MuzikMan's Reviews And News

4/09/2018

Rock-Pop-Blues-Gospel-Country-R&B Review:Elvis Presley-The Searcher - The Original Soundtrack (Deluxe 3 CD Set)

Release Date: April 4, 2018

Label: Sony Legacy/RCA

As time passes and I learn more about Elvis Presley, the more I appreciate his legacy. Through several of the deluxe sets, I have gained a good education and heard some amazing music.

Elvis Presley: The Searcher The Original Soundtrack is a 3CD deluxe box set that features 37 additional Elvis cuts plus a special disc featuring selections from Mike McCready's (Pearl Jam) original score for Elvis Presley: The Searcher; Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers performing "Wooden Heart," and the music that inspired Elvis that includes R&B and country classics and "Home Sweet Home" sung by his mother, Gladys Presley. The set also includes a 40-page book featuring rare photographs, liner notes by Warren Zanes, and a director's note by Thom Zimny. Those are some of the highlights of this comprehensive set.

The Searcher - The Original Soundtrack is more of a deeper look into the persona of the legendary performer we knew as The King. Not only are there three CDs with this set, an informative booklet is included and a soon to follow two-part HBO special that kicks off on April 14th. So, all of us Elvis fans get the full multimedia treatment this time around.

I think when you strip away the Elvis we knew on stage you find a very dedicated, serious and committed performer. And I think, more importantly, he is a man that never forget from whence he came. He was legendary for his generosity, and perhaps because he was brought up in poverty, he sincerely appreciated his stardom and all the things he could enjoy because of it.

The thing I always find so striking about Elvis was his ability to cover every genre with equal energy and class. There has been and never will be another more eclectic performer than Elvis. Being multi-dimensional was his calling, and did he ever fill those shoes with excellence. Having top-notch musicians to back him never hurt either. Like a quarterback with great receivers, he covered every nuance in each genre including Country, Blues, Pops, Gospel, R&B, and Rock. At times there were tracks that took a little of each influence to create a song, only Elvis could deliver.

Some of the tracks like “Blue Moon” showed how Elvis could get his voice to hit the higher register. The track will send a chill up your spine in a heartbeat. Its simplicity and atmosphere are exceptional and a complete step away from the previous track. That is one example of the many facets of Elvis. His emotion and soul were weaved into everything he sang. There are some tracks like “Blue Moon” that really make you realize what a powerful presence he had and unique delivery that made each song come alive.

I have been looking forward to this set for a long time and the HBO special as well. I think my education of Elvis; his music and life will be a continuing process for many of us. And I am loving every minute of it. I know without any doubt that everyone that came after him is indebted for his influence, and one that he is still having on anyone recording music.

5/5 Stars

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 9, 2018

Founder of:

New Age Music Reviews

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Review Provided By MuzikMan Reviews and News

Elvis Presley: The Searcher (The Original Soundtrack) [Deluxe] – 3CD Deluxe Box Set

Disc 1

1. Trouble / Guitar Man

2. My Baby Left Me

3. Baby, What You Want Me To Do

4. Old Shep

5. That's When Your Heartaches Begin

6. That's All Right

7. Blue Moon Of Kentucky

8. Fool, Fool, Fool

9. Tweedlee Dee

10. Baby Let's Play House

11. Good Rockin' Tonight

12. Trying To Get To You

13. Blue Moon

14. When It Rains It Pours

15. Blue Christmas

16. Heartbreak Hotel

17. Lawdy, Miss Clawdy

18. Money Honey

19. Hound Dog

20. (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)

21. Crawfish

22. Trouble

23. Farther Along

24. Mona Lisa

25. Hide Thou Me

26. Loving You (end title take 16)

27. Lonely Man (solo version)

28. Power Of My Love

Disc 2

1. Milky White Way

2. A Mess Of Blues

3. Fame And Fortune

4. Love Me Tender / Witchcraft (duet with Frank Sinatra)

5. Like A Baby

6. Are You Lonesome Tonight?

7. It's Now Or Never

8. Wooden Heart

9. Swing Down Sweet Chariot

10. Reconsider Baby

11. Bossa Nova Baby

12. C'mon Everybody

13. Tomorrow Is A Long Time

14. Take My Hand, Precious Lord

15. Run On

16. Baby What You Want Me To Do

17. Suspicious Minds (take 6)

18. Baby Let's Play House (rehearsal)

19. Words (rehearsal)

20. That's All Right

21. Never Been To Spain

22. An American Trilogy

23. You Gave Me A Mountain

24. Burning Love (rehearsal version)

25. Separate Ways (rehearsal version)

26. Hurt (take 5)

27. If I Can Dream

Disc 3

1. Dissolution 2 - Mike McCready

2. Satisfied - The Blackwood Brothers

3. That's All Right - Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

4. She May Be Yours But She Comes To See Me Sometimes - Joe Hill Louis

5. Mystery Train - Little Junior's Blue Flames

6. Smokestack Lightning - Howlin' Wolf

7. Rock-A-My Soul - The Blackwood Brothers

8. Just Walkin' In The Rain - The Prisonaires

9. Rocket 88 - Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats

10. Write Me A Letter - The Ravens

11. Blue Moon Of Kentucky - Bill Monroe

12. Ain't That Right - Eddie Snow

13. Just Walkin' In The Rain - Johnnie Ray

14. Lawdy Miss Clawdy – Lloyd Price

15. Home Sweet Home - Gladys Presley

16. Blowin' In The Wind - Odetta

17. Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Odetta

18. The Weight - The Staple Singers

19. Heartbreak Hotel - The Orlons

20. Wooden Heart - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

21. Rebound - Mike McCready

4/08/2018

Instrumental New Age Review: Michael Kollwitz-Serenity II

Release Date: April 13, 2018

Label: Independent

Website

Michael Kollwitz is set to release Serenity II. I had a great pleasure last year of enjoying Serenity I. This, of course, is a continuation of the first set of tracks. So, expect more of the same excellent relaxing music you heard before to be your experience this time around.

