Lunar Boulevard

After nearly 40 years in the business it's refreshing to see Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers still going strong. With Hypnotic Eye the group returns to a more rock-oriented sound but ultimately it feels a bit undercooked and derivative to rank as an instant classic. There are some refreshing callbacks to early Heartbreakers records, namely in tunes like Fault Lines, All You Can Carry and Burnt Out Town. These tunes rank among the best on the album, blending the band's classic sound with subtle modern touches. This is where the record really shines and Petty sounds the most enthusiastic. Other tunes like the jangly Red River and the bluesy swagger of Full Grown Boy round out the group's influences. There's nothing new in these tunes but at this point Tom Petty has endured by embracing his trademark sound and adding small touches to it over the years. In that sense Hypnotic Eye is like visiting an old friend: it's warm and inviting. That's not t...

With their new album less than a month away it looks like The Gaslight Anthem is in full promotion mode. Check out the new video for "Get Hurt", which is definitely different but the song is great and a real grower. I'll have the review when the album is released but in the meantime these teasers have me more excited than ever. 

Weezer's new track, "Back to the Shack" (some weird rhyming going on here) is now available. I like the energy of it and I'm even more hopeful that the new album will be a return to greatness. You can here it at the link below and for purchase on iTunes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqZBAq2AdNc

Two space facts in a row? "Get over yourself!" I hear you saying. And you're probably right, although in my defense I was busy for the last two weeks. Preparing to move to another state will do that to you. But hey, this is about space, and on this date in 1969 Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. Every weekend seems to bring about another space anniversary. And now I have a sudden urge to go listen to The Police. We could walk forever...

On this day in 1979 Skylab crashed back to earth, landing in Australia. It had a great six year run and became about as famous for its return to earth as it was for its photos. History is interesting!

The Unforgettable Fire is one of my favorite U2 albums, yet it didn't initially start that way. At first I was underwhelmed and a bit confused at exactly what the band was doing: instrumentals, atmospheric textures, and a wide range of experimental sounds made it difficult to digest. As time went on it began to sink in and one day I suddenly realized just how brilliant and daring it really is. It turns thirty this year, so what better time to delve in and see what treasures it still has to offer? "A Sort of Homecoming" is a boisterous opener, Larry Mullen, Jr.'s booming drums giving way to Edge's hypnotic guitars and Bono's soaring vocals. It remains a fan favorite and perfectly encapsulates the fresh sound that the band undertook for this record. Everyone knows the massive anthem of "Pride (In the Name of Love)", which has become of the band's most recognizable tunes. Thirty years later it remains an inspiring piece of work that has lost n...

With all the evil and chaos in our world it can be hard to think of God as a God of love, peace and even humor. Yes, humor. How do I know? Just take a look at the majestic squirrel. How can you not love these crazy creatures? They do nothing except run out in front of cars, climb trees and cause general mischief. I'm not even sure they serve any real purpose in our world but I can't help loving them just the same. God's creation is interesting and may just reveal a fun side to our Creator that often gets overlooked. Laugh today and thank Him for creating it.

Call me strange but I'm one of those weirdos who tends to like the records that others hate. My Underrated Record Club columns make that pretty clear and there are a lot of hated albums that I'll defend and admit to enjoying. Working on a Dream has been maligned by enough fans and critics to the point where it's pretty much the consummate "this was his really bad one" record. Even Bruce's weaker albums ( Human Touch , The Ghost of Tom Joad ) have a few knockouts that keep me coming back. Often Bruce is at least able to maintain a good average in terms of songs and solid recordings so this should have been at least decent. Upon first listen I found it embarrassing and lifeless. After giving it additional time and more listens the question remains: is Working on a Dream salvageable or even, dare I say it, good? I have to give Bruce credit for going full-on pop mode this time around. That's a shift that often alienates people but Springsteen seems to ...