Album Review: Hurray for the Riff Raff - Live Forever

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Live Forever

***and1/2 out of *****

Touring on the back of their strongest album to date, 2024's The Past Is Still Alive, Hurray for the Riff Raff (Alynda Segarra) decided to record a two night stand in their new hometown Chicago, IL. The resulting Live Forever finds the artist sacrificing some nuance for more folk-rocking power.

Album Review: Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts - As Time Explodes

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

As Time Explodes

*** out of *****

Neil Young, at 79, took to the road yet again in 2025 with his newly formed backing band The Chrome Hearts for a 31 date international Love Earth tour. As Time Explodes (a Record Store Day release) is a document of that tour recorded at various stops, and while far from vital, it is a nice snapshot of Young and this talented band. 

Album Review: Little Freddie King - Live at BJ's Lounge

Little Freddie King

Live at BJ's Lounge

****and1/2 out of *****

The (just turned) 86-year-old blues legend Little Freddie King fell in love with New Orleans and moved there when he was a young teen. Cousin of Lightnin' Hopkins, Kings connection to the blues runs as deep as possible and for his career (which is still ongoing) LFK called the Bywater establishment BJ's Lounge home, playing there as often as he could over the past thirty years. Now comes his definitive live record, the double album Live at BJ's Lounge and it is the best he has ever sounded anywhere.  

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 58: 12/18/73 Tampa, FL

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks 58: 12/18/73 Tampa, FL 

***and1/2 out of *****

Standard disclaimer: When reviewing any Grateful Dead release at this point, it needs to be noted that a lot of the truly great shows from the band have already been professionally released. (If you are new to them, check out RtBE's Beginners Guide to The Grateful Dead Part's one and two.) 

With their vast back catalog on archive.org and all of their previous releases, including the ongoing Dave's Picks, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.

That said, the Grateful Dead organization still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Happy 55th Anniversary to The Allman Brothers - Live at Fillmore East

Today marks the 55th Anniversary of The Allman Brothers album Live at Fillmore East.

One of the best live albums of all-time. 

Album Review: Ween - Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996

Ween

Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996

*** out of *****

The New Hope, PA based duo Ween have been going through their archives and recently released this live album, Bring Out The Foos: Live 1996. It captures the band during an interesting phase, when they were the opening act for the Foo Fighters and once again playing as a duo. That opening slot leads to lot of interplay with fans who had never heard of anything Boognish related. 

Album Review: Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders - GarciaLive Volume 22: September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share

Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders

GarciaLive Volume 22: September 25th, 1971 Lion’s Share

*** out of *****

The newest release from the GarciaLive series is from September 25th, 1971 at the small Lion's Share club in San Anselmo, California. Both the early and late shows (minus the last tune of the night) are presented, showcasing an era when Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders were very connected musically. 

Album Review: Colonel Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade - Return of the Live Frogs: Volume 1

 Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here.

It is of Colonel Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade - Return of the Live Frogs: Volume 1 

Album Review: Phish - New Year's Eve 1993, Live At Worcester Centrum

Phish

New Year's Eve 1993, Live At Worcester Centrum

**** out of *****

Back in the pre internet tape trading days, Phish's New Year's Eve show from 1993 at the Centrum in Worcester, MA was one of the pinnacles in a collection. It was a radio broadcast, SBD quality that found the band playing their biggest show to date and really nailing it. Now the band officially releases the complete concert for all to enjoy, title New Year's Eve 1993, Live At Worcester Centrum.

Album Review: BERTHA: Grateful Drag - Slayin’ in the Band Vol. 1

BERTHA: Grateful Drag

Slayin’ in the Band Vol. 1

*** out of *****

The Nashville based, Drag Queen Grateful Dead cover band, BERTHA: Grateful Drag have been playing their glamour filled live shows for a few years now on the jamband circuit. Their first live album, Slayin’ in the Band Vol. 1 is designed just like a show as tracks were taken from various recent concerts from all over the USA. As an added bonus, a portion of proceeds will benefit Trans Aid Nashville. 

