The Sharp Notes

01/21/2025

Amidst the Historic Fires in Los Angeles, Goldiie Lux Refuses to Cancel Her Interview Appointment with Evan Toth to Discuss Her Latest EP, S.I.N.

"in music, I feel like if you have a backup plan, then it's not going to go the way that you want it to, so I'm not thinking of it as a backup plan. I'm thinking of it as life experience that I can now put into what I'm doing now in my music, in my videos, in the message I want to create in my online presence, and all of that."

Amidst the Historic Fires in Los Angeles, Goldiie Lux Refuses to Cancel Her Interview Appointment with Me to Discuss Her Latest EP, S.I.N.Determination is an incredibly important part of success in any industry. But, in music and media, one must be constantly doing their thing in front of as many au...

01/20/2025

Dylan's messy masterpiece turns a half century old. He did what artists always do, he took the lemons that life hands us all and whipped up a delicious batch of musical lemonade.

Dylan Did What Artists Always Do, He Took the Lemons That Life Hands Us All and Made a Delicious Batch of Musical Lemonade. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks (Columbia – PC 33235, 1975)50 years ago found the release of Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks which - for all intents and purposes - summarized t...

01/19/2025

Sam Blasucci – Real Life Thing (Calico Discos – CD20242, 2024)

Sam is an amalgamation of his record collection, but so much more. While you can hear every bit of his Rundgren and - on this album - Billy Joel influences, his own voice comes through loud and clear.

There is poetry in his lyrics (because he’s a poet) but there is also an occasionally plaintive and desperate howl that exists in his vocal delivery adding to the music an uneasiness one feels when they hear an argument in progress in the apartment next door (I don’t know what it feels like for you, but for me that amounts to a good helping of curiosity imbued with a streak of fear).

A good recording produced by and a good pressing, too. Sam Blasucci is an artist who is committed to showing you his complexities, and boy can he write a melody.

01/16/2025

It’s a legitimate question…

Carpenters – Passage (A&M Records – SP-4703, 1977 🇺🇸) When the drones were in full force (hey, where did all those drones all go?) I pulled out this Carpenters album (their 8th) to give a good listen to “Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem Of World Contact Da...

01/14/2025

A podcast episode with Nathan Trueb about his latest project - Another Glory - that he co-leads with José Medeles (Revival Drum Shop). Have a listen by clicking below.

"Nathan and José both have that yin and yang that is a valued dynamic in any work group: Nathan Trueb feels most comfortable creating songs of a more traditional nature, while José tackles those compositions with some left-of-center approaches and concepts."

Music and friendship and the ways they impact the creative processGood friends can get you through difficult times. They have your back through thick and thin, they know how to anticipate if you need support, and they can always be relied upon for understanding. However, when that friendship involve...

01/12/2025

Chris Bell – I Am The Cosmos (Omnivore Recordings – OVLP-231, 2017 🇺🇸) Today is Chris Bell’s birthday, and so I thought it fitting to bring him out for a spin and it’s the 2017 reissue of this compilation that I’ve got on hand. If you’re a love of Big Star and have worn out their albums proper, you’d be simply foolish to ignore Bell’s solo work; personally, I feel the sound of Big Star was never the same after his departure. There was a truly unique voice to his songwriting that comes through loud and clear on this batch of tunes. Chris should have been a big…star. Now, to go see if I can get my hands on the Complete Chris Bell box set; why don’t I have it?

01/10/2025

A little too much fun was had describing the upcoming release from High Moon Records, Jeannie Piersol's, "The Nest" featuring liner notes by Alec Palao. This album is sure to be one groovy trip, baby.

On 1/24, High Moon Records Drops Jeannie Piersol’s The Nest: A Mind-Blowing, Groovy Anthology That You’ve Gotta HearHey, cool cats and cosmic explorers—grab your love beads and get ready to trip out, ‘cause High Moon Records is about to drop something truly outta sight, baby: Jeannie Piersol...

01/10/2025

Queen – A Night at the Opera (Elektra – 7E-1053, 1975 🇺🇸)

Where would I be without this record? Sure, go ahead and immerse yourself in the brilliance of The Beatles, the swagger of Elvis, or the artistry of Bowie. But if you truly want to experience a band firing on all cylinders—creativity, talent, and pure theatrical flair—embrace the unapologetic grandiosity of Queen.

