John Palumbo Continues to Pull No Punches With His Latest, Biting Solo Release, Vampire

BY MIKE METTLER i JANUARY 13, 2024

John Palumbo is a no-BS artist. The once and forever Crack The Sky frontman has been on a mission to tell it like it is as a cutting-edge observational songwriter ever since CTS first hit the progressive-leaning rock scene in 1975. But every now and then, JP likes to put his […]

By |January 13th, 2024|The Soundtrack of Our Lives|Comments Off on John Palumbo Continues to Pull No Punches With His Latest, Biting Solo Release, Vampire|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2023

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 1, 2024

Whether you choose to consume your music via high-grade180-gram LPs, full-on surround sound and/or Dolby Atmos immersive audio mixes, top-shelf streaming services, hi-res audio downloads, or even standard-issue CDs, this past year delivered yet another wonderfully wide wave of full-length aural wonders. In reverse order, here are The SoundBard’s Top 31 long-players of […]

By |January 1st, 2024|The SoundBard Recommends, The Soundtrack of Our Lives|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2023|

Woodstock at 54: Back to the Garden Once Again, for Song and Celebration

BY MIKE METTLER  I  AUGUST 18, 2023

Fifty-four years ago on August 15, 1969, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair commenced at Max Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel, New York, at exactly 5:07 p.m. — i.e., the very moment rhythmic folk ’n’ soul singer/songwriter Richie Havens took to the stage. It’s quite the understatement to say that the world culture has never […]

By |August 18th, 2023|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Woodstock at 54: Back to the Garden Once Again, for Song and Celebration|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2022

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 1, 2023

Whether you choose to consume your music via high-grade180-gram LPs, top-shelf streaming services, hi-res audio downloads, standard-issue CDs, and/or full-on 5.1 surround sound and/or Dolby Atmos immersive audio mixes, this past year delivered yet another wonderfully wide wave of full-length aural wonders. In reverse order, here are The SoundBard’s Top 31 long-players of […]

By |January 1st, 2023|The Soundtrack of Our Lives|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2022|

Woodstock at 53: Back to the Garden Once Again, for Song and Celebration

BY MIKE METTLER  I  AUGUST 18, 2022

Fifty-three years ago on August 15, 1969, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair commenced at Max Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel, New York, at exactly 5:07 p.m. — i.e., the very moment rhythmic folk ’n’ soul singer/songwriter Richie Havens took to the stage. It’s quite the understatement to say that the world culture has never […]

By |August 18th, 2022|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Woodstock at 53: Back to the Garden Once Again, for Song and Celebration|

Step Into The Limelight With Rush’s Moving Pictures – 40th Anniversary Expanded Reissues Are Slated To Arrive April 15

BY MIKE METTLER – FEBRUARY 12, 2022

On April 15, 2022, UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records label groups continue the extensive Rush 40th anniversary album series with new, expanded editions of the band’s groundbreaking 1981 release, Moving Pictures, embodying its well-deserved classic album status. Moving Pictures-40th Anniversary will be available to fans in six distinct configurations, including the (1) Super Deluxe Edition, (2) three-CD Deluxe […]

By |February 12th, 2022|High Resolution Reviews|Comments Off on Step Into The Limelight With Rush’s Moving Pictures – 40th Anniversary Expanded Reissues Are Slated To Arrive April 15|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2021

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 1, 2022

Tales From the Clean N’ Scrub Union: Many recording artists made great use of our ongoing, off-putting pandemic times to create some of the best work of their respective careers. Some of them are only now just entering the cognizant creative fray to both capture and reflect the zeitgeist for the very first […]

By |January 1st, 2022|High Resolution Reviews|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2021|

Hitting All the Right Angles

Chicago-Bred Songwriter Ike Reilly Tackles a Different Perspective to Move Because the Angels Beyond the Norm

