Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde - Review

"Blonde On Blonde" is incredible. In my opinion it shows Dylan at his best. It starts off with the stoned, ramshackle "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" which is really good. It is followed by "Pledging My Time" which has really cool harmonica and awesome lyrics. The next song is "Visions Of Johanna" which shows Bob's amazing voice and tells a great story in the verses.

"One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)" is really good and has some cool keyboards. The next song is the BEST song on the CD; "I Want You" is incredibly addictive with rhythmic guitar and you really won't be able to stop listening. "I Want You" is followed by "Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again". Wow that's a long name! It is a nice song with blues overtones and Bob's trademark harmonica. The next song is "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat", a good blues song and cool soloing. The lyrics are very interesting too. The following song is "Just Like A Woman", and it shows Dylan's talent for songwriting and has a nice mellow feel to it.

"Just Like A Woman" is followed by "Most Likely You Go Your Way(And I'll Go Mine)". It is a very good song with solid chords and the lyrics mesh really well with Bob Dylan's voice. The next song is "Temporarily Like Achilles", which has very good harmonica and guitar, and has a very nice, calming feel to it. The following song, "Absolutely Sweet Marie" is intriguing. What exactly does it mean to be absolutely sweet? It doesn't really answer that in the song, however it is a good song but not one of the best on the album. The next song is "4th Time Around" and is a good song, with interesting lyrics. The second-to last song is "Obviously 5 Believers", and has awesome backing electric guitar and cool lyrics. The last song is "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" and is a very soft, sad song with Bob's wonderful voice.

I think that this album is his best, and is possible to listen all the way through, unlike most of the albums out these days. If you don't own it, then I suggest that you rush out and buy it as soon as possible.
Peace Out
Avi

Counting Crows - August And Everything After - Review

Counting Crows - August and Everything After

This incredible album is the Counting Crow's debut album. It was released in 1993 and a few of the singles such as Mr. Jones and Round Here jump-started this band's career.

The opening track, creates a world of it's own with great lyrics and haunting guitar. It is followed by Omaha, which is very catchy and the music is incredible. I particularly like the line in the chorus- “get right to the heart of matters/it's the heart that matters more/think you better turn your ticket in/get your money back at the door.” The next song is arguably the best song on the album- Mr. Jones. It has a great rhythm and is very upbeat, with lyrics that tell an interesting story.

The next song, Perfect Blue Buildings is very depressing and melancholy, and Duritz's voice adds lots of emotion and meaning. Anna Begins follows, and it's a bit more upbeat. I like how they show the complexity and intensity in relationships and definitely nails it in this song. The next song is Time and Time again, and it is very cool with the organ and the drums in the chorus. That is followed by The Rain King - the band's 4th single - which is similar to Mr. Jones in that it's very upbeat.

Sullivan Street is the 8th song on the album and is a great ballad with wonderful piano that adds a great tune to this slow song. It's followed by Ghost Train, which is fine but doesnt really compare to the other classics on this album. The organ is nice though. The next song is beautiful, and depressing. The piano absolutely shines on this song. The final song on the album is great. Incredible drumming and guitar, and closes the album very well.

All in all, this album was definetly one of the best of the 90's, and probably the band's best. If you don't already own this, go out and buy it please. It will improve your life, I promise! (See, who needs self-help books when there's music available??)

All the best,
Avi

Jimi Hendrix - Experience Hendrix: The Best Of Jimi Hendrix - Review

This CD is a compilation of Jimi Hendrix's greatest hits. I think that it is well done with a broad look at his incredible work.

It starts off with "Purple Haze", one of Jimi Hendrix's signature songs. It has wonderful guitar work throughout the song, with lyrics that Jimi said "came to me in a dream". "Fire", the second song on the CD is an energetic song with awesome drumming by Mitch Mitchell. The following song, "The Wind Cries Mary" was the Experience's 3rd UK single. It is a nice slow song with blues influences and majestic guitar. The next song "Hey Joe" is one of Hendrix's most famous songs, and really shows his wonderfully unique voice. The next song is probably the best song on this album: Jimi Hendrix's take on Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower". It has such an amazing intro to such an amazing song. Dylan even admitted that Jimi's version was better than the original. "Stone Free", the 6th song on the album on the album was the B-Side to "Hey Joe", and is full of energy and Jimi's trademark playing. The next song, "Crosstown Traffic" is a very creative song, that includes Hendrix playing piano and even kazoo! Dave Mason from the band Traffic sings backround vocals. The next song, "Manic Deppression" has Noel Redding's bass and Mitch Mitchell's drumming to set the rythm for Jimi's powerful guitar. "Little Wing"is a ballad full of blues and tons of feeling.

