US 103.1 Classic Rock Radio » Reviews

Various Artists, 'Ghost Brothers of Darkland County' – Album Review

Michael Gallucci — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:45:03 +0000

John Mellencamp and Stephen King may receive higher billing on ‘Ghost Brothers of Darkland County,’ but the album really belongs to T Bone Burnett. This collaboration between the singer-songwriter and horror novelist stemmed from a story Mellencamp told King about a pair of Indiana brothers whose tragic fates were tied to a girl. King in [...]

Paul McCartney & Wings, 'Wings Over America' – Album Review

Michael Gallucci — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:50:07 +0000

Back in 1976, when Paul McCartney & Wings’ live album ‘Wings Over America’ was released, the band was coming off a string of four No. 1 records. The triple-album set, culled from various concerts the group performed on their 1976 U.S. tour in support of ‘Wings at the Speed of Sound,’ soon became their fifth straight No. 1. (The last three-record LP to reach the top spot was by one of McCartney’s old bandmates: George Harrison’s ‘All Things Must Pass.’)

Deep Purple, 'NOW What?!' – Album Review

Sterling Whitaker — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:45:27 +0000

Classic rock stalwarts Deep Purple released their new album, titled 'NOW What?!,' last Tuesday (April 30). By the standards which we might reasonably expect to measure new work from an older band, it's very good -- or at least, the parts of it that are any good are very good.

Rod Stewart, 'Time' – Album Review

Michael Gallucci — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:20:34 +0000

Since 2002, Rod Stewart has released eight albums. Each and every one of them includes songs that were written before ‘Maggie May’ hit No. 1 in 1971. A lot of them, in fact, were written before the 68-year-old rock legend learned to walk. Five ‘Great American Songbook’ albums, a rock oldies collection, an R&B oldies collection and a Christmas album – that’s pretty much how Stewart has spent the past decade.

Cheap Trick Rock New York City Gig to Celebrate 35th Anniversary of 'At Budokan'

Spencer Kaufman — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:42:54 +0000

Cheap Trick took their arena-friendly sounds to an intimate setting in New York City on Sunday night (April 28) to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the performances that were recorded for their landmark live album ‘Cheap Trick at Budokan.’ In fact, it was 35 years to the day that the band performed the first of [...]

Fleetwood Mac, 'Extended Play' – Album Review

Michael Gallucci — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:17:58 +0000

The last time Fleetwood Mac made an album together, they were minus Christine McVie and enough good songs to fill its 75-minute running length. They’re still without McVie on their new four-song EP, but they fixed ‘Say You Will’’s biggest problem by keeping ‘Extended Play’ at an economical 17 minutes. And if it sounds more like a Lindsey Buckingham record than an actual band one at times, at least ‘Extended Play’ is the best thing released under the Fleetwood Mac moniker since 1987’s ‘Tango in the Night.’

Iggy & the Stooges, 'Ready To Die' – Album Review

Dave Swanson — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:53:58 +0000

Who would have ever guessed that in 2013, we would be talking about a new Stooges album? The odds were certainly not in that column, but then in 2003, the unexpected happened and Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton and brother Scott plugged in once again. They toured and wowed young and old fans alike with their brutal rock and roll assault, and even released a reunion album, although 2007's 'The Weirdness' was hardly the stuff of legend and kind of a false-start comeback.

Joe Satriani, 'A Door Into Summer' – Song Review

Sterling Whitaker — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:04:54 +0000

Instrumental rock guitar maestro (and Chickenfoot guitarist) Joe Satriani is releasing a new album titled 'Unstoppable Momentum' on May 7, and from the sound of its first single, 'A Door Into Summer,' it's going to be a classic slice of what he does best.

Rod Stewart, 'Finest Woman' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:59:34 +0000

Rod Stewart has released 'Finest Woman' as the new single from 'Time,' the album set to hit stores on May 7. Stewart, is full of zeal*, but short on originality on this carbon copy of 'She Makes Me Happy,' another song from 'Time.'

Rod Stewart, 'She Makes Me Happy' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:29:59 +0000

Rod Stewart‘s return to songwriting brings genuine joy and elation to fans in the way of a first single called ‘She Makes Me Happy.’ The singer’s uptempo ode to a lover is refreshing and natural. Lyrically, ‘She Makes Me Happy’ may be a little too literal for some. Stewart’s boyish love could even be called [...]

