album reviews

Reviews of albums old and new from iconic artists and up and coming musicians alike.

'Magnification' - Pure Imagination in a Metaphoric Dream
After The Ladder Tour, Billy Sherwood left Yes (though he would return much later). In 2000, the band embarked on their Masterworks Tour, with the set list decided by fan votes and including epics "Close to the Edge," "Ritual," and "The Gates of Delirium." During the tour, keyboardist Igor Khoroshev was involved in an incident involving two female security guards. After he left the band, the Yes lineup was down to Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass), and Alan White (drums).
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat
'Made in the A.M.' Lyrics 1D Literally Wrote for Their Fans
Made in the A.M. was One Direction's final album before their eh-hem "18-month" hiatus, and in it are tons of lyrics that are undoubtedly meant solely for their fans.
By hannah irelan7 years ago in Beat
'The Ladder' - Living Within the Vision
After the Open Your Eyes Tour wrapped up in 1998, the Yes lineup of Jon Anderson (vocals), Steve Howe (guitar), Igor Khoroshev (keys), Billy Sherwood (rhythm guitar), Chris Squire (bass), and Alan White (drums) felt ready to record another album. Needing an outside perspective, they decided to work with producer Bruce Fairbairn at Armoury Studios in Vancouver. While Open Your Eyes was very poppy, the poppiness on the next album that became The Ladder was dialed back a bit, and there was plenty of prog rock. The album felt like a good blend of old and new. It includes ethnic instruments, some of which were played by Randy Raine-Reusch. In addition, Rhys Fulber contributed dance loops, and The Marguerita Horns played horns.
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat
'Open Your Eyes' - Yes Caught at the Crossroads
In 1997, keyboardist Rick Wakeman left Yes (again) after being displeased with promotional strategies regarding the Keys to Ascension albums and the lack of communication with Yes management. As a result, some tour dates were canceled. Billy Sherwood, who had been mixing the studio tracks on Keys to Ascension 2, decided to come in and help since he wanted Yes to keep on going. He had known bassist Chris Squire since the late 1980s, and was considered as a potential replacement for vocalist Jon Anderson prior to 1991s Union. Though Anderson's voice replaced Sherwood's on "The More We Live-Let Go," Sherwood's bass playing remained intact. In 1992, he had toured with Squire as part of The Chris Squire Experiment (with Alan White on drums). And in 1994, Sherwood performed with Yes at their shows on the Talk Tour. Plus, in 1995, he sang "Wonderous Stories" on the tribute album Tales from Yesterday. So he wasn't a musician who came from nowhere; he was very familiar with Yes music and had worked with Yes members.
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat
Brooke White Talks New Album 'Calico' Coming Out 10/4!
“I always told myself I’d get to Nashville,” Brooke White sings on the eponymous track off her upcoming album, Calico. The former American Idol alum had dreamed of moving to Nashville her entire career to make a “real” country album, but life had other plans. Those plans included becoming the mother of two, starting her own web series, The Girls With Glasses. It was through this journey, along with a little bit of opportunity coming her way, that Brooke embraced her Cali lifestyle, and incorporated it into her music.
By All’s Fair in Love & Writing7 years ago in Beat
Charli XCX - 'Charli': Worst to Best
Firstly, this website seems to have had a large update so we'll see how making this article goes. Secondly, I don't dislike or find any song on this album disinteresting (I don't think I do anyway, opinions change). Also, it's been fairly difficult to rank the lower half of this album, so even more than usual it doesn't mean much. I'm pretty certain about the top end though!
By Cronan Parry7 years ago in Beat
'Summer on Main St.': A Must Listen
When it comes down to creating some fabulous music, Royal might not be a name known—yet (although he has performed alongside artists such as Waka Flocka, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, YG, and Tory Lanez). This guy is a wizard who makes the words and tunes dance around in synchronization, making them a treat for the ears.
By mysoundMusic7 years ago in Beat
'Keystudio' - Take You There and Back Again
This particular album review is a bit of an odd one. Keystudio was released in 2001, but it's a compilation of material released years earlier. In 1995, Trevor Rabin and Tony Kaye left Yes. Vocalist Jon Anderson, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White reunited with guitarist Steve Howe and keyboardist Rick Wakeman as what has been known as the "classic lineup," which had put out Tales from Topographic Oceans, Going for the One, and Tormato in the 1970s. In addition, Roger Dean returned to continue creating artwork for their albums.
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat
'Talk' - Dancing in the New Design
After the Union tour, it was clear that Yes would not be able to continue as an eight-member lineup. Bill Bruford and Steve Howe departed, though they contributed to a 1993 orchestral album by the London Philharmonic Orchestra titled Symphonic Music of Yes. There were plans for Rick Wakeman to take part on the next Yes album, but scheduling conflicts prevented that from happening. And so it came down to the "Yes West" lineup of vocalist Jon Anderson, keyboardist Tony Kaye, guitarist Trevor Rabin, bassist Chris Squire, and drummer Alan White.
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat
Teo Pasquale's Long-Awaited Debut Project 'New Habits' Is Here
Teo Pasquale has so much potential, not only as an emcee, I mean full fulfillment creativity, the way he intermediates sounds and picks the perfect production that matches well with the tone of his voice. He spoke on going through YouTube & Soundcloud and finding the unpopular type beats that still have a similar style that will match with his own. Just hearing that I felt the uniqueness; most upcoming artists at his stage will go to the most popular beats online and rap over it. With not being able to find the right producer to believe in him enough to locking himself in the studio and record all night, he went on his own time going through production online and with that found beauty. The way each track transitions into the next on Habits is lovely. It feels like he was comfortable with being uncomfortable. He went wherever the feeling took him, songs that slapped and songs after that brought 90s Biggie vibes. You can hear some of Teo's influences in each song, like Drake, Ye, Jay-Z, Travis Scott, J. Cole and even James Blake towards the end of the project. Only time will tell if this will be Teo's "Comeback Season" or "The Warm Up." The project varies with energy changing. He spoke on his mother passing last November, writing in the hospital, RV basement and his bedroom, and losing and regaining stronger friendships throughout the process. He even felt as though 2018 was a bad year for him, it made him a better artist/person all out and ended up remaking New Habits. With the cover art shot by Justin Williams, it connects so well with every song like "Nowadays" on moving forward, which is big on the project. So since we all like conspiracy theories, we will let you figure the double-headed panther in the middle, the spirit animal, and Doppelgänger boy out on your own time.
By Matt Kin7 years ago in Beat
Lana, You're All Grown Up
There are a few artists and bands that I have the privilege of saying that I grew up alongside. One of these artists is undoubtedly Lana Del Rey.
By Sara Al Mahdy7 years ago in Beat
'Union' - Another Game of Exploration
In 1988, following the Big Generator Tour, Yes vocalist Jon Anderson reunited with Yes alumni Bill Bruford (drums), Rick Wakeman (keyboard), and Steve Howe (guitar) to form Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. They recorded and released an album in 1989 and embarked on a tour. Yes fans came to know ABWH as "Yes East" and the lineup that made 90125 and Big Generator as "Yes West."
By Steven Shinder7 years ago in Beat