Best Ever Albums

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 14:50:44 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 06/10/2026 18:50

2420

Conquistador! (1968) by Cecil Taylor

CECIL TAYLOR
CONQUISTADOR!
1968 – BLUE NOTE
Produced By ALFRED LION

1. Conquistador
2. With (Exit)

3. With (Exit) (Alternate Take)

Cecil Taylor was one of the great musical geniuses of the twentieth century. His unique and sometimes maddening approach to jazz changed the world of jazz, and his sometimes difficult body of work is endlessly challenging. He’s not easy to listen to, which is why he’s not often mentioned in the same breath as greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, or Thelonious Monk. But his music is just as important. Taylor was a pianist who recorded well over a hundred albums between 1956 and his death in 2018. Conquistador! was recorded in 1966, and was released two years later. The follow up to Unit Structures, which is one of the most demanding jazz albums of all time, Conquistador! is not the easiest pill to swallow. Which is what Tylor’s recorded legacy was: music to think to, not to dance to.

The two long tracks on Conquistador! are brilliant, if you have the patience for this music. This has been dismissed as avant-garde foolishness and simply noise, but there is always a method to Taylor’s madness. This is not for everyone, but if it’s for you, the rewards are massive. The soloing of saxophonist Jimmy Lyons is breathtaking, and Taylor’s piano sets the stage for all of the weirdness and beauty of the album. Conquistador! also contains the trumpet of Bill Dixon, along with a terrific rhythm section. The title track is amazing, but “With (Exit)” is even better. And on this later reissue (from 2004), there’s a more than worthwhile seventeen minute alternate take of the second track. Conquistador! isn’t talked about much, but it is still one of the most important free jazz albums of all time. It’s tough, harsh, and beautiful all at once. An underrated classic.

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Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 14:05:24 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 06/08/2026 18:05

2419

Music For Egon Schiele (1996) by Rachel's

RACHEL’S
MUSIC FOR EGON SCHIELE
1996 – QUARTERSTICK
Produced By JASON NOBLE

1. Family Portrait
2. Egon & Gertie
3. First Self-Portrait Series
4. Mime Van Osen
5. Second Self-Portrait Series
6. Wally, Egon & Models In The Studio
7. Promenade
8. Third Self-Portrait Series
9. Egon, Edith & Wally Meet
10. Egon & Wally Embrace And Say Farewell
11. Egon & Edith
12. Second Family Portrait

Rachel’s was an interesting band that combined chamber music and post-rock. Music For Egon Schiele is their second album, a score to the theatrical play called Egon Schiele. Schiele was an Austrian painter born in 1890 who lived a short and troubled life. His art was controversial during his lifetime, notable for being grotesque and sometimes pornographic. He died in 1918 of Spanish flu at just 28 years old, three days after his wife and unborn child. The album’s unique packaging contains a short biography of Schiele, along with several of his works.
Rachel’s was led by guitarist Jason Noble, who produced the album…but does not play on it. Featured on this album is pianist Rachel Grimes, along with Christian Frederickson (viola) and Wendy Doyle (cello). Like its subject, the music here is dark and sad. Fitting, given the subject matter.

So, what we really have here is a classical trio. The songs are all written by Grimes, and it sounds like what it is…an instrumental soundtrack to a story of a tragic life. This music may be great to fall asleep to (it is), but it’s also beautifully played. All three instruments intertwine almost perfectly, and it makes for an entertaining and lovely listen. This is the only Rachel’s album that includes no rock instrumentation…for their next effort, the guitars and drums are back, and back to stay. But the classical elements remained alongside their post-rock sound throughout the band’s decade together, which included eight albums. Rachel’s ended in 2012 when Noble died of cancer. As for the works of Schiele, his paintings are collected in a few galleries in Vienna, as well as the Leopold Museum.

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Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 11:29:49 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 06/05/2026 15:29

2418

Dwight's Used Records (2004) by Dwight Yoakam

DWIGHT YOAKAM
DWIGHT’S USED RECORDS
2004 – AUDIUM
Produced By PETE ANDERSON

1. Stop The World (And Let Me Off)
2. Down Where The River Bends
3. Mercury Blues
4. Waiting
5. Some Dark Holler
6. If You Were Me (And I Were You)
7. Little Chapel
8. The Loco-Motion
9. Miner’s Prayer
10. Understand Your Man
11. Wheels
12. I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
13. Paradise
14. I Said (Paradise Reprise)

In 2003 and 2004, Dwight Yoakam did a kind of housecleaning. He put out a trio of compilation albums, two of which were contractual obligation releases. The first was In Other’s Words, and the third was The Very Best Of Dwight Yoakam. In between those two came Dwight’s Used Records, which completed his contract with Audium Records. It was also his third album of cover songs. These were songs that had appeared on tribute compilations, duets from albums by other artists, and previously unreleased tracks. It did not sell very well…but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good collection. Dwight’s career has always been steady and strong, and this continues in that tradition. Several things make this interesting: the song selection, the duet partners, and, of course, the quality of Dwight’s recordings.