By BELLA MARIE — DECEMBER 16, 2021

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about art, it’s that it has its own DNA forged from the experiences and feelings of those who create it. “In a way, I wish I could move beyond these things — […]

By |December 16th, 2021|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Hitting All the Right Angles|

Woodstock at 52: Back to the Garden Once Again, for Song and Celebration

BY MIKE METTLER – AUGUST 17, 2021

Fifty-two years ago on August 15, 1969, the Woodstock Music & Art Fair commenced at Max Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel, New York, at exactly 5:07 p.m. — i.e., the very moment rhythmic folk ’n’ soul singer/songwriter Richie Havens took to the stage. It’s quite the understatement to say that the world culture has […]

Keepin’ It Styxy: My Exclusive Interview With Styx Producer Will Evankovich

BY BRIAN RANDALL — JUNE 18, 2021

Will Evankovich rocks the stage. Photo by Mark Walter.

Throughout their history, Styx’s biggest integral change has been their rotating cast, but with certain key members being steady following their Wooden Nickel years (1972-74), their sound has stayed pretty “Styxy” since conception. Most everyone knows them from such classic radio hits as “Come Sail […]

An Awesome Journey: My Exclusive Interview With Styx Producer Will Evankovich

BY MEGHAN SLUSARSKI — JUNE 18, 2021

Will Evankovich in action onstage. Photo by Courtni Meadows.

Will Evankovich has had so many experiences and amazing opportunities in his career as a professional musician. For him, it’s a journey — and, as he told me during a recent, exclusive interview we conducted via Zoom, “The whole journey is awesome!”  

Will grew up […]

The Tragically Hip Will Release Surprise New Album Saskadelphia on May 21

My Skeleton Crew: The Tragically Hip in B&W repose, in 1991. Photo by Jim Herrington.

BY MIKE METTLER — MAY 20, 2021

All roads lead to Saskadelphia, according to Canadian music icons The Tragically Hip. What does that mean, you ask? I’m more than happy to tell you.

Coming out on vinyl, CD, and all major digital platforms on May 21 via […]

By |May 20th, 2021|The Soundtrack of Our Lives|Comments Off on The Tragically Hip Will Release Surprise New Album Saskadelphia on May 21|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Songs of 2020

“Buy the box set and the kind of stuff / You’ve bought before a million times…”

BY MIKE METTLER – JANUARY 15, 2021

Back on January 1, I shared my list for The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2020. Now, it’s only fitting to follow-up said list with the year’s Top 31 Songs. Whether you choose to digest your […]

By |January 15th, 2021|High Resolution Reviews|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Songs of 2020|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2020

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 1, 2021

Letter From Isolation Row: How did I spend my quarantine year? I doubled down on my audio consumption by tapping into a rich vein of fresh analog and digital delights worth multiple repeat spins and streams. Interestingly enough, pretty much every album title on this list could also serve as a succinct statement […]

By |January 1st, 2021|High Resolution Reviews|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2020|

Patrick Downie and Josh Finlayson Spill the Fully Complete Story Behind the Creation of Gord Downie’s Final Studio Album, Away Is Mine

BY MIKE METTLER — DECEMBER 31, 2020

The late, fully completely great singer/songwriter/poetic auteur Gord Downie made so much beautiful, heartfelt music over his tragically cut-short career — music that continues to personally impact my daily listening life in so many cherished and deeply soul-rooted ways. So, in the midst of navigating the most challenging and unsettling year of 2020, […]

By |December 31st, 2020|The SoundBard Interview|Comments Off on Patrick Downie and Josh Finlayson Spill the Fully Complete Story Behind the Creation of Gord Downie’s Final Studio Album, Away Is Mine|

Solid Rock: 35 Years Ago Today, Dire Straits Took Me on a Magically Live Walk of Life

BY MIKE METTLER — AUGUST 3, 2020

35 years ago today, I saw Dire Straits live for the first time on August 3, 1985, at Poplar Creek in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The ticket cost a whopping $15 — 15 bucks! $14 plus a $1 service fee (those were the days!) — and we got the tix by waiting in line […]

