Best Local (New Haven) Music of 2010

It's already Jan. 5th and I have yet to find the time to write my "Best of" list in regards to local music. Maybe that's because I've basically been writing that list all year long. How so you say? Well, throughout the year I have 100's of CDs cross my desk, not all local mind you, but a fair share of them are. From those, once a month or sometimes twice, even thrice - I pick what turns me on the most (a "Best of" at that moment, I suppose), and review it. So the best place for me to start would be from the CDs that "made the cut" each month throughout the year. However, before doing so I must lament that after reading some of the other Local CT "Best of" lists, I feel as though my exposure has been lacking. Right now I regard the state of CT to have 4 thriving and representable scenes, my hometown of New Haven, New London, Hartford, and recently Fairfield/Bridgeport. Except for a few crossovers, I am relatively unfamiliar with the New London, Hartford & Fairfield/Bridgeport scenes (Resolution #1, try to get more connected to the other scenes throughout the state of CT). One of my favorite New London acts, Low-Beam, released a CD this year that has made several "Best of" lists, even included in a Hartford one, yet I not only haven't heard it, I didn't even know it was released. As far as Hartford, if it wasn't for Jennifer Hill & Co. and their incredible release "Fifteen Minute Long Sentence" I would know nothing of that scene. The same goes for Saint Bernadette from Bridgeport, their "Cover Thy Neighbor" release (technically released in Dec of '09) is an amazing testament to the quality of music that can be found in the Fairfield/Bridgeport scene. Their 11 covers of obscure local songs by obscure local artists is an unbelievable primer that should be required listening for anyone who questions the importance of this local scene.

As for myself, and this Blog, it's still New Haven (& Beyond) that gets the nod, so while I have sung the praises throughout the year for such great local releases as The Frank Critelli Band (The FCB EP), James Velvet's latest endeavor, The Lonesome Sparrows (Black Velvet Royalty), The Mold Monkies (Stoats Afire!), Titles (Dirt Bell), Shark (Shark), and Age Of Reason (Acoustic and Live at Studio 23) - there is one release that found it's way into my players on an almost daily basis since it's release back in April. That alone tells me how good it is, how much it turns me on and how much I'd love to turn you and everybody else onto it as well. It's True, Pure, Rock-n-Roll with a little bit of everything that you can identify Rock-n-Roll with thrown in. It's a Good time, party, smile inducing platter that defines why we write these lists in the first place.

It's Rock-n-Roll.

It's the 2010 "IndepenDisc of the Year"

Chicks Dig It
The Big Fat Combo

Honorable Mention: All those mentioned above ;-)

A few quick 2010 notes:

Best live performance by a (semi)-local band (that I witnessed): Shark at Artspace Underground.

Disappointment #1: Meriden Daffodil Fest's Sunday schedule washed out due to rain.

Disappointment #2: The quiet loss of Frank Critelli's long running "Songs From the Sofa" series at Books & Co. in Hamden CT.

Encouraging signs #1: The continued support and recognition of the local scene involved with the National "Gathering of the Vibes" Festival at Seaside Park in Bridgeport

Encouraging signs #2: The BOMB (Bring Our Music Back) Festival in the state, didn't actually BOMB.

and a lot more stuff I really should have written about in this here Blog, but couldn't find the time (Resolution #2 - write and post more about the Local scene (& Beyond) here on this Blog in 2011).

With that I will wrap this up by stating that I have 5 "IndepenDisc 2010 Sampler" CDs to give away. I will randomly draw 5 names from those who share what you feel is your #1 Local Music release for 2010.

So, What say ye?

Wishing You all a Healthy, Safe, Happy & Musical 2011.

Christmas Music

HOLIDAY MOONLIGHT WONDERLAND* by Michael Palmieri

*Direct .mp3 stream

Yes it's that time of year again (and almost over as well)...

Christmas music has changed a lot over the years, not much emphasis on traditional carols, though most children still know all the standards. Nowadays, you can fill days worth of radio/TV programming with songs that are holiday specific. It seems like it starts sometime before Halloween, and thankfully, they usually all disappear a day or so after Dec. 25th. I say thankfully, because after a certain amount of exposure even the nicest of things can turn you into a raving lunatic. My Mother had a small cure for that, she wouldn't allow Christmas albums (yes, I said albums) to be played until after Thanksgiving and they were once again banished to the record cabinet come Dec. 26th.

