NEW AND NOTABLE
***************
"Live from Central Park"
Sheryl Crow & Friends
CD Sale Priced
Sheryl Crow's debt to classic rock is never far from the
surface of her music, so it's appropriate that she gathered
a handful of genuine legends for this NYC performance,
including Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Eric Clapton, and
Keith Richards, whose "Happy" is the highlight here. Younger
guests include Sarah McLachlan and the Dixie Chicks. Crow
sounds like she's having a good time, but who wouldn't in
such august company?
"Magnolia: Music from the Motion Picture"
Aimee Mann
CD Sale Priced
It's been a long, hard haul for Aimee Mann, but the gifted
singer-songwriter is finally headed back in the right
direction thanks to the warm reception being accorded her
soundtrack to the popular feature "Magnolia." The film's
director, Paul Thomas Anderson, actually refers to his
screenplay as "an adaptation of Aimee Mann's songs"--a
remarkable tribute to her vivid wordplay and disarmingly
direct delivery. Besides, how can anyone resist a line like,
"You look like a perfect fit / For a girl in need of a
tourniquet"?
"Life'll Kill Ya"
Warren Zevon
CD Sale Priced
A welcome return to form by one of rock & roll's most
original singer-songwriters, "Life'll Kill Ya" is as
strange, smart, and savage as its creator. Zevon's most
consistent effort since his late '70s heyday, the 12-song
collection will certainly win back old fans and likely win
over some new followers.
"The Sopranos: Music from the HBO Original Series"
Various Artists
CD Sale Priced
So what's your modern Mafioso listen to these days? If one
is to believe this score to HBO's hit show, aside from the
requisite Frank Sinatra track, they go for the grit. Showing
considerable savvy, the executive producers avoid the
obvious, instead digging up songs that suit the series'
steely-eyed style. Highlights include Them's "Mystic Eyes,"
Nick Lowe's intense "The Beast in Me," and a long-forgotten
contribution from cast member and Springsteen sideman,
Little Steven.
"Live Era '87-'93"
Guns N' Roses
CD Sale Priced
The wait for Axl Rose and company to emerge with new
material goes on and on and on. GN'R fans anxious to fill
the void (and let's face it--their once mighty legions have
dwindled during the group's extended absence) would be well
advised to check out this two-disc set, culled from the
group's early Sunset Strip days through their rise to
superstardom. Makes one ponder what direction rock & roll
might have gone if the original quintet had maintained their
focus.
"The Million Dollar Hotel : Music From the Motion Picture"
U2, Various Artists
CD Sale Priced
ESSENTIALS BY ARTIST: FRANK ZAPPA
*********************************
Frank Zappa built one of the most vast and varied catalogs
in rock & roll from the time he emerged as the leader of the
Mothers of Invention in 1966 until his death in 1993. It's
an oeuvre that is intimidating in its astonishing scope.
Amazon.com's list of Zappa's essential recordings will help
you figure it out.
Lambchop
CD Sale Priced
Perhaps best known for their role in helping to shape Vic
Chesnutt's beautifully textured 1998 release, "The Salesman
and Bernadette," the adventurous but melodic large ensemble
is back with a mature effort that's certain to expand their
small but devoted following.
"Both Sides Now"
Joni Mitchell
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Despite the name, which hearkens back to one of Joni
Mitchell's earliest hits, this set finds the free-spirited
artist interpreting a selection of classic pop and jazz
standards.
"Life Before Insanity"
Gov't Mule
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These Southern road warriors return to the studio to restock
their selection of originals. Ben Harper guests on one
track.
Most everyone loves a comeback, and Carlos Santana engineered a doozy of a rebound in 1999--one that was richly rewarded at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards. The 52-year-old Californian took home eight awards this year, a number matched only by Michael Jackson in 1983. And that doesn't include Itaal Shur and Rob Thomas's Song of the Year selection for the album's signature track, "Smooth." In a year when the far younger likes of Beck, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Metallica took home trophies, Santana (and, to a lesser degree, the war horses in Black Sabbath) carried the flag for rockers with rich histories. Here are some of the top winners in the rock categories, along with our thoughts, and in some cases, AcoustiCDigest/newCDnews.com (Associates of Amazon.com) choices).