Yoakam tears through well chosen covers of artists from ZZ Top (“I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”) to John Prine (“Paradise”), and a whole lot in between, like “Mercury Blues”, “The Loco-Motion” and Johnny Cash’s “Understand Your Man”. Duets include Heather Myles (“Little Chapel”) and Deana Carter (“Waiting”), along with a pair sung with Ralph Stanley. The best, though, is his take on the traditional “Some Dark Holler”, recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the compilation Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. 3. (Also included from that album is his cover of “Wheels” by Gram Parsons.) There are a small group of lesser tracks here, but for the most part, it’s yet another fine and entertaining collection from Yoakam. This album shows that while he’s an established fine songwriter, that he can also handle material written by others with ease.

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Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 20:38:22 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 06/02/2026 00:38

2417

Blue Clear Sky (1996) by George Strait

GEORGE STRAIT
BLUE CLEAR SKY
1996 – MCA
Produced By TONY BROWN & GEORGE STRAIT

1. Blue Clear Sky
2. Carried Away
3. Rockin’ In The Arms Of Your Memory
4. She Knows When You’re On My Mind
5. I Ain’t Never Seen No One Like You
6. I Can Still Make Cheyenne
7. King Of The Mountain
8. Do The Right Thing
9. I’d Just As Soon Go
10. Need I Say More

For being one of the most consistently greatest recording artists of all time, George Strait sure is underrated. Country music fans have always known his greatness, but outside of that, Strait remains mostly unknown. Never mind the fact that between 1981 and 2008, all but one of his 24 albums went platinum. Never mind that he has had 19 albums reach number one on the US country charts, and that he had a string of more than 100 singles reach at least the top forty, with 44 number ones. These are just the facts. In 1996, Strait released his sixteenth album, Blue Clear Sky, in the midst of his almost complete domination of the decade. It was, along with the follow up (1997’s Carrying Your Love With Me), his biggest seller. And for good reason. This album boasted a pair of number one hits, and is, like everything else he did during that time, very well crafted country music.

George Strait is not country pop. His roots lie squarely in the middle of traditional country, and he made his living in that exact spot. The title track and “Carried Away” were both massive hits, followed closely by “I Can Still Make Cheyenne”. “King Of The Mountain” is also not far behind. An interpreter of other people’s material. Strait has always made fine choices, and he handles songs by others with much care. He doesn’t pad the liner notes on this with massively popular guests, and he isn’t flashy here at all. Just good, solid, straight ahead country music. His albums may be somewhat interchangeable, but that doesn’t mean that they are less than good by any means. Blue Clear Sky is as good as anything else George Strait did in the eighties and nineties…or the 2000’s…or the 2010’s, for that matter. Consistency can be a very good thing, as long as it’s consistently good.

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Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Sat, 30 May 2026 14:25:07 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/30/2026 18:25

2416

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes (2004) by TV On The Radio

TV ON THE RADIO
DESPERATE YOUTH, BLOOD THIRSTY BABES
2004 – TOUCH AND GO / 4AD
Produced By DAVID ANDREW SITEK

1. The Wrong Way
2. Staring At The Sun
3. Dreams
4. King Eternal
5. Ambulance
6. Poppy
7. Don’t Love You
8. Bomb Yourself
9. Wear You Out

TV On The Radio hails from Brooklyn, and have had a somewhat successful career, albeit a sporadic one. After releasing a pair of EP’s (OK Calculator and Young Liars), their first full album, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes, came out in 2004. It wasn’t a hit, but it did hint at the better albums that were to follow. There are drums present on only two songs…most of the percussion is done with electronics. At this point, the band was an ethnically mixed trio of Tunde Adebimpe, Kyp Malone and David Sitek. It’s since been reissued with as many as six bonus tracks: the original version is still the best. Their sound is deep: in addition to the loops, there is plenty of guitar, along with saxes and flutes. The album was viewed as being above average, a bit puzzling, but with lots of promise for the future, and the band did not disappoint on that front.

