMEN
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VARIOUS
ARTISTS
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EVAN
AND JARON  A
great introduction to an impressive up-and-coming singing duo, Evan
And Jaron is the latest CD from L.A.-based brothers Evan and Jaron Lowenstein.
The brothers released several albums on their own label and were even
signed to Island Records who issued their ‘98 album We’ve
Never Heard Of You Either. For starters, the executive producer on
their Columbia Records debut
is none other than the great T
Bone Burnett, while notable players appearing including Burnett, Mick Fleetwood, drumming ace Jim
Keltner and guitarists Jeff
Baxter and Marc Ribot.
Imagine a power pop version of Simon & Garfunkel and you may begin
to grasp this album. Top production and playing topped off by
songwriting loaded with ample pop hooks are just a few worthwhile
reasons to check out Evan And Jaron. www.evanandjaron.com
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LISA
HOGAN  Up
and coming pop songstress Lisa Hogan recently released her latest album The
Other Way on the N.J.-based Mikey
Records. Hogan skillfully pairs appealing pop arrangements and
compelling, gutsy vocals with introspective lyrics. Fans of Canadian
singer-songwriter Sarah McLaughlin owe it to themselves to check out
Hogan’s CD. Assisted by some fine sidemen including Bob
Windbiel and John Fritz (guitars)
and Brian Dunn (drums), Hogan
appears on keyboards with her multi-tracked vocals weaving in and out of
the sound mix. The album kicks off with a surprising intro snippet of
the Jimi Hendrix classic “Are You Experienced” which then merges
into the lyrically challenging song “The Other Way”. The eight cut
CD is closed out with reprise/remix of the title track. Not only does
Hogan have respectable songwriting skills, but as a self-produced
vocalist and song stylist, she’s clearly an artist to keep an eye on. www.LisaHogan.com
/ www.CDBABY.com/Hogan
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VARIOUS
ARTISTS
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House
Of Yes 
Touching
on just about every genre of 20th Century pop and rock music, songwriter,
vocalist and guitar great Mike Keneally breaks down musical borders with
his latest magnum opus Dancing. Fans of Keneally’s last album, the all-instrumental
rock/jazz effort Nonkertompf, will
be thrilled that Dancing
features more savory electric guitar instrumentals, especially the
atmospheric “Taster”, a track on which Keneally’s lush guitar
backdrop echoes the work of Neil Young and Robin Trower. Yet it’s really
on Dancing’s vocal tracks
where Keneally proves himself to be among the most valuable 21st Century
rock innovators. Owing a debt of gratitude to his mentor Frank Zappa,
under whom Keneally apprenticed in the master’s latter years,
Keneally’s sound blueprint also draws on Todd Rundgren and XTC all the
while managing to realize a vital and innovative sound. Tracks like
“Ankle Bracelet”, “Only Mondays”, “Live In Japan” and
“Friends And Family” march Keneally and his merry band right to the
head of the 2000 pop class. 
He
turned 65 years young this year, but blues-rock great Eddy Clearwater
can still dish out a hot and nasty set of the blues. Drawing on a wealth
of blues-tinged sounds, Reservation
Blues cuts a wide swath of styles including rock ‘n’ roll,
bluesy Texas rock and good old style Chicago blues. In addition to
several new tracks, including the great lead off track “Winds Of
Change”, the CD features covers of Chuck Berry (“Sweet Little Rock And Roller”) and Dale
Hawkins (“Suzie Q”). Concerning his ongoing relationship with
producer Duke Robillard,
Clearwater states, “I’m real proud of what we’ve done together.
His band is like a road map - it just takes me where I want to go.”
Supporting Clearwater’s commanding lead guitar and invincible vocals
are Robillard (rhythm guitar), John
Packer (bass) and Jeff
McAllister (drums) among others. Performing since the age of 13,
Clearwater brings his talent and experience as a blues legend to the
forefront on Reservation Blues. 
When
two guitar giants like Clapton and King unite the result is bound to be
some sublime blues indeed. Concerning his first joint album with Eric
Clapton, B.B. King states “From the very first time we talked about it
I had my fingers crossed, saying to myself ‘Please let it happen.’
