Rock
Among its many virtues, this archival live release from Stephen Stills reminds us of an era when great music was human-generated — written and performed with love.
Now an octogenarian, Ian Hunter remains a gifted songwriter, a distinctive vocalist, and a man who truly has a rock and roll heart.
A documentary about the female band Fanny asks why the talented LA hard rockers missed out on the big time.
Neighbor is steeped in what could be considered rock ’n’ roll’s golden era — the ’70s. That is when bands could be — and were damn well expected to be— both technically dazzling and broadly appealing.
I am happy to report that Styx 2023 is a powerhouse outfit, wielding the most exciting aspects of progressive rock with radio-friendly hooks, riffs, and rhythms that set it apart from many of its peers.
Maybe The Zombies are not quite as elaborately visionary as they used to be, but after all this time that is no great sin. And Colin Blunstone and Ron Argent’s breathy but soulful voices have held up magnificently.
The saxman and his usual band (including vocalist Patrice Quinn instead of the billed Ami Taf Ra) easily adapted to the 200-seat venue, barely modulating their visceral delivery while also highlighting their softer dynamics and a personal rapport.
Horse represents a victory lap (pun intended), a confident follow-up to the artist’s astonishing success with his self-release of Powderhorn Suites.
The Smithereens have released only two albums of original material since 1999, so it was pleasantly surprising when The Lost Album, consisting of a dozen songs recorded in 1993 but never released by the band, appeared last September.
Classical Music Commentary: Boston’s Lost Opportunity — How the BSO Board Chose Charles Munch over Leonard Bernstein