The best track here is clearly “Staring At The Sun”, which was also featured on their EP Young Liars. It features only Adebimpe and Sitek, and has strong bass and guitar playing. It was not a hit. The rest of the album is good enough, but there was so much in the way of better material to come. Their next two albums, the unfortunately titles Return To Cookie Mountain and Dear Science, added a full time drummer and a much fuller sound…and better songs. After their fourth album, 2011’s Nine Types Of Light, bassist Gerard Smith died of lung cancer. TV On The Radio has since released just one album, 2014’s Seeds. They continue to tour, but so far, there’s no new material on the horizon. Too bad, because this band is always interesting, Maybe someday, we’ll have some new TV On The Radio material to get down to.

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Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:08:31 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/28/2026 19:08

2415

Under The Willow (2013) by Kristi Stice

KRISTI STICE
UNDER THE WILLOW
2013 – ORGANIC NOTE
No Production Credit

1. Forgiving The Road
2. Down By The Bucket
3. Kamaishi
4. Courage
5. Red
6. Coo
7. River Mountain
8. Green Grass
9. Bliss
10. Where Did My Love Go
11. Catch A Firefly

Kristi Stice is a local (Denver) artist. She works mostly as a music teacher, but has also been an active performer and recording artist. She sang with Gypsy Swing Revue, a Parisian gypsy jazz band, between 2010 and 2020. She has also sang with various Colorado bands. In 2013, she released her first and so far only solo album, Under The Willow. She has also released a handful of singles, most recently in 2025.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Mon, 25 May 2026 16:06:15 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/25/2026 20:06

2414

Greatest Hits (1978) by Steely Dan

STEELY DAN
GREATEST HITS
1978 – ABC
Produced By GARY KATZ

1. Do It Again
2. Reelin’ In The Years
3. My Old School
4. Bodhisattva
5. Show Biz kids
6. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
7. Rikki Don’t Lose That Number
8. Pretzel Logic
9. Any Major Dude
10. Here At The Western World
11. Black Friday
12. Bad Sneakers
13. Doctor Wu
14. Haitian Divorce
15. Kid Charlemagne
16. The Fez
17. Peg
18. Josie

By now, many who know me have heard my somewhat negative recount of how Steely Dan was responsible for the genre of adult contemporary music. I still hold that to be true, but I have also, over the years, allowed this duo a place in my heart. Between 1972 and 1980, they released seven albums before splitting up. The last of those seven (Gaucho) sold well, but was a lesser album than those that came before it. Greatest Hits covers the first six, and was a well-timed set. It was a double album, which can be a bit of a tedious listen for a band like this, but it does have its rewards. It also contains a few misfires…the inclusion of the instrumental “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo” (from Pretzel Logic) is puzzling, and the one previously unreleased track, “Here At The Western World”, did not become a hit, and is just average.

“Dirty Work” (from Can’t Buy A Thrill) and “Deacon Blue” (from Aja) would have been stronger inclusions, but oh well. On the plus side, the album does run chronologically (THANK YOU!!!!!), and it does include gems like “Show Biz Kids” (from Countdown To Ecstasy) and “Haitian Divorce” (from The Royal Scam). Most of these tracks are legitimate hits, and paint a good picture of why Steely Dan was so big in the seventies. And I am, admittedly, in the minority when it comes to how critical I have been of this band. They have a strong and loyal fanbase, and this album shows how justified that is. But, again, at eighty minutes, this IS a whole lot of Steely Dan to swallow at once. They got back together in 1993, but it was never the same (it never is). Walter Becker died in 2017, and Donald Fagan finally put Steely Dan to bed in 2026.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Johnnyo — Sun, 24 May 2026 04:11:19 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/24/2026 08:11

There's A Riot Goin' On (1971) by Sly & The Family Stone

is my favourite Sly & The Family Stone album. I guess that the album starts to document the decline in Sly's mental state but, out of such issues often come great music and this is a phenomenal album

I'm not going to go too much into why I love the album as you have covered it well in your previous post. It's one of those albums that works as a whole rather than as individual tracks. Great stuff

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Sat, 23 May 2026 14:02:09 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/23/2026 18:02

2413

There's A Riot Goin' On (1971) by Sly & The Family Stone

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE
THERE’S A RIOT GOIN’ ON
1971 – EPIC
Produced By SLY STONE

1. Luv N’ Haight
2. Just Like A Baby
3. Poet
4. Family Affair
5. Africa Talks To You ‘The Asphalt Jungle’
6. There’s A Riot Goin’ On
7. Brave & Strong
8. (You Caught Me) Smilin’
9. Time
10. Spaced Cowboy
11. Runnin’ Away
12. Thank You For Talkin’ To Me Africa

