Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – Solar Fire

Quinn the Eskimo takes a spin around the solar system in a Moog fuelled spaceship, insured by Progressive. This is a prog rock gem from 1973.  Mann does a wonderful job with a variety of keyboard instruments.  Mick Rogers comes in with a lot of killer guitar work & vocals.  …

Bohemian Vendetta & Temples

Doing something a little different this week in highlighting two albums.  One of my intents of starting this site was to discover new music, and to share it.  As I’ve dug in record stores and online, I’ve found many new (to me) artists.  I’m sure these artists are not unfamiliar …

Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See

RIP David Roback This is Mazzy Star’s second album, released in 1993.  There is of course “Fade Into You” which received some airplay as a single, and to which I have to express my appreciation: I may not have picked up on this album otherwise. A band’s albums can be …

Neil Young – Everyone Knows This is Nowhere

Released in 1969, this is Neil Young’s second album, and his first with Crazy Horse.  Overall, this is a great album and does not at all feel dated.   It contains a wide range of songs with the rocker “Cinnamon Girl”, the quieter “Round and Round” and the country-tinged “The …

Tears for Fears – Songs From the Big Chair

Released in 1985, Songs from the Big Chair was a big album for Tears for Fears.  There are certainly some memorable songs on here.  “Shout” was an anthem for the times, and a case can be made that it remains one for today.  A similar case can be made for …

Montrose – Montrose

This is just a good ol’ fashioned fun hard rock album.  No deep themes, wizards, nor mystics; just great rock.  Time to put the album on & let yourself rock out a tad. Ronnie Montrose had been a successful session musician, playing on Van Morisson’s 1971 album Tupelo Honey.  He …

Pretenders – Pretenders

This is so Precious. That’s the song; that’s the album summed up for me.  There is something about the whole package: the snark of the lyrics, Chrissie Hynde’s perfect voice & the music that just fits. This song sums up the attitudes of the times then, and pretty much now. …