American Dream

By 1968 there was a growing consensus that something had gone horribly wrong with the American dream. With urban riots, Vietnam, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, and ever-climbing divorce rates, the American way of life was under scrutiny from all sides. The nation’s youth had loudly made their feelings clear, but now the older, pre-Beatles generations began to look at the country and wonder what the hell was happening.

Lies Beneath is a five-piece metal band with influences ranging from thrash, to death-metal and hardcore. With classic dual-guitar attack, a crushing rhythm section, dynamic vocals and brooding soundscapes, this band creates an undeniable presence and demands captivation from any audience.

Little Caesar seemed to have everything going for them. Signed to powerhouse Geffen Records at the height of the late-'80s hair metal craze; armed with a solid, Bob Rock-produced hard rock debut; and with wunderkind producer John Kalodner (the man responsible for Aerosmith's miraculous rebirth) guiding their career, the Los Angeles-based quintet was poised to ride the dependable, normally smooth-running Geffen production line on the fast-track to stardom. But there was one small problem: Little Caesar weren't the most handsome bunch. Ugly? These guys were scary even by heavy metal standards. Grimy-haired, covered in tattoos, and looking like a gang of Hell's Angels, the band was never given a chance by the MTV generation; and before they knew it, their albums had stiffed, their record company had abandoned them, and the public had all but forgotten they existed. …

This is one of the more difficult Bear Family sets to take on simply because it is such an intimidating package. Never mind that Nelson is an American myth, having eked his way into that terrain by dying in a plane crash while still in his forties, and despite being managed by Colonel Tom Parker, he still looked fantastic despite the unsubstantiated rumors of drugs, alcoholism, and twisted sex that poured forth from the tabloids after his passing.

A pioneer and the first one ever to perform Jazz on the pan flute, Damian Draghici is a virtuoso who has proven his mastery and documented his fresh and innovative approach to jazz on this instrument. The album features groundbreaking emotive music, innovative, virtuosic genres and original sounds mixed in new and inventive ways. This eclectic collection of songs features legendary musicians, such as Arturo Sandoval, Michel Camilo, Chris Botti, Eddie Daniels and a stellar cast of first call players. Together they deliver new versions of some choice standards plus compositions by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and Lee Morgan, Pat Metheny, and many more. You will be amazed by the virtuosity and the beautiful playing of this eclectic collection. It’s a must-have for any jazz aficionado.

Tony Conrad is an American multimedia and experimental artist. He is musically known in the 60's for his abrasive violin drones and collaboration in the American "Dream Syndicate". In 1972 he visited the krautrock band Faust at Wumme and recorded a first album with them called "Outside The Dream Syndicate". The album is a vast catalogue of shimmering drones for violin, accompanied by percussive minimalist pulses and moving bass guitar lines. The result is tripped out, engaging the listener in strange rituals (almost buzzing "raga" dreamy sounds). This intriguing album is now a true classic of contemporary music and progressive rock. This one captures the essence of minimalism music and the energy of rock. To be honest, this album looks like more to Tony Conrad's explorations in experimentation sounds and insistent droning performances than Faust's hybrid rocking universe.