I apologize for my lack of a post on Wednesday. I had an appointment that lasted well, well into the evening hours. Which is just as well because I've been thinking about this Underrated Guitarist Poll. There were so many names sent to us that I just didn't want it to become a list of names that we read once and then forget. All of us are in awe of one of these guitarists or else we wouldn't have sent in so many suggestions. We should not zip through names as if they were just small inclusions to a growing list. And so I propose that we take the current posted list and discuss these guys. Let's put them into perspective. Let's give them their due. After all, we think them underrated, right? Putting names into a list that may be glanced over would be defeating the very reason that we began this poll. So, let's do it this way: Let's keep this current list as it is (or should I break it down by half?). If you have selected one or more of these guitarists, expand on why you chose this guitarist in the first place. If you didn't choose any of the guitarists listed here but saw one that you agree with, let us know why you agree. Some of these selections are no-brainers. Many of us know that David Gilmour is a distinctive and great guitarist. His sound is unique and can be picked out of a crowd. but you hardly ever hear his name mentioned as one of the greats (yeah, I know). Use this email link to provide us some perspective on some of these names. All of these guitarists deserve it and so do you. Let's see where this goes. If you have a better way to do this justice, please do not hesitate to let me know.

• David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) (multiple selection)
• John Martyn
• Steve Lukather (Toto)
• Alex Lifeson (Rush) (multiple selection)
• Rik Emmett (Triumph) (multiple selection)
• Snowy White (Pink Floyd/Thin Lizzy)
• Jeff Buckley
• James Mankey (Concrete Blonde)
• Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna) (multiple selection)
• Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) (multiple selection)
• Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) (multiple selection)
• Mike Slamer (City Boy)
• Martin Barre (Jethro Tull) (Multiple selection)
• Tommy Shaw (Styx/Damn Yankees) (multiple selection)
• George Kooymans (Golden Earring)
• Neil Young (multiple selection)
• Johnny Greenwood (RadioHead)
• Danny Heines
• Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Steely Dan) (multiple selection)
• Ronnie Wood (Jeff Beck Group/Faces/Rolling Stones) (multiple selection)
• Tommy Bolin (Zephyr/James Gang/Deep Purple) (multiple selection)
• Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze)
• John McGeoch (Magazine/Visage/Siouxie and the Banshees)
• Robin Trower (Procol Harem/The Paramounts) (multiple selection)
• Andy Summers (Police)
• Andrew Latimer (Camel)
• Lindsay Buckingham (Buckingham/Nicks/Fleetwood Mac) (multiple selection)
• Nile Rogers
• Billy Squier (Piper)
• Frank Zappa (The Mothers of Invention) (multiple selection)
• KK Downing/Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest - always mentioned together) (multiple selection)
• Kerry Livgren (Kansas)
• Alvin Lee (Ten Years After) (multiple selection)
• Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash) (multiple selection)
• Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins)
• Randy California (Spirit)
• Paul Chapman (UFO)
• Steve Rothery (Marillion/The Wishing Tree) (multiple selection)
• Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
• Andy Taylor (Duran Duran) (multiple selection)
• Prince
• George Harrison (Beatles) (multiple selection)
• Joe Walsh (James Gang/Eagles) (multiple selection)
• Rich Williams (Kansas)
• Steve Hackett (Genesis/GTR)
• Roger Hodgson (Supertramp)
• Jay Graydon (Steely Dan)
• Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
• Daryl Stuermer (Phil Collins/Genesis)
• Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
• Albert Lee (EmmyLou Harris)
• Pat Metheny
• Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) (multiple selection)
• Tim Renwick (Sutherland Brothers & Quiver/Al Stewart/Pink Floyd)
• Allen Collins (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Rick Derringer (The McCoys/Derringer/Winter Brothers) (multiple selection)
• John Frusciante (RHCP)
• Carl Wilson (Beach Boys)
• Steve Stevens (Billy Idol)
• Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osborne/Quiet Riot) (multiple selection)
• Francis Lickerish (The Enid)
• Neal Schon (Santana/Journey) (multiple selection)
• Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
• Silver Kouloris (Aphrodite's Child)
• Gary Moore (Skid Row/Thin Lizzy)
• Porl Thompson (The Cure/Malice)
• Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Tommy Tedesco

I would like to say goodbye to an Pop Culture icon who wrote a story so ingrained into that culture that it is inseparable. JD Salinger dies on Wednesday, January 27 at the age of 91. Many of us read the novel, Catcher in the Rye for a class assignment. JD Salinger's story became something else on its way to our consciousness and further. A novel, yes, but really much more than that. Its new writing style, its characters, and its underlying content lives with many of us. If you haven't read Salinger's classic, The Catcher in the Rye, I highly suggest that you do so. I plan to read it yet again because JD Salinger deserves that much from me.

The book as I remember it.

