Back in ’94, Tina Arena’s voice caught my ear with her single “Chains” and thirty-two years later, it’s still just as memorable. Her new EP, Way Of The World, focuses completely on her vocals, with the music soft and barely present…even a little haunting, perfect for an October release. Way Of The World is a…
What’s the best revenge after a messy break up? Sure you can go all Angela Bassett on their ass, stuffing their car with any belongings they left behind and torch it. If you don’t know the Waiting To Exhale reference, you have other things you should be doing than reading this post. Or you could…
I’ve been a fan of Norwegian singer Maria Mena for over twenty years but haven’t been lucky enough to see her in concert. She does shows in Europe but never in the USA. She hinted once about coming to New York City which had me hyped but that never materialized. When I was in Amsterdam…
September was the month of double albums, a few weeks ago Paula Cole put out her two Sonic Memoir volumes and last week Carly Rae Jepsen dropped her twenty-four track (one for every hour of the day) double disc Day And Night. The first twelve songs are the Day disc. Daytime Carly is experimental with…
This weekend New England was hit by a Noreaster. What’s a Noreaster? It means lots of rain with heavy winds. What did it mean for most people? Panicked grocery runs for milk and bread. What did it mean for me? Debating if I still go to New York City Saturday to see two off-Broadway shows…
This was the video that started it all, my lifelong love affair with Madonna. Every queen needs their diva and she’s been mine since that day in 1984: I ran to the flea market to buy rubber bracelets and a belly-baring mesh tank top…not a flattering look for a chubby pasty-white boy MTV introduced me…
The List is the Susanna Hoffs album I’ve been waiting years for. In March I went to The Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut to see Susanna perform most of the songs off The List with a few Bangles songs thrown in. I’ve been a fan for decades but it’s seldom that Susanna tours or puts out…
Paula Cole’s new double album, Sonic Memoir Vol I and II is four and a half hours containing 63-demos spanning the first nine years of Paula’s career. Finally, a diva who recognizes the appropriate amount of songs for a new release. Paula went into her vaults to dust off these musical treasures (from 1989-1998), gave…
When I saw Jaclyn Smith was releasing an autobiography this month, a quick Google search discovered none of my usual haunts were having signings but Bookends (211 E Ridgewood Ave) was and I bought a ticket before knowing where Ridgewood, New Jersey was (luckily just over the New York border). Not knowing about traffic or…
Candi Carpenter’s new EP and short film, Reincarnation, has hard rocking beats over sermons of independent thinking. Their message is delivered with some anger sprinkled with humor. One minute I’m head banging against my car’s steering wheel and the next I’m on my knees with laughter at Candi’s outrageousness. Candi was raised religious but had…
