Shut Up And Listen

Frank Zappa - Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar (1981) [3CD Set] {1995 Ryko Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 712 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 248 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 52 Mb
© 1995 Rykodisc / The Zappa Family Trust | RCD 10533/34/35
Rock / Instrumental Rock / Experimental Rock

SHUT UP 'N PLAY YER GUITAR puts the musical spotlight on Frank Zappa's solo guitar improvisations.

Although many think of Frank Zappa first and foremost as a supreme composer and satirist, many seem to overlook the fact that he was one of the greatest rock guitarists that ever lived. After all, such latter-day guitar heroes as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai (the latter was a member of Zappa's backing band in the early '80s) revered him, often listing select Zappa albums as "the best guitar albums of all time." But since he refused to play commercially acceptable music, many young guitarists are unaware of Zappa's guitar prowess.

To correct this, Zappa issued the double-disc set SHUT UP N' PLAY YER GUITAR in 1986. Instead of just compiling already-released tracks that prominently featured his guitar chops, Zappa searched through tapes of concerts from his 1979 and 1980 tours, and edited together his very best solos. Although this may be a monotonous listen for a non-guitar player or a newcomer to Zappa's work, guitar enthusiasts and hardcore fans will consider it a godsend. It's hard to pick just a few highlights, since each disc is meant to be listened to in it's entirety, but you can't go wrong with "Hog Heaven," "Five-Five-Five," and "The Deathless Horsie," to name but a few.

Miles Davis - Kind Of Blue (1959) {2003 DSD Remastered SACD Hybrid}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 352 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 132 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 369 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD Mastering
© 2003 Columbia / Legacy / Sony Music | 064935 9
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modal Music / Trumpet

Referring to "Kind of Blue" as the best jazz album of all time might actually be doing it a disservice. Jazz is one of those complex artforms which many people shy away from, afraid that they will not be able to understand it. So extoling its virtues might frighten people even more. But "Kind of Blue" is simply beautiful music. When listening to it, you forget everything you might feel about jazz, whether good or bad, and can only listen to it, amazed and excited. Miles Davis has created something so powerful yet full of simple, memorable melodies. Every note takes you further into that state where you simply hush up, tell whoever you are with to shut up, and listen. It is certainly not the type of music I would put on when friends come over for a chat. But it is an album which I can listen to, over and over and over again. Definitely something for MUSIC fans.

"Kurt's Casino," the opening track on Humble Grumble's second AltrOck release, 2013's Guzzle It Up!, sparkles so brightly that you may want to wear sunglasses when listening to the tune. The rhythm is infectious, the vibraphone shines, and the saxophone/bass clarinet accents are upbeat and amiable; it would seem almost a crime to sing along in anything lower than a falsetto – which, in fact, is what frontman/guitarist Gabor "Humble" Vörös does, at least initially…