Album Reviews

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Anthony Wilson's "Frogtown" Will Have You Wondering
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 12, 2016  |  2 comments
Anthony Wilson, best known as a jazz guitarist, has released an organic, occasionally “noir-ish”, sounding album on which he sets up and sings within cinematic musical landscapes, proving himself to be an equally compelling story teller. "Frogtown" is an area of Los Angeles, whose official name is "Elysian Valley". People live there but other than a lush stretch of the L.A. riverbed, there's not much there, which is how the people like it. The same can't be said of this record, which will have you wondering from where came this Anthony Wilson?

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"Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out" Now Out on Vinyl
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 07, 2016  |  6 comments
Petra Haden, the very talented daughter of the late bassist Charlie Haden, and former member of That Dog released in 2005 an a cappella version of The Who Sells Out that is charming, entertaining, ingenious and loads of fun. It was CD only until now.
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Big Bill Broonzy Sings Folk Songs From Vinyl Me, Please
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 01, 2016  |  17 comments
The Boulder, Colorado-based vinyl curating service Vinyl Me, Please aims its releases more at new vinyl collectors looking for some guidance and order than at established vinyl aficionados and audiophiles interest in provenance purity.

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Long Lost Bennett/Brubeck Collaboration Found
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Apr 01, 2016  |  3 comments
On August 28,1962 Dave Brubeck's "classic" quartet and Tony Bennett backed by The Ralph Sharon Trio performed separately on the stage of the Sylvan Amphitheater at the base of the Washington Monument and then in an act of daring spontaneity, Brubeck and company backed Bennett on four unrehearsed tunes, all of which was captured to tape by. Columbia Records' remote recording team.

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David Bowie's "The Prettiest Star" Three Ways And Box Set Finale
Album Reviews, News
Michael Fremer  |  Mar 02, 2016  |  27 comments
There's something deeply offensive to me about picking apart the sound on the David Bowie [Five Years 1969-1973] box set. The guy is gone, the sadness lingers and maybe it's time to just enjoy and celebrate the music.

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"Dameronia With Strings" Ferit Odman's Tadd Dameron Tribute Will Wow You
AAA Vinyl, Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Feb 11, 2016  |  17 comments
“Too expensive to record to analog tape” we often hear from major label representatives, from producers and from artists. And there are those who don’t think the sonics are better or as good as ProTools.

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Mono 45rpm "Surrealistic Pillow" from Mo-Fi is the One to Have
AAA Vinyl, Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 29, 2016  |  31 comments
Paul Kantner RIP. When is this parade of dead rock icons going to end? Can we at least have a short break?
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The Beatles "1"-- Giles Martin Remixes the Singles
Album Reviews, Beatles
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 26, 2016  |  24 comments
Music re-mixes may not be as complicated or as critical as brain surgery but when it comes to The Beatles, you could make the case.
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Glenn Frey Proves He's Got the Vocal Chops For A Standards Album
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 20, 2016  |  14 comments
Like Paul McCartney's Kisses on the Bottom, The Eagles' Glenn Frey's standards album was produced with requisite class, though Frey's song choices range wider, covering everything from the 1922 Al Jolson classic "My Buddy" to Brian Wilson's soothing Pet Sounds solo turn "Caroline No" written with Tony Asher.

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Is "Interludes" Lyn Stanley's Breakthrough Album?
AAA Vinyl, Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 04, 2016  |  14 comments
Lyn Stanley’s third effort had better not be more of the same I told her, but only because she asked. Otherwise, it’s really none of my business, especially since I would be reviewing it.

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I'm "Bullish" on Patrick Higgins' "Bachanalia"
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Jan 01, 2016  |  3 comments
A description of this record in Twitter-like brevity: "Sandy Bull meets Michael Hedges in a church."

Of course that short-changes everyone involved, especially the only living artist among the three: guitarist Patrick Higgins.

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"Bob Dylan 1965-1966 The Best of The Cutting Edge—The Bootleg Series Volume 12
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 30, 2015  |  4 comments
Recorded music comes to us pressed in plastic and frozen in time. The work leading up to the master often gets lost, tossed or erased and recorded over without a thought that it might be of interest to anyone. That’s most often true. Alternate takes, when they do surface, usually make clear why they were passed over in favor of the one programmed into your brain, though there are exceptions.

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A New Exile on Main Street "Using the Original Analog Master Tape..."? Doubtful
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 19, 2015  |  53 comments
A recent sales blurb from UMe's "The Sound of Vinyl" website reads: "Using the original analog master tapes this artisan process results in cuts that have superior high frequency response (treble) and very solid and stable stereo images. In short, a very high quality master that helps to create a very high quality record."

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West Side Story  Comes to Life on Analog Spark Reissue
AAA Vinyl, Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 17, 2015  |  32 comments
One of the greatest Broadway shows ever was also one of the great recordings of the dawning stereo era. Just reissued by Razor & Tie imprint Analog Spark and sourced using the original 3 track analog master tape, the music leaps from the speakers with new found conviction intensity and astonishing transparency.

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A Christmas Compilation From Analogue Productions Spreads Holiday Cheer
Album Reviews
Michael Fremer  |  Dec 15, 2015  |  17 comments
Chad Kassem's got a vinyl selling website, a reissue label, a pressing plant and well-oiled licensing deals so what's left to do but a self-produced double vinyl Christmas compilation pressed on red and green?

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