The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
LAST-MINUTE RIFFS
It’s not too late to rock the stockings of your tunes-loving loved ones
After this past year, there’s little doubt the 2020 holiday season will be something special. ¶ The good news is there are dozens of new music releases that cater to all tastes, ranging from Carrie Underwood and Meghan Trainor to the Goo Goo Dolls, U2 and Motörhead. ¶ If you need some last-minute gifts, here’s a quick list of new high-profile titles and holiday efforts from familiar artists that will make this shopping season more melodic and fun.
Christmas
JANIE FRICKE | “A COWGIRL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS” (CD) » Classic country singer Janie Fricke — a two-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year winner — recently released her first-ever holiday album, “A Cowgirl Country Christmas.” The set includes traditional versions of “Winter Wonderland,” “Jingle Bells” and “The Christmas Song,” as well as original single “The Followers.”
GOO GOO DOLLS | “IT’S CHRISTMAS ALL OVER” (CD) » Confirming 2020 continues to deliver the unexpected, the Goo Goo Dolls have thrown their altrock hat into the holiday-album ring with the group’s first-ever seasonal effort, “It’s Christmas All Over.” In addition to popular songs such as “Let It Snow” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the Buffalo band recorded originals “This Is Christmas” and “You Ain’t Getting Nothin’.”
TORI KELLY | “A TORI KELLY CHRISTMAS” (CD) » For her first holiday album, “American Idol” alum Tori Kelly pulled out the big guns recording “Let It Snow” with Babyface. That memorable track, along with originals “25th”and “Gift That Keeps on Giving,” is featured on “A Tori Kelly Christmas,” which also includes traditional songs “Silent Night” and “Christmas Time Is Here.”
MADDIE & TAE | “WE NEED CHRISTMAS” (CD) » Platinum-selling duo Maddie & Tae’s first-ever holiday release, “We Need Christmas,” features popular songs such as “Holly Jolly Christmas” and “O Come All Ye Faithful,” as well as originals “Merry Married Christmas” and the title track.
MEGHAN TRAINOR | “A VERY TRAINOR CHRISTMAS”(CD)» Not only is Meghan Trainor “All About That Bass,” but the Grammy Award-winning singer-song
writer also enjoys the holiday season with her first-ever Christmas album, “A Very Trainor Christmas.” The release includes five original songs, as well as the obligatory yuletide classics, with a memorable version of “White Christmas” featuring Seth MacFarlane (“Family Guy”).
CARRIE UNDERWOOD | “MY GIFT” (CD/ LP) » After the multi-platinum success of her last album, “Cry Pretty,” Carrie Underwood is back with firstever Christmas album “My Gift.” Not only does the holiday effort find Underwood performing “The Little Drummer Boy” with son Isaiah, but the country singer is joined by John Legend on the new song “Hallelujah,” which is receiving radio airplay.
Christian
FORKING&COUNTRY|“ADRUMMERBOY CHRISTMAS” (CD) » Popular CCM outfit for KING & COUNTRY are helping fans celebrate the reason for the season with its debut holiday effort, “A Drummer Boy Christmas.” The Grammy Award-winning Australian duo not only recorded two original songs, “Heavenly Hosts” and “A Carol of Joseph,” but it also was joined in the studio by Needtobreathe for “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
Country
JUSTIN MOORE | “LIVE AT THE RYMAN” (CD) » Over the last decade, Justin Moore has become one of Nashville’s biggest stars. The multi-platinum country singer celebrates his great run with concert release “Live at the Ryman,” which includes his nine No. 1 hits and a Waylon Jennings classic. Joining Moore on stage are guests Chris Janson, David Lee Murphy and Ricky Skaggs.
ANTHRAX | “THE PERSISTENCEOFTIME”(CD/LP/DVD) » Speed=metal band Anthrax celebrates the 30th anniversary of “The Persistence of Time” with a deluxe edition featuring the fully remastered 11-track album, as well as a bonus B-side version of “I’m the Man” that leans more hiphop than rock.
MOTÖRHEAD | “ACE OF SPADES” (CD/LP/DVD) » Everyone seemingly has that one crazy uncle who talks nonstop about how all music starts and stops with Motörhead. Well, here’s the perfect holiday gift: a massive 40th-anniversary celebration of the influential group’s definitive album, “Ace of Spades.” The deluxe edition box-set features the original album, two previously unreleased live albums, a DVD compilation and a tour program.
Rock
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND | “TROUBLE NO MORE: 50TH ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION” (CD/LP) » Curated by respected historians of the group, the Allman Brothers Band’s “Trouble No More: 50th Anniversary Collection” acts as the definitive box set and features 61 of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee act’s classics, live performances and rarities. The set begins with a demo of “Trouble No More” and ends with a rousing version of the Muddy Waters track from the group’s final performance at New York’s Beacon Theatre.
