Chuck Prophet’s new album is a ‘beautiful’ homage to San Francisco

John Doe is probably still best known as co-founder of the punk-rock band X more than 30 years ago. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Doe’s new solo album Keeper is less conflicted and more contemplative than his earlier works.

Ken Tucker reviews Edwyn Collins’ 7th album, Losing Sleep: “Powered by soul-music rhythms and sung in a tough, terse tone, Edwyn Collins sounds impatient, eager to get on with his life. The music is the work of a man on a mission.”

Rock historian Ed Ward on a newly reissued Nick Lowe album: In the end, Nick Lowe proved to be more of an album artist than a singles artist. He’s had a long and fruitful career, and this is the record which established him. [Nick Lowe - Tiny Desk Concert]

When A Man Loves A Woman By Percy Sledge

When A Rock Historian Loves Percy Sledge By Ed Ward

A recent 13-CD box set called Next Stop Is Vietnam: The War on Record 1961-2008 documents the music that dominated the airwaves during the Vietnam War. Rock historian Ed Ward says the compilation could have used some “conscientious curation.”