Badfinger
No Dice
Capitol
In the early 70s' they were the hottest act on the Apple label, outside of, The Beatles. This, their second album, out of print for nearly twenty years, features the smash hit, "No Matter What," Lovingly remastered from the original two-track master and eight-track session tapes, it sounds fantastically delicious. (BB)

Bob Baldwin
Reflections Of Love
Atlantic
This album could've been released 15 years ago, but did we need to be reminded of it? Smooth jazzy instrumentals with a taste of r&b/fusion and nothing else. Baldwin is a talented multi-instrumentalist but many of his selections lack substance. Ho-hum, another artist destined for the cut-out bins. (SC)

Balloon
Gravity
Dedicated/Rca
One is a former Opium addict, the other a stringed instrument virtuoso. With a track record like that who could want more? Recorded in New Orleans and produced by Michael Brooks this balloon ingests a lighter-than-air gas and floats on the winds of emotion without popping or touching the ground. (SC)

Michael Banks
Wonder Why
Zanman
Remember Poco? They were one of the pioneers of country rock. This guy reminds me of them. That's good. He's on a tiny label and probably won't get much national exposure. That's bad. You can help remedy this situation by writing: Music Bank, 525 Welty Avenue, Rockford, Illinois 61107. It's a good one. (SC)

Pato Banton
Universal Love
I.R.S.
How 'bout we call this,"Reggae/Pop," the same stuff that made The English Beat and UB40 famous. No spliff smoking Rasta Man here. Nope. This guy could work the lounges in Las Vegas or a cruise ship and be right at home. After five albums he must be doing something right. (CS)


Barenaked Ladies
Maybe You Should Drive
Sire/Reprise
You may remember their last disc, Gordon which featured the hits, "Be My Yoko Ono" and "If I Had $1,000,000" among others. This one's no different. Humorous, intelligent lyrics flow within their unique razor sharp musical style. You'll be unknowingly humming these tunes and people will start looking at you funny. (CS)

Barnes & Barnes
Loozanteen
Rhino
The latest batch from the original "Fishheads" is a delightful potpourri of hummable, bizarre tunes that will leave you smiling. A word of warning. Unless you wish to appear a bit deranged, avoid singing any of these catchy numbers in public. Or they'll be coming to take you away, ha-ha. (SC)

Jennifer Batten
Above Below And Beyond
Voss
Comparisons to guitar crunchers Steve Morse And Steve Vai will surely abound but don't let that stop you. The question remains, can she play? Well, do Teenagers get zits? If you liked the Dixie Dregs during their heyday or Steve Vai in the flick "Crossroads", then this disc's for you. (SC)

Bedlam
Into The Coals
MCA
If raw spontaneity and catchy tunes are your bag you came to the right place. And I quote, "No click tracks, no samples, no drum machines, just rock n' roll." Yeup, that's what it is. Funny thing though, their producer/keyboard player is known for his quiet, contemplative, "space" music. (SC)

Richie Beirach
Sunday Songs
Blue Note
As the title suggests, these songs are perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon. You'll be able to relax, remember what you heard and enjoy every minute of it. Unlike solo piano albums of recent years, it won't put you to sleep. This one's based in jazz and classical, instead of monotony. (BB)

Adrian Belew
Inner Revolution
Atlantic
He's usually considered an acquired taste and one that's well worth the effort. After spending time with King Crimson, Frank Zappa and releasing several solo works, his sense of production and performance embrace yet another stylistic peak. This is probably the most consistently accessible "pop" album of his career. Wonderful. (SC)

Adrian Belew
The Acoustic Adrian Belew
Adrian Belew Presents
Wow. He recorded this at home in just two days. It's not available in stores, but don't let that stop you. If you're a Belew aficionado, you've got to have this. The only way to get it is to write to: the Adrian Belew Fan Club, P.O. Box 8385, Cincinnati, Ohio 45208 (SC)

Margaret Bell
Over And Over
Reprise
Debut from a former Oral Roberts, "Robert Richards Singer". Pleasant, funky gospel tainted dance music with a "voice". A little on the preachy side for most tastes. Her relationship with BeBe and CeCe helps but, better mainstream material would make her a superstar without the overly religious overtones. (SC)

William Bell
A Little Something Extra
Stax
Now here's a real treat if I've ever heard one. 20 previously unissued tunes by a one-time mainstay of the Stax label. That's not all though, the back-up band is none other than Booker T. and the MG's along with the Mar-Key horns. Who could ask for more? Not me. (SC)