13. Runnin’ Away (Mono Mix Single Version)
14. My Gorilla Is My Butler (Instrumental)
15. Do You Know What? (Instrumental)
16. That’s Pretty Clean (Instrumental)

Sly & The Family Stone during the 1960’s was a fun, exciting and commercially successful feel good story with several hits. Sly & The Family Stone in the 1970’s was none of that. After their 1969 album Stand!, they disappeared, with only one single to keep the band in the spotlight they had created. And then, in 1971, a new version of the group emerged. Sly Stone had immersed himself in drugs, and came back a changed and darker man. There’s A Riot Goin’ On would become their biggest album, but it was also the beginning of the end. Stone recorded most of the album by himself, and the sound was a strange blend of funk and disillusionment. It should have been a failure. Instead, it became one of the most influential albums of the decade. Stone made it very clear that the sixties were over and done with, and that there was no going back.

“Family Affair” was a huge hit, but the rest of the album was a stark departure from their sound. Stone utilized a drum machine here, one of the earliest to do so. The songs are dark, pessimistic, and somehow gloriously funky. By themselves, the songs don’t have the same impact as the earlier ones: as a whole, this album is a masterpiece. It was absolutely perfect for the time, and it showed that Stone’s genius was far deeper than anyone had thought. But it was also the beginning of a sad decline. The Family Stone was done just two albums and four years later, and for the most part, so was Stone himself. “Family Affair” was his last big hit, and his solo career became a sad footnote to the band’s sixties successes. But There’s A Riot Goin’ On remains a massive victory, and one of the greatest albums of the early seventies.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Johnnyo — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:54:23 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/18/2026 16:54

Romanelli wrote:

2412

Pocket Full Of Kryptonite (1991) by Spin Doctors

SPIN DOCTORS
POCKET FULL OF KRYPTONITE
1991 – EPIC
Produced By FRANK AVERSA, PETER DENENBERG, FRANKIE LAROCKA & SPIN DOCTORS

1. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues
2. What Time Is It?
3. Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong
4. Forty Or Fifty
5. Refrigerator Car
6. More Than She Knows
7. Two Princes
8. Off My Line
9. How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?)
10. Shinbone Alley / Hard To Exist

11. Yo Mamas A Pajama (Live)
12. Sweet Widow (Live)
13. Stepped On A Crack (Live)

Spin Doctors was originally a project of John Popper called Trucking Company. Popper left in the late eighties to form Blues Traveler, and the remaining members changed the name to Spin Doctors. They were signed on the strength of their reputation as a strong live jam band, and released their debut album, Pocket Full Of Kryptonite, in 1991. The record picked up speed in 1992, thanks to a pair of singles that MTV began playing regularly. Those two songs made Spin Doctors stars, if only for a short time. “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” is the better of the pair…in fact, it’s their best song. The other was an even bigger hit. “Two Princes” was a smash. Despite its repetitive and monotonous melody, it did have a solid groove. “Two Princes” made this band unfortunately inescapable for a couple of years…by which time, folks began to get burned out on the band.

The rest of Kryptonite is about what the entirety of their career has been like since. The playing is strong, but the songwriting is weak. The best of the rest is “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues”, and “What Time Is It?” and “How Could You Want Him” are just okay. Vocalist Chris Barron (who at the time, looked like he probably smelled really bad) really had no decent melodies to sing, and as “Two Princes” finally (and mercifully) fell off the charts, Spin Doctors began their slow slide into obscurity. Since “Two Princes”, they’ve been nowhere near a hit, and they’ve only managed six studio albums since. Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is their best work, but unless you’re a big fan of “Two Princes”, it’s probably not worthwhile. And if you get the European edition, it’s 20 minutes longer with three live tracks. For me…sorry. Seventy minutes of Spin Doctors is just a bit too much.

Link

Nice write up Rom. Pretty much agree with everything that you have written. Can’t remember the last time i pulled this album out of the racks.

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Johnnyo — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:50:58 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/18/2026 16:50

Romanelli wrote:

RepoMan wrote:

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Native Sons by The Long Ryders

Have you heard this, Rom? One of my new faves and a huge influence on the Alt Country scene that you love. They were huge fans of Gram Parsons and this album cover is a recreation of a "lost" Buffalo Springfield album.

I have not...it's on my list now. Thanks for the rec!!!! Seems like something I will enjoy a lot.

