2020 - In The Rear View Mirror
featured, Beyond Wine, General Interest
, Dec 2020
Though 2020 was tumultuous, the virus failed to stop great wines, wonderful dinners, amazing music or classic TV. It made them even more precious - shards of light in dark times. Now that I managed to reach the end of the year, time to look back before looking forward.
Beyond Wine: Album Review of Janko Nilovic & The Soul Surfers – Maze of Sounds
Beyond Wine
, Nov 2020
The recently released Maze of Sounds shows that the 80-year old Nilovic has lost none of his touch.
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Beyond Wine: Album Review of Pillow Queens – In Waiting
Beyond Wine
, Oct 2020
I doubt I will hear an album as good as In Waiting in what has been a strong year for new releases. I go as far to say that it constitutes one of the best debuts in recent years and it deserves a wide audience.
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Beyond Wine: Album Review of The Flaming Lips - American Head
Beyond Wine
, Sep 2020
Hats off to Wayne Coyne and his very able band. How many artists in the fourth decade of their career remain as enticingly outré and original, but as popular as ever, and produce some of their best music.
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Beyond Wine: Getting Back in the Saddle
Beyond Wine, France: Burgundy
, Jul 2020
Since my trip to Bordeaux in late February, the question on my mind has been when and how I could restart visits abroad. Five months later I ventured back into a new landscape when I drove to Chablis and found aspects that are reassuringly exactly the same and others that are different.
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Beyond Wine: Albums of the Month
Beyond Wine
, Jul 2020
In a change to our scheduled program, instead of a single album, such is the flurry of wonderful music popping up in an industry that badly needs support that this time around, I send several music recommendations Vinous readers’ way. When the world goes down the pan, it seems to stir creativity in any art form, not least music, which has helped me through the current crisis, as it has countless others. Now is a great moment to seek out new bands, particularly here in the UK, which seems to have rediscovered its musical mojo in 2020.
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Beyond Wine: Crate Digging: 10,000 Maniacs by In My Tribe (1987)
Beyond Wine
, Jul 2020
In My Tribe remains an important album for me. It brings back a lot of memories of growing up in my hometown. My social life might have revolved around clubbing and the exciting new sounds of techno, but when I got home, it was music like 10,000 Maniacs that I listened to.
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Beyond Wine: Album Review of Song For Our Daughter - Laura Marling
United Kingdom, Beyond Wine
, May 2020
“Song About Our Daughter” is a triumph for an artist who has quietly gone about building a considerable profile. Deftly splicing Americana with English folk, “Songs For Our Daughter” might well be the high point on what is turning into one of the finest careers in recent years.
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Beyond Wine: Book Review of Geddy Lee’s Big Beautiful Book of Bass
Beyond Wine
, Apr 2020
I will admit it, I am not impartial. Rush was a big part of my musical education. I remember one of my best friends in school handing me an album with a burning red star floating in a galaxy. It was, of course “2112.” The album opened to reveal a photo of the band dressed in what looked like satin cream and white kimonos, a look that was at once weirdly futuristic and ancient. The term “WTF” did not exist back then, but if it had, that’s exactly what I would have uttered. Then I put the record on the turntable, and my whole idea of what rock music could be changed. Forever. So, to say I am a huge Rush fan is an understatement.
Album Review of Off-Key in Hamburg - Father John Misty
Beyond Wine
, Apr 2020
If you have not discovered Father John Misty, I suspect you now have plenty of time to do so. “Off-Key in Hamburg” is available to download via Bandcamp and all proceeds go to the MusiCares Covid-19 Relief Fund.