A belated sequel to Rhino's 2012 box set The Studio Albums 1969-1978, 2015's The Studio Albums: 1979-2008 rounds up the expanded remasters of Chicago's next ten studio albums, beginning with 1979's Chicago 13 and ending with 2008's Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus (which was actually recorded in 1994 but shelved for 14 years)…
Only the second major career-spanning retrospective of the Dead, The Best of the Grateful Dead - released in the spring of 2015, just before a series of farewell shows in the summer - takes advantage of the extra disc 2003's The Very Best of Grateful Dead lacked. Weighing in at 32 tracks - a full 16 cuts longer than Very Best - The Best of the Grateful Dead also follows a strict chronological sequence, so it takes a little while for the psychedelic haze to lift and the Dead to settle into the rangy, rootsy groove that characterized so much of their existence - right around "St. Stephen" and "China Cat Sunflower," both from 1969's Aoxomoxoa. From there, many - but by no means all - of the group's warhorses are marched out, all in their studio incarnations…
Daft Punk is one of the main exponents of the popularity of electronic music that emerged during the 90s. With their unique talent and unlimited imagination, this French duo has reinvented itself multiple times since its inception and along the road has re-energized the disco and house scene. After going through an electro era, now and via the highly successful album 'Random Access Memories'- they have immersed themselves into a 70's pop and funk sound that has led them to the peak of their popularity. In The Many Faces Of Daft Punk we get into the fascinating inner world of the duo: its influence, guests artists, side projects, remixes and the music genres that they have influenced. The Many Faces of Daft Punk is a unique album, essential for both fans and followers to contemporary dance music. With remastered sound and a wonderful artwork, The Many Faces Of Daft Punk is an essential collection.
Joe Satriani may have retained the services of keyboardist Mike Keneally for Shockwave Supernova, the guitarist's 15th studio album – Keneally has been in Satch's orbit for a while now – but he chose to invite bassist Bryan Beller and drummer Marco Minnemann (from the inventive instrumental rock band the Aristocrats) to be his rhythm section for the bulk of the record. This slight shakeup reinvigorates Satriani, who already sounded spry on Unstoppable Momentum.
The "+" in the title of Live+ refers to the two studio recordings tacked onto the end of this 2015 live set: a tense, cloistered original called "Tribal," where Jeff Beck spits out squalls of noise over thundering primal drums; and a cover of "My Tiled White Floor," a wash of electronic soul with vocals by Veronica Bellino that feels constructed out of faded memories of Prince. They're nice additions that wouldn't have quite suited 2010's Emotion & Commotion, nor do they quite feel of a piece with the rest of Live+, all recorded on tour in August 2014.
Life sounds fête champêtre for New Orleans resident Rickie Lee Jones on her most spirited album since 1989's Flying Cowboys. Just listen to her soar on the deliriously joyful "I Wasn't There", and the gorgeous R&B-inflected chorus of "Feet On The Ground"…