I wonder what's in store for Woodstock's Golden Anniversary.  It's 50th should be as momentous an occasion as this upcoming 40th Anniversary, if not more so, because it will seriously mark the aging of Woodstock Nation, its era, and the event's actual participants.  It will also mark the aging of Rock.  Rock has proven to be very resilient, if not immune to a proper evolution.  But I still believe that it has a few more tricks up it's sleeves.  It's been a tumultuous relationship, no doubt, as I can attest to.  I personally have been head over heels in love in Rock, separated from it, and then finding love with it all over again, even if I have found that it has significantly changed.  I have found the traits that I love within Rock's now greatly expanded diversity.  She's not the same as she was when we first met, but she still has magic tucked into her soul that's hard to ignore.  And you don't want to. 

She is as beautiful as she has always been.  And she's still with us, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.

And I still love and cherish her.  We may not always agree (and we oftentimes don't) but we understand each other with a depth that many cannot fathom.  I'm betting you feel the same way.

I have two reviews for you that include Living Planet, an ambient work by emerging artist, Dan Pound. The other is an interesting indie release by a British singer going by Imprint. The album, which was hand assembled, numbered, and quite good, is called The Wisdom Out of the Wound. Be sure to listen to both indie artists. We're talking some fascinating and excellent music here.

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of Bob Bogle, influential guitarist from the famous surf band, The Ventures. This one slipped by me and I for that I apologize. His contribution to a sound that, to this day, is representative of the magic of Rock and Roll's diversity, is heard throughout a strong collection of songs that include "Hawaii Five-O," "Walk Don't Run," and a bevy of previous hits that got basted with with the twangy surf sound that The Ventures applied so well. Songs like "Secret Agent Man," "Wipe-Out," "Green Onions," even "The Batman Theme" and "Hey Jude." Bob died at the age of 75 on June 14. Bob will take a very distinctive guitar into the core of the Great Band.

Bob Bogle
1934-2009
RIP

Before we go, I need to tell you (and I'm ashamed to do so) but I find that I will, once again, be absent for a period and that TAP will be dark during that period. Worse, it's coming up. There will be a July 17 post but then the next post will not happen again until <gulp> August 3. But after that we should be good the rest of the year with the usual breaks for holidays. Have a great weekend; we'll see you back here on Monday, when we'll start up a new Best of Artist Poll. Hint - it's a solo performer (male).

Now, onto our Great Album Covers.

Here's the next batch of Great Album Covers. This one comes from an anonymous reader, who even gave me detailed info on who produced the covers and in what iterations (Abacab was produced in four sets with different colours schemes). Nice. Enjoy these covers:

On September 15, Nettwerk Records will release the new solo effort by Mazzy Star's Hope Sandoval with her band, The Warm Inventions. The album is planned to be called Through the Devil Softly.

Eagle Rock Entertainment has a nice grouping of CDs and DVDs, including BDs (Blu-ray) titles that are coming at various times. My high profile desire is for Crest of a Wave: the Best of Rory Gallagher, a 2CD collection of studio and live recordings from one of the great guitar masters (so very under-rated), Rory Gallagher. It is planned for August 25. Other titles include a new album by John Mayall called Tough, and expected on September 15.

Rick Wakeman intrigued in 1973 with his concept album, The Six Wives of Henry VIII. In 2009, he performed this in the UK, and Eagle Rock plans to release the performance on October 13. It will be available on DVD, BD, and 2CD.

For those that remember and enjoyed Status Quo, they will be releasing their 2007 UK album, In Search of the Fourth Chord, in the US market on September 15.

Eagle Rock has a DVD coming for the Lowell George-period Little Feat from 1977 called Skin It Back: Live in Germany. The DVD will add many extras making it a cool investment. Scheduled for September 22.

Rhino Records has vinyl incarnations coming for New Order titles that include Technique; Movement; Brotherhood; Low Life; and Power, Corruption & Lies. These LP reissues are on the calendar for September 15.

Reprise Records has a BD (Blu-ray) coming out for Michael Bublé called Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden, scheduled for September 1.

Warner Brothers will be releasing the soundtrack for Quentin Tarentino's upcoming Brad Pitt film called Inglourious Basterds on both CD and 2LP formats, planned for August 18.

Concord Records will release Songs and Stories by George Benson on both CD and DD, scheduled for August 25.

Also on August 25, Orpheus Enterprises will release a CD of Diamond Collection by Freddie Jackson.

Verve Records plans to release a CD title from Katherine McPhee called Long Way From Home on September 22.

429 Records have a Subdudes album coming on August 25 called Flower Petals. 429 Records will also release a DVD for the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band called Blue Again. This DVD is planned for September 1.

Nettwerk Records will digitally release the 4-track EP, named Great Escape, by UK's The Rifles, whom Paul Weller of The Jam has gushed about, on July 28. Later in the year, Nettwerk will release their full-length album, which we'll be sure to cover. Three tracks found on this release will NOT be found on the band's upcoming album. Check 'em out at Facebook, and/or MySpace, and/or their official site.

Rhino Records will release Genesis Live 1973-2007 in a Boxed set that gathers four Live Genesis albums with new Stereo mixes, PLUS adding the anticipated Live at the Rainbow 1973, with Stereo and 5.1 mixes. That Live album will only be issued within this Box set...for now (I bet it shows up as a break-out eventually.) More new and greater clarity can be found here at this link.

Atlantic Records will release a batch of CSN-related titles on vinyl LP, scheduling for September 22. The chosen titles include the S/T (Stephen Stills) solo album by Stephen Stills as well as Menassas (2LP); Songs For Beginners by Graham Nash; If I Could Only Remember My Name by David Crosby; and the S/T (Crosby, Stills & Nash) album by CSN. All LPs will be 180g.

Hollywood favours an industrial style of music when soundtracking for their high energy action films.  Good reasoning as that style of music is like audio adrenaline and seems to engage the listener with heart-pounding effect.  And within a film that stars the current energetic action hero, Jason Statham, such music just seems right.

Composed and performed by Mike Patton of Faith No More/Fantomas fame, this experimentally  industrial 32-track set is the wired, standalone music from the Statham vehicle, Crank: High Voltage.  It is a definite fan-set as it is quite musically inconsistent, transitioning from one track to another.  But Patton fans are used to the eclectic manner in which he works and so a set like this should be satisfying to them.  But traditional soundtrack buyers should beware.  What works with visual counterparts within the film, may be bizarre in a non-visual environment.   ** ½

This Austin, TX band by way of Dayton OH, has released their third album on Fat Possum Records in January of this year. Named The Mountain, it contains an exhilarating blend of styles to make this one of the more exciting albums of the year. We highly recommend you try Heartless Bastards out by sampling music at their MySpace page.