Quick review: Cotton Mather's 'Kontiki: Deluxe Edition'

It's not often that a 15-year old album knocks me off my feet, but Cotton Mather has done it with a two-CD reissue of a power-pop classic that has everything you'd want: great lyrics, gorgeous vocals and musicianship, tight arrangements and enough risk-taking to keep you looking around the corner.  

"Kontiki: Deluxe Edition" is a marvelous treat for anyone who loves Beatlesque pop with a hint of the Byrds, Dylan and other great acts of the 1960s. I hate terms like Beatlesque, but in a nutshell, it's The Beatles whose influence is ever present. It's not just the echoes of John Lennon's voice but the craft in creating songs that are eminently hummable, varied and just good fun. 

The second bonus disc features a lot of demos, outtakes and alternate versions, and while it's not as polished and fulfilling as "Kontiki," it's a worthy journey into the layers and baby steps that ultimately led to one of my favorite albums in recent years. 

 Cotton Mather went belly-up years ago, but recently reformed for a few shows, and just released a one-off single called "I'll Be Gone" on SoundCloud. Here's hoping they dig a little deeper and regroup for an extended stay. In the meantime, I'll savor "Kontiki's" charms.

Gymkhana 6 another jaw-dropping display of driving

Ken Block is still falling short as a professional rally driver but he remains unmatched in the world of gymkaha. I've previously posted about Block's incredible touch behind the wheel but here's yet another example of jaw-dropping driving. 

To me, equally impressive are:

• The amazing camera shots. His sponsors listed at the end of the video -- and you'll want to watch past the first credits -- include GoPro, the company that provides inexpensive but impressive video cameras that can be attached in small places (like the inside of a suspension that takes a beating on the streets of San Francisco). 
• The absence of other people and cars in the shots. The logistics required to clear a major metropolitan city of people and traffic is remarkable. Must have taken a nice-sized check from the sponsors. 

 Any suggestions on where Block should head for Gymkhana 6?

Quick review: 'Big Ol' Box of New Orleans'

I spent a few days in New Orleans back in April for work and to celebrate my 50th birthday. And for anyone who's been to New Orleans, they know a few days is not nearly enough to immerse oneself in the fantastic food, music, culture, history and bling in one of the world's most fascinating cities. 

While there, I snagged a four-CD box set titled "Doctors, Professors, Kings & Queens: The Big Ol' Box of New Orleans." Packed into this set are 85 songs delivering a sweeping panorama of the wildly diverse styles of music the city is known for. You've got Dixieland, various forms of jazz, zydeco, R&B, rock, Cajun, gospel, soul and a bunch of other stuff. 

Over the course of 85 songs, I'd say only about six were forgettable. The large majority I have listened to repeatedly since cracking open the box. And while the playlist is by no means complete in terms of containing "hits," nearly every major or influential artist has a slot. I can't recommend these four CDs enough. The

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