Album Review: “Black Rose: A Rock Legend” — Thin Lizzy (1979)

One of the most endearing elements of Thin Lizzy’s legacy is that you could never quite pigeonhole them with a single sound. They ran the gamut from their early folk-rock to dalliances in R&B, FM radio rock, soulful balladry, near metal intensity, and nearly everywhere between all points in their career. The common thread woven…

Album Review: “The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society” — The Kinks (1968)

“For me, Village Green Preservation Society is Ray’s masterwork. It’s his Sgt Pepper, it’s what makes him the definitive pop poet laureate.” — Pete Townshend, 2004 The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society (referred to as VGPS from here on) is the musical equivalent of the perfect trip to Disneyland. Warm and sunny weather with…

Album Review: “Beatles For Sale” — The Beatles (1964)

That’s a rather somber, slightly chilly album cover, isn’t it? You can’t blame the band though… the album came out at the tail end of 1964, THE hallmark year of Beatlemania. They broke huge in America after their legendary Ed Sullivan appearances, toured the world, filmed a classic motion picture along with a host of…