Best Rock Album
***************
Winner:
"Supernatural"
Santana
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Why It Won: Carlos Santana caused a huge stir when he
emerged with his band in 1969, but the San Francisco
guitarist long ago settled in as something considerably more
than a journeyman, but less than a superstar. All that
changed with the release of "Supernatural," a guest-star-
studded outing that's far surpassed the first two hit
Santana albums in popularity, a development few would have
predicted a year ago. Who'd have thought Carlos Santana
would be a bigger name after Woodstock '99 than Woodstock
'69?
"Bad Love"
Randy Newman
CD Sale Priced
While we're on the subject of artists who got their start
before the members of TLC were born, consider Randy Newman,
whose sharp and unflinching "Bad Love" represents a welcome
return to song-based recording for the incisive songsmith.
One part mended misanthrope, one part wounded wag, Newman is
a composer who fearlessly voices untidy attitudes. Commercially,
"Bad Love" caused a ripple while "Supernatural" was a
virtual tsunami. And, of course, Newman's relatively
uncelebrated comeback didn't earn any Grammy nominations,
though he was honored for his score for "A Bug's Life." "Bad
Love," however, is the recording that overflows with
creative inspiration.
Best Metal Performance
**********************
Winner:
"Iron Man"
Black Sabbath
Track from "Reunion"
CD Sale Priced
Why It Won: Black Sabbath defined heavy metal 30 years
ago. Further, "Iron Man" exemplifies the genre's appeal,
with its ultra-basic chord progression and single-minded
fearsomeness. The four founding members--Tony Iommi, Ozzy
Osbourne, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward--regrouped for the
"Reunion" tour, which allowed the now fiftysomething lot to
pummel their way through their classic repertoire with a
gusto that belies their ages. Was it any surprise that the
mighty men of Sabbath play "Iron Man" as well as they ever
have? After all, budding garage bands have been "perfecting"
the old cruncher since 1971!
Our Pick:
"Starf***ers, Inc."
Nine Inch Nails
Track from "The Fragile"
CD Sale Priced
Belittle Black Sabbath? Blasphemy! Ozzy and the boys put the
"heavy" in heavy metal all those years ago. That said, "Iron
Man" carried a bit more weight during the Nixon
administration than it does in the year 2000. Trent Reznor
certainly learned a thing or two from Sab-lessons he put to
work with the sprawling "The Fragile," surely the most
ambitious hard-music album of the past year.
Best Alternative Performance
****************************
Winner:
"Mutations"
Beck
CD Sale Priced
Why It Won: Beck's breakthrough year was 1996, when he won
Grammys for his album "Odelay" and its hit single "Where
It's At." "Mutations" was by no means an attempt to ride the
"Odelay" wave. Acoustic-based and weary where its predecessor
was funky and frisky, "Mutations" demonstrates Beck's
continuing appeal to the alt segment of the Recording
Academy.
Our Pick:
"You've Come a Long Way, Baby"
Fatboy Slim
CD Sale Priced
Norman Cook makes dance music with a rock sensibility, a
knack that makes the onetime Housemartin/Beats International
member's debut under his Fatboy Slim nom de plume a true
crossover smash. Manipulating straight-ahead four-on-the-floor
rhythms of the dance floor in a more song-like manner than
most of his mixmaster peers, Slim created an album that will
stand as an electronica landmark.
Best Rock Instrumental Performance
**********************************
Winner:
"The Calling"
Santana (featuring Eric Clapton
Track from "Supernatural"
CD Sale Priced
Why It Won: One much-loved guitar god from the West Coast
matched with a perhaps even more revered British counterpart
proved to be an irresistible combination for the Recording
Academy. "The Calling" doesn't represent either Santana or
Clapton at their fret-burning best, but millions of new fans
now have a fresh incentive to explore their superior earlier
works.
Our Pick:
"Bodyrock"
Moby
Track from "Play"
CD Sale Priced
Whether Moby's music qualifies as instrumental rock is
debatable, but the techno titan earned a nomination in that
category, so let's flow with it in the spirit of the music.
"Play"'s deft mating of breakbeat rhythms, ambient mixology,
and sagely selected blues and gospel samples has captured
the fancy of longtime fans of the DJ, as well as newcomers
who feel a powerful pull from his arcane source material.