Today marks the anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody reaching #1 in the UK, where it stayed for weeks. It even made a poignant return to the charts in 1991 after Freddie Mercury’s tragic passing. While we’re here to celebrate the genius of BR, let’s not forget the other gems on A Night at the Opera. Tracks like “Death on Two Legs” (a scathingly razor-sharp opener) and “The Prophet’s Song” (a sprawling, apocalyptic masterpiece) are every bit as brilliant. I’ve always felt “The Prophet’s Song” is either a prequel or sequel to Bohemian Rhapsody, continuing the operatically theatrical universe within the album.

Queen wasn’t just a band—they were a phenomenon. And while the music endures, there’s no replacing Freddie Mercury. He wasn’t just a star; he was a supernova. And yes, I still miss him.

01/09/2025

Greg Freeman joins Evan Toth to discuss his recent signing to Transgressive and Canvasback Music, the reissue of his "I Looked Out" album (first time on vinyl), and his upcoming tour.

You’ve probably heard that "the second time’s a charm." While it’s not always the case, for Vermont musician Greg Freeman, it loudly rings true.In 2022, the Vermont musician released I Looked Out—an album that won over critics and listeners alike with its signature blend of storytelling, inf...

01/08/2025

The Rolling Stones – Love You Live (Rolling Stones Records – COC 2-9001, 1977 🇺🇸)

Apologies to WCPR - Castle Point Radio, but I’m pretty sure this record was stolen from you—just not by me. After all, it came out a year before I was even born.

Still, who could resist the charm of that bold, no-nonsense warning scribbled in red radio station felt-tip ink by some overly confident music director back in the late ’70s? The declaration reads:

“This album belongs to WCPR and no one else. If you have this, you must have stolen it and had better put it back.”

Dear WCPR, you’re welcome to reclaim this record if you want, but something tells me you’re not exactly missing it. For what it’s worth, this rogue copy hasn’t wandered too far from home—it’s still kicking around near the ‘boken.

01/08/2025

Hey, there! Wanted to share a recent interview The Sharp Notes conducted with Ed Kuepper Music from The Saints (Official) / The Saints '73-'78. We talk about the new box set that celebrates the band’s first album and more from one of the progenitors of punk rock!

Though they didn't hail from the US or the UK, Aussie's, The Saints managed to become an integral part of the punk-rock conversation anyhow.

01/07/2025

The Sharp Notes conversation with a bonafide punk rock progenitor!

Though they didn't hail from the US or the UK, Aussie's, The Saints managed to become an integral part of the punk-rock conversation anyhow.

01/07/2025

Is radio ripe for rediscovery?

The ongoing shift in media consumption habits has reached a tipping point: AM/FM radio is poised to definitively surpass television in audience ratings, cementing its dominance as the top reach medium in America. This trend, fueled by radio’s enduring appeal and evolving listener engagement, is ex...

01/06/2025

There's a new boxset from The Saints (Official) featuring a remaster of their first album, "(I'm) Stranded" and Ed Kuepper Music joins Evan Toth to discuss the band's history and the new release.

Though they didn't hail from the US or the UK, Aussie's, The Saints managed to become an integral part of the punk-rock conversation anyhow.

01/05/2025

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (Reprise Records – 2 RS 6307, 1968 🇺🇸) I don’t always listen to Jimi Hendrix, but when I do, it’s turned up pretty loud. Throw shade at me if you must, but I can do without the 15 minute “Voodoo Chile” dirge, however Electric Ladyland functions as Jimi’s make-believe, science fiction - albeit fractured - world of the late 60s. Is it wrong to love Redding’s “Little Miss Strange”? Nah, Jimi did, too: otherwise, it wouldn’t have made it to the record. Lots of fl**ge, so make sure to take your Dramamine. The drums are occasionally wooly, lots of the bass is woof-woofy, Jimi’s single-coils give plenty of 60 cycle hum and the vinyl (on my copy) looks a lot better than it sounds, but this mushy soundscape works. I’d compare it with my UK press, but four sides is enough for now. Well, maybe one more spin of “Burning of the Midnight Lamp” before she goes back on the shelf.

01/05/2025

Ron Carter speaks the truth.

Just in case you need a reminder for the new year 😉 Happy , ladies and gents.

📸: Elliot Brown, Jr. for the The New York Times, meme courtesy of Jazz Memes

01/02/2025

Massachusetts has always been aligned with revolutionary thoughts. Anyone paying attention in elementary history classes knows that our very own American Rev...

01/01/2025

“The sun’s not yellow, it’s chicken”