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Magma (Album of the Day)
Gojira was originally named Godzilla, and the French quartet remains a monster of progressive metal. The band had just begun recording MAGMA when Joe and Mario Duplantier's mother took ill; her death from cancer left its mark on the 2016 Roadrunner collection beginning with a title to reflect the emotions boiling inside. If complexity and technical skill defined much of Gojira's earlier work, the emphasis here is on shorter songs (“Silvera,” “The Cell”), cleaner vocals and stronger grooves, resulting in one of the group's most accessible albums. A Grammy nominated set that topped the Billboard Hard Rock Album chart, MAGMA was hailed by Metallica's Kirk Hammett as “an incredible piece of art,” and we'll cue it up now to bring March Metal Month to an earth-shaking conclusion.
Ritual de lo Habitual (Album of the Day)
No less an authority than Alice Cooper declared Jane’s Addiction's RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL “their peak album, where they really went out on a limb,” and it's tough to argue with the rock legend on this point. The second and final studio set from the L.A. quartet's original incarnation spans alt-rock ragers (“Stop”), mainstream rock hits (“Been Caught Stealing”) and haunting ballads (“Classic Girl”) as well as progressive epics (“Then She Did”). Frontman Perry Farrell and axeman Dave Navarro play every song as if it might be their last, and today we'll cue up the double-platinum RITUAL DE LO HABITUAL to wish Farrell a happy birthday.
Makin' Movies (Album of the Day)
By the time of MAKING MOVIES' 1980 release, it was clear that Dire Straits had few peers when it came to literate, roots-informed rock. Singer-songwriter-guitarist Mark Knopfler was always the British band's focal point – even more so with the departure of brother David on this third album - but the frontman really rose to the occasion here. With arrangements as ambitious as its cover art is minimal, the Warner Bros. set features seven cinematically rich originals including “Romeo and Juliet,” “Tunnel of Love” and “Solid Rock.” The collection was co-produced by Jimmy Iovine, who called on old friend (and E Street Band member) Roy Bittan to add his distinctive keyboard work to the mix. Both passionate and poetic, MAKING MOVIES was a hit with fans, reaching platinum certification, and remains among Dire Straits' very best.
Bustin' + Dronin (Album of the Day)
Following the tour supporting their eponymous 1997 album, U.K. indie greats Blur released a Japanese-only collection of remixes and live recordings, BUSTIN' + DRONIN'. Having employed producer Stephen Street for several preceding studio sets, the quartet turned to such other talents as William Orbit, Moby and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore to rework BLUR songs including “Death of a Party,” “Beetlebum,” “Essex Dogs” and “On Your Own.” The second half of the compilation was cut live at John Peel's home; these six bracing tracks underline Blur's prowess in concert (Graham Coxon's guitar work is particularly strong). As an import-only title, the album did fairly well in England and reached the Top 50, and BUSTIN' + DRONIN' will be released this month on colored vinyl for the first time as a Record Store Day exclusive.
Live at the Hollywood Bowl (Album of the Day)
Jeff Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on this day in 2009, and the double-disc LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL showcases the music that put him there. From a generous helping of Yardbirds classics (“Heart Full Of Soul,” “Shapes Of Things”) to solo favorites including “Beck’s Bolero” and more recent releases (“The Revolution Will Be Televised”), the 21 tracks do justice to both the guitarist's rich history and his still-dazzling fretwork. Beck's admirers include many musicians, and Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler, keyboardist Jan Hammer and fellow axeman Buddy Guy are among the guest stars heard in support at this August 2016 concert. With great fidelity and outstanding performances, LIVE AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL is an ideal showcase for one of rock's greatest instrumentalists.
Ooh La La (Album of the Day)
When Faces officially called it quits in 1975, the band left behind four studio albums, each a rough-hewn gem. By the 1973 release of the last of these, OOH LA LA, frontman Rod Stewart was more focused on his solo career and co-founder Ronnie Lane picked up the slack in spectacular fashion – the title track may be the best thing he ever wrote (in collaboration with band guitarist Ronnie Wood), and “Glad and Sorry” isn't far behind. Stewart makes his raspy presence felt on such tracks as “Cindy Incidentally” and with producer Glyn Johns rallying the troops, the rest of the boys play superbly. A chart-topper in the group's native U.K., OOH LA LA is a rousing finale to the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' career, and we'll give it another spin to wish Lane a happy birthday.
Wembley Empire Pool, London, England 4/8/72 (LIVE) (Album of the Day)
WEMBLEY EMPIRE POOL, LONDON, ENGLAND 4/8/72 captures the second night of the Grateful Dead's European tour of that year. From the dynamic performances and intuitive interplay it's clear the band was chomping at the bit to take this music out on the road - the dual keyboards of Pigpen and recent arrival Keith Godchaux merit special mention, as does Jerry Garcia's Strat and pedal steel guitar work. The collection includes such famous songs as “Casey Jones” and Truckin',” the version of “Cumberland Blues” tapped for the EUROPE '72 double album and an epic “Dark Star> Sugar Magnolia> Caution (Do Not Stop On Tracks)” that's the stuff of legend. One of the very best concerts of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers' storied six-week overseas trek, WEMBLEY EMPIRE POOL will be available on Record Store Day this month as a 180-gram vinyl 5-LP boxed set.
Look Sharp! (Album of the Day)
Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle – aka Roxette – had seen some success in their native Sweden, but it wasn't until an American foreign exchange student brought a copy of their second album back home to Minneapolis and gave it to a local radio station that the pop duo really took off. That 1988 collection, LOOK SHARP!, included three U.S. Top Ten singles: “Dangerous,” “Listen To Your Heart” and “The Look” (which was the #1 song in America this week in 1989) and the deeper album cuts were nothing to sneeze at either. LOOK SHARP! went platinum in America, with many other gold and platinum certifications around the globe, racking up more than 9 million sales worldwide. Upbeat and fun, the music of Roxette is an irresistible combination of punchy dance pop and beautiful balladry, and this breakthrough album will give you a good look at it.
Eve (Album of the Day)
When guitar hero Shinki Chen recruited Golden Cups bassist Masayoshi “Glue” Kabe and drummer Joey “Speed” Smith (later to return to his native Philippines and join the Juan de la Cruz Band), one of Japan's greatest power trios was born. Signed to Atlantic Records by producer Ikuzo Orita, the supergroup unleashed EVE in 1971 before splintering. If the band name wasn't a tip-off, titles like “Mr. Walking Drugstore Man” and “Stoned Out of My Mind” reflect the sonic overdose here, with English-language vocals driven by piledriver rhythms and insistent fuzz and wah-wah riffs. For years a big ticket collectors item, EVE returns this month as a limited edition colored vinyl pressing for Record Store Day.
On Golden Smog (Album of the Day)
Some of the greatest Minneapolis musicians of the late 1980s would pass through Golden Smog, though you might not know it by reading the credits; for contractual reasons, Soul Asylum vocalist Dave Pirner, Jayhawks guitarist Gary Louris, Replacements drummer Chris Mars and others all appear under pseudonyms on the band's 1992 debut EP. With a name drawn from a Flintstones episode and a penchant for all-covers set-lists, the loose-knit group began as talented friends just having a good time, and that spirit pervades ON GOLDEN SMOG, whose five songs include alt-rock and alt-country takes on Bad Company (“Shooting Star”), The Rolling Stones (“Back Street Girl”), Thin Lizzy (“Cowboy Song”) and more. For Record Store Day 2022, this rousing collection will be available on vinyl as a limited edition 12” with an etching on the B-side.