Back in stock: Blues

Review: This 1977 album marked a sublime chapter in the trio's career, showing their unparalleled vocal harmonies and masterful musicianship. Often hailed as their most accessible album, it seamlessly blends folk-rock sensibilities with heartfelt lyricism. Reissued on pristine 180-gram vinyl, the warmth of this record shines through every groove, providing a listening experience as timeless as the music itself. Opening with 'Shadow Captain', the outfit sets the tone with rich vocal layers and Russ Kunkel's understated yet captivating percussion. Tracks like 'See The Changes' and 'Carried Away' exemplify their ability to create beauty through simplicity, with Nash's songwriting and Crosby's harmonies reaching extraordinary heights. The album's emotional centerpiece, 'Cathedral', is a profound and reflective masterpiece, echoing the introspective brilliance of their earlier work while standing out as one of Nash's crowning achievements. Songs like 'Anything At All' and 'Just A Song Before I Go' further underscore the trio's knack for blending authenticity with melodic perfection. Even with moments like 'Fair Game' and 'I Give You Give Blind' slightly veering toward experimentation, the album remains cohesive and compelling. From the poignant storytelling to the impeccable sound quality of this vinyl reissue it endures as an essential in the folk-rock canon.

Review: Released on Impulse! Records in 1966, this collection by John Lee Hooker offers a mix of both new compositions and reworkings of tunes that Hooker had previously recorded. Including a cover of Barrett Strong's 1959 Motown hit 'Money (That's What I Want)' - following in the musical footsteps of The Beatles, who recorded it three years earlier - this vindictively titled record is a fitting fusion of grievous Delta and raw blues; filled with schadenfreude and passion; transience and regret; vitality and poise; it's some of the best John Lee Hooker material you're likely to come across in this decade.