Tab Benoit
Nice And Warm
Justice
Louisiana born blues guitarist's debut combines the searing melodic styles of Duane Allman and Les Dudek with the Chicago blues of Albert Collins. Recorded live in two days with crackerjack musicians Steve Bailey (bass) Gregg Bissonette (drums) and Paul English (Hammond B-3 and piano) it's raw, intimate and genuine. Yum. (SC)

Bentley Tock
Able
Liquid
Who are these guys? I dunno, but they're a three piece unit from Austin Texas and make some fine music. All the songs were written by guitarist/vocalist, Paco Ahlgren and range from thoughtful pop to borderline alternative. A tasty combination. Like many other new groups, this is worth looking for. (SC)

Jennifer Berezan
Borderlines
Flying Fish
A Canadian born, folk/rock performer who is now based in San Francisco. Solid production augments her powerful acoustic guitar work and intelligent songwriting. She weaves threads of folk, rock, country and blues into songs that are filled with themes of personal love, struggle and a strong political/ spiritual consciousness. (SC)

Matraca Berg
Lying To The Moon
RCA
Debut from a Nashville singer/songwriter who's no stranger to the country music scene. Jazzy country-blues, a heap of swing and tasty songwriting interplay with a sultry, passionate voice that belies the youth of the artist. Auspicious production augments an already authentic musical foundation. A breath of fresh air. (SC)

Big House
Big House
Boomtown/RCA
A Bursting, brash wall of noise from Alberta, Canada. After a couple EP's on small Canadian labels they finally hit the big time with their first major U.S. release. Don't expect to hear this on your local hard rock station. This is another that will probably fall through the cracks.(SC)

Billy Pilgrim
Billy Pilgrim
Atlantic
You may have heard "Insomniac" on the radio. I'm surprised "Get Me Out Of Here" isn't all over the airwaves too. This debut from an Atlanta duo, Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush, is ripe with personal songs, strong melodies and gorgeous two-part harmonies. Sound interesting? Don't hesitate. It's a real treat. (SC)

Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic
The Fossil Record 1980-1987
Cuneiform
This is the only band I'm aware of that has a drummer, guitarist and three keyboard players. To call the music eclectic or avant-garde is an understatement. It's out there. Way out. But after I heard their outrageous version of the theme from Rocky and Bullwinkle, I was immediately hooked. (BB)

Tanya Blount
Natural Thing
Polygram
Touted as "R&B's newest diva", this Washington, DC native fills those shoes with ease on her stunning debut album. This is the kind of stuff that'll have Whitney Houston looking for a place to hide. (Please.) Ten songs from a great vocalist for the dance floor or the living room. (BB)

Blue Murder
Nothin' But Trouble
Geffen
Guitarist/vocalist John Sykes has been around the block more than once. He's played with Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake. With Blue Murder he has a chance to vent his musical ideas and sound just like the aforementioned bands. The best tune here is a cover of Itchycoo Park. (BB)

The Bluzblasters
Sooner Or Later
Flying Fish
Led by sax player, Doug Newby and vocalist, Frankie lee, this band of veterans based inVirginia carry on the blues tradition that began with Ray Charles and Otis Redding. There are no big names in the group, just a lot of soul, spirit and heartfelt playing. That's what counts. (SC)

Deanna Bogart
Crossing Borders
Flying Fish
This lady has some chops. She beats the hell out of another female blues artist who recently came to town. Her sound and style seem more intimate than usual, thanks to a few rough edges coupled with the fact that she tickles the ivories and wrote most of the tunes. (BB)

The Boo Radleys
Giant Steps
Columbia
Okay. Here's the deal. These guys are English. They make lots of noise and use some of the same production techniques that were the rage twenty-five years ago, updated with today's technology. '60s inspired melodies swarm around everything (including the kitchen sink.) Trust me, you'll be playing this more than once. (BB)

Booker T & The MG's
That's The Way It Should Be
Columbia
Ahh, the hot summer days of childhood, eh? Seems like they never left. A couple detours through Hollywood, (Blues Brothers flicks) and here they are sounding as good as ever. I'm sure you'll recall the hits like, "Green Onions." This one's a marvelous trip down a similar road. (SC)

Bootsauce
Bull
Island
A funk/rock band from Montreal, no less. This could be Canada's answer to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and there's nothing wrong with that. Tell ya what let's do... Call up your favorite radio station and bug them until they play the single,"Love Monkey # 9." You may start something. (SC)