It was a treat for me. A real treat.” Recorded in L.A. earlier this
this year, the album features a range of top players including Steve
Gadd (drums), long time Clapton side man Andy
Fairweather Low, Jimmy Vaughn,
Doyle Bramhall II (guitars)
and others. King further adds, “We didn’t plan anything exactly,
but once we got started, it all just came together. In Eric’s mind is
a library of songs. He’d bring one out and we’d talk about it and it
was almost like I could hear the track as we were working out the
arrangement.” Clapton’s affinity for King’s music is reflected in
the choice of songs which include several King classics dating back to
the ‘50s and ‘60s. Other highlights include covers of John
Hiatt, Big Bill Broonzy, Sam
& Dave and the songwriting team of Mercer
/ Arlen. An excellent showcase for the electric guitar prowess of
both Clapton and King, Riding With
The Kings is a solid pairing of like minded spirits who always rock
steady when they get a bad case of the blues. 
Taking
a cue from rock and roll legends like ZZ Top, Robin Trower and Foghat,
the debut CD by Southern Gentlemen deserves a listen. Hardly a newcomer
to the hard-rock music scene, the group’s lead singer and guitarist, David
T. Chastain earned a stellar reputation with his acclaimed solo
albums and his guitar work in the band Chastain. With Exotic
Dancer Blues, Chastain has recorded an album that mixes hard-rock,
blues and Southern rock. A cross between Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman and
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Chastain readily admits to his fondness for early
‘70s roots-rock adding, “Obviously listening to the material will
bring back memories of the legendary blues rock from such bands as early
ZZ Top, Robin Trower, Hendrix and even some Skynyrd influences. We just
play it a little heavier! That was the style of music that I was first
attracted to when I started playing.” Displaying some of his first
ever vocal recordings on disc, Chastain and his bandmates Kevin Kekes (bass) and Dennis
Lesh (drums) command enough sheer rock energy to blow the roof off. 
As
this new tribute album proves, the legacy of The Doors just continues to grow nearly 30 years after the passing
of the group’s lead singer Jim
Morrison. The three surviving Doors members, Ray
Manzarek, Robby Krieger and
John Densmore were all
involved in the making of Stoned
Immaculate along with the album’s music supervisor Ralph
Sall. The list of artists appearing on the album is quite impressive
as well. Among the many great bands on board are Stone Temple Pilots (with a lead off version of “Break On
Through”), Smash Mouth (“Peace
Frog”), The Cult (“Wild
Child”) and rock legend Bo
Diddley (“Love Her Madly”). Other artists here include Creed,
Aerosmith and Train topped off by an other worldly pairing of John
Lee Hooker and Jim Morrison
on a wild “Roadhouse Blues”. Interestingly, all three living Doors
members take turns appearing on various tracks adding in authentic
touches. The spirit of the great Jim Morrison is alive and well here
with his vocals blended into a number of tracks. Other highlights
include a pair of newly created Doors tracks featuring Jim’s vocals
added in. Thirty three years after they turned the music world upside
down with their incredible sound, the spirit of The Doors refuses to
die. 
The
songwriting team of John Lennon
& Paul McCartney were so prolific, both as a team and as
individual songwriters, that they were more than willing to bestow some
of their incredible songs upon a number of up and coming pop groups
during the heyday of the mid-60’s British Invasion. Many of those
songs that the Fab Four ‘gave away’ are remembered and revived once
again on the recently released Beatles tribute CD entitled Lost
Songs. Subtitled Songs
The Beatles Wrote But Never Recorded,
Lost Songs is an impressive collection conjured up by the talented Vinny
Fazzari. Fazzari has assembled a crack crew of talented players who
obviously share an affinity for these vintage musical gems. With Fazzari
performing on a wide spectrum of instruments, from guitars and bass to
flute and tabla, he receives support from a range of skilled
instrumentalists including Dutch vocalist Jan
Van De Mei. Consummated with a look back at the past and an ear
towards the future, Lost Songs is an expertly recorded and well crafted covers album of
lesser known, yet equally amazing Beatles songs. Fans should note that
the album was mastered by one time Beatles engineer Nick Webb at, you guessed it, Abbey Road Studios. www.cmhrecords.com
/