On this week’s episode, we dig into the eponymous third album by the “Queen of Americana” 1988’s Lucinda Williams.  After a move to California, Lucinda Williams found herself in the middle of a burgeoning roots rock scene, where traditional music was being performed with a punk-rock attitude. She formed a band of ace musicians and began making a name for herself as part of the scene. Eventually signed by Rough Trade after several labels passed, Williams recorded a self-titled LP that is the...

On this week’s episode, its another “Listener Pick,” the band and LP that gave the world Glam Rock: 1971’s Electric Warrior,  the second album by T. Rex. Marc Bolan, T-Rex's charismatic front man played a pivotal role in early 70’s British rock. Forming the folk-rock duo/band Tyrannosaurus Rex, Bolan would embrace the shortened moniker “T. Rex” at the dawn of the 1970’s, as well as a more flamboyant look, attitude, and sound, essentially ushering in the Glam Rock era. Bolan and T. Rex...

On this weeks episode, we take a listen to the third album by Wilco, 1999’s Summerteeth. Wilco rose from the ashes of Uncle Tupelo trying to find its  footing in the shadow of Son Volt, the band  Jay Farrar founded. Wilco lead singer and main songwriter Jeff Tweedy had the vision of letting multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett play just about any keyboard he could get his hands on while he and the rest of the band provided strong backing that let the songs sound like pop tunes from another...

 On this weeks episode, we discuss one of the most underrated albums by one of the most underrated bands of the 1990s: Spilt Milk by Jellyfish.  Only the band's second outing, Spilt Milk is a fully realized collection of of meticulously crafted pop songs, with orchestration and lyrics that elevate those songs way above your normal pop fare. After a critically acclaimed, but commercial disappointing debut, the creative core of the Jellyfish- Andy Sturmer and Roger Manning Jr - set out to...

On this week's episode, we talk about the third LP from the Steve Miller Band: 1969’s Brave New World.  Considered by many to be the most consistent album from his early years, it is an album that foreshadowed the path Miller would take in subsequent albums. It's a mix of swampy blues, gurgling synths, and psychedelic overtones. But most of all it's a guitar album that shows off Miller's considerable chops on the instrument. 

On this week’s episode its another "Listener Pick." We talk about the last album by Nick Drake, 1972’s Pink Moon. Upon its initial release, the album  was a both a critical and commercial failure, but it has grow in stature and appreciation for both critics and fans in the decades since.   The album is quiet, mostly just Drake and his acoustic guitar, with lyrics steeped celestial imagery about loneliness and and heartbreak. Reclusive by nature, Drake did little to support the album by way of...

So this is it, we’ve hit 100 album reviews (or whatever it is we do on our little show). We decided that the only way properly celebrate was to talk about an album by the most influential rock band in rock and roll history - the Beatles - and their fifth studio album: 1965’s Help! . Released at the height of Beatlemania, Help! is the last album of what is typically considered “Early period” Beatles. Tied to the movie of the same name, Help! is too often dismissed as just a soundtrack album...

Here's a phrase you don't read very often: One of the biggest bands to ever come out of Iceland. Sigur Ros have gone through numerous personnel and style change since its formation in the 90s, but their music has always been unique. This album, their fourth, is difficult to categorize. It is atmospheric and ethereal, with guitars played with bows (instead of picks), drums that aren't designed to keep rhythm, lush orchestration, and an abundance of chiming sounds. The songs on this album have...

On this week episode, we dive into one of the top selling albums of all time, 1976's monster from the Eagles Hotel California. Much maligned by This Is Vinyl Tap in the past, in the spirit of the times we decided to take an unbiased critical look at the album and discuss it for it merits (that last bit was very difficult to type with a straight face). 

This week, we delve into what many contend is the blue print for 1990's power pop, the 1991 LP by Matthew Sweet, Girlfriend. Things were not looking particularly up for Sweet as he worked on his third album. Professionally he had no label, and personally his marriage was falling apart.  Having released two competent, but commercial disappointing albums for 2 different labels, no one expected what came next. Tentatively titled Nothing Lasts, the album was rechristened Girlfriend after...

For this episode, we focus on the 6th album of singer-songwriter Steve Forbert, The American in Me.  Forbert focuses on the realities of middle-aged life with its failures and compromises. Despite the general feeling of weariness, his humor and hope come through.  Although there are no hits on this album, many tracks sure sound like they could have been.  We bet American listeners will recognize the American in themselves. 

On this episode, we take a look at another listener's pick: Warren Zevon's eponymous second album. Produced by Jackson Browne and featuring  a who’s who of the mid-70’s “California Sound” (including members of the Eagles, J.D Souther, David Lindley, and Jackson Browne), the album is full of wry wit and dark humor. His lyrics may cover familiar ground, but he imbibes the subject with a self-depreciated sense of self awareness that strips a way much of the clichéd romance found in so many other...

On this week's podcast, we dig into one of the most respected and understated guitarists in the business, Ry Cooder, and his 1974 LP Paradise and Lunch.  Cooder’s slide guitar has graced albums by Van Morrison, Little Feat, and the Rolling Stones. He has also written and performed music on countless soundtracks and is perhaps most well known for his work with the Buena Vista Social Club. On Paradise and Lunch, Cooder covers a variety of tunes from a variety of genres, including obscure blues...

