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Post by Kapitan on Aug 17, 2022 18:14:26 GMT
Todd Rundgren announced a new album, Space Force, to be released Oct. 14. While I've never been a big fan, he has quite a list of collaborators on it: Neil Finn, the Lemon Twigs, Rivers Cuomo (Weezer), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Steve Vai, the Roots, and the debut single, "Puzzle," with Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Frank Zappa, David Bowie).
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 19, 2022 14:18:16 GMT
Today the Mountain Goats released their 20th or 21st album (I've seen both number), Bleed Out. Most of their recent albums have been loose concept albums, not in that they tell stories, but that the songs all have similar subject matter or themes. This one is action movies, and specifically those movies' protagonists being out for revenge.
If nothing else, John Darnielle is among the more creative songwriters working today. He's also prolific: I think this would be his fourth album since the pandemic hit, one of which being a lo-fi homemade thing, but the other three being fully produced group albums.
Here is a good review/interview from yesterday:
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 31, 2022 11:38:24 GMT
Well, not really NEW music but a new Dean Torrence comp:
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Post by kds on Sept 9, 2022 16:19:22 GMT
I'm only halfway through Ozzy's new studio album - Patient Number 9 - released today.
And I'm pretty confident in this statement - this is his best solo album in years, probably since 2001's Down to Earth.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 9, 2022 18:16:13 GMT
One thing that occurred to me was to ask whether Ozzy is the driving force behind his recent albums, or whether he is in a BW sort of place in which he's surrounded himself with people who can more or less do what he would want done. After all, hasn't he used Chad Smith and Duff McKagan plus producer Andrew Watt as kind of his core band (as well as many star guests) on these past couple?
But then in checking, I also saw that Ozzy is credited as the sole songwriter for almost everything on this album. I find that VERY unusual, especially since Ozzy doesn't really play any instruments, does he? So I scanned through previous albums and saw few if any songs where he's credited as the sole songwriter, and that's going back some 40 years.
Do you know, KDS, whether that sounds unlikely? Did he really write a whole album for the first time in 40 years? Or does it seem like he was more or less just held up to be in the middle of an album done with/for him?
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Post by kds on Sept 9, 2022 18:33:40 GMT
One thing that occurred to me was to ask whether Ozzy is the driving force behind his recent albums, or whether he is in a BW sort of place in which he's surrounded himself with people who can more or less do what he would want done. After all, hasn't he used Chad Smith and Duff McKagan plus producer Andrew Watt as kind of his core band (as well as many star guests) on these past couple?
But then in checking, I also saw that Ozzy is credited as the sole songwriter for almost everything on this album. I find that VERY unusual, especially since Ozzy doesn't really play any instruments, does he? So I scanned through previous albums and saw few if any songs where he's credited as the sole songwriter, and that's going back some 40 years.
Do you know, KDS, whether that sounds unlikely? Did he really write a whole album for the first time in 40 years? Or does it seem like he was more or less just held up to be in the middle of an album done with/for him?
I have a hard time believing that Ozzy was the sole songwriter on any of these songs, but songwriting credits has long been a source of controversy in Ozzy's solo career, dating back to the beginning. It came to a head twenty years ago, when Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake took legal action to get credits for songs they said they wrote on Ozzy's first two solo albums. Sharon Osbroune responded by having their bass and drum tracks replaced on a 2002 reissue of both albums. There were similar issues with Jake E. Lee, during his time as Ozzy's guitar player. And, I remember reading a few songs on 2001's Down to Earth had uncredited help from Dave Grohl. Ozzy can play a little keyboard and harmonica, but very rare does. Back in the Sabbath days, the songs were credited to all four members, but it's been written over the years that Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler were the driving forces musically, with Geezer writing the bulk of the lyrics. So, to answer your initial question, I'm fairly certain Ozzy contributed to the songwriting process, but I highly doubt he didn't get help.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 9, 2022 18:48:31 GMT
Very interesting, because when I say I went back 40 years, that was the last time I saw an album where he was basically credited as the sole songwriter. But from what you're saying, that wasn't true, either!
