We're all fans of music.  From the young newborn who is soothed by the violin playing in the background to the 110 year old groovin' to the popular music of his/her day to the attentive 20-year old who is gathering together a mindful of memories.

While I know that our appreciation never ceases, our wide-eyed exuberance is definitely slowed down, if not extinguished.  Something happens after 25 (earlier or later for others), that we can't seem to control.  The desire to immerse ourselves in music (for those of us who did it when we were younger) seems to evaporate the older we get.

I have spoken with many who were avid fans of music.  Their knowledge is there.  Their appreciation is in evidence.  But introduce them to something new that would have got them excited decades ago and it becomes a struggle to get them to pay enough attention to get excited about what they're hearing.  I can revisit a person weeks later after introducing an excitingly fresh band  and I will, more often than not, (actually, an astounding 95% of the time) receive a "No, I haven't listen to that yet.  Sorry."

The older generations of listeners revel in listening to the music of their younger years - and they should - but largely ignore that they would easily enjoy, which comes out now.

My theory is that they have filled their minds with the stuff that weighs them down, things like busy jobs, emerging family lives, and a day-to-day grind of living, effectively shutting off the valve that which would ease that  stress.  After a time, there remains no more room for music (or meaningful film, books, etc).  What remains are the dying embers of a once musically rich time, snatched in transit.  If sometthing new is introduced, it carries little weight and cannot sustain any interest.

Allow an example: The Rifles is an up and coming British band that carries a significant amount of credibility.  In the past, we rewarded such bands with a badge of cult honor.  The Jam is a prime example of that.  In fact, Paul Weller of The Jam is excited about this English band.  But today, while they may enjoy some prominence, they will be largely ignored.  And some of us are partly to blame.

Did we shut the valve off to a continuous household stream of music thus depriving our children of a legacy?  Did we provide a breeding ground of disinterest that created the blanket disinterest that plagues our youth today?  I'm afraid that we might have.

The readers of TAP are an exempt bunch for the obvious reasons.  It is their continued excitement that keeps them coming back until there is no longer a reason to keep TAP open for business.  TAP thrives on interest.  TAP attempts to inject interest of new bands and other flavours of music coming out.  When interest shuts down, so will we.

We will narrow the site to reflect the music that we look for -remembered celebrations of the past in reissues, new music that is very exciting (not embarrassing new garbage), and news of interest, and, of course, our forays into polls and discussions centered around our great musical heritage.

But I fear for today's youth who enjoys good music.  They just enjoy it as faceless/nameless songs, one at a time.  They do not support the band outside a song or two.  The success of Led Zeppelin, the Stones, and a huge multitude of even marginal successes are lost with them.

Next week, the new and upcoming album from Lita Ford will be available. It is called Wicked Wonderland and we have an early review of the album for you. Wicked Wonderland is her first in some 15 years. It's not a bad return to form.

We'll see you on Friday. In October!!! OcktoberFest, Halloween, a few months until Christmas...

Island Records will reissue Argus, the notable album from Wishbone Ash, on November 17 on CD and DD. Note that a 40th Anniversary is looming. This will likely feature the remaster from a few years back, released only in the UK. What? No LP?!!?

Atlantic Records will release Core by Stone Temple Pilots on vinyl LP, scheduling for December 8.

Columbia Records will release Battle Studies from John Mayer on November 17.

Jerry Garcia and Rhino Records will release The Jerry Garcia Collection, Volume 2: LET IT ROCK on November 10.

Warner Brothers will reissue two Devo albums that include the debut, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978), and Freedom of Choice (1980). The debut will be released on CD and coloured vinyl LP (Yellow), and Freedom of Choice will be released on CD and coloured vinyl LP (Red). Both titles can be expected on November 3.

A&M Records will assemble a collection of hits for Janet Jackson called #1s. It is scheduled for release on DD and CD for November 17.

ISO/Columbia/Legacy Records will release a 2CD, career-spanning, 33-track Live set called David Bowie's A REALITY TOUR, scheduling this set for January 26, 2010.

Island Records will release Grace & Danger by John Martyn on November 17.

Varese Sarabande will release The Godfather's Smackdown from James Brown on November 24 as CD and DD.

Decca Records will release Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton from John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers on CD and DD, planning for November 17.

Interscope will be reissuing Hopes & Fears by Keane on November 17 in both CD and DD formats.

Island Records will release Paul Weller by Paul Weller on November 17.

Watch for several versions of Hellbelly Deluxe 2 by Rob Zombie on CD, LP, and DD, scheduling for November 17.

Eagle Rock Records plan to release Out Standing in Their Field by The Steve Morse Band on CD on November 17.