Kollwitz is one of the few masters of the Chapman Stick. Tony Levin comes to mind immediately when the subject of the stick arises. The instrument reminds me of the Sitar is some ways. It is a very versatile instrument that has the unique ability to combine the guitar and bass together to formulate one effective sound. Most impressive is the fact that the tracks for Serenity II were written, performed and produced by the artist.

The person that plays the stick must be extremely focused and versatile. Based on what I heard from the first Serenity album and what I am hearing on volume II, Michael is performing at a very high level.

The sixteen tracks offered on Serenity II are crisp and clear. They can melt away stress easily as the artist presents each of the tracks. The consistency is the key to the presentation on this recording. One track flows into the next seamlessly, like it was a force of nature, a normal occurrence. I found that kind of musical command is exceptional with this music.

Because of the way each track unites with the next I find difficult to pick anyone out in particular, they are all exceptional. This is more like one listen then a track by track experience. Although each composition may be dissimilar, the beauty and ease of the Chapman Stick allow such peacefulness with a listener that it becomes one piece of music. For my ears that is a powerful statement to make. It sets me at ease early on and maintains that hold on me until the music stops playing.

Serenity II is a strong follow up to the first volume. I will be interested to see what direction Michael goes after this release. I would not expect a volume III, at least not without him releasing something that takes the listener in another direction. The thought of that alone peaks my interest. For now, I will kick back and let this music take over and let my worries of the day disappear.

4/5 Stars

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

April 8, 2018

Founder of:

New Age Music Reviews

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Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks:
01. The Presence
02. Wrapped In Love 04:14
03. Climbing The Mountain
04. Clear Passage
05. Live And Let Live
06. The Balance
07. Blue Skies
08. Pure Signal
09. Welcome Home
10. A Greater Purpose
11. One With Nature
12. Shaman's Cave
13. Easy Does It
14. Breaking Free
15. Beyond The Clouds
16. Way Of Knowledge

Chilean Prog Ensemble Aisles Premieres Third New Video "Still Alive"

Chilean Prog ensemble Aisles, South America's most acclaimed prog band of the last 10 years, is premiering the third video of their “Live from Estudio del Sur” sessions, for the song “Still Alive”, which was originally released on their latest album “Hawaii”.

Watch Aisles new video for “Still Alive”:

Says Aisles guitarist, German Vergara, “ 'Still Alive' is one of the most representative songs, and maybe the saddest, on our latest album "Hawaii". Capturing that feeling of hopelessness was a challenge both for the band and for the director of the video, Bernardo Quesney. Sonically, it is different from the album version because it is much less processed. What you hear is Aisles organic live sound, just like you'd hear it at one of our concerts. Even the tempo of the song changed as a result of that search”.

The “Live from Estudio del Sur” sessions started with the video for the song ‘Clouds Motion’, and it will continue with more videos coming soon.

With four studio albums and a career spanning twelve years, Aisles have become South America's most acclaimed prog act of the last decade. Their daring combination of rock, fusion, jazz and world music illustrates the band’s uniquely eclectic approach. The group has played in South America and Europe, and their albums have been released in Europe, the Americas, and Japan.

In 2009 their second album “In Sudden Walks” was nominated for Best Foreign Record in the Italian Prog Awards and the group was invited to open the 11th Progressive Rock Festival Crescendo in France. Their third album, “4:45 AM” (2013) was widely acclaimed worldwide and was chosen among the best albums of that year in a number of specialized publications. “Hawaii” (July, 2016), their fourth studio album was called a “masterpiece” and named one of the albums of the year by media outlets such as Prog (England), Neoprog (France), Raw Ramp (England) and Chile's premiere rock magazine, Rockaxis.

Aisles are:
Germán Vergara: guitar, vocals
Felipe Candia: drums, percussion
Sebastián Vergara: lead vocals
Rodrigo Sepúlveda: guitar, vocals
Daniel Concha: bass
Juan Pablo Gaete: keyboards

For more information:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6J59KdFHCHPSmiGhN5JoKb
Aisles official store: http://www.aislesproject.com/aisles/store/hawaii.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aislesproject
Twitter: https://twitter.com/aislesproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aislesproject/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (US), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Pages

4/09/2018

Rock-Pop-Blues-Gospel-Country-R&B Review:Elvis Presley-The Searcher - The Original Soundtrack (Deluxe 3 CD Set)

4/08/2018

Instrumental New Age Review: Michael Kollwitz-Serenity II

Chilean Prog Ensemble Aisles Premieres Third New Video "Still Alive"

Chilean Prog Ensemble Aisles Premieres Third New Video "Still Alive"

Chilean Prog Ensemble Aisles Premieres Third New Video "Still Alive"