What I'm Jamming Today.

That is a great Prince album but I agree his covers are at times really gross. I'm looking forward to the two new albums set for this year and the alleged deluxe edition of Purple Rain.

"309" is one beast of a track. Empros is my fave overall Russian Circles album.

Found this album by The Duke on LP:

Russian Circles-Empros
Russian Circles-Memorial
Animals As Leaders-Joy Of Motion
Pelican-The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw

Red Sparowes-Every Red Heart Shines Towards The Red Sun

Caspian-Waking Season

Godspeed You! Black Emperor-Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend!

Charlie Hunter Trio-Copperopolis
Stanton Moore-III

Lecrae-Anomaly

Camel - 1973

Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning (Blu-Ray, 2011)

Black Moth - Condemned To Hope (2014)

I really like this UK band. What makes them unique is they draw influences from a little bit of everything from 1969 to 2000 or so. There is stoner, hard rock, punk, metal, doom and desert rock sounds among others...you'll even hear some references to the Seattle scene of the early 90s. But the best part is there is a real SWAGGER to these guys (and gal), an attitude of middle finger in the air defiance that is quite refreshing to hear pulled off honestly and without pretense.

Man, I just can NOT get these three songs of hers out of my head:
A Little More Love
Magic
Xanadu



.... and yes, Olivia, A little more love would make it right!

My Mother took me to see Grease in the theater, I was fascinated with 50s/60s rock in my pre-teen years so any movie that touched on that subject she would take me.

My 8 year old self became hopelessly devoted to her. Sorry, couldn't resist...

That fascination continued with Xanadu, which was synchronistic because I was also an E.L.O. fan.

I remember owning the LP of Physical.

Then in '82 I started getting into metal and I just couldn't be caught dead with an ONJ record at that point...give me a break, I was 12.

Cranking Pale Communion on the ballroom sound system at work...I'm vibrating the the floor with the subwoofer. Bliss.

Lately I've been addicted to Steven Wilson's The Raven that Refused to Sing. That album has completely grown on me and is every bit as good as what Opeth is doing. Songs like Holy Drinker (THAT'S ALAN PARSONS?!), Drive Home (what a beautiful melody), and the epic title track, it's an album that really carries you along without a moment of loss. Plus Wilson's diverse selection of instruments and players is head-spinning...gotta love how an Hammond organ and an alto sax go wild on a dual clashing solo. And of course, it's a great sounding album. Four stars out of four indeed.