Nooky Jones’ New EP Is The “Sweetest” Of 2019’s New EPs

Courtesy: Press Junkie PR

EPs are some of the most under- and unappreciated records in the music industry.  Composed sometimes of no more than three songs, others as many as six or seven songs, they are often overlooked by audiences simply because they are not full-length recordings.  Given, sometimes they are little more than space-fillers to tide fans over between albums, but in other cases, they are chances for new, up-and-coming acts to get their feet in the door.  Whether one is the case or the other, the fact of the matter is that EPs deserve just as much credit as their full-length counterparts.  That is something that this critic has preached for years.  Keeping that in mind, they deserve a year-ender “Best Of” list as those records, and that is exactly what is presented here.

From Sister Hazel’s latest EPs Fire and Earth to underground rockers Charm City Devils’ latest offering 1904 to indie artist Denim’s new EP Endless Summer and more, this year has provided a lot to appreciate in the way of EPs.  There’s some rock here, some r&b and even some reggae, so this list is not limited to just one genre.  As with every list, this list features the Top 10 titles plus five honorable mentions for a total of 15 titles.  Those honorable mentions are not bad titles.  Everything was based on general content overall and the records’ separate lyrical and musical content.  Without further ado, here is Phil’s Picks 2019 Top 10 New EPs.

 

PHIL’S PICKS 2019 TOP 10 NEW EPS

1. Nooky Jones — Like Candy
2. Sister Hazel — Fire
3. Sister Hazel — Earth
4. Santana — In Search of Mona Lisa
5. Denim — Endless Summer
6. Joyous Wolf — Place in Time
7. Lakou Mizik & The 79ers Gang — Iko Kreyol
8. ZFG — ZFG
9. Hot 8 Brass Band — Take Cover
10. Charm City Devils — 1904
11. The Jacks — The Jacks
12. Wake Hate — Deep Sleep
13. 18th & Addison — Old Blues / Modern Love
14. The Crash Republic — Homewreckers: Sweet Apathy
15. August Burns Red — Phantom Sessions

 

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Foghat To Release ‘Live At The Belly Up’ On CD Next Month

Courtesy: Foghat Records

This past February, veteran rock outfit Foghat released its new live recording Live at the Belly Up digitally, and this summer, the band will finally release the recording on CD.

Live at the Belly Up will be released on CD Friday, June 30 via the band’s own Foghat Records.  In anticipation of the recording’s release, the band has launched a PledgeMusic campaign giving fans the chance to pre-order the record with exclusive associated merchandise.

Different merchandise is available at different pledge levels. A $15 pledge gets fans a copy of the record along with Access Pass.  A $30 pledge can get fans a Live at the Belly Up t-shirt or drink holder.

Pledge levels go all the way up to $500 and quantities of each item is limited.  Audiences that want to check out the show before they decide whether or not to make that pledge can see a clip of the band performing its hit song ‘Slow Ride’ from the show here.  The record’s full track listing is noted below.

‘Live at the Belly Up’ Track Listing:
Fool for City / Eight Days On The Road
Under the Influence
Stone Blue
Drivin’ Wheel
Knock It Off
Terraplane Blues
Hot Mama
California Blues
I Just Want to Make Love to You
Slow Ride

The band is touring live in support of Live at the Belly Up.  It will be live at The Rose in Pasadena on May 25 and at The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills on May 26.

It will also join Jeff Foxworthy and Larry The Cable Guy on the pair’s Jeff & Larry Backyard Barbecue this summer beginning August 13 in Saratoga, NY.  The tour’s schedule, which includes a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina on September 15, is noted below.

08/13 – SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
08/19 – ENGLEWOOD, CO
08/20 – ALBUQUERQUE, NM
08/25 – CLARKSTON, MI
08/26 – NOBLESVILLE, IN
09/15 – CHARLOTTE, NC

As if those live dates are not enough, the band also has scheduled a “Rock of the 70s” Shows with Atlanta Rhythm Section Pure Prairie League, Pat Travers Band and Poco.  It is also scheduled to perform as part of the Rock Getaway on the Riviera Maya from Oct. 26 to Nov. 5. The festival also features performances from Santana, Don Henley, Roger Daltry, Bad Company, Pat Benatar, Steve Miller, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, George Thorogood, REO and more.

