the-newest-songs-you-can-get-along-with-great-reissues-in-new-formats
FORTY-FIVE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE #4: The Immaterial Ocean
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SQUEEZEÂ Packet Of Three EP:Â “Cat On A Wall” b/w “Night Ride” & “Backtrack”(Deptford Fun City Records DFC 01, November 1979)
Squeeze needs no introduction, so I’ll just dig right into the meat of this platter. This is the 1979 reissue of their 1977 debut EP on the Deptford Fun City label from the UK. Exactly how I ended up with this I’m unsure, but suffice to say it’s one of my favorite little time-capsules from […]
Lindsey Buckingham’s Latest Musical Present: “Gift of Screws”
When Rolling Stone magazine or one the gazillion websites out there feature a list of the greatest guitarists of all time, they always leave off Lindsey Buckingham. I’m not sure why. The guy is a genius whose self-taught finger plucking technique has created a truly inspiring sound. For those who don’t know who Lindsay is, he’s the most influential member of Fleetwood Mac whose name isn’t Stevie Nicks. When Lindsey and Stevie joined the Mac in 1975, Fleetwood Mac soared to new heights. Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie might have been the faces of the band, but it was Lindsey Buckingham who contributed the most with his unique guitar style and beautiful melodies. The majority of my favorite Mac songs were written or sung by Lindsey. For you trivia buffs out there, he also was responsible for Holiday Road, the theme from the National Lampoon Vacation movies. He also had a few solo hits in the 80’s including Go Insane and Trouble.
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Ne-Yo’s “Year of the Gentleman”: Miss Independent, Meet Mr. Sensitivity
In just a few short years, Shaffer Smith (known to most of us as Ne-Yo) has become one of pop/R&B’s most respected songwriters. Since breaking through with Mario’s “Let Me Love You”, the Vegas native has penned songs for acts like Beyonce (“Irreplaceable”), Rihanna (“Unfaithful), Usher, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion, to name just a few. Unlike most of today’s pop acts, Ne-Yo brings a classicist’s touch to his songwriting. He actually writes stories instead of a few chants wrapped around a hook. Take some of the slang out and he could have been writing in the Sixties or Seventies.
The man has since pursued a second career as an artist in his own right, with two hit albums under his belt. As a singer and performer, Ne-Yo, like just about every other young male artist in pop & R&B, owes much to Michael Jackson. His high tenor can be compared favorably to “Off the Wall” and “Thriller”-era MJ, and his dance moves are nothing if not Jacksonesque.
Unfortunately, Ne-Yo’s albums have been a mixed bag so far. While 2006’s In My Own Words was a solid effort that hinted at greatness, 2007’s Because of You was a well-written but somewhat boring follow-up. After that, I wasn’t sure if Ne-Yo had a great album in him…until now.
Ne-Yo. Photo by Robin Wong.
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