L.o.v.e

NEEDTOBREATHE has been churning out music regularly since 2006, when their first major label release, Daylight, hit the market. In 2018, they are now six full-length albums and various EP’s into their career with a great track record of high quality with each new release. With the 2016 album H A R D L O V E, the band leaned into modern synthesizers, mixing them with the southern rock/alternative sound they have made their career on. It was a needed artistic step, but it left some longtime fans frustrated. It took this reviewer time to warm to it, but H A R D L O V E eventually won me over with some of the tightest songs they had written up to that point. That brings us to the Forever On Your Side (Niles City Sound Sessions) EP, which continues sonically along the path started by H A R D L O V E and the Hard Cuts EP from last year. If you’re looking for more of the roaring rock of The Reckoning and The Outsiders, then these four songs may leave you wanting. However, if this newer sound works for you, there are some nice introspective moments to enjoy.

Easily the longest of any Capitol single-disc compilation, 2005's The World of Nat King Cole also benefits from a fresh remastering of its material to make it the best introduction to the interpretive brilliance of Nat King Cole. Nearly all the hits that need to be here are indeed present: "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Route 66," "Nature Boy," "Too Young," and "Mona Lisa." The compilers also wisely chose a few representative songs to replace some of the middling hits; the only surprise is the absence of "The Christmas Song" and "Lush Life," although the chart hits "Answer Me, My Love," "Pretend," "Looking Back," and the much-maligned "Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer" are missing for good reasons.

Al Green's 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th albums on 2 CD's, the second of three mid-priced sets that encompass all 12 of his studio albums for Hi Records. Originally issued between 1972 and 1974, these albums include the Top 5 hits 'You Ought To Be With Me', 'Call Me', 'Here I Am (Come And Take Me)', 'Livin' For You', 'Let's Ger Married' plus 'Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy)', 'L-O-V-E (Love)', 'Oh Me', as well as the classic tracks 'Take Me To The River', 'Funny How Time Slips Away' and many more.