More information on Foghat’s upcoming live dates, its new live recording and more is available online now at:

 

 

 

Website: http://foghat.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FOGHAT

Twitter: http://twitter.com/foghat

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Franti’s Latest LP “Rocks” Phil’s PIcks 2016 Albums Of The Year List

Courtesy: Fantasy Records

The time has come.  Today is New Year’s Eve eve.  That means 2016 is nearly in the books.  With that year right at it’s end, it’s time for the last two of this year’s Phil’s Picks best of lists.

Rounding out this year’s lists are the year’s top new albums overall and the year’s top new overall movies.  The year’s top new albums list is up first.  It was not an easy list to assemble either as there were so many stand out records released from across the musical universe’s many genres.

This year’s top albums list is represented by music from the jazz community, the world of children’s music, rock, blues, and even reggae in the form of Michael Franti and Spearhead’s new album Soulrocker.

As with every previous Phil’s Picks list, this list features Phil’s Picks’ top 10 new titles plus five honorable mention titles, bringing the total count to 15.  Having noted that here for you is Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 new albums.

 

PHIL’S PICKS 2016 TOP 10 NEW ALBUMS

 

1. Michael Franti & Spearhead – Soulrocker

 

2. Santana – IV

 

3. Joe Bonamassa – Blues of Desperation

 

4. Yellowjackets – Cohearance

 

5. Foghat – Under The Influence

 

6. The Okee Dokee Brothers – Saddle Up

 

7. Songs of the Night: Dance Recordings by the Joseph C. Smith Orchestra 1916 – 1925

 

8. Marian Hill – Act I

 

9. Love and a .38 – Nomad

 

10. Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Getaway

 

11. Rich Robinson – Flux

 

12. Charles Lloyd and the Marvels – I Long To See You

 

13. Logan Richardson – Shift

 

14. Tedeschi Trucks Band – Let Me Get By

 

15. Mountain Heart – Blue Sky

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Santana Shines Again In Phil’s Picks’ 2016 Top 10 New Live DVDs/BDs List

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

The weather outside is definitely looking frightful this time of year.  That means rather than going outside to get out and about, people are going to be looking more for ways to have fun while they stay indoors and stay warm.  That is just one of so many reasons that record labels churn out so many live recordings each year.  The problem with all of those recordings is that while some are truly standout offerings, others are otherwise forgettable space fillers used to fulfill contractual obligations for the given acts.  Presented today are some of the best of this year’s new live recordings.

Whereas Phil’s Picks already presented the year’s top new live CD recordings, this time Phil’s Picks is presenting the year’s top new live DVDs and Blu-rays.  A lot of thought and consideration went into this list.  The concerts’ set lists, the bands’ performances, the cinematography and audio mix all went into consideration for this list as did the recordings’ companion booklets or lack thereof.  So it goes without saying that it wasn’t an easy list to assemble.  But this critic tried.

As always, the list presented here includes not just this critic’s list of the year’s top new live DVDs and BDs but five honorable mention titles for a total of 15 recordings.  Without any further ado, here for you, is Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Live DVDs/BDs.

PHIL’S PICKS 2016 TOP 10 NEW LIVE DVDs/BDs

 

1. Santana – Santana IV Live at the House of Blues Las Vegas

2. KISS – KISS Rocks Vegas

 

3. Joe Bonamassa – Live at the Greek Theatre

4. Judas Priest – Battle Cry

5. Motley Crue – The End Live in Los Angeles

6. The Rolling Stones – Havana Moon

7. Deep Purple – Live at the NEC

8. Melody Gardot – Live in Paris

9. Gregory Porter – Live in Berlin

10. Scorpions – Live in Munich

11. Alan Jackson – Live at Red Rocks

12. Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock – Rock on a Mission – Live in Madrid

13. Saxon – Feel Your Power

14. Imagine Dragons – Smoke + Mirrors Live

15. Fall Out Boy – The Boys of Zummer Tour – Live in Chicago

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Veteran Rock Acts Tops Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Rock Albums List

