GROOVES & CUTS – ENOUGH WITH THE PANDEMIC SONGS – JUNE 2021 John Apice Slim pickings this month of miscellaneous releases. Why? Many sound the same, with recycled song formulas, lame singing, poor choice of song subjects, rehashed progressions, no ingenuity, creativity, originality, or arrangement. Lots of coasting. PR boasts how it was all recorded […]
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MAY 2021 GROOVES & CUTS – John Apice This month is loaded with good music. I won’t be able to get to in an in-depth review on many, but much is worth a listen by curious ears that want something new, varied & interesting. On the vintage second look front, which I’ll keep brief this […]
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GROOVES & CUTS – John Apice I ranted a bit last month about artists who write originals but seldom say anything of merit lyrically. They say they wait for inspiration or for a real-life experience. That’s fine, but you’ll never sustain a career. Dry spells for writers can partially be solved if imagination is used. […]
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GROOVES & CUTS – John Apice When it comes to Americana-Roots-Alt/Country music one of the elements I find in disfavor is the introduction of unnecessary electronics, synthesizers & techno embellishments. Also, many submissions received — are not Americana, roots, folk, soul, blues, jazz, bluegrass, or alt-country. I sadly have to pass on many viable artists in […]
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GROOVES & CUTS – John Apice I’m surprised by how many interesting songs/LPs have slipped between the cracks over the years that may be of interest to the curious. The duo Aztec Two-Step (Rex Fowler & Neal Shulman) for example has been around since 1971. They released a song in 2004 on their “Days of Horses” LP. […]
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GROOVES & CUTS – John Apice There are a few grandfathers of rock & roll that require revisiting. Late as it is these miraculous artists still record fresh material, still perform as if the years have no effect, or rather more appropriately, don’t matter. First is 81-year-old Dion DiMucci. This legendary singer recreated himself a few times as […]
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John Mayall – The First Generation 1956-1974 — 35 CD Career Retrospective – Studio Albums Where to begin? A prolific career such as John Mayall’s is a task. 87-year-old Mayall’s role in British blues is pivotal in the careers of many famous musicians. Whether Mayall actually influenced many personally remains open. However, Mayall without a doubt has […]
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Continuing with artists under the radar with Chris Rea – a musician that average Americans still say “who?” Despite recording & performing since 1973 & having sold more than 30 million records worldwide. “Never heard of him…” but Elton John did. He recorded a duet with Chris who had a prior hit in the US […]
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GROOVES & CUTS – John Apice Artists Under the Radar Part 2 will appear in December. This month — new Christmas/Holiday music. It’s hard to beat the classic Christmas songs but there are indeed many great holiday songs produced today. An ideal open is British singer-songwriter Leigh Haggerwood’s emotionally uplifting vocals on his song “My […]
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Through the decades I found LPs, songs & artists that were largely ignored. Slipped between the cracks, lost to history, tax-write off, relegated to the $1.99 bin of the sliding pond record biz. Many good artists suffer a lack of promotion/distribution, or a record company gone belly up. Some artists are successful — but not […]
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