Mark Smotroff

Album Reviews
Elton John & Brandi Carlile Collaborative Who Believes in Angels? LP Is a Somewhat Surprising SQ Winner on Tri-Color Vinyl
Mark Smotroff  |  Apr 25, 2025  |  4 comments

By now you’ve probably heard the news that Elton John has paired up with Americana crossover phenomenon Brandi Carlile on their fine new Top 10 LP Who Believes in Angels?, which was released by Rocket/EMI on April 4, 2025. Given all the advance hype, we suspect some of you fence-sitters are probably wondering how the album actually sounds on vinyl, so read Mark Smotroff’s review to see how it holds up to repeated spins. . .

Continue Reading >
Album Reviews
Original Soundtracks 1 by Passengers (a.k.a. Brian Eno and U2) Is a Must-Own 180g 2LP Recycled Black Vinyl 30th Anniversary Record Store Day Release
Mark Smotroff  |  Apr 18, 2025  |  0 comments

One of the more under-the-radar releases that we didn’t see or hear many people talking about pre-Record Store Day 2025 is the 30th anniversary 180g 2LP vinyl reissue of Passengers’ Original Soundtracks 1, a 1995 collaboration between U2 and their then-producer Brian Eno — but it absolutely should warrant your immediate attention, front and center. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why you need to track down this RSD gem, pronto. . .

Continue Reading >
Short Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 24: Record Store Day Preview & Review of Three Resonance Records 180g Multi-LP Live Albums From Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, and Freddie Hubbard
Mark Smotroff  |  Apr 08, 2025  |  First Published: Apr 08, 2025  |  0 comments

Before we turn our posting attention to covering AXPONA the rest of this week, we wanted to do a short preview/review ahead of Record Store Day, which is taking place this Saturday, April 12, 2025. Read Mark Smotroff’s review of three key RSD multi-disc LP sets from Resonance Records featuring legendary jazz musicians Charles Mingus, Kenny Dorham, and Freddie Hubbard. . .

Continue Reading >
Album Reviews
Wings’ Smash-Hit 1975 Chart-Topper Venus and Mars Soars Anew With New Half-Speed-Mastered 180g 50th Anniversary Edition LP
Mark Smotroff  |  Apr 04, 2025  |  3 comments

Worth the wait! We’re happy to report that Venus and Mars — Paul McCartney and Wings’ May 1975 arena-rocking, No. 1-charting, platinum-selling smash-hit album — has just received the official Abbey Road Studios half-speed-mastered deluxe treatment in celebration of its 50th Anniversary this year, having been officially released as a 180g single LP by MPL/Capitol/UMe on March 21, 2025. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why you need to get your copy of Venus and Mars ASAP. . .

Continue Reading >
Album Reviews
Analogue Productions’ 180g 45rpm 4LP Vinyl Reissue of Buena Vista Social Club: Where Outstanding Performances Meet Audiophile Excellence
Mark Smotroff  |  Mar 27, 2025  |  6 comments

In September 1997, an album of inspired Cuban music, Buena Vista Social Club, was released to near universal acclaim, inspiring music fans and musicians around the world. Produced by legendary guitarist and world-music champion Ry Cooder, Buena Vista Social Club was a smash hit in the CD era, but Analogue Productions’ new, super-deluxe 180g 45rpm 4LP vinyl reissue of Buena Vista Social Club may very well be the best-sounding version of it to date. Read Mark Smotroff’s review to see why he (and we!) feel the new 4LP edition of Buena Vista Social Club is a clear winner. . .

Continue Reading >
Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 23, Garage-a-Rama Edition: Enjoying the Endless Pop Possibilities With New LPs From The Remains, Ron Dante, Michigander & Guided By Voices
Mark Smotroff  |  Mar 21, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 21, 2025  |  3 comments

In our latest Short Cuts LP review roundup, Mark Smotroff catches up on some fun rockin’ albums from artists past and present, including Boston’s The Remains; Staten Island, New York’s Ron Dante (i.e., the voice of The Archies!); Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Michigander; and Dayton, Ohio’s Guided By Voices. . .

Continue Reading >
AAA VinylAlbum ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 22, Beaucoup Blues Edition: Four Great 180g 1LP AAA Blues Reissues From John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt & Lonnie Johnson With Elmer Snowden
Mark Smotroff  |  Mar 14, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 14, 2025  |  3 comments

Original blues vinyl pressings are cousins to jazz and soul LPs in terms of scarcity and availability in super-clean condition, just a few of the reasons why they are often super-expensive propositions in the collector’s marketplace. That all makes these four truly outstanding Acoustic Sounds-pedigreed reissues from Verve/UMe and Craft Recordings’ Bluesville series all the more important — in effect, bringing a quartet of classic LP rarities back into more widespread availability in a high-quality manner. Read Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts combo review to see which of these four 180g 1LP AAA releases from John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt, and Lonnie Johnson With Elmer Snowden belong in your collection. . .

Continue Reading >
FeaturesRecord Stores
Record Store Report: Tunnel Records, San Francisco’s Shining Star of an Indie Store (Times Three)
Mark Smotroff  |  Mar 07, 2025  |  First Published: Mar 07, 2025  |  4 comments

It is always refreshing to share a truly good story about a person with a vision achieving bonafide success in the music business — especially when it comes to selling records. Surfing the wave of the resurgent interest in all things vintage vinyl, San Francisco’s Tunnel Records. Read Mark Smotroff’s interview with shop founder Ben Wintroub to see just how he’s made not one but three great Tunnel Records SF locales thrive. . .

Continue Reading >
AAA VinylAlbum Reviews
The 200g 45rpm 2LP UHQR Edition of Steely Dan’s Katy Lied Sounds As Good As Any Vinyl World That It’s Welcome To
Mike Mettler, ,  |  Feb 20, 2025  |  6 comments

Who are these children / Who scheme and run wild. . . No, that’s not a comment on the youth of today, but rather a piercing lyrical couplet of sorts that can only mean one thing — it’s time for us to dive deep into the just-released 200g 45rpm 2LP UHQR edition of Steely Dan’s March 1975 treasure of an LP, Katy Lied. Read Mike Mettler, Mark Smotroff, and Ken Micallef’s combo review to see if the UHQR version of Katy Lied meets and/or exceeds the standards set by its companion SD releases in this all-important reissue series. . .

Continue Reading >
Album ReviewsShort Cuts
Short Cuts, Vol. 21: Space Is The Place — Four New & Recent 180g Sun Ra LPs, Plus One From an Artist He Inspired, Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids
Mark Smotroff  |  Feb 14, 2025  |  First Published: Feb 14, 2025  |  2 comments

The name Sun Ra and the term “free jazz” can conjure up all manner of strange musical imagery, especially amongst those unfamiliar with his music. Alternate identifiers such as “free improvisation” and the more umbrella-like “modern jazz” might ease those anxieties, but the reality is, a lot of Ra’s spirited music is not as random and difficult as some might think. Read Mark Smotroff’s Short Cuts combo review that focuses on five new and recent 180g Sun Ra-centric vinyl releases that we hope will intrigue listeners to explore this fascinating artist’s music with fresh ears and open minds. . .

Continue Reading >

Pages

X