Ultimately, "Play" and the uptempo album track "Bodyrock"
bring together disparate communities and music, a noble
accomplishment indeed!
Best Hard Rock Performance
**************************
Winner:
"Whiskey in the Jar"
Metallica
Track from "Garage, Inc."
CD Sale Priced
Why It Won: Metalheads let out a loud cry when Metallica
lost out to graybeards Jethro Tull in the 1988 hard
rock/metal Grammy sweepstakes. Grammy voters have since
pointedly avoided further slights of the most powerful metal
band of the past two decades, presenting them with five
subsequent awards, capped by this year's nod for the
quintet's reworking of the Thin Lizzy track "Whiskey in the
Jar."
"Magnolia: Music from the Motion Picture"
Aimee Mann
Check it out here!
It's been a long, hard haul for Aimee Mann, but the gifted
singer-songwriter is finally headed back in the right
direction thanks to the warm reception being accorded her
soundtrack to the popular feature "Magnolia." The film's
director, Paul Thomas Anderson, actually refers to his
screenplay as "an adaptation of Aimee Mann's songs"--a
remarkable tribute to her vivid wordplay and disarmingly
direct delivery. Besides, how can anyone resist a line like,
"You look like a perfect fit / For a girl in need of a
tourniquet"?
"Life'll Kill Ya"
Warren Zevon
Check it out here!
A welcome return to form by one of rock & roll's most
original singer-songwriters, "Life'll Kill Ya" is as
strange, smart, and savage as its creator. Zevon's most
consistent effort since his late '70s heyday, the 12-song
collection will certainly win back old fans and likely win
over some new followers.
"The Sopranos: Music from the HBO Original Series "
Various Artists
Check it out here!
So what's your modern Mafioso listen to these days? If one
is to believe this score to HBO's hit show, aside from the
requisite Frank Sinatra track, they go for the grit. Showing
considerable savvy, the executive producers avoid the
obvious, instead digging up songs that suit the series'
steely-eyed style. Highlights include Them's "Mystic Eyes,"
Nick Lowe's intense "The Beast in Me," and a long-forgotten
contribution from cast member and Springsteen sideman,
Little Steven.
"Live Era '87-'93"
Guns N' Roses
Check it out here!
The wait for Axl Rose and company to emerge with new
material goes on and on and on. GN'R fans anxious to fill
the void (and let's face it--their once mighty legions have
dwindled during the group's extended absence) would be well
advised to check out this two-disc set, culled from the
group's early Sunset Strip days through their rise to
superstardom. Makes one ponder what direction rock & roll
might have gone if the original quintet had maintained their
focus.
"Machina: The Machines of God"
Smashing Pumpkins
Check it out here!
ESSENTIAL ARTIST: FRANK ZAPPA
Frank Zappa built one of the most vast and varied catalogs
in rock & roll from the time he emerged as the leader of the
Mothers of Invention in 1966 until his death in 1993. It's
an oeuvre that is intimidating in its astonishing scope.
Our Hot Zappa Pick:
Go for it!
ROCKSLIDE AHEAD: UPCOMING RELEASES
"Nixon"
Lambchop
Check it out here!
Perhaps best known for their role in helping to shape Vic
Chesnutt's beautifully textured 1998 release, "The Salesman
and Bernadette," the adventurous but melodic large ensemble
is back with a mature effort that's certain to expand their
small but devoted following.
"Both Sides Now"
Joni Mitchell
Check it out here!
Despite the name, which hearkens back to one of Joni
Mitchell's earliest hits, this set finds the free-spirited
artist interpreting a selection of classic pop and jazz
standards.
"Life Before Insanity"
Gov't Mule
Check it out here!
These Southern road warriors return to the studio to restock
their selection of originals. Ben Harper guests on one
track.
"And Then Nothing Turned Itself"
Yo La Tengo
Check it out here!
Alternative in the original sense of the term, Yo La Tengo
remains true to its one-part garage-rock, one-part
folk-rock, one-part punk-rock origins long after many of
their peers and followers have fallen by the way. What's
more, they've maintained an admirable adventurousness,
exploring a laid-back vibe this time out.
"Machina: The Machines of God "
Smashing Pumpkins
Check it out here!