Anyway, no disrespect to him. (It's not like I think writing your own songs is all that matters for a musician.) I just had a hard time believing a guy his age and in his condition would suddenly be doing it all himself after rarely if ever having done so before. Regardless (as I always say about BW projects when they are similarly criticized), it's the sound of the resulting material that matters first and foremost.
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Post by kds on Sept 9, 2022 19:22:46 GMT
Very interesting, because when I say I went back 40 years, that was the last time I saw an album where he was basically credited as the sole songwriter. But from what you're saying, that wasn't true, either!
Anyway, no disrespect to him. (It's not like I think writing your own songs is all that matters for a musician.) I just had a hard time believing a guy his age and in his condition would suddenly be doing it all himself after rarely if ever having done so before. Regardless (as I always say about BW projects when they are similarly criticized), it's the sound of the resulting material that matters first and foremost.
Considering the amount of guests of the album, I wouldn't be surprised if they had some input. Zakk Wylde plays on several tracks, and he was a long time collaborator with Ozzy, so maybe he lent a hand.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 9, 2022 19:28:10 GMT
I vaguely recall Duff McKagan saying he and others he worked with along with Ozzy on the previous album took a group approach, and they had a lot to do with it. Not that he was criticizing Ozzy, he was just discussing it matter-of-factly. Seems possible that would have happened again.
I keep meaning to give some of this one a listen today (though I've never been much of an Ozzy fan, I just want to hear what he's up to), but keep getting sidetracked.
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Post by kds on Sept 10, 2022 0:51:06 GMT
I vaguely recall Duff McKagan saying he and others he worked with along with Ozzy on the previous album took a group approach, and they had a lot to do with it. Not that he was criticizing Ozzy, he was just discussing it matter-of-factly. Seems possible that would have happened again.
I keep meaning to give some of this one a listen today (though I've never been much of an Ozzy fan, I just want to hear what he's up to), but keep getting sidetracked.
I had pretty low expectations because I really haven't cared much for his last four albums. I still don't think it measures up to the run he had from 1980-91, but still good
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 12, 2022 16:36:08 GMT
Here's one I'll look forward to: a new Weyes Blood (Natalie Mering) album has been announced for a November release, with the first single out now. Here is "It's Not Just Me, It's Everybody."
The Weyes Blood music I like best has a very nice West Coast, somewhat sophisticated pop sound. Among contemporaries, Laura Marling comes to mind as similar.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 23, 2022 20:52:37 GMT
It's New Music but it's also Old Music. You're all familiar with the Buffalo Springfield original. What do you think about Stevie's new version?
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Post by B.E. on Sept 23, 2022 21:37:36 GMT
I liked it. They captured the sound of the original backing track. I'm not sure I could enjoy a version of this song that doesn't! I just LOVE the sound of the original. Every time I hear it, I marvel at it.
Beyond that, my favorite part of Stevie's version starts at 4:00. Unless you're looking at the time, you think it's about to fade out. You get some nice 'oohhhs' - which is new - but then she (surprisingly) sings the whole verse again with a softer delivery and more reverb with a real faint backing. Sounds nice.
If nothing else, an enjoyable listen, I think.
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Post by B.E. on Sept 23, 2022 21:53:01 GMT
Although, I will say that I was looking forward all song to that "final" chorus when they finally repeat the line "Stop, hey, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down" and Stills' leaps up a bit on that "hey" the second time. Well, Stevie didn't do that 'til the third time. I'm so used to that coming sooner, that it was a bit disappointing! (I really love that part of the original song.) Anyway...
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 29, 2022 17:51:03 GMT
Bruce Springsteen announced a new album of soul covers, releasing as its first single "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" (Frankie Wilson). The album, Only the Strong Survive, will be released Nov. 11.
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