Web Link: http://www.halfcocked.com
John Mellencamp - Cuttin' Heads
How could John Mellencamp have recorded 15 albums? It seems like just yesterday I was at the arcade listening to "Jack and Diane" on the jukebox, but that was nearly 20 years ago. Time flies, but John Mellencamp's music remains relevant. Cuttin' Heads is his strongest work since 1987's The Lonesome Jubilee. It's got that traditional Mellencamp Midwest rock sound, but it's also very contemporary, with some Latin pop influences and a guest appearance by rapper Chuck D. He's also reached a nice musical balance, mixing in love songs and lightweight pop with more serious songs that address political and social issues.
Web Link: http://www.mellencamp.com/
New Order - Get Ready
It's been 8 years since New Order's last release, and about 15 since their glory days. The drought is over. Get Ready returns one of the most influential synth pop bands ever to their rightful stature. Their music is as danceable as ever, but New Order has not mellowed with age. There is actually a harder edge and rawer production values on Get Ready than on previous CDs. Peter Hook's masterful bass riffs are front and center, right where they should be, and Bernard Sumner's distinctive vocals and guitar work are first-rate as usual. Former Smashing Pumpkins Billy Corgan appears on this CD, too, lending his vocals and guitar to the song "Turn My Way."
Web Link: http://www.neworderweb.com
Queensryche - Live Evolution
For 20 years, Queensryche has been the definitive progressive metal band. And now they have released their definitive collection. Live Evolution is 29 songs recorded live earlier this year in their hometown of Seattle. The double CD spans all 8 of their albums from 1983's self titled EP through 1999's Q2k. They have also released a companion live DVD. If you're not familiar with Queensryche, Live Evolution is a great introduction to the group, and a must own for serious fans. This CD captures them at their very best. The good news is it is not a career retrospective, it's a tune up for their next studio album, and we can expect great things from Queensryche for years to come.
Web Link: http://www.queensryche.com/
Various Artists - Good Rockin' Tonight: The Legacy of Sun Records
Sun Records was a pioneering record label started in 1952 by Sam Phillips. It launched the careers of such musical legends at Elvis, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Johnny Cash. Good Rockin' Tonight is a tribute to Sun Records, and a companion soundtrack to the PBS documentary of the same name. It's only fitting a label that spawned so many successful careers has some of today's biggest names on its tribute CD, including Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Elton John, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Matchbox Twenty, Sheryl Crow, Chris Isaak, Live, and Kid Rock. The combination of great songs and superstar artists makes Good Rockin' Tonight one of the best compilation CD's you'll ever hear.
