By Harry Kaplan

The sadness that poured over me initially when I learned that Phil Lesh had passed was overwhelming. I never met Phil but I have known him for the last 40 years when my journey on the bus began. I first listened to the Grateful Dead in earnest in 1982 in a friend’s basement during a weed smoking session after school. I had heard Casey Jones and Truckin’ on the radio but never paid too much attention. “Driving that train, high on cocaine” was a catchy opener and very appealing to my 13 year old self. It was a rebellious statement, but that was all I knew. My friend had a small phonograph and put on Skeletons From The Closet and I heard Saint Stephen for the first time. Something clicked, a switch went on and I just had to know more about this group that wrote this song. Beautiful hooks and unconventional lyrics and vocals were like nothing I had ever heard before. The phrase, “One man gathers what another man spills” was so profound. I had to learn everything there was to learn about this band.

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Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

The first thing that immediately stands out is the name of the album, Goldenrod. Goldenrod is a vibrant yellow color that is often associated with warmth, energy, and optimism. In the natural world, goldenrod is also the name of a flowering plant that is known for its bright yellow blossoms. It’s easy to draw parallels between the plant and the album.

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Firefall: Friends And Family (Sunset Blvd Records) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

I have such fond memories of Firefall from the mid 70s. They were one of those bands that truly defined an era, and their music continues to transport me back in time. The melodic tunes and soothing vocals of Firefall were a staple on AM radio during those years, and their songs served as the perfect soundtrack to many moments in my life. I vividly recall long summer vacations spent with family, where road trips were accompanied by the timeless tunes of Firefall. Whether it was “You Are The Woman“, “Just Remember I Love You“, or “Strange Way” their music resonated with people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Grateful Dead: Wake Of the Flood: The Angel’s Share (Rhino Entertainment) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

I’ve been listening to this nonstop since its release on August 18, 2023 and it is literally a time machine journey 50 years back. This isn’t for the casual Dead listener, I don’t think this would be a good collection starter. But, for the Deadhead that has everything, this is perfect. You really get to see the curtain peeled back and hear the interaction between the band members. That really is priceless to hear Phil, Jerry, and Bobby in their natural environment just being themselves.

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The Waymores: Greener Pastures (Chicken Ranch Records) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Yes indeed! We need way more Waymores. This Atlanta duo is a throwback to a time when country music was authentic and not confused with pop or hip hop. People have been debating whether country music was “real” since the genre was invented. That’s part of the fun of country – arguing over which performers and artists are the most “country”. There is no debate where The Waymores are concerned. They have more country in the frayed edges of their cowboy hats than most of Nashville.

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Too Sad For The Public: Vol 2. Yet And Still – Traditional American Folk Song Stirring by Dick Connette (Story Sound Records) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Yes, it is a long title but Dick Connette can do whatever he pleases. He is music royalty. A well respected musician, composer, and producer with a long spanning career and a resume that is a mile long. This project is proof of Dick’s talents and respect he garners. So many other talented musicians and vocalists were part of this project.

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Sloppy Heads: Sometimes Just One Second (Shrimper Records) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

If you took The Pixies, The Velvet Underground, The Black Lips, and The Jesus And Mary Chain and threw them in a blender and ground ’em up real good, you would end up with the essence of Sloppy Heads. This is just what the doctor ordered if you like your music noisy and a little sloppy. And when I say sloppy, I am talking in a good way. How is sloppy good, you ask? I’m glad you brought that up. Sloppy in this context means not terribly worried about playing everything note for note. Leaving room for improvisation and focusing more on the groove and the chemistry of the musicians rather than just the technical aspects of the music. I guess a synonym would be “looseness”. But that is a very touchy thing. There is a balancing act. You can’t be too loose or too tight and Sloppy Heads get it “just right”.

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Maia Sharp: Reckless Thoughts (Crooked Crown Records) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Singer/Songwriter Maia Sharp has been doing it a long time. This is her 30th year in the music biz. Although not a household name yet, she has made many significant contributions in her own solo career as well as working with other artists. Reckless Thoughts is Maia’s ninth solo effort. Along with those releases, Maia has worked with many well established artists such as Cher, Trisha Yearwood, Terri Clark, Bonnie Raitt, Edwin McCain, and Art Garfunkel. That’s a pretty impressive list of artists.

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Beth Bombara: It All Goes Up (Black Mesa Records) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Beth did it again. She released another fantastic album that really deserves some serious attention. She doesn’t have a big machine behind her or an unlimited budget. Despite these hurdles, Beth delivers a release that has the sound and feel of a major label release. A professional band, sublime vocals and harmonies, great songwriting, and top notch production and engineering.

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Nat Meyers: Yellow Peril (Easy Eye Sound Distributed by Concord) – Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Take a trip back to the Mississippi Delta circa 1900 with Nat Meyers. He is able to assimilate the essence of all those great country and delta blues artists such as Robert Johnson, Mississippi John Hurt, Furry Lewis, et. al. I mean he nails it like a carpenter fastening two pieces of wood. The music is so complete and so authentic you cannot discern which period of time you are in. The only clue is the recording quality, which is definitely modern. There are no pops, crackles, or warbles, which some may argue detracts from the authenticity, but I say nay. The impeccable recording quality of Yellow Peril only adds to the wonderful listening experience. Those extraneous noises in the old recordings make listening a challenge. Yellow Fever takes those obstacles away and you are left with pure 24 karat gold. No fillers or impurities.

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