As we edge closer to Christmas, the new releases slow down and make room for the giant-size portions of your holiday viewing. First up, the long-awaited movie musical translation of "Cats."
Most of Lloyd Webber's classics make the transfer well to the all-star cast. "Memory" is surprisingly delicate and poignant in the hands of Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson. The skilled performers also work best in this format, while Taylor Swift gets her first shot at an Oscar with the end title collaboration, "Beautiful Ghosts."
The sixth Disney movie of the year to make $1 billion worldwide has given its rabid fanbase one month to learn the songs. Now that you have committed the best parts of "Frozen 2" to memory, light up those holiday parties with karaoke versions of all the songs of the characters and the stars of the hit sequel.
The final film in the Star Wars canon (really?) receives a score from the erstwhile and always cherished John Williams. Using elements of earlier scores, Williams quickly brings the tale into focus and then actually does it best work bringing you to the Dark Side.
CATS
Soundtrack
(CD) (Republic)
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Frozen 2 Karaoke
(CD) (Disney)
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Soundtrack The Rise of Skywalker
(CD) (Disney)
IDLES
Beautiful Thing: Idles Live at La Cataclan
(LP/CD)(PTKF)
Britain's glorious Idles take the masculine thrust of gut-punch rock ‘n’ roll and blends it with observational thought-provoking lyrics. The tracks from their first chapter, "Brutalism," snap here, but it is the recent stunner, "Joy As An Act of Resistance" where the band REALLY shows their control of this audience. Something very big is coming from this band.
REISSUES:
FRANK KAPPA
Hot Rats
(LP)/Hot Rats Sessions
(6CD BOX)(Zappa/UME)
In 1969, for reasons that are still debated, Zappa disbanded the Mothers of Invention after five stellar albums. The holy trinity of Mothers' albums (1966's "Freak Out," 1967's "Absolutely Free," and 1968's "We're Only In It For The Money") are dead solid perfect. After capturing the freakish new zeitgeist in his satirical lens, Zappa turned to dynamic compositions, audio verite (1969's "Uncle Meat") and his ongoing love of Doo-Wop (1968's "Cruising With Ruben & The Jets").
Keeping several Mothers and adding several true studio aces, "Hot Rats" is Zappa's compositional prowess streamlined for all. Mistakenly classified as a Jazz record, "Hot Rats" is the first true showcase for his incendiary guitar skills.
"Willie The Pimp" with Captain Beefheart is the hardest funk he will ever crank out. While most of the songs do lean toward the fusion of Jazz and Rock in play, "Hot Rats" is more funky and loose-limbed than most albums of its day.
The lengthy pair of "Son of Green Genes" and "The Gumbo Variations" (with a blazing violin solo from Sugarcane Harris) predates the direction of later albums like 1973's "The Grand Wazoo." However, it is the whimsical neo-classicism of "Peaches En Regalia" that will most be remembered from this landmark album.
The 6 CD Box is a massive treasure trove or outtakes, studio ephemera, master takes, separated tracks and even several of the digital remixes Zappa did of this material in the Eighties.
"Hot Rats" was the first album recorded to 16 tracks.
As always, a Zappa remix or a remixed Zappa means you will hear things you never heard before. "Hot Rats" is that important step where Zappa became the virtuoso. Also, as a fierce leader he would wring every ounce of musicality and force out of any member of his band from here on out.
"Hot Rats" is a dizzying masterpiece that never sounds dated or ages a day. Essential.
TODD RUNDGREN
Hermit of Mink Hollow
(LP)(Music on Vinyl)
The always-reliable (and Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame nominated) Rundgren sounded like he was running out of steam in the mid-Seventies. His solo albums morphed into covers albums. His Prog/Jazz/Rock meditation experience with the band Utopia was fast becoming Power Pop ("Love Is The Answer" though not a hit for Rundgren was a Top 10 hit for England Dan & John Ford Coley.) Add to this season of change the dissolution of a long time relationship and you have the recipe for what may be Rundgren's most personal album. Recorded completely on his own (New York's Mink Hollow being the locale for this project,) his emotion spills out in a handful of poignant, highly melodic Pop songs.
"Can We Still Be Friends" is a late period beauty that captures both lessons learned and that last flicker of hope. While "All The Children Sing" sounds like a joyous release, in the end it turns out to be a crucial slip of the mask. "Hermit" is pure Pop like "Something/Anything" filtered through the early "Runt: The Ballad of Todd Rundgren," as Rundgren exposes himself as at fault sometimes (the bossa nova "Too Far Gone,") absorbing the blows of others (the heartbreaking "Hurtin' For You" or his pain reflected in passersby on "Bag Lady") and in the end ("Lucky Man" and "Fade Away") - realizing it was really no one's fault.
