Sci-Fox by The Foxholes

For my 732^nd review I am proud to announce the seventh album by Barcelona based rock band The Foxholes called Sci-Fox released September 12, 2017, featuring members Jonah Luke, Ángel Millán & Max Moritz.  This great band that was formed in 2006 has heavy guitar riffs and outstanding keyboard works as featured in such tracks as the title track Sci-Fox, La Ciencia De La Confusion, Cada Miecoles and so much more. This is an outstanding album and looking forward to hearing their earlier material and releases of the future.  This release was well written, performed, and recorded.  This is definitely an album you will want to check out on Spottily and purchase from Amazon, Bandcamp and everywhere else where CD’s and digital download are sold.

All Grassed Up by Eddy Raven and Carolina Road

Eddy Raven, country star turned country-grasser has released his album All Grassed Up along with the bluegrass band Carolina Road to transform some of Raven’s hit country songs with new bluegrass arrangements which were released July 21, 2017, on the Pinecastle Records label. Many of the songs on the album will be familiar to fans with such classic hits as I Got Mexico, Bayou Boys, Operator Operator, Thank God For Kids, and so much more.  I have also been blown away with such tracks as the title track All Grassed Up, Too Wet To Plow, one of my favorite bluegrass tracks Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms and so much more.  This album had my foot tapping from start to finish and was impressed with how well this album was written, performed, recorded and produced.  If you are a big bluegrass fan as I am, you will definitely want to add this great album to your bluegrass collection.  You can purchase this great album from Amazon, Itunes, and everywhere that CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Continuance by Shawn Phillips

Shawn Phillips, one of music’s most daring, influential and enigmatic figures has released his 26^th solo album Continuance released January 31, 2018, through Tunecore Distribution sees Shawn as the genre-bending singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist and his commitment to making ambitious, introspective yet socially conscious music. Just as he did on the psychedelic staple “Season of the Witch,” which he co-authored with Donovan in 1966.  This album is a mixture of hard rock, blues, jazz, funk and new age as seen in such great tracks as Life, Man With A Gun, Furious Desperation, Bach To The Fusion, In Grace We Intend and so much more.  I was very impressed with how well this album was written, performed, recorded and produced.  Please take a listen to this impressive album on Spotify and then purchase it from Itunes and his official website.

The WannaBeatles Live At The Holston River Brewing Company in Bristol Tennessee

For my 729^th review, I have decided to do something totally different.  Instead of reviewing a CD or Vinyl, I have decided to review a live performance.  Last night I had the pleasure of seeing The Wannabeatles perform at the Holston River Brewing Company in Bristol, Tennessee.  This great band consisting of Dennis Scott on guitar and vocals, Bryan Cumming on guitar and horns, Nathan Burbank on keyboards and bass and David Toledo on drums.  Their tribute to The Beatles was amazing.  If you closed your eyes you can picture The Beatles actually playing there complete with the amazing harmonies. These guys also show their great personality and humor as shown in their parody of Yesterday and Dennis’s great impersonation of Ed Sullivan.  The Wannabeatles showcased the great career of The Beatles from She Loves You to Help to Back In The USSR to Let It Be.  In addition to The Beatles favorites, they pleased the crowd with what they call 1967: The Summer Of Love Medley which features such songs as San Francisco by Scott McKenzie, I Can See For Miles by The Who, I’m A Believer by The Monkees, For What It is Worth by Buffalo Springfield and much more.  In addition to all of this, they did an amazing tribute to the late David Cassidy, doing many of his songs with the Partridge Family.  In addition bassist Nathan Burbank wowed the audience with a composition of his own called Bristol Lights.  They got the dance floor packed and everyone had a good time.  I first met this great band back on fourth of July last year and wanted to see them again.  On a personal note, I want to thank the band for acknowledging me and my work to the crowd.  If you hear of this band coming to your area, I highly recommend you go out and hear them.  You will not be disappointed.

