Here Is What Is

Here Is What Is Here is What Is, the remarkable sixth solo album from Daniel Lanois, strikes a chord for independence as the first major release on his own Red Floor Records. An acclaimed singer/songwriter/producer known for producing some of the greatest albums of the last two decades (U2, Bob ...	All I Intended to Be (Vinyl LP) Emmylou Harris has always had a way with woe. On All I Intended To Be, she seems more maudlin than ever as she sings her way through songs about loss, heartbreak, even the odd funeral. Of course, this is the kind of material Harris has always been comfortable with, but as her car...	Rockets	Shine a Light Martin Scorsese leaps into the madness of the Rolling Stones' organization in Shine a Light, barely controlling (in a most entertaining way) a documentary that culminates in the Stones' best concert on film. The movie's highly entertaining, pre-performance prologue finds a frazzl...	Third Portishead's Third has been a long time coming, the result of a lengthy creative torpor following 1997's dark, distinctly underrated album Portishead. Importantly, though, they've shaken it. While the core trio of Beth Gibbons, Geoff Barrow, and Adrian Utley remains, this is quit...
Viva La Vida To say there has been a lot of anticipation for Coldplay's fourth album, Viva La Vida, is an understatement. Having enlisted legendary leftfield producer Brian Eno, borrowed their album title from a painting by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and made tantalising remarks abou...	Nine Lives Nine Lives expands on all the many phases and turns of Steve Winwood's lustrous career, bristling with his pure joy of music-making. The new songs range from the inspiring "Fly" to the burning "Dirty City" (featuring a guest appearance by long-time friend Eric Clapton) to the s...	Keep It Simple Those familiar with Van Morrison's ever mercurial muse could hardly have been surprised when he turned up on the artistically centered, avant-country label Lost Highway to pay tribute to a era-spanning slate of country icons on the Nashville imprint's `06 collection, Pay the Dev...	Accelerate In the decade since the departure of drummer Bill Berry, R.E.M. could seem at times schizophrenic. Their albums of the era, which veered from the experimentalism of Up and reaffirmation of Reveal to 2004's more diffuse, reflective Around the Sun, often stood in stark contrast to ...	From the Reach Singer, songwriter and Louisiana slide guitar phenom Sonny Landreth's first studio album in five years unites his band with a who's who of musical guests for a set of all-original roots rock tinged with the blues and New Orleans soul. Featured guitarists and vocalists include Eri...

Lanois et al are Undeniable, Filmaking So-So
If you're at all interested in Daniel Lanois, then clearly you must own this DVD. The filmmaking may not blow your mind, but the wonderful musicianship and the gentle and thoughtful spirit of the artist likely will. My favorite part, oddly enough, are the special features, where it's REALLY about the music, and specifically about Brian Blade, who's a giant among artists. I thoroughly recommend this, despite any minor shortcomings.