The song 'If 6 Was 9"follows and has some really groovy foot-stomping to set the rythm and is a great example of Jimi's blues. The next song, "Foxy Lady" is in Hendrix's opinion, the only happy song he's written. The next song, "Bold As Love" is overdubbed with additional harpsichord and bass, and the guitar about 2 minutes in until the end could make you cry. Literally. The next song, "Castles Made of Sand" really tells a story in the words. Unlike other songs, it actually feels like the guitar is backing the lyrics, not vice-versa. The following song, "Red House" is a perfect example of Jimi's unique kind of blues that's full of emotion. The next song "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" was recorded a day after "Voodoo Chile" and has a lot of energy and the coolest intro ever. The following song, "Freedom", is really good and fully utilizes bassist Billy Cox's talent and Juma Sultan's percussion.

"Night Bird Flying" is a awesome song and one of the most powerful songs on the CD. The next song, "Angel" is a very reflective, blues driven song and is very good. The second to-last song on the album, "Dolly Dagger" is very energetic song with awesome lyrics and percussion. The last song, "The Star Spangled Banner" is INCREDIBLE and showcases Jimi Hendrix's genius use of feedback. In conclusion, I think that this is a very good collection of his songs and is a great introduction to his music.


Peace Out

Avi

Matisyahu - Live At Stubbs - Review

3 words: Hassidic reggae superstar. Impossible right? Guess again. Matisyahu is the farthest thing from a gimmick.

This album is very good. It starts off with "Sea To Sea", a song with a great guitar rythm and with the words that one says before the Amidah; "Lord open up my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise". A pretty fitting opening to a concert huh? The next song opens with a bang. "Chop 'Em Down" is an great song and a perfect lead-in to "Warrior"; with its slow groove and its deeply spiritual message shouldn't be missed. It also has a really awesome guitar solo about 6 and a half minutes in. The next song is "Lord Raise Me Up" - true reggae that shows his band at their best. Jonah David, their drummer does a good job keeping the beats going. "Lord Raise Me Up" is followed by "King Without A Crown", a song with incredible guitar solos from the hands of Aaron Dugan, a phenomenal guitarist, and awesome lyrics. The song after that, "Aish Tamid" talks about the Jewish idea of a never-ending flame that burns in everybody. His words are backed by the jamming of his band; "Root Tonic".

The next song is really weird if you have never heard someone beatboxing. It's incredible to think that someone can make such a sound with nothing but his mouth. Matisyahu is a
world-class beatboxer in my opinion. About 3 minutes into the song, his band joins in and Matis lets loose his great rapping skills. The next song "Fire and Heights" is a powerful instrumental that shows how talented Roots Tonic really are. Following "Fire and Heights" is "Exaltation", an amazing song fueled by Aaron Dugan's pounding guitar. The song "Refuge", with bits taken from the Book of Psalms, is nice and slow; which leads well into the siren-like guitar opening of "Heights", the second to last song on the album. The last song on the disk is also the best, "Close My Eyes" is an incredible song that really fills out the album.

I highly suggest that everyone get this CD before buying "Youth", Matisyahu's 3rd album (review of "Youth" to come shortly). This is much better.

anyway, Peace out everyone
Avi

Moshav - The Best Of Moshav Band: Higher and Higher - Review

This CD is incredible. The range of music styles that Moshav take from is vast. Middle eastern, American rock, and Israeli. They sing in both Hebrew and English, and succesfuly bridge the gap between religous and secular. This disk spans the group's music from 1998 'till 2005. The cd starts out with "Higher and Higher", Moshav's version of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach's "Lord Get Me High". It starts with a bit of reggae , and goes into a South American base with a great guitar solo. The second song, "Come Back", was recorded in 2000, and talks about the group's yearning to return to their homeland; Israel. The mandolin, played by Meir Solomon, fits the song very well. The next song, "Wake Up", is probably my favorite song ever. You really have to listen to it to truly appreciate it, but it's just so powerful and makes you want to do something for the world that we are in. The following song, "Waiting For The Calling" is very energetic and catchy. The song "Ufduyey" is taken from a Carlebach teaching session and it is an incredible, addictive song with a nice mandolin bit. The song after, "Don't Give Up" sends a message of peace and strength to Israel, and about 50 seconds in a great beat kicks in and fuels the song. The next song is "Eliyahu Hanavi" and Moshav manage to put so much emotion into it that it totally carries you to the next song, "Lost Time". This song talks about not focusing on what you did or didn't do, rather just seize the oportunity. The chorus is especially powerful. The next song, "Eulogy", in Hebrew, talks about Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, and how he was their mentor and teacher and played such a huge part in their lives. "The Things You Can't Afford", has great guitar and lyrics. The following song, "Stop", is the second best song on the album in my opinion. It's very emotional, but its very catchy with awesome percussion by Yehuda Solomon. "Bereshit" is an interesting song, in that they put the first, and most recognizable verse from the Bible to music. It's pretty good. The next song "Shabbos Kodesh" really isn't my type, but actually is not so bad, with a bit of Middle East influences thrown in. The next song, “If Someone Falls in Love With Me” is probably my least favorite song on this CD, just because it's pretty samey and whiney. It's just OK. The following song, "Some Love" is up-beat, and moving. It's a call to do something with your life, not to just sit back and let it go by, like "Wake Up". The next song, "Exteriors" talks about the superficiality in this world and how its all just visual. the second-to last song, 'Return Again" is about returning to one's roots; for them, Israel. The last song, "Heart Is Open" is about holding onto your dreams, and truly is a great song with awesome guitar, and is a preview to their newest album, "Misplaced". (review to follow soon). I think that this is a great disk, and you would do yourself a favor to get this album, because it really has something for everyone.


