Album review: The Tragically Hip, Live Between Us (1997)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 5, 1997 By Steve Newton It beats the hell outta me why the most Canadian rock band of all time had to go and record its historic live album in the all-powerful U.S. of A. Even if Detroit is Rock City, it doesn’t make sense for these proud Canucks to follow … Continue reading Album review: The Tragically Hip, Live Between Us (1997)

Album review: Alice Cooper, A Fistful of Alice (1997)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 21, 1997 By Steve Newton Strolling around the Mexican resort town of Cabo San Lucas last year, I stumbled across a bar called the Cabo Wabo Cantina, which had a sign in the parking lot proclaiming “Reserved for Sammy Hagar”. Realizing that this must be the watering hole … Continue reading Album review: Alice Cooper, A Fistful of Alice (1997)

Album review: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Live at Carnegie Hall (1997)

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 21, 1997 By Steve Newton If there was ever any doubt that Stevie Ray Vaughan was a guitarist with skill and soul on a par with any rock legend living or dead, this live CD—recorded at New York’s Carnegie Hall on October 4, 1984, the day after … Continue reading Album review: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Live at Carnegie Hall (1997)

Album review: John Fogerty, Blue Moon Swamp (1997)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 17, 1997 By Steve Newton To me, John Fogerty is the ultimate rock ’n’ roller. His songwriting—as evidenced by a myriad of deathless Creedence Clearwater Revival hits and some stunning solo tunes—is untouchable. He’s one hell of a swamp-rock lead guitarist. And when it comes to singing, man—what … Continue reading Album review: John Fogerty, Blue Moon Swamp (1997)

Album review: Forbidden Dimension, Widow’s Walk (1997)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 1, 1997 By Steve Newton Keeping horror-based guitar-rock alive, Forbidden Dimension opens its third full-length release with a blast of heavy-metal bombast that churns into “My Family Curse”, a rocketing ditty about mayhem and blood. The trio has been recently bolstered by the addition of former Huevos Rancheros … Continue reading Album review: Forbidden Dimension, Widow’s Walk (1997)

Album review: Various Artists, Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen (1997)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JUNE 5, 1997 By Steve Newton The folks behind previous Jeff Beck, Ace Frehley, and Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute CDs deliver a fourth laudatory project, which pays its respects to the estimable Queen catalogue while allowing an all-star lineup of hard-rock guitarists to get their fret-hopping jollies. The list … Continue reading Album review: Various Artists, Dragon Attack: A Tribute to Queen (1997)

Album review: Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Beautiful World (1997)

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, APRIL 3, 1997 By Steve Newton Its previous two albums—1993’s Sister Sweetly and 1995’s Strategem—were sterling examples of well played and wonderfully sung roots-pop, but on Beautiful World, Colorado’s Big Head Todd & the Monsters venture winningly into seriously funky and soulful territory. The title track—featuring former Parliament-Funkadelic … Continue reading Album review: Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Beautiful World (1997)

Album review: Van Halen, Best of Volume I (1996)

    ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 19, 1996 By Steve Newton Van Halen’s first-ever greatest-hits package is a generous collection of the legendary hard-rock act’s best-known material, but it still has its faults. First off, the two new tracks that reunited the band with David Lee Roth—“Can’t Get This Stuff No More” … Continue reading Album review: Van Halen, Best of Volume I (1996)

Album review: ZZ Top, Rhythmeen (1996)

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, OCT. 31, 1996 By Steve Newton I’m having lots of ’70s flashbacks lately, but they’re not being caused by ancient run-ins with tiny squares of coloured paper. There’s a woman in the Straight editorial office researching the paper’s history, scanning every issue published since 1967, and right now … Continue reading Album review: ZZ Top, Rhythmeen (1996)

Album review: John Mellencamp, Mr. Happy Go Lucky (1996)

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 12, 1996 By Steve Newton In 1994, John Mellencamp was scheduled to perform here in support of his Dance Naked release, but the show was cancelled when the then–four-pack-a-day smoker suffered a heart attack. He hasn’t toured since, and from the sound of this new CD, Mellencamp … Continue reading Album review: John Mellencamp, Mr. Happy Go Lucky (1996)

Album review: The Tragically Hip, Trouble at the Henhouse (1996)

  ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MAY 9, 1996 By Steve Newton With this, its sixth album, the Tragically Hip appears to be taking the moody musical route favoured when it chose “Grace, Too” as the leadoff single from its previous CD, Day for Night. That tune revealed a more subtle, shadowy side to the Kingston quintet, … Continue reading Album review: The Tragically Hip, Trouble at the Henhouse (1996)

Stratman Vince Converse just likes to hang out in bars and play blues for women

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, NOV. 18, 1999 By Steve Newton Vince Converse is one of those up-and-coming guitar slingers you read about in guitar magazines, a simmering talent just waiting to explode onto the music scene. He’s also the kind of player Fender likes to have as an endorsee. I guess that means … Continue reading Stratman Vince Converse just likes to hang out in bars and play blues for women