Epic (2013)

One of the most glorious launches in history, the title track for the thrice-platinum The Final Countdown is so bombastically brilliant, such glorious garbage, that this nuclear hair assault could only spew from the vacuous '80s. But the full-tilt follow-up "Rock the Night" rules also: "You know it ain't easy/Running out of thrills." "Carrie" comes off a consummate butane ballad. Meanwhile, the rest of the disc packs so much power that Swedish superheroes Europe get away with all the processed pretension. In fact, the lofty ambition of "Danger on the Track," "Ninja," and "Cherokee" (each as tasty as its title) combines with heated drive and hot delivery to meld The Final Countdown into a unique portrait of propulsive prog and a worthy addition to any hard rock collection.

As the healthy number of live albums in the band's discography attests, Calexico are always a solidly entertaining live act and no stranger to documenting their performances. Still, Spiritoso is special enough that the group made it a Record Store Day exclusive for its original release…

The arena rock band behind one of the fastest-selling debut albums in history, Boston was essentially the vehicle of guitarist and studio wizard Tom Scholz, born March 10, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio. A rock fan throughout his teen years, he began writing songs while earning a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology…

Bill Evans - Empathy + Pike's Peak (1962) {Essetial Jazz Classics EJC55565 rel 2013}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 425 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 184 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 43 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2013 Verve / Epic / Essetial Jazz Classics | EJC55565
Jazz / Hard Bop / Piano

This release presents the complete Bill Evans trio album Empathy (Verve LPV6-8497). The LP marks the pianist’s first of only two collaborations with drummer Shelly Manne (the second, A Simple Matter of Conviction, was taped in 1966). Also it is included vibes player Dave Pike’s complete quartet LP Pike’s Peak (Epic LA16025), recorded during the same period and extensively featuring Bill Evans. Both LPs present Evans in unusual contexts, and he would never again record the majority of the songs featured here. As a final bonus, a second version of Gordon Jenkins’ “Goodbye”, taken from a quartet session by Evans with Cannonball Adderley.

In 2013, over a quarter century removed from his first album, Joe Satriani uses his solo albums as a way to stretch himself, both to flaunt his skills and perhaps to move him into areas where he's not quite comfortable. Unstoppable Momentum, his first album since 2010's boogie- and prog-heavy Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards, finds the guitarist occasionally indulging himself in a bit of swing, letting him ride an elastic beat ("Three Sheets to the Wind" has a supremely delicate touch), and he also digs into a bit of a nasty ZZ Top groove on…

A reissue of the similarly named concert film, Maiden England '88 expands on the epic set of the original with a two-disc CD set. While this version only has three more tracks than its predecessor, it shows that a little change can go a long way, adding classics like "Run to the Hills," "Running Free," and "Sanctuary." Though it doesn't seem like much, these single cuts help to turn the live set into a more well-rounded listening experience, as the band forgoes the more far out tracks from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Somewhere in Time in favor of some of their earlier, more direct work…

Years in the making! Elmer Bernstein fans place such high esteem on epic 1959 score that composer starts club in 1974, makes highlights from The Miracle the first of his own music to re-record. 26 minutes make it to second LP on his private label, but incredible wealth of powerhouse music including massive choral segments, battle music, entire Spanish elements of score remain unrecorded… until now! Over 90 minutes of actual soundtrack music spread over 2 CDs! Large-scale picture from Warner Bros. directed by Irving Rapper, starring Carroll Baker, Roger Moore is set during vibrant era of Napoleonic Wars in 1812. Religious story sees young postulant leaving convent to pursue love, adventure. As Teresa embarks on worldly adventures, statue of Virgin Mary assumes her place until she returns. Tale of faith, love, war and tragedy all inspire Bernstein to create lengthy, ambitious score in vein of legendary Ten Commandments score for Cecil B. DeMille. Massive chords launch work from outset, spotlighting great power of Church, faith.

D’Indy was a contemporary of Debussy and Ravel, and a pupil of César Franck. Fauré described him as ‘The Samson of Music’ for his multifarious and generous-minded work as a composer, conductor, educator and propagandist who greatly strengthened French musical culture. Today the music of d’Indy is sadly neglected, which is why Chandos and the Iceland Symphony Orchestra have decided to embark upon a series devoted to his orchestral works with conductor Rumon Gamba. With a style essentially eclectic and strongly influenced above all by Beethoven and Wagner, d’Indy particularly excelled in orchestral composition. He drew particular inspiration from his native region in southern France, and formed a body of post-romantic works richly orchestrated, often inflected with folk-like melodies and employing Franck’s well-known ‘cyclic method’.

Years back Dushan Petrossi was widely heralded as being the successor to the Malmsteen kingdom, largely based on his seminal effort with his other project Magic Kingdom in Metallic Tragedy…