 

Scottish Influence by Alan Ross

Scottish Influence is my second review for singer/songwriter Alan Ross released 1 January 2003 on the Core Records label.  This seven-track album of Celtic Folk songs features Alan’s rich voice and includes such works as Raise The Clans!, White Rose, Seven Men of Glenmoriston, Bell Rock Light and much more.  All songs were written by Alan Ross and were well performed, recorded and produced.  If you are a fan of Celtic Folk music, you will definitely wish to add this album to your music library.  You can buy this album from Amazon, Itunes and everywhere else that CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Star Wars Party by Meco

Star Wars Party is the 17^th album by American record producer and musician Meco, released May 19, 2005, on the Mecoman Productions Records label.  This album was fun to listen to but I found something on this album that just was not to my expectations.  The recording was not as good and I heard on earlier albums.  The volumes were not consistent. I had to turn up or turn down the volumes from track to track.  The vocals by Peter Frank Santovito was awesome, but the female voice on this album was rather stale and boring, really no excitement there.  This ten track album contains such songs as I Am Your Father, the title track Star Wars Party, Live Your Life, Boogie Wookiee and much more.  If this album was remixed with the 1977 sound that made Meco a hit and replaces the female vocal with someone more exciting, this album could be a blockbuster.

Our Love by Peter Frank Santovito

Our Love is my second review for Peter Frank Santovito and is a blend of rock, pop and easy listening love songs which were released February 11, 2015.  I was impressed by his voice and the many styles of music featured on this album.  The tracks on this twelve  I was most impressed with were Our Love Will Prevail, After All, Francine, Morning Star, Our Love is A-Okay and much more.  This album was well written, recorded, and performed.  Also, this album was produced by Meco Mondardo who is famous for Star Wars And Other Galactic Stuff and other great releases.  You can find this great album on Amazon, Itunes, CD Baby and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.

Origins by Lisa LaRue

Lisa LaRue is set to release her new album “Origins” in April 2018 on the Melodic Revolution Records label.  A double album celebrating 25 years and 11 release by LaRue, “Origins” features some of the best musicians in the business: John Payne Asia, GPS), Michael Sadler (Saga), Mitch Perry (Talas, Aerosmith), Gilli Smyth (Gong), Don Schiff (Rocket Scientist, Kracked Earth), Federico Fantacone (Orchestre Celesti) John Baker (Forever Twelve, Mars Hollow) as well as Steve Adams, Brenda K, Michael Wheeler, Merrill Hale, Svetlan Raket (Par Lindh Project), John “Yafke”  Timothy, and Michael Alvarez.  This sixteen track album contains such great works as Kituwa, Hurtful Words, Beautiful Illusion, Recurring Dream, Beautiful Life and so much more.  Listening to this album reminds me so much of the works of Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and other great keyboardists.  I was very impressed with how well this album was recorded, performed, written and produced.  This is a great album to add to your music library.Timothy, Michael Alvarez.

The Self Titled Trilogy by Peter Banks

The Self Contained Trilogy 3CD set includes all three of Peter Bank’s solo studio albums from the 1990’s in one place:  Instinct (1994), Self Contained (1995), and Reduction (1997).  Peter Banks was one of the original members of Yes and an accomplished guitarist but sadly passed away in 2013.  This collection is being released by his estate during the fifth anniversary of his passing and the fiftieth anniversary of Yes.  Among the 45 tracks on this three-CD set are such great works as No Place Home, Angels, several versions of the song It’s All Great To Me, Endless Journey, Fade To Blue, As Night Falls and so much more.  I was impressed on well this album was performed, recorded, produced and written.  This album is available on Amazon and other places where CD’s are sold as of March 9, 2018.

Be Well, Be Safe, Be Lucky…The Anthology by Peter Banks

Peter Banks was one of the original members of YES and an accomplished guitarist but sadly passed away in 2013. Be Well, Be Safe, Be Lucky…The Anthology is the FIRST EVER compilation of his solo career. This set is being released in his memory, by his Estate, during the 5th anniversary of his passing and the 50th Anniversary of YES. This set includes Knights (Reprise) which features Phil Collins, Steve Hackett and the late John Wetton. This set also includes the first release of the short instrumental Knights (Revisited) which features Billy Sherwood, Jay Schellen and Tony Kaye of YES. This 30 track album also includes such great works as Small Beginnings, Peter Gunn Theme, Can I Play You Something, an astonishing guitar-led instrumental re-record of YES’s Astral Traveler, Endless Journey and much more.  This collection was well written, recorded, produced and performed.  This album became available for sale on March 16, 2018, from Amazon, April 13, 2018, from Cleopatra Records and other places where CD’s and digital downloads are sold.