Red Pill Blues by Maroon 5

Red Pill Blues is the sixth studio album by American pop rock band Maroon 5 released on November 3, 2017, by 222 and Interscope Records. The title of the album refers to the science fiction term of taking the red pill or the blue pill, which originated from the 1999 sci-fi film The Matrix. I had been looking forward to this album for some time but when released I noticed one major let down.  The song Don’t Wanna Know featuring American rapper Kendrick Lamar was not on this album for some reason.  It did have some great singles such as What Lovers Do (featuring SZA), Wait, Closure, Who I Am (featuring Lunch Money Lewis) and much more.  Even I enjoyed their last album “V” much better, this album was still well written, performed, recorded and produced.  If you are a fan of Maroon 5, you will still want to add this album to your library.

 

Texoma Shore by Blake Shelton

Texoma Shore is the eleventh studio album by American country music singer and NBC’s The Voice judge Blake Shelton. The album was released on November 3, 2017, by Warner Brothers Records.   I have been a fan of Blake for a long time and was looking forward to hearing this album. In addition to the lead single on this album I’ll Name The Dogs, I enjoyed the tracks At the House, I Lived It, Turnin’ Me On, Money, Why Me and so much more. This album was well written, performed, recorded and produced.  If you are a fan of Blake Shelton like I am, you will want to add this album to your music library.

 

Someday At Christmas by Jackie Evancho

Someday at Christmas is American singer Jackie Evancho‘s second full-length Christmas album, and her seventh album overall, released October 28, 2016, on the Portrait Records label.  This release consists of nine previously released tracks and three new tracks, Someday at Christmas and two versions of The Little Drummer Boy, one with Il Volo.  There are great duets on this album also such as two songs sung with operatic tenor Placido Domingo which are Guardian Angels and Pie Jesu and my favorite track on this album Hallelujah featuring Peter Hollens.  I enjoyed this album from start to finish and was impressed on how well this album is performed, recorded and produced.  I highly recommend this album to your Christmas music library.

Diamonds by Elton John

Elton John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin commemorate the 50th anniversary of their wildly successful union with the release of Diamonds, a new career-spanning box billed as John’s “ultimate” greatest hits compilation. This impressive collection released on November 11, 2017, s available in three different formats, a three-CD deluxe edition that contains forty-one tracks, a two-CD version with 34 tracks and a double vinyl LP set with 21 tracks.  I bought the two-LP set which came with a digital download of the 3 CD set. The two-LP set contained such great hits as Rocket Man, Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting), Someone Saved My Life Tonight, Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word, my favorite version of the song Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me (with George Michael) and much more.  This compilation was well performed, recorded and produced. I highly recommend this compilation in either format to your Elton John collection.

The Sky Is Blue And Sometimes Cries by Lisa Markley

The Sky Is Blue And Sometimes Cries is the third review I have done for vocalist Lisa Markley.  This album of jazz ballads and Latin-tinged folk tunes was released February 14, 2007, on the Soona Songs Records label and contains such great tracks as Elements, The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines, Someone To Watch Over Me, the title track The Sky Is Blue and Sometimes Cries and much more.  This album has impressive vocals and was well written, performed, recorded and produced and can be purchased from Amazon, Soona Songs Records, and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

 

Christmas After Midnight by Fantasia

For my 601^st review, I am proud to announce the sixth studio album and first holiday release by Fantasia, winner of the third season of American Idol.  Christmas After Midnight was released October 6, 2017, on the Rounder Records label.  Fantasia has had much success since 2004 when she won the American Idol competition and her voice is still as strong as show in such tracks of Christmas classics as This Christmas, Baby, It’s Cold Outside, Merry Christmas Baby, The Christmas Song, Silent Night, Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto and much more.  This album was well performed, recorded and produced.  This album is a soulful way to enjoy this Christmas season.  You can purchase this album from Amazon, Itunes, and other places where CD’s, Vinyl, and digital downloads are sold.

Electric Butter by The Ed Palermo Big Band & Rob Paparozzi

For my 600^th music review, I am proud to present this great album, Electric Butter by The Ed Palermo Big Band & Rob Parparozzi released on October 16, 2014.  On this great album, they play the music of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and do so with a mixture of blues, big band, and jazz.  This fifteen track album contains such great songs as Walkin’ Blues, Drivin’ Wheel, Texas, You Don’t Realize, Drifting Blues and so much more.  This album has great vocals, horns and other great instrumental backup. I was impressed by how well this album was written, performed, recorded and produced.  You must add this album to your blues library. This release can be purchased from Amazon, Itunes and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Have Yourself A Mari Little Christmas by Mari Burelle

Have Yourself A Mari Little Christmas is the sophomore EP by Mari Burelle released November 10, 2017, on the Intersound Records label. This is a collection of five Christmas songs recorded in the Disco and Latin style as shown in such tracks as Feliz Navidad, Maria Sabias Que (Mary Did You Know), Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, O Christmas Tree and Carol Of The Bells.  Maria has a great voice and did this album justice.  This album was well performed, recorded and produced and is available for purchase from Amazon, Itunes, and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Soulful Christmas by Jennifer Saran

For my 598^th music review, I am proud to present the perfect album for the Christmas season.  Soulful Christmas is the November 24, 2017, album by Jennifer Saran released on the Tarpan Records label.  This is my third review for this great artist with 17 Tracks which covers several styles such as soul, jazz, bluegrass, and disco as seen in such songs as Christmas Love (Featuring The Temptations), Swingin’ At Christmas Time, Soul Cake, Christmas Delight and much more.  This the best Christmas album I have heard in some time and I am impressed on how well this a release is written, performed, recorded and produced.  You can purchase this album today from Amazon, Itunes and other places where Cd’s and digital downloads are sold.

The Ferryman’s Curse by The Strawbs

The Ferryman’s Curse is an upcoming album of new material by the UK band The Strawbs, to be released December 8, 2017, on the Esoteric/Antenna Records label.  This is all new material, first in eight years includes such great tracks as In The Beginning, The Nails From The Hands Of Christ, The Ten Commandments, the title track The Ferryman’s Curse and much more.  The current lineup comprises of David Cousins, lead guitarist Dave Lambert, bassist Chas Cronk, drummer Tony Fernandez and guitar and keyboard virtuoso Dave Bainbridge, many of them toured together back in the 70’s.  This album was well written, performed, recorded and produced by legendary producer Chris Tsangarides.  You will be able to purchase this album from Amazon, Itunes and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.