Founding member D'Arcy is gone, but Billy Corgan and James
Iha push ahead with their fifth proper album of their
nine-year recording history.
"Two Against Nature"
Steely Dan
Check it out here!
It's been 20 years since Steely Dan's last studio album,
"Gaucho." Needless to say, fans of the Dan are anxious to
hear what Walter Becker and Donald Fagen have come up with
on their first full collaboration since 1980.
BOOK NOTES: ROCKIN' REFERENCES
Hardcore music fans are notorious for their fascination with minutiae surrounding their sounds of choice. There's no better way to satisfy their appetites for big servings of small details than with bulky, info-intense reference books. Following are a few rock & roll encyclopedias that stand out as tomes for trivia buffs.
"VH1 Rock Stars Encyclopedia"
by Dafydd Rees and Luke Crampton
Check it out here!
Over 1,000 performers are chronicled in this thoroughly
researched reference. It runs through 1999, making it a
particularly useful selection for fans of new music.
"Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide"
by Gary Graff, Daniel Durchholz, and Doug Fieger
Check it out here!
Biographical data takes a backseat to recordings in
Musichound's series of album guides, which are particularly
apt references for frequent music buyers.
"All Music Guide to Rock"
by Michael Erlewine, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Erlewine, and
Vladimir Bogdanov
Check it out here!
Staking out the middle ground between the VH1 and Musichound
efforts, the "All Music" rock guide does an admirable job
presenting both biographical and recording information.
Emerging Artists is a new section of our music store devoted
to independent musicians who join Amazon.com's free
Advantage program. If you're interested in discovering new
music by hidden talent, then this is the best place to look.
Check it out here!
******
To become a new Amazon.com Delivers subscriber, or to sign
up for additional categories, visit
Check it out here!
Perry Farrell "Rev"
Check it out!
Rage Against The Machine "Battle Of Los Angeles"
Check it out!
Chevelle "Point #1"
Check it out!
VA-Wwf Music
"Vol. 4-Wwf Music"
Check it out!
Joe Strummer & Mescaleros
"Rock Art & The X-Ray Style"
Check it out!
Dez Dickerson
"Oneman"
Check it out!
Soulwax
"Much Against Everyone's Advice"
Check it out!
Toad The Wet Sprocket "P.S. (A Toad Retrospective)"
Check it out!
Dez Dickerson "Oneman"
Check it out!
Ash "Nu-Clear Sounds"
Check it out!
Lynch Mob "Smoke This"
Check it out!
Creed "Human Clay"
Check it out!
Smithereens "God Save The Smithereens"
Check it out!
Santana "Supernatural"
Check it out!
David Bowie "'hours...'"
Check it out!
Ash "Nu-Clear Sounds"
Check it out!
VA-Fox Sports Presents Game Ti "Fox Sports Presents Game
Time"
Check it out!
Chevelle "Point 1"
Check it out!
Tom Petty "Echo"
Check it out!
Melissa Etheridge "Breakdown"
Check it out!
VA-Fox Sports Presents Game Ti "Fox Sports Presents Game
Time"
Check it out!
Alan Parsons "Time Machine"
Check it out!
Muse "Showbiz"
Check it out!
Creed "Human Clay"
Check it out!
Chevelle "Point 1"
Check it out!
Indigo Girls "Come On Now Social"
Check it out!
VA-Ym Hot Tracks "Vol. 1-Ym Hot Tracks"
Check it out!
Garth Brooks "In The Life Of Chris Gaines"
Check it out!
Lou Bega "Little Bit Of Mambo"
Check it out!
Alan Parsons "Time Machine"
Check it out!
Muse "Showbiz"
Check it out!
Creed "Human Clay"
Check it out!
Chevelle "Point 1"
Check it out!
Duke Nukem-Music To Score By "Video Game Soundtrack"
Check it out!
Mullmuzzler "Keep It To Yourself"
Check it out!
Me'shell Ndegeocello "Bitter"
Check it out!
Filter "Title Of Record"
Check it out!
Innocence Mission "Birds Of My Neighborhood"
go for it
Limp Bizkit "Significant Other"
go for it
Creed "My Own Prison"
go for it
Kid Rock "Devil Without A Cause"
go for it
