Sometimes you do a thought process and it seems to take on a life of its own. That's the case with my 'think-out loud' Rolling Stones discussion that just seemed to avalanche as the days went on. A lot of people weighed in with their ideas, most believing that the Stones' last great album was Tattoo You. I did have one respondent take offense that I peppered my discourse with "we," as if I expected my thoughts to be everyone else's thoughts. He was right. I apologize for that. However, the overall flow of the incoming emails lead me to believe that most feel strongly on what is the Stones last great and complete affair.

It was fun and I think would make a great 'on the surface' view as to what is considered a band/artist's last great album. This is separate and apart from our usual Band's Best Poll as that Poll attempts to separate the best from the the others in a band's existing catalogue. This new thread seeks to find out when a band may have ceased producing at the top of their game. But really, it is possible that many fans/listeners just couldn't musically journey with a band after a point, no matter how good they may have continued to be. However, this line of thinking might be too deep an evaluation as our responses might be too varied to gain any real insights from. It also hints that we may psychologically change in our acceptance of music as we get older in either advancing to enjoyment of different kinds of music (changing tastes) or becoming too absorbed in our lives to listen to much other than the "oldies." It even suggests that we might become overwhelmed (too much music to pay attention to, not only on each CD, but also in the fact that everyone and their brothers (and sisters) are making music).

I like a balance. I continue to search for something new to fall in love with, to move my life along with (to even bookmark my life with). I also now go back and investigate bands that I have ignored in the past (which is a wonderul project as it draws from the most musically active period of my life, expanding my knowledge and love with a musical period that I identify with most easily). I also love to now listen more deeply to the music that I loved back then. Let me qualify that statement (it even holds true today): I opened myself to so much music as a youngster that I could not indulge as deeply with any one band as much as I would have liked. This was a time problem and one that denied a full integration with many bands that deserved such a treatment. But they get it now as my new discoveries are far and few between.

Regardless of all of this, the discussion project was/is fun and should join our Best of Band Poll for as long as it shows signs of life. And we got many offerings of bands to evaluate. I'll put some of the emails together and talk about it sometime next week.

We have a new set of album covers from our recently launched Great Album Covers Poll. You can still vote for your favourites here and get them posted so that the rest of us can enjoy them. Here's the next list:

• This is a very interesting poll, Matt. But like you said I doubt there
  will be much agreement. I've got several that come to mind right away, 
  
  Hendrix - Axis: Bold As Love 
  Boston - self-titled first album 
  Led Zeppelin - Houses of the Holy
  Pink Floyd - Animals
  Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
  Def Leppard -  Pyromania
  Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
  Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
  Rush - Hemispheres
  Meatloaf - Bat Out of Hell
  
  I could probably name about 20 more without thinking too hard and
  without going too deep into lesser known groups. Funny how every album
  on my list was first bought on vinyl (except for Queensryche). It makes
  you wonder how much the size of the artwork matters in the overall
  impression it makes on the listener. Or maybe it's got more to do with
  my age when I first bought and listened to the album (except for
  Queensryche, all of them were out before I was 25), and the fact that
  people are more impressionable at a younger age. Or maybe they were just
  great albums from every angle.
  
  Oh yeah... The Beatles' White Album and Metallica - Metallica album.
  LOL (I couldn't resist).
  
  Have a great weekend. - Bill B
  

We have two reviews fo ryou today that include the newly released 2CD Anthology for Johnny Winter called simply The Johnny Winter Anthology. In addition, we venture over into the ambient world for a review of the latest Dan Pound album, Esoterica.

Virgin Records will release the S/T Adelita's Way album in both PA and Edited form.  This anticipated album is planned for July 14.

Virgin Records also plans the release of VH1 Storytellers featuring David Bowie.  This CD is planned for official release on July 14.

There's a few platters of reissued vinyl coming out that will include:

• Stranger Than Fiction - Bad Religion - July 21 (Atlantic Records)
• The Genius of Ray Charles - Ray Charles - July 21 (Atlantic Records)
• Warning - Green Day - July 14 (Reprise Records)
• Showbiz - Muse - July 21 (Warner Bros Records)
• Origin of Symmetry (2LP) - Muse - July 21 (Warner Bros Records)
• Bad Company - Bad Company - July 21 (Atlantic Records)

Watch for the release of The Dandy Warhols Are Sound by none other then The Dandy Warhols.  This album is planned for release on July 14.

The Most Serene Republic will release their new album, And The Ever Expanding on July 14.

Virgin Records will release Tri-Polar in both PA and Edited form from Sick Puppies on July 14.

And thanks to TAP reader, David C, we have news to report of an upcoming Judas Priest release, a Live album called A Touch of Evil: Live.  This Epic Records release is planned for July 14.  This set is culled from two world tours (2005, 2008) and will feature eleven tracks.  Those are:

• Judas Rising
• Hellrider
• Between the Hammer & The Anvil
• Riding on the Wind
• Death
• Beyond the Realms of Death
• Dissident Aggressor
• A Touch of Evil
• Eat Me Alive
• Prophecy
• Painkiller

For more info, check out their website. You can pre-order at the supplied Amazon link provided below, if you wish.

Nine tracks of pure Alt/Country with its music on the introspective side.  This self-released album is heavy on the pedal steel with plenty of violin, organ, accordion, and cello added to create an indie album of Americana Pop accentuated by 'pull at your heart' achiness.  The album's brightens up wonderfully with the catchy  “I Drove All Night.”  Stuff from your hard-luck bars. ***

This Brooklyn band has created some exciting music that is exciting to hear in every way. With a string of self-released albums and EPs, they have already made a mark in the heart of New York City. What's best is that they have made ALL of their music freely available, downloadable from their site. If you feel the band's music is worth money, they have a way that you can pay for their music. We invite you to click through to their website and to their MySpace and Facebook pages to get a fill of their music. Recently, Dead Heart Bloom had an awesome song ("New Messiah" - one for the iPod, believe me AND a FREE download) featured on Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles.