Author: kruekutt

Grateful for my beloved wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren and siblings. Also a lover of theology, music, history, philosophy, classic novels, science fiction, fantasy and Looney Tunes.

kruekutt’s 2018 Favorites: Live Recordings

On By kruekuttIn Progressive rock1 Comment

Note: my favorite new albums of 2018 are here.  My favorite reissues of 2018 are here.

One idea afoot in the online prog world I’ve only encountered since I began writing here is the thesis that live recordings shouldn’t be on reviewers’ “best of the year” lists. As I understand it, the basic idea is that live albums are: a) a different breed of cat than studio albums, and; b) not usually recorded in the year they’re released, so they’re not really from the year in question.  (Commenters can certainly enlighten me if I’m misreading the idea, or have other reasons the thesis is valid.)

Two arguments I’d have against this idea are: 1) my Top Favorite album of 2017, King Crimson’s Live in Chicago, was released the same year it was recorded (and, since it was the best rock gig I’ve ever seen, deserved a “best of” listing), and;  2) given record companies’ release cycles, most studio albums from the first half of a given year were probably recorded during the year before anyway.

But it’s true that live albums are usually meant to be different than a studio album: a momento or snapshot of a band performing repertoire from their studio output, caught on a given night, nights or tour — Robert Fripp’s “hot date” as opposed to a more considered “love letter”.  And live albums from an archive (be it a band’s or a corporation’s) are definitely more akin to a reissue than to new music.

Anyhow, without necessarily conceding the point, my favorite live recordings released in 2018 (separated out in their own post) follow the jump.  But first, a graphic tease:

Continue reading “kruekutt’s 2018 Favorites: Live Recordings” →

kruekutt’s 2018 Favorites: Reissues

On By kruekuttIn art rock, pop, Progressive rock, Rock and Roll1 Comment

Following the jump, the reissues and compilations from this past year that:

  • For one reason or another, I absolutely had to buy (whether I previously had a copy or not), and
  • That grabbed me on first listen and haven’t let go through repeated plays.  Except for my Top Favorite at the end of the post, I haven’t ranked them — in my opinion, they’re all worth your time.  But first, a graphic tease …

 

Continue reading “kruekutt’s 2018 Favorites: Reissues” →

Happy International Rush Day!

On By kruekuttIn Progressive rock1 Comment

It is 21/12, after all …

More on this lovely confected holiday at Rush Is A Band.

Makes me want to go out and splurge on Geddy Lee’s new Big Beautiful Book of Bass.  Though my wallet and my hernia might regret it …

glebbbb

— Rick Krueger

kruekutt’s 2018 Favorites: New Albums

On By kruekuttIn jazz, Progressive rock2 Comments

Here are the albums of new music from 2018 that grabbed me on first or second listen, then compelled repeated plays. I’m not gonna rank them except for those that achieved Top Favorite status, which I’ll save for the very end. The others are listed alphabetically by artist. (Old school style, that is — last names first where necessary!) Links to the ones I’ve previously reviewed are embedded in the album titles.  But first, a graphic tease …

Continue reading “kruekutt’s 2018 Favorites: New Albums” →

King Crimson: 50th Anniversary Tour Is On!

On By kruekuttIn Progressive rock1 Comment

King Crimson have announced three live dates in the USA for the fall of 2019:

  • Tuesday, September 3: The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles CA
  • Tuesday, September 10: Roosevelt University Auditorium, Chicago IL
  • Friday, September 21: Radio City Music Hall, New York NY

VIP Celebration Packages (60 people per show) for Los Angeles are available at Discipline Global Mobile; Chicago & New York packages are already sold out.  General ticket sales will begin soon.

Following up on this announcement (along with previous announcements of shows in London and Germany), Robert Fripp commented:

the countries being visited (although not extensively) are: Germany, UK, (likely) Holland, Poland, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Mexico, US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Chile. This assumes the world doesn’t get much crazier than it is already, noting that it will.

And DGM head honcho David Singleton reveals a bit more:

The exact timing of announcements for shows has to be agreed with the different promoters in different territories. We are also playing festivals, which have their own schedule. Some show-dates and contracts are still being finalized. This means that we cannot announce a full list. We do however insist that the first announcement comes from the DGMLive website, and that we have at least a week in advance to sell Celebration packages where they exist (it is not normally possible at festivals).

More tour date announcements are coming in 2019.

And yes, I ponied up for a Celebration Package in Chicago.  Lord willing, I’m ready and raring to hear the Mighty Crim for the 9th time next September!

 

— Rick Krueger

 

If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley’s Golden Comeback

On By kruekuttIn americana, country, pop, Rock and RollLeave a comment

Fifty years ago today — December 3, 1968 — NBC aired Singer Presents … Elvis.  

