<\/p>\n
I love watching the introduction of new technology. It reminds me of the period prior to every major league sport\u2019s annual draft. The rampant speculation is overwhelming and of course you have the \u201cexperts\u201d each vying to place their stamp on the outcome. So I have been watching as AI (artificial intelligence) becomes more and more of a factor in our lives. On one hand you have those (usually with a financial stake) proclaiming the \u201cnew world\u201d possibilities of AI while luddites fret and worry about a science fiction future that is like something out of The Matrix. I haven\u2019t seen a lot of speculation about how AI will affect art though there are concerns that AI could infringe on artistic copyrights and creativity. And much has been made lately about The Velvet Sundown, an AI-generated band complete with promotional images, a backstory and over 2 million streams on Spotify. So what to make of this musical hulabaloo? Well if this is all that AI creators can produce then art is safe at least for the time being. The Velvet Sundown music might (and I use the word \u201cmight\u201d) qualify as \u201cfiller\u201d, music that an artist\/band produces hurriedly because their album needs one last song. And that\u2019s being generous. And as a final thought, if AI has the potential to produce quality music they better have someone in charge who has experience creating it or at the very least knows what it is.<\/p>\n
So much for my rant and now a final column highlighting some of the music released earlier this year that you may have missed:<\/p>\n
Alice Cooper: \u201cBlack Mamba\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe Revenge of Alice Cooper\u201d is the first album by the original band (lead guitar player Glen Buxton died in 1997) since the 1973\/4 release of \u201cMuscle Of Love. The album was produced by long time producer Bob Ezrin. The group did play together during their induction into The Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Here\u2019s a piece<\/span><\/a> about the rise, fall and resurrection of the original Alice Cooper band.<\/p>\n Suzanne Vega: \u201cAlley\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cFlying With Angels\u2019 is the 10tth album by the Grammy award-winning\u00a0 singer-songwriter probably best known for her 80s\/90s hits\u00a0 \u201cTom\u2019s Diner\u201d and \u201cLuka\u201d. She hasn\u2019t had a \u201chit\u201d in a few years so people might assume she stopped making music. She has been making good, maybe not great music for years and this is one of her best.<\/p>\n Turnstile: \u201cNever Enough\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n This from the band\u2019s 4th album \u201cNever Enough. I hate using the label that is usually applied to the band\u2019s music, namely hard core punk. The band has managed to honor its hardcore heritage while embracing what one reviewer called \u201cfearless experimentation\u201d. The new album landed in the top ten of just about every album chart you can think of when it came out and for good reason.<\/p>\n Bon Iver: \u201cEverything Is Peaceful Love\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The song is from the Grammy Award winning band\u2019s 5th album \u201cSable, Fable\u201d, which is a continuation of the band\u2019s 2024 \u201cSable\u201d EP. If you aren\u2019t familiar with Bon Iver this is a great place to start with an album they describe as a \u201clove story set to lush, radiant pop music\u201d. Since it\u2019s release the album has topped the folk, independent and rock album charts and is already on my list of the best albums of 2025.<\/p>\n Charlie Musselwhite: \u201cHighway 61\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n This from the blues harmonica player\u2019s latest \u201cLook Out Highway\u201d. Charlie\u2019s history dates to the 60s when he and other musicians like Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop and Michael Bloomfield were learning from Chicago blues legends like Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Howlin\u2019 Wolf. This is by my count his 42nd album including live projects and compilations. It\u2019s also one of his best.<\/p>\n Sea Lemon: \u201cStay\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDiving For A Prize\u201d is the debut from Sea Lemon (Natalie Lew) and what she calls Costco Cocteau Twins music. Not sure what that means but I like her music.<\/p>\n Russ Ballard: \u201cI Know There\u2019s Something Going On\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Ballard was the lead singer and lead guitarist for the band formed by Zombie keyboardist Rod Argent (\u201cHold Your Head Up\u201d). After leaving Argent in 1974 Ballard became a successful songwriter with hit songs for Three Dog Night, America, Santana, KISS and many others. He has released music sporadically over the years and just put out a double album with one disc called \u201cThe Hits Revisited\u201d with songs written for others like this for Abba\u2019s Frida. \u201cSongs From The Warehouse\u201d is new music.<\/p>\n Bryan Ferry & Amelia Barrett: \u201cLoose Talk\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n I will admit it: I am a huge Bryan Ferry\/Roxy Music fan. \u201cVirginia Plain\u201d is one of my favorite songs and \u201cAvalon\u201d is a \u201cdesert island\u201d disc. Lately in between anniversary tours and box sets Ferry has put out jazz versions of his catalog and now \u201cLoose Talk\u201d which takes Ferry\u2019s unreleased demo recordings and adds text and narration by visual artist and writer Amelia Barrett. It takes a bit of getting used to but definitely worth the effort.<\/p>\n