By the end of Soul Mining: A Musical Life it felt like Daniel Lanois and I were friends. As if Lanois himself had read me these stories. I began listening to albums I’d never heard before as well as reinterpreting albums I was very familiar with. Now his captivating signature sound is as recognizable to me as a guitar solo by U2′s The Edge or Bob Dylan vocals.

Fans who were alive during The Doors’ reign on music get to witness previously unseen footage of their idols clowning around backstage, being interviewed by various news outlets from around the world, and living the rock lifestyle in home videos made by the band members themselves. For today’s social networking addicted youth this film is like a history lesson into the trials and tribulations of an iconic band that always hovered over the edge of chaos.

Hendrix had just taken London by storm with a BBC session that rocked the music world, cementing him as one of the most influential musicians from his era and Gered Mankowitz captured this historical moment at his legendary Masons Yard Studio.

Playing birthday shows for kids may be a great way to meet hot moms and start a new prepubescent fan base, but get a record deal? Seems a bit far fetched if you ask me, but Z02 members Joey Cassata and brothers Paulie and David Zablidowsky (otherwise known as Joey, Paulie Z, and David Z) have been doing pretty well by this formula.

In June of 1970, guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Terry “Geezer” Butler, and singer Ozzy Osbourne gathered in the studio to record Paranoid, the album Time Magazine calls “the birthplace of heavy metal. This dynamic collection of songs, which include “Iron Man,” “Paranoid,” and “War Pigs” have gone on to influence bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Slayer, etc

Rap music in the late 80’s and early 90’s was raw, violent, and eye opening to listeners around the world. Artists like EPMD, Ice Cube, N.W.A., and Snoop Dogg were at the forefront of a music revolution now known as “Gangsta Rap”, and the record label that gave their voices a mainstream audience was Priority Records.

When Justin Currie performed at New York City’s famed Joe’s Pub in mid-June the place was packed with people of all ages expecting to hear tunes from the group he co-founded in Scotland during the mid 80’s called Del Amitri. Songs like “Kiss This Thing Goodbye,” “Just Like A Man,” and “Always The Last To Know” gained notoriety because of Currie’s ability to combine uplifting tunes and darker lyrical themes

Since we’re a couple, our love and musical communication gives the music a sense of urgency when we play live,” Cupcakes explains. “We create something new every time we play we play and invite the audience to take part in the process,” and that is exactly what happened when the

He sports an old school style of rap reminiscent of lyrical geniuses such as Kool G Rap, Rakim, and KRS-One, and on a chilly saturday night in New York City the Man from the City of Wind blew the roof off Highline Ballroom to promote his new movie Just Wright, starring himself alongside veteran actor/rapper Queen Latifah

Painted On Water, the duo of star Turkish performers, whose current self-titled album project by the vocalist Sertab Erener and composer/guitarist Demir Demirkan, recently performed at the Hiro Ballroom in New York City. A highlight of their show, “Love” features a powerfully haunting and mesmerizing vocal by Erener with a rare background vocal by Demirkan.

New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) incorporates sampling and live instrumentation, while its more personal lyrics focus on themes of romance and relationships. Badu has described its sound as “very analog”. Recording during 2006 to 2009, a portion of the album was recorded at New York City’s Electric Lady Studios.

Head First is Goldfrapp’s most powerful trip to date, a speedy rush of synth optimism, euphoria, fantasy and romance. With life affirming lyrics and stellar production it lifts off at full tilt and takes us on a journey to the heart of 2010.

The spiritual presence of her sound is intoxicating, and the 50 plus people who watched Moya Brennan perform at The Winery in late March witnessed sonic beauty at its finest. Standing between two harps her music radiated throughout the venue, causing waiters and other venue employees to stop dead in their tracks. Moya’s beautiful voice [...]

There was a new sense of vigor and excitement. We’d never felt more excited to be making music. I wrote songs frantically, all the time. I would go out and come home in the morning with my pockets full of napkins that I’d written lyrics on. The songs were darker, stranger.

Love 2 is a dynamic collection of songs demonstrating the band’s sonic range, and when performed live becomes one part of the kaleidoscopic laser show which continues to amaze audiences around the world.