THE B-52S | “LIVE AT THE US FESTIVAL” (DVD) »
Prior to The B-52s’ breakout hit, “Love Shack,” the new wave band was known for its oddball yet catchy tunes such as “Rock Lobster” and “Private Idaho.” Now the Athens, Georgia band — Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson — is giving fans a chance to relive its past with the new DVD “Live at the US Festival.”
THE CRANBERRIES | “NO NEED TO ARGUE” (CD/LP) » Nearly three years after the unexpected death of singer Dolores O’Riordan,” The Cranberries have released a remastered and expanded version of its massive-selling 1994 album “No Need
to Argue,” which includes monster single “Zombie.” The 36-track set features Bsides, previously unreleased tracks and Carpenters cover “(They Long to be) Close to You.”
CREAM | “GOODBYE” (CD) » The power of super-group power-trio Cream — Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton — is on full display with the fabulous reissue of live album “Goodbye,” which boasts 36 songs, 19 of which are previously released. The 1969 concert collection featuring live gems — “Sunshine of Your Love,” “Crossroads” and “Toad” — is culled from four shows recorded during the band’s farewell tour the year before.
JIMI HENDRIX | “MUSIC, MONEY,MADNESS…JIMIHENDRIX IN MAUI” AND “LIVE IN MAUI” (CD/LP/BLU-RAY) »
Despite the fact Jimi Hendrix’s last show was half a century ago, his family continues to put out concerts from the legend’s brief but magical career. The latest of which is not only the concert recording “Live in Maui” but also new featurelength documentary “Music, Money, Madness…Jimi Hendrix in Maui.” The former includes an impressive “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” and electric “Stone Free,” while the latter features 16mm color footage from two shows.
PETER FRAMPTON | “DO YOU FEEL LIKE I DO?: A MEMOIR” (HARDCOVER/E-BOOK/AUDIO) »
In the middle of his farewell tour before the pandemic put it on hold, Peter Frampton recently released “Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir.” The 352page book delves into the blessing and curse of his breakout album, “Frampton Comes Alive!,” as well as friendships with David Bowie, George Harrison, Harry Nilsson, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Wyman and Ringo Starr.
PIXIES | “BOSSANOVA” (LP) » During a four-year stretch in the late ‘80s, Pixies released four albums the alt-rock act continues to tour off decades later. Included in that batch is “Bossanova,” with the band recently celebrating its 30th anniversary by releasing a special red vinyl edition.
THE ROLLING STONES | “GOATS HEAD SOUP” (CD/ LP) » The Rolling Stones’ reissue effort continued this year with the release of “Goats Head Soup.” The limited deluxe edition of the 1973 album includes great live versions of “Angie” and “Dancing With Mr. D.” However, it’s the three previously unheard tracks — “Criss Cross,” “All the Rage” and “Scarlet,” featuring Jimmy Page — that truly will appeal to fans.
TEARS FOR FEARS | “THE SEEDS OF LOVE” (CD/BLURAY) » Known pretty much as a one-album wonder, Tears for Fears did have a few more albums of note. This includes 1989’s “The Seeds of Love,” which featured the Beatles-esque title track. Now fans can take a deep dive into the underrated album with 22 unreleased tracks, including demo sessions, live jams, studio sessions and rare mixes.
U2 | “ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND” (CD/LP) » Looking back at 2000 U2 release “All That You Can’t Leave Behind,” the platinum album set the blueprint for the Irish band’s subsequent decades in choosing radiofriendly, studio-enhanced tunes (“Beautiful Day” and “Walk On”) over its anthemic rock past. As for the remastered reissue, sure there are the obligatory bonus tracks and remixes, but it’s the 2001 Boston concert — including the underrated “Kite” — that is truly the new set’s centerpiece.
THE WHITE STRIPES | “THE WHITE STRIPES GREATEST HITS” (CD/LP) » Little did we know at the time that Jack White’s “Saturday Night Live” fall appearance — including “Ball and Biscuit” — was actually a showcase promoting The White Stripes’ first-ever best-of set. The 26-track anthology includes hits and fan favorites — “Seven Nation Army,” “Fell in Love with a Girl,” “Dead Leaves and The Dirty Ground” and “We’re Going to be Friends.”
VARIOUS ARTISTS | “ERIC CLAPTON’S CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL 2019” (CD/ LP/BLU-RAY) » Over the decades, Eric Clapton has hosted a number of “Crossroads Guitar Festival” shows. The most recent two-day festival from last year is a star-studded affair that culminates with the host joined by John Mayer on “Layla,” as well as a jawdropping cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain.”