Courtesy: Santana IV Records

The rock community, it seems, was bursting at the seams with new releases this year.  While some records were okay at best, there were just as many that proved to be truly outstanding efforts.  Needless to say there were so many of said albums that it was anything but easy to come up with a list of the year’s top new rock records.  But somehow, Phil’s Picks managed it.  That list includes new efforts from bands young and old alike.  The more experienced bands featured on this list include: Santana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foghat just to name a few.  The younger bands represented here include the likes of Buffalo Summer, Love and a .38, and Zodiac.  Whether veteran or next generation, the rock community produced a slew of outstanding records this year.

Phil’s Picks presents 15 of those records with its Top 10 picks and five honorable mention titles.  Without any further ado, here is the Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Rock Albums.

 

PHIL’S PICKS 2016 TOP 10 NEW ROCK ALBUMS

 

1. Santana – IV

 

2. Foghat – Under The Influence

 

3. The Dead Daisies – Make Some Noise

 

4. Love and a .38 – Nomad

 

5. Buffalo Summer – Second Sun

 

6. Alter Bridge – The Last Hero

 

7. Zodiac – Grain of Soul

 

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Getaway

 

9. Blackberry Smoke – Like An Arrow

 

10. Resurrection Kings – Resurrection Kings

 

11. Skillet – Unleashed

 

12. Apollo Under Fire – Apollo Under Fire

 

13. Fates Warning – Theory of Flight

 

14. Ray Rocket – Do You Wanna Go To Tijuana

 

15. Candlebox – Disappearing in Airports

 

 

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Santana Shows The Way In The Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Live CDs List

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Experiencing a live performance of one’s favorite act(s) is a very special event.  That is because it serves to help fans and their favorite acts connect in a way that taking in said acts’ studio releases just can’t.  What’s more attending live concerts isn’t always easy or inexpensive.  Between the cost of tickets, food, souvenirs, gas, and lodging, attending concerts can cost almost as much as a used car sometimes, depending on the act.  In other cases, one’s favorite acts might never even come near one’s town.  So what is a person to do to experience one’s favorite acts?  The answer is simple: the live recording.  That brings us to the topic of today’s “Best Of” list.

Today, Phil’s Picks presents its list of the year’s Top 10 New Live CDs.  Everyone should understand this is distinguished from the year’s top new live DVDs and BDs.  That’s because some recordings come only on CD while others are only presented on the latter format.  Others are also presented in both formats both separate of one another and collectively.  The recordings included in this list include both standalone CDs and CDs included in complete DVD/BD/CD sets.  One of the standalone live CDs included in this list is ZZ Top’s new live recording Greatest Hits Live.  The Outlaws’ Legacy Live is another of those standalone CD recordings.  Joe Bonamassa also has a new live recording in the form of Live at the Greek Theatre that is available on separate CD, DVD, and BD platforms.  It’s on this list, too.  Suffice it to say, there’s a healthy mix of new live titles here both in terms of genre and platform.  So, enough rambling.  Presented here for you is Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Live CDs.

It should be noted here again that the list includes the Phil’s Picks Top 10 new Live CDs as well as five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 recordings.

 

PHIL’S PICKS 2016 TOP 10 NEW LIVE CDs

 

1. Santana – IV Live at the House of Blues Las Vegas

2. ZZ Top – Greatest Hits Live

3. Judas Priest – Battle Cry

4. KISS – KISS Rocks Vegas

5. Joe Bonamassa – Live at the Greek Theatre

6. The Outlaws – Legacy Live

7. The Rolling Stones – Havana Moon

8. Motley Crue – The End: Live in Los Angeles

9. Saxon – Feel Your Power

10. Imagine Dragons – Smoke + Mirrors Live

11. Iggy Pop – Post Pop Depression

12. Ayreon – The Theater Equation
13. Pete Townshend’s Deep End – Face The Face

14. Wacken 2015 – 26 Years Louder Than Hell

15. Leprous – Live at Rockefeller Center

 

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it.  Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.