CD/DVD Reviews

Randy Smith: BittersweetRANDY SMITH, Bittersweet (GB Music, 2009)
Charlotte, North Carolina-based singer/songwriter Randy Smith has been around the rock-and-roll block more than a few times, with the transplanted New Englander having recorded four albums as lead vocalist for AOR rockers 8084. Therefore it was with great anticipation this reviewer get the opportunity to "sneak preview" Randy's debut solo release Bittersweet, recorded on the New York City-based GB Music label.

KTU'sQuiverPublished in The Message For The Week, 6/09 Featuring Trey Gunn (King Crimson) on Warr Guitar, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) on "rhythmic devices, beats and noises" and Kimmo Pohjonen (Kluster) on vocals, experimental accordion, live loops and effects, KTU (pronounced "K2") is a unique blend of talent indeed.

Bill Bruford BiographyPublished in The Message, June 10 2009Drummer/composer Bill Bruford is widely known as not only one of the greatest drummers of rock, having recorded and toured with such progressive heavy-hitters as Yes, King Crimson and Genesis, but also an accomplished jazz drummer and composer as well.

'Cause I Sez SoPublished In The Message, May 13. 2009
After storming onto the rock-and-roll scene 36 years ago with their very influential, self-titled debut album in 1973 and follow up Too Much Too Soon in 74', the infamous New York Dolls dissolved almost as fast as they arrived.

Stanley Jordan TrioPublished in The Message For The Week, April 1, 2009
Stanley Jordan is one–of–a–kind. A truly unique guitar player and
master of a two-handed tapping technique that immediately turned heads within the jazz world upon the release of his debut album, Magic Touch, in 1985, which also earned Jordan a Grammy nomination.

Kraftwerk: And The Electronic Revolution

Johnny Winter LivePublished in The Message For The Week, January 14, 2009
In the world of the blues, Texas–born Johnny Winter is an unlikely master, the great white hope of electric blues guitar. For blues fans who never got to witness Muddy Waters, T–Bone Walker or Robert Johnson, experiencing Johnny Winter live is about as close as one could get to seeing one of the “original” blues masters.

von Garcia: I Think I ThinkPublished in The message For The Week
Formed in 2006 by guitarist/composer James von Buelow and composer/bassist Damon Trotta, von Garcia's i think i think is the third release under the New York City–based Sluggo's Goon Music label.

The Residents: The Bunny BoyPublished in Goldmine Magazine, December 15, 2008
If you do not know The Residents (heck, even if you DO know them) strap yourself in, because you're in for quite a ride. Despite having created over sixty albums in their nearly 40–year history, this San Francisco avant–garde music and visual arts outfit to this day, is a mystery on purpose. Yes folks, they choose ambiguity.

Yes - Director's CutPublished in The Message For The Week, Oct. 29, 2008
In an off-shoot to The Wondrous Songs & The Wondrous Stories
release, MVD now brings The Director's Cut, which offers the previously unreleased and uncut footage(excerpts do appear on the Yes release Yesspeak) left over from the former title, filmed during Yes' 2003 35th Anniversary World Tour.