AC/DC - Backtracks info:

COLUMBIA RECORDS AND ALBERT PRODUCTIONS UNLEASH BACKTRACKS
THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE, AVAILABLE IN TWO SPECIAL BOXED EDITIONS, ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 

Deluxe Collector's Limited Edition Features 3 CDs of Live & Studio Rarities, 2 DVDS Including the Long-Awaited "Family Jewels Disc 3," A Vinyl LP of Studio Collectibles, A Coffee Table Book, Facsimiles of Authentic Memorabilia, Fine Art Lithographs & More Boxed In An AC/DC Working Guitar Amplifier - Available Exclusively Through Band's Website 

Standard Edition Includes 2 CDs of Studio & Live Rarities
& "Family Jewels 3" DVD Plus Bonus Videos 

* * * * * 

Columbia Records and Albert Productions proudly announces the release of Backtracks, the ultimate AC/DC collector's experience, available Tuesday, November 10. 

Arriving in two distinctly different fan-friendly editions, Backtracks spans the length and breadth of AC/DC's career, bringing together rare songs, hard-to-find live performances and the long-awaited debut of "Family Jewels Disc 3," a DVD showcasing the group's music videos, live performances, and promotional clips from 1992-2009.  (The original double-disc "Family Jewels" was named 2005's "DVD of the Year" by the UK's Classic Rock magazine while the RIAA certified the collection 10x Platinum for sales in excess of 1 million copies in the US alone.) 

Manufactured in an exclusive run limited to 50,000 pieces, the deluxe collector's edition of Backtracks includes a CD of studio rarities, two CDs of live rarities, the "Family Jewels Disc 3" DVD, the "Live at the Circus Krone" DVD, a front-row immersion in the band's scorching 2003 club show in Munich, Germany, and a 12" long-playing album, struck in 180 gram vinyl, of hard-to-find studio tracks.  The limited edition Backtracks includes a five-disc media carrier to house and transport the set's three CDs and two DVDs. 

In addition the deluxe collector's edition comes with a 164 page coffee table book and an Original Memorabilia Reproductions Envelope containing an astounding array of facsimiles including the "I DO IT FOR AC/DC" button (the band's very first tour merch), the 1976 "Lock Up Your Daughters" tour flyer, the Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap recording track sheet, a 2' x 3' 1977 Let There Be Rock European Tour poster, a Bon Scott parrot tattoo replica, an AC/DC logo guitar pick, an Australian Money Talks dollar, three b&w fine art lithographs of never-before-seen photos of the band in the Alberts Studio in 1977 and more. 

The AC/DC deluxe collector's edition of Backtracks comes housed in a fully operational AC/DC guitar amplifier.  The limited and numbered deluxe collector's edition of Backtracks will be available direct-to-consumers exclusively through the website www.acdcbacktracks.com with full details on pre-ordering going live on the site on Tuesday, September 29. 

The three-disc standard version of Backtracks distills the electrifying essence of the deluxe set into one CD of studio rarities, one CD of hard-to-find live tracks, and the indispensable "Family Jewels Disc 3" DVD. 

* * * * * 

AC/DC

BACKTRACKS COLLECTOR’S EDITION DELUXE BOX SET

CD1 [STUDIO RARITIES] 

1. High Voltage (Original Australian Full Edit)
2. Stick Around
3. Love Song
4. It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll) (Original Australian Full Edit)
5. Rocker (Original Australian Full Edit)
6. Fling Thing
7. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Original Australian Full Edit)
8. Ain’t No Fun (Waiting Around To Be A Millionaire) (Original Australian Full Edit)
9. R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)
10. Carry Me Home
11. Crabsody In Blue
12. Cold Hearted Man
13. Who Made Who – 12” extended mix
14. Snake Eye
15. Borrowed Time
16. Down On The Borderline
17. Big Gun
18. Cyberspace 

CDs 2-3 [LIVE B-SIDES]

CD 2

1. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Sydney Festival 1/30/77)
2. Dog Eat Dog (Apollo 4/30/78)
3. Live Wire (Hammersmith Odeon 11/2/79)
4. Shot Down In Flames (Hammersmith Odeon 11/2/79)
5. Back In Black (Landover, MD 12/21/81)
6. T.N.T. (Landover, MD 12/21/81)
7. Let There Be Rock (Landover, MD 12/21/81)
8. Guns For Hire (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
9. Sin City (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
10. Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
11. This House Is On Fire (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
12. You Shook Me All Night Long (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
13. Jailbreak (Dallas, TX 10/12/85)
14. Shoot To Thrill (Donington Park, 8/17/91)
15. Hell Ain’t A Bad Place To Be (Donington Park 8/17/91) 

CD 3

1. High Voltage (Donington Park 8/17/91)
2. Hells Bells (Donington Park 8/17/91)
3. Whole Lotta Rosie (Donington Park 8/17/91)
4. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Donington Park 8/17/91)
5. Highway To Hell (Moscow 9/28/91)
6. Back In Black (Moscow 9/28/91)
7. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Moscow 9/28/91)
8. Ballbreaker (Madrid 7/10/96)
9. Hard As A Rock (Madrid 7/10/96)
10. Dog Eat Dog (Madrid 7/10/96)
11. Hail Caesar (Madrid 7/10/96)
12. Whole Lotta Rosie (Madrid 7/10/96)
13. You Shook Me All Night Long (Madrid 7/10/96)
14. Safe In New York City (Phoenix, AZ 9/13/2000) 

