ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 16, 2009 By Steve Newton Back in 2006, power-pop stalwart Matthew Sweet and sometimes-Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs collaborated on Under the Covers Vol. 1, in which they performed versions of ’60s hits by groups like the Beatles, the Who, and the Beach Boys. On Under the Covers Vol. 2 the … Continue reading Album review: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Under the Covers Vol. 2 (2009)
Album review: Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (2009)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 11, 2009 By Steve Newton It’s a shame that so-called “supergroup” Chickenfoot—composed of guitar wizard Joe Satriani, drumming ace Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and a couple of guys who won’t be featured on the upcoming version of Guitar Hero: Van Halen (singer Sammy Hagar … Continue reading Album review: Chickenfoot, Chickenfoot (2009)
Album review: Guns N’ Roses, Chinese Democracy (2008)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 27, 2008 By Steve Newton On a recent episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert lectured Axl Rose for stealing his thunder by releasing Chinese Democracy, the first Guns N’ Roses album in 17 years, the very same day as Colbert’s Christmas special. “What’s the matter, Axl,” whined the … Continue reading Album review: Guns N’ Roses, Chinese Democracy (2008)
Album review: AC/DC, Black Ice (2008)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 30, 2008 By Steve Newton AC/DC has it rough. Ever since the Aussie quintet came roaring back from the tragic death of Bon Scott with Back in Black, picky buggers like me have wanted them to match the consistent quality of that 1980 ear buster. There was a … Continue reading Album review: AC/DC, Black Ice (2008)
Album review: The New Odds, Cheerleader (2008)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 19, 2008 By Steve Newton The original Odds team of singer-guitarists Craig Northey and Steven Drake was a pairing made in pop heaven. On its best songs, like “I Would Be Your Man” and “Nothing Beautiful”, its melodic sensibilities rivaled the Beatles-esque beauty of Crowded House. Mind you, … Continue reading Album review: The New Odds, Cheerleader (2008)
Album review: Robillard/Beaudoin/Geils, New Guitar Summit (2008)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 5, 2008 By Steve Newton New Guitar Summit is an ongoing jazz project featuring guitarists Duke Robillard, Gerry Beaudoin, and Jay Geils, who some may remember as the guitarist for a kick-ass ’70s blues-rock band out of Detroit that turned lame in the ’80s and made hit records … Continue reading Album review: Robillard/Beaudoin/Geils, New Guitar Summit (2008)
Album review: Steve Stevens, Memory Crash (2008)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 8, 2008 By Steve Newton Steve Stevens is best known as the raven-haired foil to platinum-blond pop-punk icon Billy Idol; he’s the leather-clad Les Paul–lover whose incendiary solos lit up Idol hits like “Rebel Yell” and “White Wedding”. But Stevens also moonlights as an instrumental rock-guitar virtuoso, and … Continue reading Album review: Steve Stevens, Memory Crash (2008)
Album review: Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (2008)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 20, 2008 By Steve Newton When long-time member (and major songwriting force) Jason Isbell left the Drive-By Truckers last year, some fans worried that the southern rock–influenced alt-country act might falter a step or two. No freakin’ way: it just recruited another wicked guitarist, pedal-steel specialist (and original … Continue reading Album review: Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (2008)
Album review: Coheed and Cambria, No World for Tomorrow (2007)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 22, 2007 By Steve Newton Coheed and Cambria must be getting sick of the comparisons with Rush that have dogged the New York quartet since its inception, but the similarities continue unabated on the latest C&C disc, No World for Tomorrow. Anyone who's ever cranked up a Rush … Continue reading Album review: Coheed and Cambria, No World for Tomorrow (2007)
Album review: Loverboy, Just Getting Started (2007)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 8, 2007 By Steve Newton "Just getting started", my ass; these guys were toast ages ago. Do we really need them to step out of the Lamborghinis they've driven from their mortgage-free mansions to create the kind of ultra formulaic fodder Bon Jovi got bored with around 1983? … Continue reading Album review: Loverboy, Just Getting Started (2007)
Album review: John Fogerty, Revival (2007)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 1, 2007 By Steve Newton There's nothing sweeter in the world of rock 'n' roll than the sound of John Fogerty railing against warmongers, as he's been doing so successfully ever since Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" blasted onto the radio back in '69. On Revival, his best … Continue reading Album review: John Fogerty, Revival (2007)
Album review: Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (2007)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 18, 2007 By Steve Newton You may be wondering what Led Zeppelin's grizzled old blues-metal crooner was doing making a collaborative CD with a country-roots superstar. Was Robert Plant hanging out with Alison Krauss so she would play fiddle on the newfangled Cajun version of "Stairway to Heaven" … Continue reading Album review: Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, Raising Sand (2007)
Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, Black Rain (2007)
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 14, 2007 By Steve Newton If there's one thing I can't stand, it's an Ozzy Osbourne ballad. Let's face it, Ozzy's not a slow-burn kinda guy, he's a "let's go fuckin' crazy!" kinda guy. I don't buy it when, on the new ballad "Lay Your World on Me", Ozzman tenderly croons … Continue reading Album review: Ozzy Osbourne, Black Rain (2007)