M.J. Cole Review / Duke Ellington Preview (Album 31)

I don't know where the term 'house music' came from. It must have something to do with the 80s and the music was made 'in-house' so to speak. Like they had their own DJ up there mixing beats up in Studio 54 or something. Anyways, it's an interesting sound. If you don't mind the same thing...for almost an hour. Each song on it's own is good. But it's all the songs together that kind of wear on you a little bit. Each song it probably over 4 minutes each too...which doesn't really help anything. Anyways, some of the beats are good. Some are ok, some are meh.

Favorite Songs:
     Slum King
     Sincere
     Hold On To Me

Album: Ellington At Newport

Artist: Duke Ellington

Release Year: 1956

"After a spell in the doldrums when swing bands went out of fashion, Duke Ellington's performance at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 7, 1956, heralded a dramatic resurgence in his popularity...The resulting album is a patched together-fusion of live recordings, studio retakes, and canned applause. It became the biggest selling record of Duke's career." - Will Fulford-Jones

(You may notice right away that there are 2 very different versions of this album: the original 1956 version, and the updated 1999 version. The only real difference is that the new version is cleaner and has filler tracks of him talking and whatnot. Anyways, I will be listening to the new updated version.)

Disc 1

01 - The Star Spangled Banner

02 - Black and Tan Fantasy

03 - Tea for Two

04 - Take the 'A' Train

05 - Part I - Festival Junction

06 - Part II - Blues to Be There

07 - Part III - Newport Up

08 - Sophisticated Lady

09 - Day In, Day Out

10 - Diminuendo In Blue and Crescendo In Blue

Disc 2

01 - I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)

02 - Jeep's Blues

03 - Tulip or Turnip

04 - Skin Deep

05 - Mood Indigo

06 - Part I - Festival Junction

07 - Part II - Blues To Be There

08 - Part III - Newport Up

09 - I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

10 - Jeep's Blues

Stream: Radio3.net

iTunes: Duke Ellington

Spotify: Ellingnton At Newport (This is the old version, they don't have the new version.)

Your tracks won't be the same, I took out all the in-between parts when I listed the tracks. Still though, it's the same essentially.

~mfm

The Black Crowes Review / M. J. Cole Preview (Album 30)

So, this whole album was great. Really, it's amazing that this could ever ever be a debut album. It sounds like a perfect crossover between Led Zeppelin and Creedance Clearwater Revival. People don't make music like they used to, and this is a warp to the music that used to move people. I really enjoyed it. Really did. The musicallity of it all combined with the guys almost soft AC/DC-style voice really lends to an album that will hopefully continue to inspire and be played. I had never heard of these guys before, except perhaps for the song Jealous Again.

Favorite Songs:
     Twice As Hard
     Jealous Again
     Hard To Handle
     She Talks To Angels

Album: Sincere

Artist: M. J. Cole

Release Year: 2000

"Mainly it is Cole's musicality that shines on the album, which came out after his debut single "Sincere" became the first UK garage tune to hit the UK charts. Cole's insistence on composing on live instruments may explain the three years it took before the album was finished. The tone is set on the introduction - a cascading piano gives way to a punishing bassline." - David Crawford

01 - Introduction

02 - Tired Games 

03 - Attitude

04 - Bandelero Desperado

05 - MJ FM Interlude

06 - Crazy Love

07 - Sanctuary

08 - I See

09 - Sincere

10 - Strung Out

11 - Rough Out Here

12 - Slum King

13 - Radio Interlude

14 - Hold On To Me

15 - Free My Mind
16 - Crazy Love (Radio Edit)
17 - Sincere (Mig's Petalpusher Vocal)

Streaming: Radio3.net

iTunes: M. J. Cole 

Spotify: Sincere

Sounds interesting. Like pre- pre- drum and bass or something. interesting.

~mfm