The long awaited second release from this progressive instrumental trio. Refined, matured, and more focused, Black Ladder's creativity and talent continue to shine in their long awaited follow up album. With a sampling of tracks that range from the mellow, delicate tones of "One Quite Night" to the raucous crowd-pleaser "Midnight at Dracula's," this album is not content to rest in one sonic space. The group's influences shine through, from the classical motifs found in "Bora Bora" to the spaced-out, funk rock trip that is "Magic Doctor." The band's sophomore effort proves that this band has something to offer everyone, providing traditional jam oriented tracks alongside sprawling prog-rock epics. "An Ambitious Few" continues to display Black Ladder's skill and drive to push the limits of their trio. This richly layered album begs to be listened to end to end, again and again.
Condition Critical, Quiet Riot's follow-up to their number one, multi-million-selling commercial breakthrough Metal Health, is nearly identical to its predecessor. Not only do they repeat the hard-driving pop-metal hybrid to the last detail, they even throw in another Slade cover. Like on Metal Health, the Slade cover on Condition Critical ("Mama Weer All Crazee Now") is the finest moment on the record – it's the only time the riffs have a solid hook and the melody is memorable. However, the rest of the record is well produced and sounds good, even if the quality of the songs is somewhat poor.
Many know her as the front woman of Blackmore's Night where for the past 18 years she has been performing the songs she has co-written with her husband, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. With her 2nd solo offering, 'Starlight, Starbright', Night's vocal quality is richer than in years past, bringing you to a quiet and intimate place; a place of beauty and dreams, inspired by the birth of her children, Autumn (5) and Rory (3). 'I really felt just so completely full of love and part of this bigger picture, this miracle,' Night remembers. 'I wanted to sing to celebrate this incredible life that was occurring inside of me. I've never felt so spiritual.' On 'Starlight, Starbright' you will find new original melodies, some co-written and played with Ritchie Blackmore, some solo by Night.
Guitarist, composer, and bandleader Pat Metheny is one of the most successful jazz musicians in the world. He is the only artist to win 20 Grammy Awards in 10 different categories. A consummate stylist and risk-taker, his musical signature melds a singular, euphoric sense of harmony with Afro-Latin and Brazilian sounds, rock, funk, global folk musics, and jazz. His 1976 debut, Bright Size Life, and the self-titled Pat Metheny Group two years later resonated with audiences and critics for its euphoric lyricism, dynamics, and rhythmic ideas.
Pat Metheny’s new album MoonDial features solo recordings in line with the beloved One Quiet Night (2003) and What’s It All About (2011). It is a purely solo guitar record with no overdubs, using a custom nylon string baritone guitar. He experimented with this new guitar while on tour last fall. Excited by the results he was able to achieve more each night, he decided to immediately record a new album with the guitar – MoonDial.