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| basement tapes | concert reviews | cd reviews | interviews | ticket swap | music news |
 By Andy Argyrakis |
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Weekend Report: The
Beat
is
back,
Wilco
sets
up
shop
Friday, February 15, 2008 Wilco never has any problems selling seats, especially when the band plays anywhere near Chicago. But the phone lines especially lit up late last year with the announcement of an intimate Riviera Theatre residency, which finds the Jeff Tweedy-led troupe setting up shop for five surprise-filled shows with unique set lists. "Over the five nights, we will attempt the 'complete Wilco' and try to clear out the dusty corners of the catalog that we haven't attended to in a while," says the singer of the sold out affair. (Bet your life - Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at Riviera Theatre- Chicago, IL: www.jamusa.com). Even though Babyface has flirted with several genres outside of soul (including a foray into adult rock with Eric Clapton on "Change the World"), his latest solo release is likely to catch even faithful followers off guard. Playlist (Mercury) finds the singer/songwriter/producer tipping his hat to several folk favorites, including Bob Dylan, James Taylor and Jim Croce, plus the even 
lighter
fare
of
Dan
Fogelberg
and
Dave
Loggins
(not
to
be
confused
with
Kenny-
we're
talking
even
cornier
"Please
Come
To
Boston"
contexts).
Regardless
of
his
reasons,
it's
a
fairly
lackluster
set
list
from
the
get
go,
which
hopefully
won't
weigh
down
a
show
that
would
be
better
off
focusing
on
originals
like
"It's
No
Crime,"
"Whip
Appeal"
and
"Every
Time
I
Close
My
Eyes."
(Fan
club
only -
Saturday
at
Star
Plaza-
Merrillville,
IN:
www.ticketmaster.com).Long before Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish, groups like The Specials, Madness and The English Beat ushered in their own brand of punk-laced ska. That latter act (also known as simply The Beat in the UK) turns up yet again on tour, led by front man Dave Wakeling (also of General Public fame). While it's a pretty safe bet the group's singles "Mirror in the Bathroom," "Stand Down Margaret" and "Hands Off She's Mine" will pop up on the set list, there's also a chance for his other act's mega-smash "Tenderness." Sure it's a nostalgia trip at best, but the songs still stand up through today and have obviously rubbed off on other acts along the way. (Worth a shot - Sunday at Turner Hall Ballroom- Milwaukee, WI: www.turnerhallballroom.org). |
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Street Week: Moz's
latest
greatest
hits,
Thriller
turns
twenty-five
Monday, February 11, 2008 Looking past his outrageous behavior over the years, there's no denying Michael Jackson's seminal role in redefining the soul/pop spectrum. Whether singing with his brothers or going solo, he's crossed over into virtually every genre and rubbed off on the subsequent generation of stars. The most apparent case in point comes from 1983's masterpiece Thriller (Epic), which remains the best selling studio CD of all time and earns deluxe edition treatment this week in celebration of its twenty-fifth anniversary. Beyond classic tracks like the title cut, "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Human Nature," this face lift boasts a series of exclusive extras, including "For All Time" (from the original sessions), plus 2008 versions of "The Girl Is Mine" (with will.i.am), "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (featuring Akon and will.i.am), "Beat It" (including Fergie) and "Billie Jean" (remixed by Kanye West). When The Smiths broke up, a series of retrospectives flooded the market hoping to squeeze every last cent out of the iconic brand name. Even though Morrissey is still going strong in the studio and on 
the
road,
his
product
outpouring
is
following
in
the
band's
footsteps
as
yet
another
compilation
hits
shelves.
Even
though
the
last
one
was
released
a
mere
six
years
ago
(and
he's
only
recorded
two
CDs
since
then),
Greatest
Hits
(Polydor)
covers
all
the
key
singles,
plus
the
pair
of
new
tracks
"That's
How
People
Grow
Up"
and
"All
You
Need
Is
Me."
Additional
purchase
temptation
comes
from
a
bonus
concert
DVD,
featuring
eight
tracks
from
a
2007
date
at
the
Hollywood
Bowl.Other titles to look out for include British Sea Power's third full-length Do You Like Rock Music? (Rough Trade), plus Widespread Panic's Free Somehow (Widespread Records). In DVD contexts, the Scorpions turn in Live at Wacken Open Air 2006 (Sony), while this week's import alert comes from the Smashing Pumpkins' UK EP American Gothic (Wea International), featuring four tracks in the vein of Zeitgeist. |
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Daily Dish Archives - 2007 |