My favorite Christmas music was anything and everything by Elvis Presley. Yes I know he is considered The King of Rock-n-Roll, I am well familiar with his catalogue and accomplishments. I watched the '68 comeback concert live on TV with my Mom. I understand his importance to the evolution of music and his icon status. The problem is, when I think of Elvis Presley, I think of his Christmas songs, everything from the gospel inspired "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and the Rockdown-n-dirty "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" right down to the jazzy-blues-swing of "Merry Christmas Baby." For some reason, I don't listen to his other recordings throughout the year, and maybe that's my loss. I do religiously play The King's Christmas music every December, other than that, hardly at all. And to an extent, that's a shame.

Do you know what else is a shame?

I do the same thing with Michael Palmieri.
Who? I thought I heard you say that...
(from his Bio): MICHAEL PALMIERI is a noted composer of modern classical music with hundreds of original compositions to his credit. He is one of the most played contemporary classical composers in the world.

I own quite a bit of Michael Palmieri's music, I enjoy it, yet for some reason it's Michael's Christmas Music that finds its way into my players every December. Even though my collection only consists of 3 Christmas titles: "Holiday Moonlight Wonderland," "We Three Kings," and "Deck The Halls," it is those 3 titles that come out during the holidays and remind me of how much I enjoy Michael's masterful composing, arranging and playing. It also serves to make me wonder why it takes the holidays (and the holiday music) for me to rediscover and appreciate Michael and his wonderful, amazing music.

Just like Elvis Presley, The King of Rock-n-Roll, Michael Palmieri, The King of Modern Classical garners heavy rotation every December. And every December I am left to once again resolve to listen to more of their works throughout the year. Will I? That's once again left to be seen (or should I say heard), but at least for 1 month every year, I do get to listen to and appreciate two Kings of Music.

Merry Christmas to all.
G.Gone

CD Review: Ray Charles - Rare Genius, The Undiscovered Masters

Win a FREE "Rare Genius" CD
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(Courtesy of Concord Music Group.)

If you need me to tell you who Ray Charles is, and why he was a musical genius, a legend, an icon, an institution – Then you’ve got some catching up to do – Do it.

Rare Genius, The Undiscovered Masters is a historic piece of work. It doesn’t diminish Ray’s legendary status (as most posthumous releases tend to), yet acclaims it, and rightfully so. Culled from years of studio sessions, specifically the 70s, 80s, & 90s – years when many critics wrote off Ray’s releases as coddling to mainstream contemporary rather than focusing on his trademark R&B, soul, jazz, blues, pop, and country mix – this entirely new release (none of these tracks have ever been released before) silences those critics with what measures up as one of Ray’s most complete masterpieces.

Taking in the scope and depth of Ray’s work, the people at Concord Music Group, specifically John Burk, realized that his musical ability, vision, and most notably his voice were just as powerful in the latter stages of his career and set out, not only to prove it, but to do right by “Brother Ray.” Not only did Burk put together a testament of Ray’s musical genius, but he did so in album form, capturing the essence of why musicians go into the studio, write, arrange, and record. The song selection and sequencing here pays as much a tribute to the artist as the songs themselves do.

The album opens with a lamenting tale of a man who has found redemption in his confession of not treating her right; Love’s Gonna Bite You Back is set to a “Muscle Shoals” style horn arrangement that is amazing in the way that it rocks. But it’s Ray’s vocals that capture the soul here. It Hurts To Be In Love plays off the 1st track’s punch and slides us down & dirty with a smoky lounge infused, old-school, funky, big band, swinging jazz number that dances us happy.

Once Ray has welcomed us into his element, he shows us where it’s at with the first of three musical standards. Wheel Of Fortune, along with There’ll Be Some Changes Made and A Little Bitty Tear, shows us how Ray’s masterful command of voice, piano, and band arrangements can elevate any style/genre to amazing emotional heights that pontificate the glory of music.

The center piece here is I’m Gonna Keep On Singing, a funky, get down groovy testament to “Do it,” complete with Gospel choir backing singers and old-school spoken word rap that ride Ray’s electric keyboards and horns, horns, and more horns into a rollicking jam. Isn’t It Wonderful keeps that theme alive with lyrics that are quick to point out: “While we’re talking / We could be getting it on.” Meanwhile, the band takes Ray’s vocal cues and lays out some nice runs to move the story along to the bedroom of complete bliss.

With I Don’t Want No One But You and She’s Gone, Ray takes the central themes of lost/losing love and gives them each a unique arrangement and reading. The former gives us grand scale piano work with low horns expressing the mood and attitude in a classic 70s arrangement, while the latter is a Country, Honky-Tonk affair that is more akin to the barroom than the ballroom.

