The first Scissor Sisters album was one of the catchiest debuts of the new millennium, but also one of the best-crafted. All camp on the surface but with plenty of substance underneath, it succeeded because the group wrote fantastic songs and backed them with excellent productions, usually in the vein of their biggest pop/dance heroes, from the Bee Gees to George Michael. If the follow-up, Ta-Dah, doesn't reach as high as its predecessor, it's certainly not the fault of some spot-on arrangements by head producer Babydaddy. Soundtracking his own mythical night at Studio 54 circa 1978, Babydaddy's Discoball Jazzfest Studio in New York City pumps out tracks gloriously in debt to the Bee Gees (of course), Elton John (although not on the track he contributes piano to), the Rolling Stones' brassy late-'70s stompers, electro-disco arena rock (if there is such a thing), and some sort of '70s disco hokum that features a very talented Gina Gershon on jew's-harp.
The Weiss Kaplan Stumpf Trio's highly anticipated BEETHOVEN: COMPLETE PIANO TRIOS (BRIDGE 9505A/C three CDs) is now available. The stellar New York City based trio (Yael Weiss, piano; Mark Kaplan, violin; Peter Stumpf, cello) offer deep, beautifully rendered interpretations of eight immortal masterworks.
Floating on a Dream is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Avi Kaplan, released on May 20, 2022, through Fantasy Records. It is Kaplan's first studio album since his departure from the a cappella group Pentatonix in 2017…
Produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, First Aid Kit), I’ll Get By firmly establishes the renowned bass vocalist as a generational songwriting talent in the mold of inspirations such as Fleet Foxes, Hozier, and Iron And Wine. Timeless, earthy, and raw, these indelible tracks, threaded together by the search for spiritual and physical redemption, are cast with acoustic guitar, pedal steel, swirling organ and deeply rooted percussion that beautifully complement Avi’s haunting, other worldly vocal ability.