Something old....something new (#2)

"The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get" by Joe Walsh (released 1973)

    Joe Walsh follows up his outstanding solo debut "Barnstorm" with this masterpiece. He is one of the finest rock guitarist of all time, a rare musician whose style is so distinctive that you can identify him within a few notes. His unmatched tone and fluid slide work are weaved masterfully into each song. Following the iconic chugging rocker "Rocky Mountain Way" are two ethereal songs heavy on keyboards and melody ("Book Ends" and "Wolf"). It's amazing how the synthesizers are used so organically on this album, never sounding out of place or dated, even today. It's a testament to Walsh's incredible writing and arranging skills that the guitar is not forced to carry every song, he chooses his spots and plays the most tasteful fills and leads imaginable. Side two begins with the scat/scream/"My Woman From Tokyo" riffage of "Meadows" and ends with a trio of mellow dreamscapes. My favorite being "Days Gone By" driven by Joe Vitale's flute you can feel that this track is building up to something and does it ever! The 45 second flute/guitar break is the transcendent highlight of an album full of such moments. This is a release made for headphones so close your eyes and enjoy the trip. The best part is knowing that when you awaken from the beautiful refrain of the closer "(Day Dream) Prayer" you can hit "repeat" and do it all again.

"Halcyon Digest" by Deerhunter (released 2010)

   Deerhunter produces some of the dreamiest pop music out there today. This is their finest and most accessible release yet due to the focus on sharper, tighter songs. Deerhunter is led by musical genius, Bradford Cox, whose voice has a unique crystalline quality transporting you deep into his dreamy pop world. "Earthquake" gets the album off to a promising start with it's slo-mo rhythm and shimmering guitar. Next, we get the narcoleptic haze of "Don't Cry" followed by the hook laden tracks "Revival" and "Memory Boy". Other highlights include the beautiful, quivery "Helicopter", the sax-infused "Coronado" and pop blast of "Fountain Stairs". "Desire Lines" is trademark Deerhunter beginning with a spacey melody and than riding an instrumental groove for the final four minutes of the song (trust me, you'll wish it was twice as long). The album ends with "He Would Have Laughed" a tribute to the late indie rocker, Jay Reatard. It's a heartfelt musical eulogy and a nice closer to a terrific record. This release was my favorite of 2010, it's beautiful arrangements and production reward repeated listens.