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Peace At Last by The Blue Nile

THE BLUE NILE
PEACE AT LAST
1996-WARNER BROS.
Produced by The Blue Nile

1. Happiness
2. Tomorrow Morning
3. Sentimental Man
4. Love Came Down
5. Body And Soul
6. Holy Love
7. Family Life
8. War Is Love
9. God Bless You Kid
10. Soon

This band from Scotland released 2 critically acclaimed albums, 1983's A Walk Across The Rooftops, and Hats from 1989. After 6 years between albums, it took them 7 years to make Peace At Last, which was much anticipated and which also fell squarely on its butt. The band had always relied on synthesizers (they are an 80's band), but the addition of a lot of acoustic guitar didn't seem to do much good here. The songs are mostly one dimensional and uninspired, and Paul Buchanan's singing is entirely sleep inducing. "Body And Soul" is the best track, while "Holy Love" is a simply dreadful attempt at some kind of synth funk.

The band waited 8 years to release another album, 2004's High, which was much better. They have done a lot of work with other artists, notably Annie Lennox and Rickie Lee Jones during their extensive off time. Unfortunately, this is the low point of their career.

Native sons is the Ryders best album. Absolutely essential listening. Great live band as well

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Liedzeit — Sat, 16 May 2026 07:05:52 GMT

Author: Liedzeit

Posted: 05/16/2026 11:05

Egypt Station (2018) by Paul McCartney

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Fri, 15 May 2026 11:05:48 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/15/2026 15:05

2412

Pocket Full Of Kryptonite (1991) by Spin Doctors

SPIN DOCTORS
POCKET FULL OF KRYPTONITE
1991 – EPIC
Produced By FRANK AVERSA, PETER DENENBERG, FRANKIE LAROCKA & SPIN DOCTORS

1. Jimmy Olsen’s Blues
2. What Time Is It?
3. Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong
4. Forty Or Fifty
5. Refrigerator Car
6. More Than She Knows
7. Two Princes
8. Off My Line
9. How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?)
10. Shinbone Alley / Hard To Exist

11. Yo Mamas A Pajama (Live)
12. Sweet Widow (Live)
13. Stepped On A Crack (Live)

Spin Doctors was originally a project of John Popper called Trucking Company. Popper left in the late eighties to form Blues Traveler, and the remaining members changed the name to Spin Doctors. They were signed on the strength of their reputation as a strong live jam band, and released their debut album, Pocket Full Of Kryptonite, in 1991. The record picked up speed in 1992, thanks to a pair of singles that MTV began playing regularly. Those two songs made Spin Doctors stars, if only for a short time. “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” is the better of the pair…in fact, it’s their best song. The other was an even bigger hit. “Two Princes” was a smash. Despite its repetitive and monotonous melody, it did have a solid groove. “Two Princes” made this band unfortunately inescapable for a couple of years…by which time, folks began to get burned out on the band.

The rest of Kryptonite is about what the entirety of their career has been like since. The playing is strong, but the songwriting is weak. The best of the rest is “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues”, and “What Time Is It?” and “How Could You Want Him” are just okay. Vocalist Chris Barron (who at the time, looked like he probably smelled really bad) really had no decent melodies to sing, and as “Two Princes” finally (and mercifully) fell off the charts, Spin Doctors began their slow slide into obscurity. Since “Two Princes”, they’ve been nowhere near a hit, and they’ve only managed six studio albums since. Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is their best work, but unless you’re a big fan of “Two Princes”, it’s probably not worthwhile. And if you get the European edition, it’s 20 minutes longer with three live tracks. For me…sorry. Seventy minutes of Spin Doctors is just a bit too much.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Mon, 11 May 2026 09:20:12 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/11/2026 13:20

2411

Stars & Guitars [Live] (2002) by Willie Nelson & Friends

WILLIE NELSON & FRIENDS
STARS & GUITARS
2002 – LOST HIGHWAY
Produced By JEB BRIEN, FRANK CALLARI, TONY FASKE, ALLEN KELMAN, GLORIA MEDEL & JAMES STROUD

1. Whiskey River (with Sheryl Crow)
2. Good Hearted Woman (with Toby Keith)
3. Maria (Shut Up And Kiss Me) (with Rob Thomas & Bill Evans)
4. Mendocino County Line (with Lee Ann Womack)
5. Always On My Mind (with Jon Bon Jovi & Richie Sambora)
6. Night Life (with Ray Price)
7. Dead Flowers (with Ryan Adams, Keith Richards & Hank Williams III)
8. Lonestar (with Norah Jones)
9. Stardust (with Aaron Neville)
10. Don’t Fade Away (with Brian McKnight & Bill Evans)
11. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground (with Patty Griffin)
12. For What It’s Worth (with Sheryl Crow & Bill Evans)
13. Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys (with Matchbox Twenty)
14. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (with Vince Gill)
15. ‘Til I Gain Control Again (with Emmylou Harris)
16. The Harder They Come (with Ryan Adams)
17. On The Road Again
18. Move It On Over