Boston
Walk On
MCA
If you look up the word "suck" in the dictionary the definition is as follows: Boston. I'm sorry, but if it took Tom Scholz seven years to come up with this dreck then there's certainly something wrong. Let's put it this way. The first Boston album sounded fresh in '77. This sounds awful. (SC)

The Brady Bunch
It's A Sunshine Day (The Best of)
MCA
Who hasn't seen too many re-runs of this early 70s' sitcom? I know I have. If by some chance you're still glued to the T.V. for your daily dose of Mom, Dad, and apple pie, then this disc's for you, in all its retching splendor. Barf bag not included. (SC)

Daryl Braithwaite
Higher Than Hope
Epic
He kinda looks like Don Johnson, sounds like Peter Cetera with balls and he's a multi-platinum smash in Australia. Better than both of them together. Almost a notch above the usual "Power Ballad " found on Top 40 stations. "One Summer" and "The Horses" stand out but not by much. (SC)

Doyle Bramhall
Bird Nest On The Ground
Antone's Records
Stevie Ray Vaughan may be gone, but there's a drummer on the block who can (vocally, at least) help fill the void left by his passing. The eleven tunes here were recorded over the last ten years and feature Stevie and his brother Jimmy on guitar on a couple cuts. Crank it. (BB)

Joshua Breakstone Trio
9 By 3
Contemporary
Hut-Cha. Jazz nuts will love this and so should you. The term, "smooth music" comes to mind. Lots of muffled hit-hat and acoustic bass with Joshua's tasty licks floating throughout. If your foot don't tap and your head don't nod, then you're dead. A classic before it's time. (SC)

Danielle Brisebois
Arrive All Over You
Epic
Debut from a former actress whose first claim to fame was a co-starring role on the '80s sitcom, "Archie Bunker's Place." Soon after that, she abandoned an acting career to pursue her first love, music. After hearing this album of romantic, soulful pop, I'd say she made the right decision. (CS)

Alison Brown
Twilight Motel
Vanguard
The sophomore effort from this talented female banjo player mixes traditional bluegrass with modern jazz. Half was recorded in Nashville with friends, Tony Rice and Jerry Douglas. The rest was captured at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley with alumni from David Grisman's band, resulting in a comfortable country/jazz/

bluegrass treat. (CS)

Charles Brown
Driftin' Blues:The Best Of Charles Brown
EMI
Between 1945 and 1952 he was known as the "Black Bing Crosby." This collection of his top 10 hits and lesser known classics is testament to that. Remastered from original lacquer session discs, 78 rpm pressings and mono tapes, there is some surface noise but the performances easily outshine that. (SC)

Stephen Bruton
What It Is
Dos
Debut from a Fort Worth, Texas guitarist who grew up jamming with T-Bone Burnett and Delbert Mc Clinton. In the early '70s he was in Kris Kristofferson's band and has been Bonnie Raitt's lead guitarist for the past two years. Rock, country and blues steeped in Texas soul. This one sizzles. (SC)

Buffalo Tom
Let Me Come Over
Beggars Banquet
There seems to be something about three piece bands. They always sound fresh and exciting and this trio is no exception. Formed in 1986 at U Mass, Mssrs. Janovitz, Maginnis and Cloburn have refined their playing into a succinct form that just begs to be heard. This one's a gem. (SC)

Hiram Bullock
Way Kool
Atlantic
The latest release from a hitherto unknown guitar player who sounds a lot like Jeff Beck. A former member of Letterman's, Late Night Band, his instrumental cover of The Beatles, "Dear Prudence" is worth the price. The rest of this ain't too bad either. But when he sings forget it.(SC)

The Bunk Project
The Bunk Project
MusicMasters
If you're looking for traditional New Orleans jazz that sounds like it was recorded in an empty dance hall then look no further. And if you've ever wanted to hear Woody Allen play clarinet you came to the right place. Fourteen standards that'll take you back to another time and place. (BB)

Kenny Burrell
Sunup To Sundown
Contemporary
The fact that this was recorded in just two days is just one indication of the immense talent involved. That Burrell was Duke Ellington's favorite guitar player should be another clue. And after listening to this, it's easy to see why. If hearing is believing, you should hear this one. (SC)

(SC) Stephen Curtis

(BB) Stephen Curtis AKA Ben Bland

(CS) Stephen Curtis AKA Clive Sweeney

Index

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