Posts Tagged Frank Zappa
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August 10, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Steve Vai: Modern Primitive
Steve Vai Modern Primitive Favored Nations Originally released last year as part of the 25th Anniversary package of Passion and Warfare this collection of outtakes and off-cuts, Modern Primitive, now receives the standalone-release treatment, perfect for Vai/guitar fans that didn’t want to fork for “just another copy of Passion and Warfare”.Archive
March 30, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Five Songs For Friday: # 10 – Remembering Old Favourite albums
I guess I do this most weeks – occupational hazard or whatever – but this week in particular I’ve been revisiting old favourites, thinking about albums I liked a lot 5 and 10 years ago, and 20 years ago…and in some cases just 2-3 years ago… I’ll also give an early mention of Goose Snow […]Archive
November 8, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Drummers You Just Can’t Beat: # 14 – Vinnie Colaiuta
I first met him (in a musical sense) with the Sting album Ten Summoner’s Tales. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – the sharp cymbal sound, the crisp snare; the fact that Colaiuta had his head around 5/4 and 7/4 time signatures – playing in 7/8 here on St Augustine In Hell. I think […]Archive
April 11, 2016 by Simon Sweetman
Dweezil Zappa: Via Zammata’
Dweezil Zappa Via Zammata’ MRI/Southbound Buried deep in this brand new album by Dweezil Zappa is a song called Just The Way She Is, it’s the record’s penultimate track in fact. And it has hints of Joe Walsh about it, the way it moves from lovely and laconic pop ballad to fiery guitar workout and […]Archive
August 2, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
The Best Guitarist in The World # 6 – Steve Vai
No, no, hear me out – Steve Vai is one of the very few from the “Shred Shed” that transcends that silly notion. For a start, he knows when he’s being a ham. I don’t think Joe Satriani has that awareness. The movie Crossroads was so important to me growing up. Not the Britney Spears […]Archive
July 29, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
The Best Guitarist in The World: # 3 – Prince
I’ve just started reading a book about the making of Purple Rain (the movie and album) – and I mean just started. I’m only a handful of pages in. The author is gushing about Prince’s guitar playing. I can tell it’s gonna be a good book. But I have this thought – geez, Prince could […]Archive
April 7, 2014 by Simon Sweetman
Frank Zappa: Roxy By Proxy
Frank Zappa Roxy By Proxy Zappa Records There’s some really cool stuff on this – the latest Zappa release from Zappa Records. Sure, it obviously wasn’t going to come out in his lifetime – although much of it did on Roxy & Elsewhere and, er, elsewhere – but this version of those great shows from […]Archive
September 29, 2013 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 1272
Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band, The Legendary A&M Sessions (1984) An EP compiled from earlier singles – basically to milk some money I guess; since by the time this EP was released Captain Beefheart had gone into hiding/retirement. I picked this up on vinyl a while back – first Beefheart LP I owned; not […]Archive
August 17, 2013 by Simon Sweetman
“Weird Al” Yankovic: Live! – The Apocalypse Tour
“Weird Al” Yankovic “Weird Al” Yankovic Live! – The Apocalypse Tour Comedy Central I find it a lot easier to admire the skill, humour and efforts of “Weird Al” Yankovic as time goes by. Another crucial element to enjoying his work is not actually listening to it. His nod/wink parodies would be excruciating to have […]Archive
June 25, 2013 by Simon Sweetman
Boa Constrictors: Nice Try
Boa Constrictors Nice Try (Independent) Joe Astle, as Boa Constrictors, pumps out confidant, cute, tousle-haired power-pop and snotty, bratty almost-punk that so clearly references Jonathan Richman he even covers Back In Your Life. I’m reminded of Gisli when listening to this, that same almost-Weezer feel, but it’s Weezer if calmed down and in demo-phase, though, […]Archive
December 1, 2012 by Simon Sweetman