Sometimes you just can’t get past the weekend when you learn of another Rock ‘n’ Roll death.  This time, the hooded scythe-carrier visited Billy Powell, a man who had already faced Death square in the face some 30 years earlier when a plane carrying members of the popular Lynyrd Skynyrd band crashed killing Gaines, Van Zant, and others.  What makes this especially poignant is that Billy Powell was only 56 years old.  He had been burdened with heart issues but was felled by a heart attack in his Florida home after summoning 911 on Wednesday, early morning.

Billy Powell was a integral part of the Lynyrd Skynyrd southern sound, contributing keyboards and adding luster to a string of hits like “Sweet Home Alabama,” and their signature “Free Bird.”  Their catalogue of albums were as much his as anyone else in the band.  It’s never a happy time to report on a death particularly so when the deaths you report are people important in your life.  Whether that be a close relative, or a member of a band that gave you great times, it is a devastating moment to learn of and heart-rending thereafter.  

Billy Powell, a part of the musical heritage that is Lynyrd Skynyrd, will be greatly missed, especially since it once again diminishes the number of that great band.  But he’ll take some Southern Funk to that great band and they are the richer for it.

Goodbye Billy…we’ll surely miss you.

Billy Powell
1952-2009
RIP

We have spoken a lot about the deteriorating state of music but sometimes I have to check myself. I was recently notified that an old '80s favourite was stepping back into the world of music. Her name is Toni Childs. Her Union album still holds a firm place in my heart. And then I heard track samples including the representative song ("Because You're Beautiful") and I am haunted all over again. The album (Keep the Faith - see below for more info and album cover w/link) is slated to be released in April but apparently is already an exclusive release (January 27) with Barnes and Nobles. Now normally I avoid these exclusive releases like the plague but the single is so incredible that I have to do this purchase. Like now.

Besides, I have been ruminating these past few days. I have said that today's music is not as vibrant as in the past, and for today's young bands, that can be the point with some exceptions. But when I hear music, even samples, like I have heard on Childs' Keep the Faith from a strong voice from years past, and hear just how good she still is. Well, I have to take notice. There is some great music being produced in this time and we just have to locate it.

You and I have an infatuation with music that is intense. We just love the damn thing. At times we find ourselves critical of something that we can't relate too, but then we turn around and there is a song or album of such beauty that we fall in love all over again.

I think it's wonderful, music is. I can tell tell that I'm going to be lost in this new Toni Childs album for some time. So excuse me if I take awhile before I come up for air. Now if Bruce Springsteen or U2 would reach inside that easily with their new albums. I have the new Springsteen but haven't listened to it through yet and don't have the new U2 yet. But judgment is coming and I hope that those albums do the same that this new Childs' has done.

Enjoy your weekend. I know I'm going to.

We have several reviews for you today. One is of a rather spectacular bit of music from a truly independent band with only a self-released album. The album is called Elephants on a Mousehunt. The band is called Zelazowa. The other album is a Live work from a band that has been around but has never lost perspective nor the ability to make a good album. The band is Attrition and their new album is called Kill the Buddah!: The 25th Anniversary Tour.

Oh yeah, anyone read about the Isle of Man proposition that lets residents download all of the music they want after paying a fee to an ISP? Hmmm. I think that the labels may only have this type of distribution left to them as a viable choice. Interesting. Read up here.

We have several things to kick-off the New Year with. The first is our Annual Reader's Choice 'Best of 20xx' picks. In this case, you'll be picking the Best of 2008. i always look forward to these picks because it gives me a fast way to check up on things that I have missed over the year. I have always made new gains to my library with the arrival of these lists and I'm sure to do so again. You guys know the rules by now. Just send a list of the Best that graced our players over the course of 2008. We'll run this through January and then post results in February. Send them here at The Best Albums of 2008.

In addition, and to start the New Year Out, we have several more things before moving on. The first is a new band introduction, found below in the reviews section. They are called The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Be sure to scroll down for that. the second is that we have (tried) to launch a Facebook set of pages. We have a button for you to click on and befriend us and we hope that you will. We have a personal TAP page (because Facebook insists). And we also have a Business page and a Group page. I know...complicated. And it is. But we'll figure which to use in the long run but until then, check them all out. They are a bit different in content. I do suspect that it will be the personal page that you'll want to frequent most often as it easily leads to both of the other pages. I'm still trying to make one singular page the most impactful but haven't figured how to do it yet. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. There's nothing worse than being a 'noob' trying to produce a bit of usefulness...and not succeeding very well at it. There are some new things that we can do with it. For example, there is plenty of room there to discuss in an open forum. For those that wanted this to happen, here's an opportunity to guage it. In addition, there may als obe extra content there, capsule-like reviews, etc. This is an experiment to see what happens. You might have to sign up to check us out...I don't know. Forgive any problems that might arise from this but we'll get it figured out somehow.