Oh, joy. Yet another duets album. And on top of that…yet another duets album with Willie Nelson. These things seem to grow on trees. If these albums are your thing, you might like this one. But it’s not a set that has much to be excited about. For the most part, the songs are the same old songs (“Whiskey River”, “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”, “Good Hearted Woman”). And of course, Sheryl Crow, who spent a decade or two appearing on every album she could get her hands on, is here for not one but two tracks. There are matchups that make sense (Ray Price, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris), along with a few that I did not have on my bingo card (Bon Jovi, Matchbox Twenty). Stars & Guitars is what these duet albums always are: a mixed bag of hits and misses. If you’re down for that kind of thing, then here you go. It’s all yours.

Of course, this album was a US top twenty hit. Why? Because it’s Willie, that’s why. It was recorded live at the Ryman in 2002, and includes good enough backing from an excellent band that includes guitarist Richard Bennett and saxophonist Bill Evans. But the focus on duet albums is always who is singing with the star performer, and like most others, this is either good or a bit cringy. There are a few surprising song choices: Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth”, The Stones’ “Dead Flowers”, and Jimmy Cliff’s “The Harder They Come”. None of which lifts this collection above the level of mediocrity. It really doesn’t matter how many duet albums artists like Willie, or Tony Bennett, or B.B. King have made…the result is always the same. Mediocre to average albums that enough folks will love to justify more of the same in the future.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Johnnyo — Tue, 5 May 2026 12:29:49 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 05/05/2026 16:29

Romanelli wrote:

2410

The Harrow & The Harvest (2011) by Gillian Welch

GILLIAN WELCH
THE HARROW & THE HARVEST
2011 – ACONY
Produced By DAVID RAWLINGS

1. Scarlet Town
2. Dark Turn Of Mind
3. The Way It Will Be
4. The Way It Goes
5. Tennessee
6. Down Along The Dixie Line
7. Six White Horses
8. Hard Times
9. Silver Dagger
10. The Way The Whole Thing Ends

It’s important to note that the solo career of Gillian Welch has always been a duo with David Rawlings. They play on each other’s albums, and have released a pair under both of their names. Welch has been criticized for singing Americana and mountain music while having grown up in southern California. Don’t let those words fool you…Gillian Welch is the real deal. She’s become one of the greatest voices in Americana, and she routinely puts out exceptional albums that are criminally underrated. Welch and Rawlings use sparse arrangements with golden vocals, and it’s all worth hearing. The Harrow & The Harvest came after an eight year wait, which Welch explained was because they were unhappy with what they were writing. But there’s nothing inferior about this record. It’s loaded with gorgeous gems and perfect songs.

Expect no hit singles here. The music that Welch and Rawlings make is dark, and not written with hopes of big time radio play. But you can’t go wrong with any of this. There’s nothing polished about it. The songs are mostly first and second takes, with all of the dust and dirt still attached. The writing is the duo at their very best, and they are undeniably comfortable with each other. “Tennessee” is the centerpiece, with “Dark Turn Of Mind”, ”The Way The Whole Thing Ends”, and especially “The Way It Goes” as highlights. Welch’s unique vocals are perfect as always for their darker material, and the instrumentation of just guitar, harmonica and banjo is perfect. You really can’t go wrong with anything by Welch and Rawlings, but The Harrow & The Harvest is a great place to start. A perfect album, and a joy on every listen.

Link

Excellent write up Rom. Adore this album, in fact, as you say far more eloquently than me ( or is it I?) you really can’t go wrong with a Gillian Welch album. Great artist

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Tue, 5 May 2026 12:17:23 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/05/2026 16:17

2410

The Harrow & The Harvest (2011) by Gillian Welch

GILLIAN WELCH
THE HARROW & THE HARVEST
2011 – ACONY
Produced By DAVID RAWLINGS

1. Scarlet Town
2. Dark Turn Of Mind
3. The Way It Will Be
4. The Way It Goes
5. Tennessee
6. Down Along The Dixie Line
7. Six White Horses
8. Hard Times
9. Silver Dagger
10. The Way The Whole Thing Ends

It’s important to note that the solo career of Gillian Welch has always been a duo with David Rawlings. They play on each other’s albums, and have released a pair under both of their names. Welch has been criticized for singing Americana and mountain music while having grown up in southern California. Don’t let those words fool you…Gillian Welch is the real deal. She’s become one of the greatest voices in Americana, and she routinely puts out exceptional albums that are criminally underrated. Welch and Rawlings use sparse arrangements with golden vocals, and it’s all worth hearing. The Harrow & The Harvest came after an eight year wait, which Welch explained was because they were unhappy with what they were writing. But there’s nothing inferior about this record. It’s loaded with gorgeous gems and perfect songs.

