The Main Source

With 2022's Fifty, Grammy-winning vocal quartet the Manhattan Transfer celebrate their 50th birthday in illustrious fashion, collaborating with Germany's WDR Funkhausorchester. Founded in the 1960s by the late Tim Hauser, the Manhattan Transfer helped repopularize '40s-style vocal harmony jazz, swing, and traditional pop, all while incorporating contemporary pop and dance elements. Here, original members Janis Siegel and Alan Paul, along with longtime member Cheryl Bentyne and Trist Curless (who joined after Hauser's passing in 2014), look back on the group's albums and revisit some of their favorite songs. Helping them achieve this time-traveling journey is producer and Take 6-member David Thomas as well as musical arrangers Jorge Callandrelli and Vince Mendoza and vocal arranger Amanda Taylor.

Eddy Clearwater is equally talented as a bluish singer and as an improvising guitarist. On Reservation Blues, he ranges from Chicago blues to rock & roll, throwing in a couple instrumentals too. His repertoire includes both socially relevant lyrics and good-time music, featuring some of the latter when the former gets a bit too somber. Although there are some solid solos from his supporting players (including three guitar spots for Duke Robillard, two fine solos from tenor saxophonist Dennis Taylor, and a guest appearance by Carey Bell on harmonica during "Find Yourself"), Clearwater is the main star throughout. Fortunately, he is heard in prime form, whether happily jamming "I Wouldn't Lay My Guitar Down" and "Blues Cruise" or singing in a more serious mood on "Winds of Change" and "Everything to Gain." A gem.

Numerous superlatives apply to the craft that the Dear Hunter's Casey Crescenzo has perfected on his ambitious six-part Acts series. On penultimate installment Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional, Crescenzo continues the epic story of the titular character (aka "The Boy") that ominously ended in Act IV with the protagonist at the mercy of the main antagonist, the Priest/Pimp. The narrative remains dense and there's a lot to unpack (multiple callbacks to early motifs and melodies abound), but ultimately, it's a rich experience for those willing to take the plunge. For outsiders, this may seem daunting, but fortunately, the music is as rewarding as the complex events layered within, with tastes of Sufjan Stevens, Radiohead, Arcade Fire, and Silverchair providing just a few reference points…

When a rock ‘n roll band is fronted by an electrifying voice like Nikki Lamborn’s, when its songs are written by the gifted Catherine ‘Been’ Feeney, when its musicians are world class, it’s called Never The Bride… Never the Bride has released six studio albums to date. “Licensed To Bitch” is a Never The Bride’s album recorded in 1991 and remastered in 2013. Never the Bride is an English band, founded around 1991. Bristol-born vocalist Nikki Lamborn co-writes original songs with Catherine "Been" Feeney, who is the main composer, keyboard player, vocalist and occasional guitarist. Nikki and Catherine are the nucleus of the band, drawing additional members from an enviable pool of talented world-class musicians.

When a rock ‘n roll band is fronted by an electrifying voice like Nikki Lamborn’s, when its songs are written by the gifted Catherine ‘Been’ Feeney, when its musicians are world class, it’s called Never The Bride… Never the Bride has released six studio albums to date. Never the Bride is an English band, founded around 1991. Bristol-born vocalist Nikki Lamborn co-writes original songs with Catherine "Been" Feeney, who is the main composer, keyboard player, vocalist and occasional guitarist. Nikki and Catherine are the nucleus of the band, drawing additional members from an enviable pool of talented world-class musicians.

When a rock ‘n roll band is fronted by an electrifying voice like Nikki Lamborn’s, when its songs are written by the gifted Catherine ‘Been’ Feeney, when its musicians are world class, it’s called Never The Bride… Never the Bride has released six studio albums to date. “Jealousy” is a Never The Bride’s tribute to transatlantic rock and blues pioneers - the album of eclectic and wonderful covers that have been freshly realised and rebirthed by these partners in crime. Never the Bride is an English band, founded around 1991. Bristol-born vocalist Nikki Lamborn co-writes original songs with Catherine "Been" Feeney, who is the main composer, keyboard player, vocalist and occasional guitarist. Nikki and Catherine are the nucleus of the band, drawing additional members from an enviable pool of talented world-class musicians.

We recorded this album as the title tells, in Vancouver 1997. The main man at Universal Records, Doug Morris, had personally signed us to the label. Why it has taken twelve years to get this music out, we don’t know… “it’s just the way it goes.” Never The Bride never give up. We have rescued our music from the vaults of The Armoury where our album was recorded with the late and legendary producer Bruce Fairbairn, who produced colossal platinum selling albums for Aerosmith, Metallica, Bon Jovi, INXS, Kiss and Van Halen. Sadly he died soon after our album was recorded. A great guy who really loved his music and Never The Bride. The musicians joining Nikki and Been on this album were Doug Boyle on guitars, Trevor Barry on Bass, Frosty Beadle on Drums and additional programming and keyboards from Canadian, John Webster. Our songs have now been mastered all these years later and brought to you by our own indie label, Lock Stock and Barrel Records.