Artist Spotlight: Gloria Estefan

After five and a half years, we recently put our monthly artist retrospectives on hiatus. But the desire to cover multiple albums by a single artist never went away, and so we're now pleased to launch a new twist on an old idea. Our new occasional "Artist Spotlight" feature will offer our writers the platform to cover three to five albums at a time by the artist of their choice, with the reviews running sequentially. First up is Mark Millan, with four reviews this week of the artist he playfully refers to as his "Miami vice" -- the one and only Gloria Estefan. Join us!

Happy Birthday

Look out world -- The Daily Vault is a teenager.

Yes, it was 13 years ago today, on January 13, 1997, that DV Founder Christopher Thelen switched the virtual lights on and started cranking out a daily stream of reviews that has yet to cease. Chris' inaugural review of ex-Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones' solo disc Fire And Gasoline set the tone and form for 13 years of in-depth examinations of music that delves into the history of the artists and the album, placing the music firmly in context.

We could go on, but we'd really rather not, because when you get down to it, it's always been about the same thing -- the music. And so, let's get back to it.

Lists, Lists, Lists: Best Of 2009

The holidays are a time for listmaking of all sorts, including our personal favorite -- lists of the best musical offerings of the year. The Vault's annual "Best Of" feature this time out offers lists from Sarah Curristan, Melanie Love, Sean McCarthy, Mark Millan and yours truly. For added fun, check out the contrasting views of albums like Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, which one writer named album of the year whilst another was busy trashing it with her "Emperor's New Clothes Award"!

All aboard the Big Big Train

British prog-rockers Big Big Train return this week with The Underfall Yard, a classic Genesis-Yes-Floyd smashup that adds brass and strings to half of the band's most moving set of songs to date. Building out from BBT's founding core of Greg Spawton (guitar, keys, songwriting) and Andy Poole (bass, production), new lead vocalist David Longdon -- who nearly succeeded Phil Collins at the mike for Genesis in 1996 -- is a terrific addition, as are extended guest shots by Nick D'Virgilio (Spock's Beard) and Dave Gregory (XTC). Other prog luminaries on the scene include Jem Godfrey (Frost*) and Francis Dunnery (It Bites), making this a virtual all-star affair. That said, there's not a wasted moment here; The Underfall Yard is an amazing, moving, truly impressive piece of work, and a sure thing for my upcoming Best of 2009 column.

Old And Wise.

Yesterday, Eric Woolfson, the lead vocalist and lyricist of the Alan Parsons Project, died at age 64.

For anyone with even a passing familiarity with my musical tastes and my ten years of reviews on the Daily Vault, this is obviously a huge, earth-shattering, sad and painful time for me. The first album I ever bought was the Project's Turn Of A Friendly Card.

It's been 24 hours or more, and I still haven't fully comprehended my feelings about it. I feel old. I feel worn. I feel like more and more of my childhood is slipping beyond that big grey veil -- the veil that I get closer to every day. And, frankly, I don't like it.

What I'm clinging to now is a line from Woolfson's post-Project work, the musical Poe. This is a video of Steve Balsamo singing Eric's song "Immortal":



There's the lines, at the end:"If you remember me... I am immortal."

What is remembered, lives.

Top 100 Albums of the 2000s

A hundred albums spanning a full decade, summed up in just five weeks... that's the gist of Sean McCarthy's Top 100 of the 2000s, a feature that hit its much-anticipated apex just yesterday when we posted Sean's capsule reviews of numbers 20 through one. Who made the top 20 for 2000-2009? Read 'em and weep (or cheer, as the case may be).

John Mayer's Battle Studies

Oh, John Mayer... we remember when your only goal seemed to be becoming a heartthrob with your breathy-voiced sweet nothings. Then you got a little more serious and we all took notice... then you studied up on the blues, gave us your best shot and knocked one out of the park... then you released an impressive live album... and now you're back to crooning about heartbreak. Some would call it coming full circle; others would call it two steps forward, one step back. Readers, we'll let you decide...

The Santas, They Are a Changin'

Loathe though we might normally be to recommend anything in any way associated with Rolling Stone (is there a sadder story arc in the world of music than starting out as the voice of the fan and ending up as the voice of the industry?), one particular teaser that crossed our desk recently was just too amusing to pass up. Let's face it -- they had us at "Bob Dylan in a Santa hat..."

1,000 true fans = a career in music?

The peripatetic Ariel Hyatt of Ariel Publicity recently spotlighted a fascinating piece by technology blogger Kevin Kelly -- now 18 months old but relevant as ever -- in which he argues that all the DIY musician needs to establish a viable career as an independent musical act is to cultivate 1,000 true fans. Agree or disagree, Kelly's piece makes for fascinating reading for anyone interested in exploring what the still-emerging new music business paradigm means for artists in the trenches.

Album of the Year

It's a little early for 2009 list-making, and it's just one writer's opinion. But from this writer's perspective, the long-awaited new album from Switchfoot is more than just a straight "A" -- Hello Hurricane is nothing less than the album of the year. If you want to know the reasons why... read on.

Top 100 of the 2000s

Today on the Vault we kick off a new feature from Sean McCarthy, spotlighting the top 100 albums of the decade. Don't miss Sean's look at #s 100 through 81.

