Sunset Blvd

An exquisite pairing of talent, the duo of Carla Olson and Gene Clark. The feeling of spontaneity and closeness of spirit engulfs all of the cuts here. Olson's strident and powerful vocals mesh beautifully with Clark's slightly world-weary, soulful performances. As for the material, both songwriters obviously put their best foot forward here. Olson's "The Drifter" and "Are We Still Making Love" are excellent country-folk outings. Clark contributes one of his finest later compositions, "Gypsy Rider," a multi-leveled song that can easily be viewed as autobiographical. Chemistry is the operative word here. The only sad thing is that So Rebellious a Lover was to be the only studio effort by the duo before Clark passed away in 1991. This record is important not only for what it is, but for what it could have become.

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Fastball: Smashed Hits [CD]

Multiplatinum hitmakers Fastball are remembering it's okay to have hits. Reflecting on their meteoric rise with chart-topping debut "The Way," guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga wryly remarks, "I like to say that 'The Way' gave us the freedom to continue doing what we do." And what Fastball does is write hits. Their latest, Sonic Ranch, produced by David Garza (Fiona Apple) and John Fields (Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus) at Garza's west Texas ranch studio, Sonic Ranch, is ten sing-along gems, combining pop smarts & the wisdom of 30 years together.