On this week's podcast, we have another “Listener’s Choice,” the 1977 debut by Television - Marquee Moon.  Recorded in the fall of 1976 and released in February of 1977, Marquee Moon was a critical darling and a minor hit in the UK. Music fans in the US outside of New York were indifferent. Which is unfortunate because Marquee Moon is an album worthy of attention.  Over the melodic yet solid rhythm section of drummer Billy Ficca and bassist Fred Smith, duel lead guitarists Tom Verlaine and...

On this week's podcast, we take a look at the 1987 album Clutching at Straws  by the kings of 80's Neoprog Marillion. By the early 1980's in the wake of Punk and New Wave, Progressive Rock (or Prog Rock) was considered decidedly "uncool" by the the music press. In the midst of all of this, a bunch of young bands who loved the Prog Rock of the 70's decided to ignore what was considered "hip" and make the music they wanted to make. Rather than forgo those things essential to Prog Rock for the...

On this memorial episode of This Is Vinyl Tap, we discuss the life and legacy of one of rock’s most unique and imaginative guitarists, Beck. We focus on his 1968 groundbreaking album Truth.  After his very successful, but short-lived, stint in the Yardbirds, Beck began to work on his next project. Finding an amazing supporting cast in singer Rod Stewart, bassist Ron Wood, and drummer Mickey Waller, Beck recorded an album that used the foundation of the blues to build something that was...

On this episode, we discuss the 1972 eponymous debut from B.W. Stevenson, a tragically overlook talent from Texas.  Stevenson was one of group of artists identified with the progressive or Outlaw country movement of the early 1970s,  a singer-songwriter based  movement that strove for a more authentic sound than that coming out of Nashville at the time. Stevenson’s debut did showcase his ability to write incredibly earnest and introspective songs, about longing and loneliness. Unfortunately...

On this, our third violation podcast, we finally get around to talking about the late, great King of Western Swing: Bob Wills.   While wills didn’t invent Western Swing, he was most certainly the most recognizable face of the genre. Wills was a musical melting pot of sorts, combining traditional string music with the horns and phrasing of jazz ad big band music, and tossing in a good dose of Tejano, gospel, and anything else he could find. The result was a truly unique and utterly danceable...

On this weeks episode, we dig into the second album by the Psychedelic Furs, Talk, Talk, Talk.  Starting as so many other young UK bands did in mid-1970s, the Psychedelic Furs got inspired after seeing the Sex Pistols. They met with almost immediate success, and were talked about n the same breadth as U2 as the next big thing. They even shared the same produce - famed British producer, Steve Lillywhite, who helped them refine their sound on their first two albums.  While Talk, Talk, Talk was...

 This week we take a deep dive into the 1978 LP by the Jam All Mod Cons. The Jam’s music was steeped in the urgency and energy of punk, but unlike most of their contemporaries, the Jam was not interested in tearing down what came before.  Instead, the Jam unabashedly embraced the music and fashion of the 1960’s Great Britain, particularly that of the Who and the Kinks. As a result, the Jam helped to usher in the Neo-Mod movement in the UK, and gained then a rabidly loyal following in their...

This week we take a listen to the 1971 debut LP by J.J. Cale Naturally. Though not a household name, J.J. Cale (or Johnny Cale as he was originally known) was a songwriter, singer, engineer, and guitarist of great renown among his fellow musicians. He has penned songs made famous by other artists (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Poco, and, most famously Eric Clapton) and he may well be one of the most influential guitarist in rock.  A pillar if the "Tulsa Sound" (whatever that is), his laid back approach and...

On this week's episode, we look at our second "Lister's Choice" and a record that we were for the most part sadly unaware of: the 1994 studio debut by Jeff Buckley - Grace. Jeff Buckley's career was brief, but brilliant. The son a famed singer/songwriter Tim Buckley, he worked as a session guy before making people really take notice at a New York tribute concert in his dad's honor. Jeff unfortunately followed in his father's footsteps by dying too young, with a brilliant career ahead of...

On this weeks episode, we dive deep into Heart Like A Wheel, the 1974 LP from  Linda Ronstadt. Possessing one of the strongest, versatile, and distinctive voices in rock has allowed Ronstadt to sing some of the greatest songs ever written in just about every musical genre. On this album, she interprets songs by variety of singers and songwriters to stunning effect, including James Taylor, Lowell George, Phil Everly, and Kate McGarrigle. While this was her fifth album, is was also her break...

On this episode, we talk about the 1982 self-titled debut from Marshall Crenshaw. Arriving in New York after a stint with the traveling production of Beatlemania, Detroit born Crenshaw caught the attention of the New York music scenesters by writing and performing tight little pop tunes. Lauded by Critics, making several end of year “best of” lists. The album also stood out at the time. It was markedly different than the big radio anthems getting regular radio airplay. Musicians were also...

The year 1967 was quite a year for rock music and this second album from The Jefferson Airplane was one of the first and most influential albums released that year. It's a psychedelic album with strange guitar sounds, strange lyrics, and strange arrangements, and the influence of new member Grace Slick cannot be overstated. Embrace the strange with us on this episode of This Is Vinyl Tap.