Expect no hit singles here. The music that Welch and Rawlings make is dark, and not written with hopes of big time radio play. But you can’t go wrong with any of this. There’s nothing polished about it. The songs are mostly first and second takes, with all of the dust and dirt still attached. The writing is the duo at their very best, and they are undeniably comfortable with each other. “Tennessee” is the centerpiece, with “Dark Turn Of Mind”, ”The Way The Whole Thing Ends”, and especially “The Way It Goes” as highlights. Welch’s unique vocals are perfect as always for their darker material, and the instrumentation of just guitar, harmonica and banjo is perfect. You really can’t go wrong with anything by Welch and Rawlings, but The Harrow & The Harvest is a great place to start. A perfect album, and a joy on every listen.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Sat, 2 May 2026 14:10:54 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 05/02/2026 18:10

2409

Outside (2011) by Tapes 'n Tapes

TAPES ‘N TAPES
OUTSIDE
2011 – IBID
Produced By TAPES ‘N TAPES

1. Badaboom
2. SWM
3. One In The World
4. Nightfall
5. Desert Plane
6. Outro
7. Freakout
8. The Saddest Of All Keys
9. Hidee Ho
10. People You Know
11. On And On
12. Might Long

Tapes ‘N Tapes came out of Minnesota in 2004 and had a brief period of success as a Pavement and Pixies type of indie rock band. Their debut album, The Loon, boasted a UK hit (“Insistor”) that got them into a movie or two and landed them a Coachella gig. Their second album, 2008’s Walk It Off, showed promise, but was not as strong as the debut. In 2011, they released their final album, Outside. By this time, the shine of “Insistor” was long gone, and after a middling tour, Tapes ‘N Tapes faded into complete obscurity. Outside was not a bad album, but it did show the band for what they truly were: average. It became clear that this was as good as Tapes ‘N Tapes was ever going to be, and they sounded mostly uninspired. They went on tour to support the album, then broke up. Almost nobody noticed.

The best track here is “Freakout”, which was released as a single and fell dead in the water. Songwriter Josh Grier seems to have simply run out of ideas, and that was that. “Badaboom” is okay, but ultimately, this album fails to rise above the level of average…even some clever song titles can’t save this from being almost a flatline. Tapes ‘N Tapes regrouped in 2019, but COVID-19 put an end to that idea…hardly anyone saw it happen anyway. Grier resurfaced in the Minneapolis band Gingko in 2013, but that faded fast as well. The best way to go with Tapes ‘N Tapes is The Loon, if “Insistor” is a must have for you. Otherwise, there’s not much to be overly excited about with these guys. Other bands did this type of music better. Stick with those, and let bands like Tapes ‘N Tapes continue to slowly fade away.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:51:02 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 04/28/2026 15:51

2408

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Sidelong (2015) by Sarah Shook & The Disarmers

SARAH SHOOK & THE DISARMERS
SIDELONG
2015 – SELF RELEASED
Produced By IAN SCHREIER

1. Keep The Home Fires Burnin’
2. The Nail
3. Heal Me
4. Sidelong
5. No Name
6. Dwight Yoakam
7. Misery Without Company
8. Solitary Confinement
9. Nothin’ Feels Right But Doin’ Wrong
10. Fuck Up
11. Make It Up To Mama
12. Road That Leads To You

Sarah Shook is whip smart, frighteningly deadpan, pretty damn hilarious and talented, with just the right amount of twang. Their albums are a blast (as are their live shows), and they have proven to be a huge breath of fresh air for country music. The Disarmers are an outlaw country outfit that merrily plows over traditional music and gives a new perspective on how country plays the best. Sidelong is their debut album. It was originally self-released in 2015, then re-issued in 2017 on Bloodshot Records. And yeah…it’s one hell of a great time. Sarah and their band rock throughout, with Shook’s always interesting vocals suggesting endless heartache, and the thought that they might just kick your ass if you looked at them sideways. This is all a recipe for one pretty terrific album of should-be classics.

