Performing a show that mixed hits from his four-decade career with blues classics, rock legend Eric Clapton is touring the world, reportedly for the last time. But judging from the reaction to his show Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn., his audience doesn’t want him to go. Continue reading
Bob Dylan is a man of many mysteries. Answering those questions and uncovering the man behind the myth is the primary task of two new books, “Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan” by Howard Sounes and the latest edition of Clinton Heylin’s biography, “Bob Dylan: Behind the Shades Revisited.” Continue reading
In the latest batch of new releases — Dave Navarro, Lucinda Williams, Whiskeytown, R.E.M. and D.J. Logic — there are artists in various stages of their careers, but all are attempting to break new ground and redefine themselves. Continue reading
Two years ago, Prince strolled onto a stage in front of a Twin Cities crowd and grabbed everyone’s attention from the start by strumming the menacing riff that leads into “Sign ‘O’ The Times.” At Saturday night’s show in St. Paul, Minn., most people didn’t even notice him when he snuck onstage for a cameo appearance during the opening act. Continue reading
May’s batch of new releases from veteran artists brings into question the maxim of “respect your elders”. Continue reading
With more than 25 years in music that have seen him evolve from a thrashing, “cowpunk” rocker to an alt-country bard, singer-songwriter Alejandro Escovedo has certainly watched some great songs pour out of his pen. His new record, “A Man Under The Influence,” is the ultimate example. Continue reading
A newly released BBC documentary, “Man In The Sand,” takes viewers on the journey that saw Billy Bragg and Wilco attempting to put music to incomplete works by folk-music icon Woody Guthrie. In the process, the musicians literally follow in Guthrie’s footsteps, visiting the places that he stopped in America’s heartland and giving an insider’s view of the recording process. Continue reading
While a reissue of Marvin Gaye’s masterpiece, “What’s Going On,” threatens to leave listeners in a a state of permanent excitation, two other new releases — Daft Punk and most of all, the Melvins — quickly quell that feeling. Continue reading
Soundbytes Music Column 