On Monday, I'm going to deliver a bit of a revamp for this Underrated Guitarist Poll list. I'll provide some feedback on what some of you had to say on some of these guitarists. Let's see what I can do to make this more than just a list, which I'll provide anyway as a list. On my second 'go-round' request for more info, we received just a few more updates to the list and only a few expansions (good ones, which I'll post). I just want to do this thing justice. We'll put out something interesting for you to read on Monday.

I apologize for the brevity of today's post but things out of my control have kept me out of a few postings. I just wanted to make sure that I popped in to say "hi."

We do have a few more upcoming albums in the Notes section. We're hoping that the labels begin to open up their vaults and slip us some great new cool stuff. In the meantime, I'm working on more reviews, and trying to give a good ride on the site.

We'll see you again on Friday for the weekly closeout.

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.

Real World Production Limited will release the new Peter Gabriel album (as if you didn't know this), Scratch My Back, on March 2 in both CD and a Special Edition CD.

Caroline Records has two Be Bop Deluxe DDs (Digitial Downloads) coming on February 23. The titles are Air Age Anthology, and Raiding the Divine Archives.

Atlantic Records will reissue three Pantera titles on vinyl LP scheduled for April 17. The titles include Cowboys From Hell (1990), Vulgar Display of Power (1992), and Far Beyond Driven (1994).

Rhino Records will release Emotion & Commotion on vinyl LP by Jeff Beck, also on April 17.

Virgin Records will release Last Stand from Adelita's Way in CD and DD formats on February 23.

Tooth & Nail Records will release Disappearing World by Fair on DD (CD earlier) on February 23.

There is a BBC In Concert title for Culture Club that had been released on Feb 2 as DD, if you're interested.

Nuclear Blast America has a Testament CD arriving on February 23 called The Formation of Damnation.

New West Records will release The Open Road by John Hiatt on March 2.

ATO Records will release In the Dark by The Whigs on March 16.

Hip-O Select will reissue Meet The Supremes, the 1962 Motown debut for The Supremes. this reissue will be available on May 18.

AAO Records will release a CD for Led Zeppelin called Rock Biographies: Led Zeppelin on March 23.