What’s not to love? This band tears through these songs with obvious glee. From the opening chords of “Keep The Home Fires Burning”, the fun goes all the way to the end. Shook will win you over easily with excellent tracks like “Dwight Yoakam”, “The Nail”, “Fuck Up”, and especially “Nothin’ Feels Right But Doin’ Wrong”. It’s hard to believe that Shook is actually from New York, and that they grew up allowed to listen to only classical and Christian music. Sidelong is the perfect place to start with this band, and there are another three Disarmers discs so far…along with Shook’s side project Mightmare. Not traditional country by any means, but a very bright side of what is alternative country. Sarah Shook & The Disarmers should be heard. Heard, enjoyed, and much better known than what they are.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:43:16 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 04/25/2026 23:43

2407

The Searchers (1979) by The Searchers

THE SEARCHERS
1979 – SIRE
Produced By PAT MORAN

1. Hearts In Her Eyes
2. Switchboard Susan
3. Feeling Fine
4. This Kind Of Love Affair
5. Lost In Your Eyes
6. It’s Too Late
7. No Dancing
8. Coming From The Heart
9. Don’t Hang On
10. Love’s Gonna Be Strong

Liverpool was never just about The Beatles. Before John Lennon formed The Quarrymen, John McNally started The Army Generations, who then became The Searchers in 1959. The Searchers had a group of hits in the early to mid sixties, including three number ones and eleven top twenty singles between 1963 and 1966. They were originally as successful as The Beatles and Gerry & The Pacemakers, but a lack of strong songwriting and too many personnel changes led to them being all but forgotten by 1966. After the 1965 album Take Me For What I’m Worth, The Searchers released no albums of new material. Fourteen years later, they were suddenly back. After not having had a record deal for years, they had continued touring…and then, they were given a chance by Sire Records. Thus was born their self titled seventh album in 1979.

This record didn’t make them big stars again, but it did re-ignite their career. It’s surprisingly good. There are just two Searchers originals (“This Kind Of Love Affair” and “Don’t Hang On”), but there are also some notable covers. “Hearts In Her Eyes” was from The Records. Bob Dylan’s “Come From The Heart” is here, as is “Lost In Your Eyes”, written by Tom Petty. It was good enough to lead to a follow up album just two years later (Play For Today). The Searchers wasn’t a hit, but it was highly acclaimed, and stands today as a fine and pretty remarkable comeback for a band that had spent more than a decade outside of the public eye. On the strength of this, The Searchers kept at it until 2019, then they regrouped in 2023 until their final show in 2025. This album played an important part in keeping this early British rock band from falling into complete obscurity.

Link

Re: The Romanelli Music Diary: Conquistador!

Romanelli — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:23:26 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 04/16/2026 18:23

2406

Drive (1997) by Bic Runga

BIC RUNGA
DRIVE
1997 – COLUMBIA
Produced By BIC RUNGA

1. Drive
2. Sway
3. Hey
4. Bursting Through
5. Swim
6. Roll Into One
7. Suddenly Strange
8. Sorry
9. Heal
10. Delight
11. Without You

Bic Runga (pronounced Bec) is a huge star in New Zealand…and not so much in the rest of the world. She was born to an indigenous New Zealander father and a Chinese Malaysian mother, and her two sisters are also active musicians. But it was Bic who had the most success. The key word with her seems to be drive…and not just her career trajectory. She recorded a demo, an extended play, two different songs, and this, her debut album, all with the title Drive. Mostly on the strength of the hit “Sway”, Drive (the album) reached number one in New Zealand, and went seven times platinum. It wasn’t a hit anywhere else, but her career has always been centered in her home country anyway. Her brand of folky pop rock has gotten small notice in places like Australia and Ireland, and really nowhere else. But hey. An A for effort.

As an album, Drive is a pleasant enough debut. Half of the songs here were released as singles, including “Suddenly Strange”, “Bursting Through” and “Roll Into One”. Runga handles most of the backup vocals, lots of guitars, some mellotron, drums, and xylophone, and the songs here are all hers. She also handled the production. It was five more years before her second album, the even bigger selling (and better in terms of songs) Beautiful Collision. In fact, her first three releases hit number one in New Zealand, and all six have been to the top fifteen, including her 2026 album Red Sunset. But she is what she is…a capable performer who has her niche: New Zealand. Drive is better than average, but not great, and she hasn’t really gotten much better since its release. Worth a listen or two, but it won’t stick with you for long.

Link