I'd like to introduce an edgy singer that I'm finding well to my liking and I think that you might find her such as well. You folks know that I don't do this all the time. Her name is Rykarda Parasol and she hails from San Francisco. She has a new album coming, an album that is self-released and planned for February 16. The album is called For Blood and Wine (album cover shot below). The first single off the album is called "A Drinking Song" and can be downloaded at the song link. I'm including a cut 'n paste from the press releases because they do a much better job at underscoring her interesting sound better than I could. (I would have just repeated what they already state.)

SAN FRAN'S RYKARDA PARASOL EVOKES THE SMOKEY CROON OF NICO AND SIOUXSIE; EXPLORES AMERICA LIKE A FEMALE NICK CAVE

“...Rykarda Parasol is at once raw and earnest, sensual and callous with just enough wit and wry humor to make it all go down sweet and easy. For Blood and Wine is an intoxicating swig of bitters and a trace of lipstick on a stubbled cheek.” – The Big Takeover 

“Fans who take to her have done so fully, offering up comparisons to everything from Edith Piaf to a Tarantino movie soundtrack, two auteurs with similar niche appeal”. – Venus 

“The ‘rock noir’ chanteuse from San Francisco is all about shadowy atmosphere... weirdly gorgeous.” – Falling James, Los Angeles Weekly 

Born of a holocaust orphan and distant Swedish royalty, Rykarda Parasol uses her life story and a love of literature to craft music that is vacuously dark while simultaneously a celebration of life and its vices.  With a voice and lyrics compared to the likes of a female Nick Cave, and drawing influence from The Doors, Serge Gainsbourg, and Oscar Wilde, Parasol describes her music as “rock noir,” evoking moody cinema drenched in gin and white-collar crime.  Parasol’s nature is strong, her prose is starkly sincere, and she could drink Tom Waits under the table. 

Parasol’s new self-produced album For Blood and Wine is a true-life narrative depicting the progress and downward spiral of a rake, which in this case is female. “It’s witty, darkly romantic, edgy and elegant… It’s tales of infidelity, addiction, and death. Mostly sad, but some real moments of joy and hope,” Parasol states.

I'm starting off our Underrated Guitarists Poll with a review of one of the guitarists mentioned. I had selected Danny Heines, who has been around for quite a few years. This review is of his 1988 release, Every Island.

In addition to that Heines review, I pleased to present the next review from Mike Duquette, who runs a very informative, fun to read site called The Second Disc. He reviews the just reissued Whitney Houston self-titled debut known as Whitney Houston: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition. Mike might just be the next MusicTAP.

Warner Brothers announces the broken down components of the Limited Edition The White Stripes Box called Under Great White Northern Lights. On March 16, you'll be able to purchase the BD (Blu-ray) and DVD sets as well as the CD, and the 2LP (180g) set, all separately.

Varese Sarabande Records will release a 'best of' for Bob Welch (Fleetwood Mac/Solo) called, simply, Greatest Hits. It is planned for March 30.

Nonesuch Records will release Highway Rider by Brad Mehldau, scheduling for March 16,

On February 16, Polydor Records will release a DD version of Cream of Clapton for Eric Clapton. Cream of Clapton was originally released on CD in 1995, and reissued in 2008 as an CD Ecopak. This brings it to the Digital Age.

Universal Motown will release the LP version of Enemy of the World by Four Year Strong on April 6. The CD and DD are scheduled separately for March 9.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release a valuable piece of history on DVD called Forever featuring Free. One of Rock's greatest underrated guitarists was in Free (Paul Kossoff). It's on the calendar for March 23.

UMe plans the release of J is for Jackson Five for The Jackson Five, gunning for a March 30 release date in both CD and DD.

Rounder Records will release The Famous Lefty Flynn's by The Grascals on March 30.

Savoy Records will release This Charming Life by Joan Armatrading on March 30 in both CD and DD.

Mercury Records will release the LP and CD versions of Habits by Neon Trees on March 16.

Sanctuary Records plan the DD release of Everything Louder Than Everyone Else: Live Hamburg Germany 1998 by Motorhead. Sanctuary will also release a DD version of Belly to Belly: Volume One for Warrant. Both are scheduled for February 16.

Varese Sarabande will release the Pat Travers/Carmine Appice pair-up called Keep On Rockin' on CD on March 30.

Hip-O Select will add DD to the upcoming CD release of The Mercury Albums Anthology for The Runaways, both planned for March 16.

UMe plan the release of Sting in the Tail by Scorpions in both CD and DD on March 23.

Fantasy Records will release an as-yet-undetermined title for a collaborative effort by Steve Cropper and Felix Cavaliere that is currently on schedule for a June 15 release.

Fantasy Records will also release a Various Artists CD collection of Stax artists' Number Ones called Stax #1s. It's is on the calendar for March 30.