For the long promised Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! list (#35), I will be posting a letter each post until exhausted (there were only 17 21 25 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 emails).  Some were only a few titles, some only one.  But there were more than a few that were massive and a few extended, well-detailed lists.  I’ll post them as I received them.  For today's post, Joey D says that one shines above all.

STOOGES - Fun House. All other LPs pale in comparison.

We're going to keep the Best Album of ALL Time up for a long while as we continually update it. But I'll say this: The Beatles took the lead with not only The White Album but also the fact that they have been selected with two albums. Like The Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! run, which does not show signs of stopping (I'm still getting emails, which I have no problem with and encourage - Send Them In), I'm hoping that this new thing stays strong. Send in your selection (one only, please) for the album that is the ruler of all.

If you have missed the last As The Disc Spins (updated), check it out here.

To access the previous site and catch up, click here.

Downtown Records will release an LP version and a CD version of Fist of God by MSTRKRFT on March 17.  This is a Rock title.

Rhino Records will issue a Various Artists DVD called Last Days of the Fillmore, scheduling the video for April 7.

Legacy Records will be releasing a few vinyl LPs for Miles Davis that includes the landmark (and glorious) Bitches Brew, Nefertiti, In a Silent Way, and Sketches of Spain. by Miles Davis.  The albums, Bitches Brew, originally released in 1969, In a Silent Way (1969), Nefertiti (1967), and Sketches of Spain, originally released in 1959, will re-release on April 14.  Guess who is getting these?  Yep, me!!

Capitol Records will reissue OK Computer, Pablo Honey, as well as The Bends in 3-disc Collector’s Editions (2CD/1DVD) on March 24.  These Radiohead albums are essentials and these definitive versions of bonus tracks and promo videos fulfill a need for completeness.

Wounded Bird Records, a bare-bones reissue house will reissue three Rex Smith albums (Rex; Where Do We Go From Here; Forever).  You can snag these classics on March 17, possibly earlier by going direct through Wounded Bird.  They will also release Twitch by Aldo Nova on the same date.  There is also Live in Cleveland by Derringer that will be available on the same date.

429 Records will release a new Steve Forbert album called The Place and The Time.  The new album will be released on March 31.  I STILL adore his Alive on Arrival (1978). 429 Records will also release an exciting new release for Toni Childs (an artist I have adored in the past) called Keep the Faith. It is expected in April. Click on the album covers for listening parties.

Surfdog Records will release a Limited vinyl LP Edition of Tangled Tales (following the CD release – March 10) by Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks.  The LP version arrives on March 24.

Legacy will release a collection of 17 vintage RCA sides from Willie Nelson called Naked Willie.  Like Let It Be – Naked where McCartney removed the ‘noise’ of the Spector production, these Willie Nelson productions have been remixed to remove the same level of ‘noise and distractions’ leaving behind a strong but different track.  Naked Willie is planned for March 17.

For 10 bucks, and likely lower, Sony’s Special Products division is releasing a Box (slip-case) that will have three classic Ted Nugent titles that include Free For All; Scream Dream; and Weekend Warriors.  This is planned for March 31.  They’ll do the same for Kenny Loggins with Celebrate Me Home; Leap of Faith; and Outside From the Redwoods, same date.

Roadrunner Records will reissue Slow, Deep, and Hard (1991) from Type O Negative on March 24.

These four lads have put out music before, and so they're no absolute strangers to all of this. But this new album, released in December, is a pretty good album. Zelazowa is the name of the band and their new album is 13 excellent tracks called Elephants on a Mousehunt. I hope that you, at least, check them out on their MySpace page (link included in review).

This is a Soundtrack of collected remixes of Various Artists and their songs serve the ambience of the film well. With remixes assembled by NIN's Danny Lohner, this compilation is sure to be an interest to its audience. Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans is not only a decent film in the trilogy (thus far), but the music is apt as well.