I'm still giving this Underrated Guitarist Poll a whole lot of think. For some reason or other, it's demanding to be handled right. Why does a guitarist like Eric Clapton (and I love Eric Clapton) become so revered while an extraordinary guitarist like Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, who can play some great notes, is almost completely unknown. I would venture to argue that Powell is a better guitarist than Clapton. I'm betting it's the visibility. Have a string of hits and you're remembered by all; don't have a hit and virtually no one remembers you or even knows who you are.

Giving this even more thought, I'm thinking that I'll post the entire list on Monday (by numbers, of course, largest numbers of selections at the top). From there, I'll push a week for discussion. I will post the discussion points that I already have by then.

There's not really not a lot to post, new music-wise but there is one interesting thing. Chinese Democracy by Guns 'n Roses will re-release on February 23 in Digital format, and on CD and LP formats in March 3. This is likely a broadening of the marketplace, which was once confined exclusively to Best Buy when it was first released.

In the meantime, have you checked out Rykarda Parasol yet (see below)?

I didn't mention this on Monday or Wednesday but I picked up two super LPs on Sunday. The first was a sealed copy of Houses of the Holy (love that album), and a hard to find E Pluribus Funk (Grand Funk Railroad) in the round silver coin jacket. I snagged a few more LPs like Jack the Toad (by the short-lived Jackie Lynton-period Savoy Brown), a very nice copy of Blow Your Face Out, the 2LP Live set from J. Geils Band (c'mon guys, a final tour....please!), a much cleaner 2LP Live Dates by Wishbone Ash, a brilliantly clean copy of the die-cut Brain Salad Surgery (ELP), and a serviceable copy of Mott by Mott the Hoople, circa 1973. I have placed 'find lists' with vendors for No Secrets (Carly Simon), Voices (Roger Eno), No Reason to Cry (an unsung Clapton great from his All-Star Shangri-La sessions), and a few others that just seem to elude me. I got a call on a factory-sealed No Secrets going for $20, and a serviceable copy of No Reason to Cry, but I want to see them before purchasing despite the hard-sell by the vendor over the phone, who promised me that these would be gone by next show. Maybe.

I have a review for you of the recently released CD version of The Road original film score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. I loved the book. I loved the film adaptation. I love the atmospheric soundtrack. I'm just lucky, I guess. Check it out.

See you on Monday with THE list.

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.

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.