The album closes with “Why Me, Lord?,” a duet with Johnny Cash that was never before released. This gem of a Kris Kristofferson gospel homage is amazing in the way that the music is simply there to allow the vocals to take center stage and breathe life into the words.

Do you have some catching up to do on Ray Charles? If so, maybe you should start here. Let Rare Genius, The Undiscovered Masters take center stage and breathe life into your musical world – Do it.

(New Haven) "Song of the Week" ~ The Royal Heart, by: The Ivory Bills

In response to the NH Register's new entertainment editor Jordan Fenster's call for songs about New Haven...

"Song of the Week" for 11-17-10 is: The Royal Heart*
by: The Ivory Bills off the CD: Rhythmic Jet Ear Games

Featured on IndepenDisc in Mar. '09

Here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~...Once again, New Haven, CT’s heart beats proudly as it delivers loud original Rock-n-Roll to the masses who sometimes think of it as extinct. The Ivory Bills debut album is a hip-shakin’, bone-rattlin’, Boogie-Woogie inspired throw down of an amazing good time. This trio of New Haven music stalwarts, James Velvet (bass, vocals), Johnny Java (drums, percussion) and John L. (guitars, vocals), lays down songs of huge guitar licks with a hot-stompin’ Rhythm that has a pulse of nonstop fun matched with excellent vocal interpretations of classic Rock subjects, and then some...~snip~

Read the entire review HERE.

So, how's that for a New Haven song?

*Link is a direct .mp3 audio stream.

"Song of the Week" ~ You Be You by: The Down-Fi

The Down-Fi will be appearing at Cafe` 9
Sat. 10-23-10 with The Manchurians.

"Song of the Week" for 10-20-10 is: You Be You*
by: The Down-Fi off the CD: America Now

I'm on the Cafe` 9 mailing list, this week's show announcements included this description of the upcoming show:

Oct. 23
Saturday 9pm

The Down-Fi (feat. Craig Willis Bell); w/ Whiskey Tango Foxtrot; The Manchurians • Look no further than Craig Willis Bell. The man is '70s punk personified. Every artist who wishes to understand old school punk should familiarize themselves with and study Craig Willis Bell – original member of Rocket From The Tombs, Saucers, The Plan, The Bell System, and more. $6

It seemed to me to be a little familiar.
IndepenDisc featured America Now by The Down-Fi in Nov. '09.
So I went and reread my review, Here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~...The Down-Fi is Old School Punk.

Look no further than Craig Willis Bell. The man is 70s Punk personified. Every Artist who wishes to understand Old School Punk should familiarize themselves with and study Craig Willis Bell – I suggest here, that you Google him, as well as Rocket From The Tombs (sub categories: Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys), Saucers, The Plan, The Bell System, and possibly others that this reviewer is unaware of...~snip~
Read the entire review HERE.

I didn't know whether to be flattered that they used my words, or upset that I wasn't credited.
I'm still not sure.
What do you think?

*Link is a direct .mp3 audio stream.

Sky Picnic ~ White Plane ~ Live at Two Boots

Sky Picnic ~ White Plane
Live @ Two Boots, Bridgeport, CT 10/16/10

"Song of the Week" ~ Moons of Jupiter by: Sky Picnic

After Featuring Synesthesia in Apr. of '09, we invited NYC's "PsychProg" band, Sky Picnic, to play the IndepenDisc 11th B'day Bash at Cafe` 9 that year. It was a sort of homecoming for Shelton native Chris Sherman, so he & the band we're "psyched" to play. They melted our faces. We're going to see them when they return to CT this Sat. 10-16 at Two Boots in Bridgeport were they will be appearing with: Like Trains & Taxis.

Want to know more about them? Check the links, tune into Radio IndepenDisc, read this blog and of course listen to the:

"Song of the Week" for 10-13-10: Moons of Jupiter* by: Sky Picnic off the CD: Synesthesia.

Featured on IndepenDisc in Apr. of '09 - Here's what I (G.Gone) had to say about it then...

~snip~ Here Sky Picnic sends us on a universal journey outside the mind and the body – the spirit is being lifted into outer and inner space. All the echo, reverb, Wah Wahs, and whatever else they’ve got going on here is just mind blowing. Dig the drums, subtle, laying back, playing an important role as the guitar’s high notes are picked about and carried by a droning and thumping bass to create a song that parallels The Who’s “Sparks” from Tommy. So trippy, so cool. This song accentuates it’s Moons of Jupiter title perfectly as it gives off stratospheric sensations that tingle the mind and soul.~snip~ Read the entire review HERE.

*Link is a direct .mp3 audio stream.