LP

SIDE A

Stick Around
Love Song
Fling Thing
R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)
Carry Me Home
Crabsody In Blue 

SIDE B

Cold Hearted Man
Snake Eye
Borrowed Time
Down On The Borderline
Big Gun
Cyberspace 

DVD 1 “Family Jewels Disc Three”

VIDEOS

Big Gun
Hard As A Rock
Hail Caesar
Cover You In Oil
Stiff Upper Lip
Satellite Blues
Safe In New York City
Rock N Roll Train
Anything Goes

BONUS VIDEOS

Jailbreak
It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)
Highway To Hell
You Shook Me All Night Long
Guns For Hire
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (LIVE Album Promo)
Highway To Hell (LIVE Album Promo)

BONUS FEATURES

The Making Of Hard As A Rock
The Making Of Rock N Roll Train 

DVD 2 “Live At The Circus Krone”

Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be
Back In Black
Stiff Upper Lip
Shoot to Thrill
Thunderstruck
Rock N Roll Damnation
What's Next To The Moon
Hard As A Rock
Bad Boy Boogie
The Jack
If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)
Hells Bells
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Rock N Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution
T.N.T.  
Let There Be Rock
Highway To Hell
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)
Whole Lotta Rosie  

AC/DC

BACKTRACKS STANDARD BOX SET 

CD 1 [STUDIO RARITIES]

1. Stick Around
2. Love Song
3. Fling Thing
4. R.I.P. (Rock In Peace)
5. Carry Me Home
6. Crabsody In Blue
7. Cold Hearted Man
8. Snake Eye
9. Borrowed Time
10. Down On The Borderline
11. Big Gun
12. Cyberspace 

CD 2 [LIVE RARITIES]

1. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Sydney Festival 1/30/77)
2. Dog Eat Dog (Apollo 4/30/78)
3. Live Wire (Hammersmith Odeon 11/2/79)
4. Shot Down In Flames (Hammersmith Odeon 11/2/79)
5. Back In Black (Landover, MD 12/21/81)
6. T.N.T. (Landover, MD 12/21/81)
7. Let There Be Rock (Landover, MD 12/21/81)
8. Guns For Hire (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
9. Sin City (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
10. Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
11. This House Is On Fire (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
12. You Shook Me All Night Long (Detroit, MI 11/18/83)
13. Jailbreak (Dallas, TX 10/12/85)
14. Highway To Hell (Moscow 9/28/91)
15. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) (Moscow 9/28/91)
16. Safe In New York City (Phoenix, AZ 9/13/2000) 

DVD “Family Jewels Disc Three”

VIDEOS

Big Gun
Hard As A Rock
Hail Caesar
Cover You In Oil
Stiff Upper Lip
Satellite Blues
Safe In New York City
Rock N Roll Train
Anything Goes

BONUS VIDEOS

Jailbreak
It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)
Highway To Hell  
You Shook Me All Night Long
Guns For Hire
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (LIVE Album Promo)
Highway To Hell (LIVE Album Promo)

BONUS FEATURES

The Making Of Hard As A Rock
The Making Of Rock N Roll Train

Club Jazz fans should take immediate notice of City Life from the Jazz Quintet, The Dangling Success.  They build their endearing selection of songs, including a gracious rendition of The Rolling Stones' rockier “Beast of Burden,”into a collection of enjoyable instrumentals. 

The Niekrewicz experience is the centerpiece here with his saxophones.  But his accompanying band highlight his instrument with excellence, every note played in perfection.  The band's music is a time capture from the '70s and enjoyably so.  City Life is easy to fall in love with.  I highly recommend the full-album experience because you won't want to break this one apart. - ****

Imagine the AM radio Psychedelic Pop staples from the '60s and you're on target for the sound of the first album by Nurses.  Nurses is helmed by two pals who have recorded the body of this work, Apple's Acre, in attics and basements, delivering ten very cool-sounding retro-blasts that would have been at home in decades past.

This exploration of past musical styles have become the holy grail of bands, many who have dedicated themselves to the perfection of familiar sounds.  I'm not so sure that this is the case with Nurses as they sound like they would have invented the psychedelic/Pop style if it didn't already exist.  And that sentiment is very evident as you go from song to song.  Apple's Acre is a warm collection of songs that will have you interested from the beginning track. - ***

If you ever liked Echo and the Bunnymen, Siouxie and the Banshees, and/or killing Joke, then we have a new discovery for you. The Opposite Sex from DC has returned with an EP that juice those of you who appreciate good talent and that draws influence from the music that you loved in the past.

Their new (09/01) EP, Live + Burn follows their Violent Heartstrings from 2007 with more great music. I'll be surprised if you DON'T like 'em. To get you started, they are gifitng you with a free downloadable MP3 from the EP, "Frozen Heart, Frozen Mind."

They can be sampled further at their MySpace, Facebook, and LastFM. You can even follow 'em on Twitter.