Don Felder, 'Wash Away' (Feat. Tommy Shaw of Styx) – Song Review

Sterling Whitaker — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:25:40 +0000

Former Eagles guitarist Don Felder recently released a solo album titled 'Road to Forever,' and on Monday (March 18) he released the second single from the project, a mid-tempo electric-acoustic hybrid titled 'Wash Away.' And while it might not be the second coming of 'Hotel California,' the track is a deserving effort with many strong elements, and more than worthy of a listen for any fan of his prior work.

Eric Clapton, 'Old Sock' – Album Review

Michael Gallucci — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:23:08 +0000

There comes a point in most artists’ careers where they just don’t care about making records anymore. Or at least they don’t care about making records that their fans want to hear. They tour sporadically, playing the old songs to pay the bills. And they release new albums every five years or so because they feel it’s something they should do. Eric Clapton got to this point years ago, but on his 21st solo album, ‘Old Sock,’ he settles into not caring like it’s his full-time job these days.

A Review of Taco Bell's Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Tacos

Chris Illuminati — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:32:37 +0000

Taco Bell has been an integral block of my food pyramid for almost two decades. Here is where things get a little odd though -- rarely do I stray from the regular. In the beginning the order was always the same -- three Soft Taco Supremes and three regular crunchy tacos -- with an occasional Grilled Stuft Burrito with beef. Boring but always delivered.

Iggy and the Stooges, 'Burn' – Song Review

Nick DeRiso — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:01:52 +0000

The ear-melting riff that opens 'Burn' -- Iggy Pop and the Stooges' new single -- makes it clear that this is no nostalgia act. Not only do these guys still have their edge, four decades after their crunchy punk rock classic of a debut, you could argue that 'Burn' is all edge.

Rush, 'The Anarchist' — Song Review

Ryan Reed — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:31:44 +0000

One of many things that makes Rush so consistently rewarding is that they stick with what they do well -- more than likely, Geddy Lee won't form an electronic side project any time soon, and it's a safe bet Alex Lifeson won't switch over to steel guitar. 'The Anarchist,' the anthemic third single from the excellent 'Clockwork Angels,' is a perfect example of Rush reveling in the many things Rush do well.

The Eagles, 'History of the Eagles' – Film Review

Matthew Wilkening — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 13:25:52 +0000

The three-hour ‘History of the Eagles‘ documentary is an entertaining if slightly sanitized trip through the career of one of rock’s most popular groups. The first two hours, which first aired on Feb. 15, focus on the group’s formation, rise to super-stardom and dramatic breakup, while the following night’s one-hour episode picks the story up [...]

John Fogerty, Rick Springfield + Stevie Nicks Rock NYC With Dave Grohl and the 'Sound City' Players

Spencer Kaufman — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 20:37:20 +0000

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame assembled an all-star cast of musicians for his new documentary 'Sound City,' and for the lucky fans in select cities, he has been taking the show on the road with him. Following performances in Park City, Utah, and Los Angeles, the Sound City Players hit New York City for a one-night stand last night (Feb. 13) at Hammerstein Ballroom.

Eric Clapton, 'Gotta Get Over' – Song Review

Billy Dukes — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:20:33 +0000

Middle school-grade album art and a terrible album title luckily seem to say nothing about the music on ‘Old Sock,’ Eric Clapton‘s upcoming studio release. ‘Gotta Get Over’ is the first song the guitar legend has shared with fans. The inspired jam is thick with Fender and Hammond, news that will bring a sigh of [...]

Jimi Hendrix, 'People, Hell & Angels' – Album Review

Michael Gallucci — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:00:12 +0000

If we’re to believe ‘People, Hell & Angels,’ the latest in a long string of posthumous albums by Jimi Hendrix, its dozen previously unreleased tracks were the building blocks to the late guitarist’s follow-up to ‘Electric Ladyland,’ his final album with the Experience. But we’ve heard this claim many times before, from ‘First Rays of [...]

'Sound City' – Movie Review

Jeff Giles — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 17:21:31 +0000

For anyone who grew up wanting to make music during the first four and a half decades of the rock era, it’s hard to overestimate the importance and mystique of the recording studio. Sure, the amateur musician could invest in varying degrees of home equipment, but if you really wanted to get serious work done, [...]