At that point, Elvis Presley was generally considered a joke, a has-been.  His pioneering rock and roll days were long behind him, his singing and acting career and earning potential shriveled by a stultifying run of half-baked movies (Girl Happy, Harum Scarum, Clambake) and equally awful soundtracks (featuring horrid novelty songs like “There’s No Room to Rhumba in a Sports Car” and “He’s Your Uncle, Not Your Dad”).  Presley’s manager “Colonel” Tom Parker was pushing for a holiday special where Elvis would cavort with nominally famous guest stars and sing … wait for it … twenty Christmas carols.

But Singer’s execs had something else in mind: a show centered entirely on Presley, reminding the audience of his initial, explosive impact on pop music and propelling him forward, into a fresh phase of his career.  Elvis bought in, the Colonel signed off, and Steve Binder (director of the spectacular 1964 concert movie The T.A.M.I Show, featuring The Supremes, The Beach Boys, James Brown and The Rolling Stones in thrilling live performances) signed on.   Which is why, on that night fifty years ago, as 42 percent of the US television audience tuned in, they locked eyes with a man on a mission:

Continue reading “If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley’s Golden Comeback” →

The State of Prog 2018: Lightning Round Reviews, November 20-30

On By kruekuttIn Andy Tillison, Progressive rock, The TangentLeave a comment

Based on these four new albums, progressive rock is doing just fine, thank you!  I’m not feeling the need for a Personal Progginess Perception scale this time around, so capsule reviews and ratings of this quartet follow the jump.

Continue reading “The State of Prog 2018: Lightning Round Reviews, November 20-30” →

Riverside Live in North America — Coming May 2019

On By kruekuttIn Progressive rockLeave a comment

From Riverside’s website:

“Dear friends from US and Canada. Will you find time to see us in May 2019? We have a great pleasure to announce all these dates and places.

North America Wasteland Tour 2019:

  • ‪05/03‬ Atlanta, GA, City Winery
  • ‪05/04‬ Lake Park, FL, Kelsey Theater
  • ‪05/06‬ Carrboro, NC, Cat’s Cradle
  • 05/07‬ Baltimore, MD, Baltimore Soundstage
  • 05/09 Jersey City, NJ, White Eagle Hall
  • 05/10 Philadelphia, PA, World Cafe Live
  • 05/11 Brooklyn, NY, Warsaw
  • 05/12‬ Cambridge, MA, The Sinclair
  • ‪05/14‬ Quebec City, QC, Imperial Bell
  • 05/15‬ Montreal, QC, Club Soda
  • 05/17‬ Toronto, ON, Mod Club
  • 05/18‬ Detroit, MI, Magic Stick
  • ‪05/19‬ Chicago, IL, Chop Shop &1st Ward
  • 05/20 St.‬ Louis, MO, Delmar Hall
  • 05/22‬ Dallas, TX, Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
  • 05/24‬ Boulder, CO, Boulder Theater
  • 05/25‬ Salt Lake City, UT, Metro Music Hall
  • ‪05/27‬ Phoenix, AZ, Crescent Ballroom
  • 05/28‬ Pomona, CA, The Glass House
  • 05/29‬ San Francisco, CA, Slim’s
  • ‪05/31‬ Portland, OR, Hawthorne Theatre
  • ‪06/01‬ Vancouver, BC, The Rickshaw Theatre
  • 06/02‬ Seattle, WA, The Crocodile

See you there!”

 

A Deeper Shade of White: Notes on “The Beatles”

On By kruekuttIn hard rock, pop, Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, Rock and Roll5 Comments

In the 1997 movie Men in Black, Agent K (aka Tommy Lee Jones) spoke truer than he knew:

This is a fascinating little gadget.  It’s gonna replace CDs soon.  Guess I’ll have to buy ‘The White Album’ again.

Fast forward to the 50th anniversary Super Deluxe edition of The Beatles — my copy is #0112672, if you’re interested — my fifth purchase of the 1968 album.  Following the first CD release in 1987, Agent K’s prophecy was swiftly fulfilled, with 1998’s “30th anniversary limited edition” (CD #0438243), then 2009’s mono and stereo remasters each promising better sound and a more complete listening experience.  So does this new box provide anything previous versions haven’t?  And does it shed any new light on the “White Album’s” ultimate stature, both in the Fabs’ catalog and in rock history ?

Continue reading “A Deeper Shade of White: Notes on “The Beatles”” →

Lightning Round Reviews: November 10-19, 2018

On By kruekuttIn pop, Progressive rock, Rock and RollLeave a comment

Capsule reviews of what I’ve listened to since the last installment follow the jump.  Albums are reviewed in descending order on my Personal Proggyness Perception (PPP) scale, scored from 0 to 10.

Continue reading “Lightning Round Reviews: November 10-19, 2018” →