Peace out

Avi

Moshav - Misplaced - Review

I just got this CD last night and I must have listened to it 5 times already. It's that good. Trust me, if you get it, you'll feel the same way. This disk is Moshav's (Previously Moshav Band) newest release. It starts off with "The Only One" which has really good guitar by Duvid Swirsky and is very catchy. The next song, "Closer" has great cello and violin and pounding percussion by Yehuda Solomon.

"When I'm Gone" follows, and is very very catchy. The next song, "Misplaced" is the most powerful on the album, with really smart lyrics and good keyboard. The next song, "Cold Cry" starts off with a cool guitar intro, and starts a nice song and Yehuda's voice really shines. "Hallelu" is the next song, and it has a really cool rhythm and good overdubbing in the chorus. The next song, "Lift Up Your Head" is the best song on the album, with AWESOME reggae beats, and the backround lyrics throughout the song make it complete. The percussion is really good too.

The following song, "Streets Of Jerusalem", is very soft and calming with a Sting-like feel.
C Lanzbaum plays guitar on this song as a guest. The next song, "Jockey Full Of Bourbon", a cover of the classic Tom Waits song, is very good and really gets you into it. The next song,
"Heart Is Open", is nice and soft, with very inspiring lyrics and good backround percussion. "Stand Up", the following song, features Yehuda Solomon's brother Meir on mandolin and is very nice. The second to-last song, "Abba Shimon" was released on an earlier disk of theirs, Malachim, but it has been revamped for a wider audience. It is in Yemenite and has very cool backround guitar. The last song is "Dream Again" which has wonderful lyrics and nice guitar from the hands of Duvid Swirsky, and is a fitting end to such an incredible album.

I highly suggest that you get this album. It's the best album that I have listened to in ages.


Peace Out

Avi

Neil Young - After The Goldrush - Review

After the Goldrush

This album is Neil Young's 3rd release. The album is full of catchy tunes, and well-thought out lyrics. He brings in a lot more piano than previously.
The first song is a straight folk song, Tell Me Why, and the lyrics are very intriguing... “is it hard to make arrangements with yourself? When your old enough to repay but young enough to sell”
Tell Me Why is followed by After the Goldrush which is piano-centered and absolutely stunning. Then comes Only Love Can Break Your Heart, a soft rock ballad with lyrics that really ring true. The next song is Southern Man which has a great guitar and stinging, angry lyrics that strike out at the redneck ideals of the south. Incidentally, this song sparked rumors about a rivalry between young and southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd when they struck back with sweet home Alabama. But thats for a different time. Now back to the goldrush.... The next song is 'Till The Morning Comes which is short but sweet with a great chorus. Neil Young now covers Don Gibson's classic “Oh Lonesome Me” which is slow and relaxing with beautiful harmonica. The next song is similar and it's very smooth with interesting lyrics- “Don't let it bring you down, its only castles burning. Find someone whose turning and you will come around.”

That is followed by Birds which is a beautiful piano and chorus composition. Neil's super songwriting talent really shines through in this song. The next song he lets his edgier side peek through- When You Dance You Can Really Love, which leads into the waltzy I believe in you. The last song is Cripple Creek Ferry, a short gem with deep lyrics.

All in all, I think that there are no “bad songs” on this album. It is a stellar rock album and if you are into folk, then it is definitely for you.

Till next time, peace and love
Avi