Album Review: Laughing Hyenas - That Girl – Live Recordings 1986–1994

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here.

It is of Laughing Hyenas - That Girl – Live Recordings 1986–1994

Album Review: Regiment - Live at the Whiskey A Go Go

Regiment

Live at the Whiskey A Go Go

***and1/2 out of *****

Even before the music spins out from Regiment's new release, Live at the Whiskey A Go Go, you know what you are in for just by looking at the retro metal art. If anything, the playing contained within goes even heavier as the thrash metal burns with the power of an exploding sun over Los Angeles. 

Album Review: Dumpstaphunk - Live at Tipitina's 2025

Dumpstaphunk

Live at Tipitina's 2025

***and1/2 out of *****

The newest release from Tipitinas Record Club is also their most recent recording as Dumpstaphunk's Live at Tipitina's 2025 was captured at the venue's final late night show from last year's Jazz Fest. The gorgeous yellow and black splattered vinyl finds the funk band playing to their strengths with a surprise guest as they wrapped up another great Festival weekend in New Orleans. 

Album Review: Corey Ledet Zydeco and Black Magic - Live in Alaska

Corey Ledet Zydeco and Black Magic

Live in Alaska

***and1/2 out of *****

The state of Alaska may be one of the last in the union that you would equate with zydeco music, but Corey Ledet Zydeco and Black Magic decided to capture their new album, Live in Alaska, during their set at the Anchorage Folk Festival in February 2025. The spritely recording showcases a tight band and energetic crowd, both getting down with joyous freedom.

Album Review: Theon Cross - Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York)

Theon Cross

Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York)

***and1/2 out of *****

For his NYC debut, London based tuba player Theon Cross recorded this live album, Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York). The collection of tunes from this night show an exciting musician leading a band who mixes and matches genres and flavors. 

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums of 2025

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2025. This is the year end review, all in one place.

Below are our picks for RtBE's favorite albums of the year. It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

We also took some time to discuss our favorite album artwork, our favorite archive/live album releases and favorite live shows from the year if you are interested.   

Thanks for reading. Until next year....

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks #56 Rainbow Theater London 3/20-21/81

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks #56 Rainbow Theater London 3/20-21/81

***and1/2 out of *****

Standard disclaimer: When reviewing any Grateful Dead release at this point, it needs to be noted that a lot of the truly great shows from the band have already been professionally released. (If you are new to the band, check out RtBE's Beginners Guide to The Grateful Dead Part's one and two.) With their vast back catalog on archive.org and all of their previous releases, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.

That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums Part 3 (Top 5)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2025's Favorite Albums Part 3: Top Five.

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20, so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, AI music, Spotify, or playlists for us.

The number ten just works for this, so here is the second part of our top ten, numbers five through one. You can see the back end of our top ten and our list of Honorable Mentions that were just out of our top ten. Consider those 10-24, in no particular order.

Like all of our lists or 'best of', these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Archival Releases

Each year the music industry dips into the past to deliver box sets, live albums, re-masters and outtake collections to sell to the music loving masses (present company included). This look back will round up some of RtBE's favorite archival releases from the past year. 

Usually these releases can fall into the money grab category, not really adding much outside of revenue for the label and (hopefully) the artist. Every now and then though some spectacular collections are unearthed and are worth any price. 

RtBE includes live albums in this category, since they were recorded in the recent or distant past and thus fall into archival release status. 

With the increase in vinyl, and enhanced Record Store Days to help smaller sellers, there are more and more archival releases each year. RtBE are sure to miss a lot of them, but the quality and abundance is exciting. Post your favorites, or any we may have missed, in the comments. 

These were our favorite archival releases of 2025, click the link in the title for full reviews.

Album Review: Dr. John - Live at the Village Gate

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here.

It is of Dr. John's recent archival live album, Live at the Village Gate.

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below: