Upcoming Releases (all dates subject to change):

UPCOMING RELEASES:

NOTES:	The Infamous Stringdusters announced "Undercover, Vol. #3" (featuring a bitchin' cover of Avicii's "Wake Me Up.") will be released on November 13th. Tom Petty releases the official bootleg of "Live in Edinburgh 1982: The Gennaro Tapes" on 11/29! The Rolling Stones announced rarities packed Shepherd's Bush release on 12/6! NEEDTOBREATHE have announced two live album reissues in "Live From The Woods" and "Acoustic Live Vol. 1," which will both be released on November 22 The Jethro Tull Christmas Album is expanded and remixed on 12/6! CD1: Original Album Mixes CD2: 2024 Remixes by Bruce Soord (of pineapple thief) CD3: Christmas Live At St. Bride's 2008 (newly remixed by Bruce Soord) CD4: The Ian Anderson Band Live At St. Bride's 2006 (previously unreleased) Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos, 5.1 Surround Sound & High Resolution Stereo Mixes of The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, as well as High Resolution Stereo Mixes of both live recordings Poison's Rikki Rockett will release his memoir on "Ghost Notes" on 7/15/25.
NOW ON SALE:	Undercover, Vol. #3-The Infamous Stringdusters (ft. Binghamton native, Andy Hall) State Champs-State Champs Up To Here-Tragically Hip (expanded 3CD box set edition) Songs Of A Lost World-The Cure My Favorite Holiday (EP)-Ruben Studdard (american idol) "Hallowed Be Thy Name: The Iron Maiden Bible " by Martin Popoff hits stores today. Songs For A Nervous Planet-Tears For Fears (live album) The Night The Zombies Came-Pixies Cartoon Darkness-Amyl & The Sniffers Album Of The Year #1 Funkateer-Bootsy Collins We Take No Prisoners, The Singles 1995-2006-Motorhead (9-disc, 7" vinyl box/ 2CD/ digital) Live At The Fillmore East, 1969-Crosby Stills Nash & Young (2CD/ digital) Queen 1-Queen (6CD/ 1LP re-imagining of debut Queen album) Brothers-Alex Van Halen autobiography via Harper Collins (only 384 pages). Shawn-Shawn Mendes I Want Blood-Jerry Cantrell (guitar and harmony vocals for alice in chains) Music For People Who Believe In Love-Joe Jonas Heavy Lifting-MC5 American Football-American Football (covers) Long After Dark-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (2CD expanded edition) The Silver Snarling Trumpet: The Birth Of The Grateful Dead-Robert Hunter
RECENT RELEASES:	Supercharged-The Offspring No Obligation-The Linda Lindas The Art Of Letting Go-Myles Kennedy (slash/ alter bridge) [limited edition 1LP gatefold royal blue splatter/ fuchsia/ cristallo w/ signed card/ royal blue/ baby blue/ marble rose/ marble blue/ marble violet black/ solid viola/ black or 1CD limited edition digisleeve box w-notebook-3 pencils-pin/ 1CD digisleeve w/sticker & pick/ 1CD digisleeve/ digital] Moon Music-Coldplay with you in spirit-Balance & Composure Leon-Leon Bridges Cancelled EP-Motley Crue 28,340 Dead-Godspeed You! Black Emperor 143-Katy Perry High-Keith Urban 7-Nelly Furtado Sink Your Teeth-Neon Trees Like All Before You-Julian Casablances & The Voidz (digital only release) My Years With UFO-Michael Schenker (w/ guests Dee Snider, Joey Tempest, Joe Lynn Turner, Slash and more…) Skid Row Live In London-Skid Row Five Dice, All Threes-Bright Eyes Flow Critical Lucidity-Thurston Moore Radios And Rainbows-Kate Pierson (b-52's)
Date:	Title-Artist(s):
11/15/24:	Trapeze's The Lost Tapes, Vol. #2-Trapeze FROM ZERO-Linkin Park Bouquet-Gwen Stefani Gratitude-Mary J. Blige Living In The Material World-George Harrison (50th Anniversary edition)
11/22/24:	Mahashmashana-Father John Misty Nobody Loves You More-Kim Deal This Strange Machine-Marillion (expanded edition as a 4CD + 1blu-ray set and/or 5LP boxed set) Dr. Feelgood-Motley Crue (3CD or 3LP boxed sets) Live From The Woods-NEEDTOBREATHE Acoustic Live Vol. 1-NEEDTOBREATHE MMJ LIVE VOL. 4: TERMINAL 5 - NYC - THE TENNESSEE FIRE 10/18/10-My Morning Jacket One Assassination Under God: Chapter 1-Marilyn Manson How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb-U2 (8LP or 5CD box set, includes 5 previously unreleased tracks)
11/29/24	Eric Clapton's 2023 Crossroads Guitar Festival-various artists (including Joe Bonamassa/ Sheryl Crow/ Los Lobos/ John Mayer/ Santana) [4CD/ 2 blu-ray] Live in Edinburgh 1982: The Gennaro Tapes-Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
12/6/24:	Dua Lipa Live From The Royal Albert Hall-Dua Lipa Welcome To Shepherd's Bush-The Rolling Stones (4K UHD/ blu-ray + 2CD/ 2CD/ black or white vinyl) The Jethro Tull Christmas Album: Fresh Snow At Christmas-Jethro Tull (remixed and expanded) Lucinda Williams Signs The Beatles From Abbey Road-Lucinda Williams Vicious Creature-Lauren Mayberry (debut solo album for CHVRCHES singer) Rose'-Rose' (solo album from blackpink member)
12/13/24:	Rome-The National (live album) Missionary-Snoop Dogg The Night-Saint Etienne
01/10/25:	The Human Fear-Franz Ferdinand Look Up-Ringo Starr (country album from former beatle)
1/17/25:	Dear Life-David Gray
1/24/25:	Bloom-Larkin Poe
1/31/25:	Critical Thinking-Manic Street Preachers
2/7/25:	Parasomnia-Dream Theatre Universe Room-Guided By Voices
2/14/25:	Love & Hyperbole-Alessia Cara Sleepless Empire-Lacuna Coil
2/21/25:	So Close To What-Tate McRae Antibloom-Silverstein Oh! The Ocean-The Wombats
3/28/25:	Dreams On Toast-The Darkness Heartbreaker-Mike Campbell (memoir due in bookstores today.)
7/15/25:	"Ghost Notes" memoir from Poison's Rikki Rockett.

History Of Local Releases from Binghamton Area Artists:

...got an album by a Binghamton area artist to add?  Please send your submission to: Info@Radio2Point0.com. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Nowhere But Down-Woodshed Prophets

---If The Woodshed Prophets self-titled debut was their shot at proving themselves to be a viable recording entity, and not just a cover band, then "Nowhere But Down," sees the band getting more comfortable with the place they've carved out. 

----They refer to their style as "Power Twang," so with that in mind this album is a little more twang and a little less power, while their first disc was a little more power.  That's not such a bad thing.  The songs are still strong, but while they rock a bit less, they are still celebratory.  This is closer to a good time party album.  It gets a bit mellow at the end, but what party doesn't? 

---"Nowhere But Down" opens with the raucous, party anthem "Moonshiners Ball," but from that high, descends into an almost happy, but not quite "let's get drunk to forget our broken hearts" ballad, that would make Jimmy Buffett proud.  Also, this song has something that you would think more of the "Prophets" songs would have had...steel guitar.

---"Dancing In The Kitchen" is sentimental, but not sappy, with a hook that radio and DJ's in particular should love.  It's an Alabama style ballad, with a little boogie at the end. Too bad it's corporate managers that make the decisions these days.  This has a chance to be a legitimate hit.

---"Can’t Take It" gives a bouyant voice to bubbling-under frustration.  This mid-to-uptempo melody, driving harmonica and vocal harmonies almost make frustration seem like a good thing, but the desperate vocals betray the songs good time feel, and echo it's true intent.

---"Jesus Saves" gives voice to beer-goggles mentality by putting us in a car with a stoned, cigarette smoking and drunk driver, more worried about being busted by the cops than dying in a car crash on the highway, because he knows he'll go to heaven in the crash.  The song doesn't mock this mindset, or attempt to judge it, but it is scary because most people know someone just like this guy.

---Musically "Sandy" brings together The Eagles and Bruce Springsteen-esque riffs that make for an excellent piece of working man's rock.  The opening alone melds an "Already Gone" style riff, with the E-Street Bands' signature chugging rhythm section's style, while paying tribute to a barmaid who stays cool. 

---"Bottle Of Whiskey" finds the band breaking out the steel guitar again, in a jamming piece of country rock during verses, that morphs into rockin' country during the chorus, it not only works, but it has one of the best sing-along choruses of the whole disc. 

---"Ladybug" isn't about a bug at all, but a woman who needs to "fly on home," 'cause her husbands out drinkin', messing around and her kids are alone, sung from the perspective of friend that maybe wants to be something more.  It's a bit sad, but lovely, too.

---"My Front Door," is an ode to those who can't stop their mind from racing, featuring Eagles-like harmonies.  It's a great hangover recovery song.

---"Two Steps Closer" is a rousing anthem for trailer trash in a bad relationship.

---"Lorraine" is little bit of Texas boogie and blues that sounds like it was written for Z.Z. Top.

---I suppose that a band that plays as many country bars as The Woodshed Prophets, had to record a song like the album's finale, "Land Of The Fourth Of July."  It is a smoldering, minimalistic piece...just keyboards, piano and two part harmony.  No percussion whatsoever, but doesn't the opening piano part remind you of "Strange Magic," by ELO? 

---"Nowhere But Down" shows the "Prophets" a little more mature, a little more comfortable, but still a lot of fun.  It's a great ride for country rockers of any age!

---Dr. Dave 10/12/13

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ALBUM REVIEW: Ten Metaphors For Love-Brenna Swanger:

---At age 15, most teenagers are trying to keep up with their homework, school sports or the latest trends on YouTube.  Not Brenna Swanger.  At age 15 she's  made an album, and surprise, it's a credible album.  Now let's put this in perspective...this is an album that features songs from the point-of-view of a teenage girl, by a teenage girl for teenage girls.  There are songs about love, losing at love, victimized by love, love fantasies, etc.  That being said, this is a well crafted pop album.  Swanger didn't overstep her abilities...she kept things simple.  Most songs feature her vocals (overdubs for harmony and/ or effect here and there.) either a keyboard or guitar, or both, and electronic drums, but she wrote all the lyrics, contributed on the music and of course sang on everything.  Some songs feature some violins and there are a few guest appearances, for example a smokin' guitar solo, by her guitar teacher and Rooster & the Roadhouse Horns guitarist, Paul Knapik on "It's You," and even a somewhat out of place verse of rap over the bridge of "A Million Lies," by Joey C.  Mary Falvo also plays lead guitar on "Victim Of Your Love." 

Overall, this album reminds me of Tiffany.  I know I'm dating myself, but this sounds like an album that Tiffany could have made back in the late '80's.  Maybe Brenna should start singing in malls.  That Swanger accomplished this at her age and contributed as much as she did is amazing.  It speaks to her abilities not just as a singer, but a songwriter, too.  Most artists at this level are performing songs by other artists.  That she already has ten originals on an album is nothing short of incredible.  Let's not sell her strong, clear vocals and decent vocal range short either.  

My favs on this album are the ballad, "Lullaby," followed by "Be There," "Invisible Love," anyone of which could be a single, but "Lullaby" in particular, is the most mature and broadly appealing song in this package.

Can't wait to hear how her abilities grow on her next album.

---Dr. Dave 9/28/13.

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CD REVIEW: Obscuriosity-Stephen Lawrenson

Lawrensons third album is another collection of smart, jangly alt-pop, that will remind you at times of ELO, or John Lennon's post-Beatles solo work.  The opening track, "Your Karma," is especially Jeff Lynne-esque with it's heavy reverb and harmonies.  The title track is bouncy and you'll find yourself amazed at how many words actually rhyme with "Obscuriosity."  "Edge Of The World" features a more laid back groove that owes a lot to The Beatles, as does "Words To Say," and "Small White House."  Lawrenson obviously wears his influences on his sleeve.

"2^nd Time Around" sees the production value and the reverb stripped back a bit revealing a sound closer to Toad The Wet Sprocket, than ELO and perhaps a lot closer to the real Stephen Lawrenson.  The songs remain irresistibly pop and extremely catchy.

On "Ordinary" the production value is upped a little on what is possibly the second best song on the album. 

"Forever And A Day" is a straight forward love song, which features some nice mandolin and/or banjo work.  The drumming is minimized with emphasis on picking and lyrics with harmonies for accent.  This could be a hit pop song.

The production value comes roaring back on "Thank You," and on the albums conclusion, "Pale Yellow," which reminds me of the way that ELO ended their landmark album, "Out Of The Blue"...with a soft yet bombastic goodbye. 

The songs are extremely catchy and excessive listening could lead to whistling, or even singing along.  Lawrenson is clearly one guy who can write a hook. 

Originally published: 9/21/13

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Album Review:

Band: Esquela

Album name: "Are We Rolling?" 

Release Date: 6/14/13

Esquela is a band that plays country rock...which always strikes me odd, because with a name like Esquela, it seems like they should be a mariachi band, but forget the name for a moment, forget that it's really just a nickname for the bands founder and get into their sound.  This is a country rock band, with a blistering female singer, who sounds like a cross between Dale Krantz Rossington and Linda Ronstadt, and musically the band is tight, with a sound that recalls some of Rolling Stones best country rockers, but the songs on "Are We Rolling?" seem written right out of a conservative right-wing playbook that would make Dick Cheney proud, denouncing welfare on "Free Bird," (which was replaced over a decade ago by President Clinton's workfare program), Union corruption (on "Too Far Left"--as if the left are the only ones capable of abusing power.), and the sin of laziness on "My Friend."  There are some songs on the album that strike a more broad appeal, like "Free Beer," which addresses religious intolerance..."Frozen Chosin" heralds Korean War vets..."Phone Home" gives a cheater the heave-ho..."Genesee Fever" references the Loomis Gang in the 1800's and is one of only two songs on the album that don't seem to have a political agenda...and the closing track (the other track that is not political) is the classic "Tossin' And Turnin' " originally made popular in the 60's by Bobby Lewis. 

This band was built to be a good time rockin' blues band, and the songs are uptempo and jangly, but the lyrics just appeal to a narrow audience.  It'll probably play well in small town conservative bars and pubs, but it may have a hard time finding a wider audience.  Too bad, because this band can play and given the right songs, they could break out nationally.  Singing about religion and politics usually doesn't help, in fact that's why the best songwriters try to write songs so that they're open to interpretation, so that they'll appeal to listeners across the country and around the world.  So, consider this album a lesson in writing lyrics.  I'm hoping that on the next album, the lyrics will live up to the band, because this band really can play...they just need songs that live up to the caliber of these fine musicians.  They need their own, "Honky Tonk Woman," for example.  Not that they need to cover that particular song, they just need a song that will do for them, what that song did for The Stones.  They just need songs that reflect the attitude that this band evokes...a good rockin' good drinkin' good time, and when they find those kinds of songs, I hope they'll let me review that album, too.  In fact, I'm looking forward to it. 

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