By |August 3rd, 2020|Love It Live|Comments Off on Solid Rock: 35 Years Ago Today, Dire Straits Took Me on a Magically Live Walk of Life|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Songs of 2019

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 6, 2020

Last week, I shared my list of The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2019. Now, it’s only fitting to follow-up said list with the year’s Top 31 Songs. Whether you choose to digest your own favorite songs via hi-res audio downloads, hi-res streaming services, and/or 7-, 10-, or 12-inch 45s, this […]

By |January 6th, 2020|High Resolution Reviews|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Songs of 2019|

The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2019

BY MIKE METTLER — JANUARY 1, 2020

Whether you choose to consume your music via hi-res audio downloads, high-grade 180-gram LPs, top-shelf streaming services, standard-issue CDs, and/or full-on 5.1 surround sound mixes, this past year delivered a wonderfully wide wave of full-length aural wonders. In reverse order, here are The SoundBard’s Top 31 long-players of 2019.

31. Tom Keifer […]

By |January 1st, 2020|High Resolution Reviews|Comments Off on The SoundBard’s Top 31 Albums of 2019|

Impulse Teleports With Full Force Into Season 2 on YouTube Originals; Creator and Key Castmembers Tell Us How They Got There (and Back Again)

Meet Henry Coles (Maddie Hasson), teleporter-in-training.

BY MIKE METTLER – NOVEMBER 26, 2019

“Some heroes wear beanies and headphones.” So goes one of the more intriguing taglines for the online series Impulse, now currently streaming its riveting second season via YouTube Originals (new episodes arrive every Wednesday). Said hero in question is Henrietta “Henry” Coles (Maddie Hasson), a young woman […]

By |November 26th, 2019|TV Eye & Ear|Comments Off on Impulse Teleports With Full Force Into Season 2 on YouTube Originals; Creator and Key Castmembers Tell Us How They Got There (and Back Again)|

Bob Ludwig Receives Inaugural dCS Legends Award

BY MIKE METTLER – OCTOBER 25, 2019

What becomes a legend most? At a special reception held in New York City in conjunction with the 147th Audio Engineering Society (AES) Convention, dCS (Data Conversion Systems Ltd.) unveiled their new dCS Legends Award program on October 16, 2019. The inaugural recipient was none other than Bob Ludwig (third from left in […]

By |October 25th, 2019|Odds & Sods|Comments Off on Bob Ludwig Receives Inaugural dCS Legends Award|

FX Debuts Teaser and Exclusive Images For New Limited Series Devs

BY MIKE METTLER – OCTOBER 7, 2019

Visionary director Alex Garland’s highly anticipated television debut, FX’s upcoming limited series Devs, premiered its first teaser during a panel discussion on October 5, 2019 at New York Comic Con (NYCC) featuring Garland (Ex Machina), executive producer Allon Reich, and cast members Sonoya Mizuno (“Lily”), Jin Ha (“Jamie”), Zach Grenier (“Kenton”), Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Stewart”), Cailee […]

By |October 7th, 2019|TV Eye & Ear|Comments Off on FX Debuts Teaser and Exclusive Images For New Limited Series Devs|

Massive Pink Floyd: The Later Years: 1987-2019 16-Disc Box Set Is Ready for Release on December 13

BY MIKE METTLER – AUGUST 30, 2019

Pink Floyd Records will release Pink Floyd: The Later Years: 1987-2019, a deluxe multimedia 16-disc box set covering the material created by guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour, drummer Nick Mason, and keyboardist/vocalist Richard Wright from 1987 to the present, on December 13, 2019. This extensive collection serves as a companion piece to The Early Years: […]

By |August 30th, 2019|Odds & Sods|Comments Off on Massive Pink Floyd: The Later Years: 1987-2019 16-Disc Box Set Is Ready for Release on December 13|