Review: Rockin’ the Weekend!

Don’t know about where you live, but in our neck of the woods summer’s here and it’s hot.  Best thing to do on the weekend is hit the pool or lounge on the patio, pop the top on a cold one and put on a few fresh hot platters.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are a Vermont-based band that’s been knocking around for a few years.  Their newest, simply titled Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, is a good calling card for those unfamiliar with the band’s take on 1970s style rock, soul, blues and country.  The most arresting thing about the band is the frontwoman’s astounding voice – she can rock out in front of a guitar storm on “Paris” or “Medicine,” then she can credibly pull off pop gems like “Goodbye Kiss” or the Fleetwood-Mac flavored “Tiny Light.”  Potter even strikes a perfect singer/songwriter pose on the gentle anthem “Colors.”  This is a perfect summer record, with a great band playing behind an excellent singer in a style you thought you’d never hear again.

MP3: “Tiny Light” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Song of the Day: “I Should Have Known It”

Here’s the official video for new song “I Should Have Known It” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.  It has a bit of Zeppelin-like feel, don’t you think?  Anyway, it appears on the upcoming album Mojo due out on June 15.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers official website

Review: Live albums

Guess because it’s Christmas time, the “gift box” CD sets are coming out … and there are a couple of live sets from classic rock artists that will try and grab your attention.  One is a great bargain, the other is a bit of a rip-off. (Update: OK, maybe not a rip-off, but … buyer beware.)

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are represented by The Live Anthology, an awesome four-CD set with 48 tracks encompassing the band’s entire career.  This set, available most places for around 20 bucks, is a bargain – Best Buy and Petty’s website also offers a larger set with a fifth CD of 14 more tracks, a couple of DVDs featuring some live shows and a Blu-Ray disc, all for about $100.

Beyond the bargain, though, the Petty set is incredible for the grooves contained within.  He combines some of his best-known songs with stellar covers, including a great instrumental version of the James Bond classic “Goldfinger,” the Grateful Dead’s “Friend Of The Devil,” the Byrds’ “Ballad Of Easy Rider,” and on and on.  I can’t remember when I’ve had so much fun listening to a live album.  Highly recommended.

MP3: “Born In Chicago” (live) by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

New Release Alert! “Live Anthology” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

“TP and HB” as J.J. Jackson used to refer to them on MTV will release Live Anthology on Tuesday, Nov. 22. However, you will be able to start downloading half the tracks this coming Tuesday. Find out more about the “Superhighway Tour” and the different packages available at Tom Petty’s official website. I guarantee you this will not suck.