The '70s roll on

A relatively well-researched and reasonably respectful piece on the many '70s acts still finding an audience on the road appeared n MSNBC.com yesterday -- it's worth a read for any fan of the era.

It's a Beatles blowout on 9/9/09

If you're looking for something special to occupy your time on 9/9/09 -- other than the somewhat obvious choice of catching Tim Burton's new animated flick 9 -- there's always, say, arguably the most musically significant release of the century.

Yes, today is the day the Beatles box sets (stereo or mono) come out -- the day you can purchase the entire series of albums that changed the music world, in pristine remastered condition, with recreated original album artwork, lyric sheets and all manner of photos and liner notes. The folks at Apple/EMI have also made available this brief but fun streaming video clip of "I Saw Her Standing There." Enjoy...

Kansas co-founder Kerry Livgren suffers stroke

Legendary musician and composer Kerry Livgren suffered a stroke Tuesday morning. Livgren was a founding member of Kansas, and has been a tireless creative force since the early 70s. Currently he is a busy solo artist and producer, and manages his own label, Numavox Records.

Kerry is currently hospitalized near his home in Topeka, Kanasa, where surgery was performed to remove a blood clot in his brain. Kerry's nephew and Proto-Kaw bandmate Jake Livgren has stated the family continues to be encouraged by signs his uncle is giving following the stroke he suffered Tuesday morning.

Currently Livgren is working on a cantata based on the life of Lazarus, and will soon make his screen debut in the film The Impostor. He will also appear on the upcoming Kansas anniversary concert DVD Know Place Like Home due to be released in October.

We at the DV wish Kerry a full and speedy recovery.

Kerry Livgren suffers stroke

Music legend and innovator Les Paul dies

Now known more for the guitar that bears his name then for his music, musical pioneer Les Paul died of complication from pneumonia yesterday. He was 94.

Les Paul would have great success as a recording artist largely with his wife Mary Ford. But his real impact came in the invention of one of the earliest solid-body guitars, the progeny of which are now the most popular guitars in use around the world. Additionally, he was in innovator in the studio, considered to be the father of multi-track recording. His experiments with multi-tracking and audio effects would completely revolutionize the recording industry.

At a 33, he shattered his right arm in a car accident, and was told he'd never play again. The doctors told him that whatever position they set his arm in would be locked in that position forever. "Set it so I can hold a guitar" he told them. He continued to record and perform well into his 90s.

His contributions to modern music are immeasurable, and his name will live on with guitarists for many generations.

MCA dignosed with cancer - tour dates canceled

The Beastie Boys have put a hold on their current touring and recording activities as Adam Yauch (aka MCA) announced that he is having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. He is expected to fully recover. "I was really looking forward to playing these shows, but the doctors have made it clear that this is not the kind of thing that can be put aside to deal with later.” Among the shows the Beasties are canceling are headlining slots at Lollapalooza, All Points West and the Austin City Limits festival.

“I just need to take a little time to get this in check, and then we’ll release the record and play some shows,” Yaunch said in a statement following the annoucment of his condition on YouTube. Their new album titled Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 1 was originally scheduled for a September 15th release.

All of us at the DV wish Adam a full and speedy recovery.

Michael Jackson, dead at 50

Man, I am getting tired of posting these.

Whatever else can be said about Michael Jackson -- and there's plenty -- he was a music legend, one of the most gifted performers of his generation and, once upon a time, a sweet-voiced kid who amazed the world with his precocious talent. You always wonder when someone falls as far as he did if he might get one more shot at redemption. Now we'll never know.

R.I.P. Michael.

R.I.P. Jay Bennett

The Chicago Sun-Times has the sad news about longtime Wilco member Jay Bennett, dead in his sleep at age 45.

R.I.P. Jay.

Jon Troast: halfway to a hundred

Singer-songwriter Jon Troast hit the halfway mark the other night on his "100 Concerts in 100 Days" trek across the United States. Since launching this latest run of 100-dollar-a-night house concerts in March, Troast has traveled through Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, and is currently in my neck of the woods, California.

Having hosted one of Troast's living room concerts last year, I can testify to what a unique and memorable experience it is. The comfort and ease this approach offers for the audience is unbeatable, and Troast is a blast to hang out with, as evidenced by his road diary, full of wry observations and affectionate asides. He even played a show the other day for a guy named Jon Troast. No, really -- a different guy named Jon Troast. I can relate, having discovered a doppelganger of my own.

In any case, it's a little late for "bon voyage" or "break a leg," so let's just borrow a baseball phrase here and wish Troast a great second half of his road trip...

Talking Heads take over

Once you've ascended to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and been repeatedly declared one of the most influential acts of your era, what's left?

Being named Artist Of The Month on The Daily Vault, of course.

Talking Heads get the nod this month in a retrospective fueled by fans Sean McCarthy, Michael R. Smith, Kenny S. McGuane, Christopher Thelen, Jeff Clutterbuck and Bruce Rusk. As if the band's parade of classic albums (starting with memorable debut Talking Heads: 77) wasn't enough, we'll also be covering a number of discs from side project Tom Tom Club and frontman-gone-solo David Byrne. Trust us, this one's going to burn down the house for sure...