Various Artists
CTI Records: The Cool Revolution
CTI/Masterworks Jazz
By David Chiu
Starting in 1970 as an independent label, CTI Records produced jazz music that was artsy, hip, ambitious and accessible. In one instance, its artists could record very straightforward jazz music and in other produce something that was more R&B/funk-oriented suitable for mainstream consumption. Continue reading “CD Review: CTI Records: The Cool Revolution”
Download “Love and Leave,” a new track from Chicago-area band Scattered Trees. Continue reading Free Download: “Love and Leave” by Scattered Trees
Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine Bicycle Music/UME By David Chiu Nine Inch Nails debut record, Pretty Hate Machine (1989), … Continue reading CD Review: Nine Inch Nails
Supertramp Breakfast in America: Deluxe Edition A&M By David Chiu Supertramp’s sixth album, 1979’s Breakfast in America, ushered the English … Continue reading CD Review: Supertramp
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Damn the Torpedoes MCA By David Chiu If one had to find the definitive Tom … Continue reading CD Review: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Bob Dylan The Witmark Demos: 1962-1964 (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 9) Columbia/Legacy By David Chiu If you think all of … Continue reading CD Review: Bob Dylan
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s VISION
MJJ Productions/Epic/Legacy
By David Chiu
Other than his music, the essential medium to really understand the impact of Michael Jackson is the videos (or as this new DVD set more artistically refers to as short films. Whatever the term you choose to prefer, it is extremely hard to separate the man from the groundbreaking (and sometimes controversial) videos he made—it’s been engrained in the minds and hearts of generations weaned from MTV. Continue reading “DVD Review: Michael Jackson”
Jimi Hendrix
West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology
Experience Hendrix/Legacy
By David Chiu
Forty years after his death, Jimi Hendrix still looms large thanks to the endless amount of previously unreleased recordings that has been packaged and repackaged for fans and future generations still yearning for more of the guitar legend’s music. It culminates in this new 4 CD/1 DVD box career spanning set which a majority of which are never before released music of alternate studio versions and live songs. Continue reading “CD Review: Jimi Hendrix”
By Mick Houghton
Jawbone Press
Review by David Chiu
Sixty years ago, a St. John’s College student named Jac Holzman founded a record label called Elektra and the rest as they say is history. Along with Columbia and Atlantic, Elektra would forge an amazing path of musical artistry spanning from the label’s folk beginnings in the ‘50s and early ‘60s through today’s artists like Cee-Lo and Bruno Mars. Elektra’s legendary career is the subject of this fascinating book by music journalist Mick Houghton. Continue reading “Book Review: Becoming Elektra”
Joy Division
By Kevin Cummins
Rizzoli International Publications
Review by David Chiu
Just as Manchester band Joy Division were about to embark on their first American tour, singer Ian Curtis hung himself on May 18, 1980 the age of 23. Thirty years later, his short life and that of the band’s still continues to resonate in music, film and now this wonderful photo book by Kevin Cummins. Continue reading “Book Review: Joy Division”
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