Brinsley Schwarz Shouting At The Moon 2025

Brinsley Schwarz (the man, not the eponymous band) has had a long and interesting career. He first formed Kippington Lodge with schoolmate Nick Lowe in 1967. The band renamed itself Brinsley Schwarz after their lead guitarist in 1969. Along with Schwarz and Lowe on bass, the band included Bob Andrews on keys and Billy Rankin on drums. In 1972 Ian Gomm was added on guitar. The band made six records between 1970 and 1974, all of which are well worth hearing. Nick Lowe wrote the majority of the songs, although Schwarz, Gomm and Andrews also contributed. 

After a brief stint touring with Ducks Deluxe, Schwarz formed The Rumour with Bob Andrews back on keys plus Martin Belmont (guitar), Andrew Bodnar (bass), and Stephen Goulding (drums). The Rumour released three records between 1977-1980, but are best known as the band behind Graham Parker. Parker and the Rumour made Parker's first five records between 1976-1980. Schwarz toured again with Ducks Deluxe, and also Carlene Carter and Garland Jeffreys. Then for twenty years in the 90s and 2000s, he was a professional luthier. 

The Rumour reformed behind Parker from 2011 to 2015, releasing two more records. After the Graham Parker and The Rumour reunion Schwarz returned to recording as a solo artist. This is his third solo record after Unexpected, a self released album in 2016, and Tangled in 2021. All three were produced by James Hallawell, who also played keyboards. Schwarz plays all guitars and basses, and there's drummers, occasional strings, and on this new one, tasty sax by Simon Taylor. All three are good records, but this new one is wonderful all the way through.

What does it sound like? Well, Nick Lowe, The Band, Mark Knoffler, the Rumour, Brinsley Schwartz (the band), maybe a touch of later Steely Dan. Schwartz has a smokey voice and plays great, understated guitar. Tasty lead breaks abound. He's not flashy, but always right and smooth in a George Harrison, Hugh McCraken, Robbie Robertson, Larry Carlton sort of way. James Hallawell plays hot keys, especially when he uses the Hammond B3. Simon Taylor's sax is always just right, and sounds like a whole horn section on a few. There's some swinging almost jazz, some driving rock with wah-wah guitar, some acoustic balladry, some bluesy moments, even a funky one. We get serious, romantic, and humorous lyrical content, a bitter lover's tale about an unappeasable woman, even a gorgeous Graham Parker cover. No weak songs at all.

The recording is very good, with an organic sound where every instrument can be heard contributing. Everything in place. I don't think I can communicate how good it is. If any of this sounds interesting to you, I implore you to give it a listen.

Best of 2025

 

Galactic and Irma Thomas Audience with the Queen. My #1. (The rest are in no particular order.). Irma Thomas continues to produce one late-career masterpiece after another. After The Rain 2006, Simply Grand 2008, Love Is The Foundation 2020, and now Audience with the Queen. Galactic shines with songs, arrangements and knockout playing.

Sloan Based On The Best Seller. Canadian pop-rockers continue a hot streak. 

Ricky Byrd NYC Made. Veteran rocker and long-time Blackheart makes a great record. It doesn't need to be complicated, it's rock 'n' roll.

Gyasi Here Comes The Good Part. Bowie/Bolan hybrid brings back the 1970s without stealing every riff. Great songs, solid musicianship, right attitude.

London Suede Antidepressants. Since their return in 2013, London Suede has made five well-received records. Glam is not dead. See Gyasi above.

Wet Leg Moisturizer. A big step forward from their solid debut, and a fine record all around.

Haim I Quit. Another big leap forward from their previous work, See Wet Leg above.

Van Morrison Remembering Now. Van returns to greatness. Shockingly good after several years of real junk. Remarkable recovery, and way unexpected.

Mavis Staples Sad and Beautiful World. Mavis never shies away from politics, protest or faith. A great song selection, lots of reverent guests, and Staples' magnificent, weathered voice. Revel in her very deep and spiritual soul.

Peter Holsapple The Face of 68. Holsapple has been a part of much great music. In the dBs, as a touring pro with REM and Hootie and the Blowfish, in the Continental Drifters, with Chris Stamey as a duo, and on his solo records, Out of My Way in 1997, and Game Day in 2018. He puts it all together on this new one.

Honorable Mention Just Part of the Whole Release: David Bowie Montreux Jazz Festival. This 2002 concert recording was broadcast on radio and unofficial versions have been around. Technically it isn't a new release of its own, but it is two of the CDs in the 13 CD I Can't Give Everything Away (2002-2016) box set. The tour was promoting Heathen, so eight of the twelve songs from Heathen are included, and the live versions beat the studio ones. Well chosen career highlights fill the rest. But wait, there's more, for the final encore, Bowie and the band play all of Low. It is a monster show. The set is available for streaming.

Honorable Mention Reissue/Compilation: Fleetwood Mac Like Crying: The Songs of Danny Kirwin. Every song Kirwin wrote for Fleetwood Mac and released on Then Play On, Kiln House, Future Games, and Bare Trees in chronological order. Kirwin's songwriting, guitar and singing during Fleetwood Mac's most oft-neglected period. Kirwin's songs were balanced with those of Christine McVie and Bob Welsh. Isolating Kirwin's songs is a lovely exercise. Digital only release, at least for now.

Zappadan 2025, Cheaper Than Cheep 2025, One Size Fits All 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe 2025

Well it's that time again. The annual celebration of Frank's life and artistry from Dec. 4 to Dec 21. There are plenty of previous entries at this blog, just click Frank Zappa. There are also others that celebrate around the net. Break out in song or just play some percussion. And vote.

I have been both overwhelmed by the sheer volume, and underwhelmed by the excitement provided by the archival releases of Frank's work from the vault. There have been great ones of course, but not unlike the Grateful Dead, we really don't need every live gig Zappa ever performed released to the music buying public.

But this is Zappa's best band during his period of greatest musical treasure. Some may argue that the original Mothers of Invention were his best band, and I certainly must respect that as an equally valid opinion.

Cheaper Than Cheep was a two hour video Frank produced for television in 1974. Technical difficulties that apparently could not be corrected without modern technology left the video and it's audio in the can until now. This is the same six piece band (plus Jeff Simmons) that made One Size Fits All later in 1974. The only previously available live recording by this group is You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Volume 2 (The Helsinki Concert). 

Highlights are many. Inca Roads is great, as is Let's Make The Water Turn Black, Dupree's Paradise and More Trouble Every Day. Ruth Underwood shines on everything, but especially RDNZL. The video is currently available on YouTube for your entertainment.

They really opened the flood gates for the 1974 band this year, as they also released One Size Fits All 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe. The original record is one of Zappa's best, and the Deluxe version includes over a CDs worth of outtakes, basic tracks, and alternates that are at least as good as most of those things. But wait, you also get two CDs of a live performance recorded in Rotterdam in September of 1974. Great performances of Florentine Pogen, Montana and Cosmic Debris shine, and the entire show is special. (OK, the drum solo is too long, but aren't they all?)

So if you aren't sick of new/old Zappa live recordings, they've delivered two this year that are as good as any of them. Happy Zappadan!