Dan Kening

The Tractors The Tractors (Arista) (STAR)(STAR) 1/2 One of the more unlikely acts to crack the country charts in a while is the Tractors, a bunch of grizzled Tulsa, rock,...

Despite the anti-guitar solo ethic of many alternative rock acts today, the guitar hero is still alive and well in rock 'n' roll. For evidence, there's Eric Clapton, whose "From...

Tom Jones The Lead And How To Swing It (Interscope) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) Old Leather Lungs is back and back in style on this album that puts Jones' estimable vocal power in...

With the opening lines "My mother died of asbestos/My father's name was Estes" on the album-opening "Up! Up! Up!" from the live "Shootin' Straight"-Dan Hicks' first new album in 16...

Joni Mitchell Turbulent Indigo (Reprise) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) Some musical artists express their anger through shrieks, power chords and bombast. Always the subversive, Joni Mitchell on "Turbulent Indigo" expresses hers through hypnotic...

Are they or aren't they? One of the hottest acts on the heavy metal scene is Danzig, a Los Angeles quartet that has received as much attention for the alleged...

dada American Highway Flower (I.R.S.) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR) 1/2 After scoring a hit with "Dizz Knee Land" from their debut album "Puzzle," the L.A. trio dada are back with a killer sophomore...

Does longevity breed respect? In the case of Aerosmith, who will appear with Jackyl Tuesday at the United Center, that would seem to be the case. In the '70s it...

Joe Jackson Night Music (Virgin) (STAR)(STAR) A more accurate title for this album might have been "Joe Jackson's Mid-Life Crisis Album." Now that he's turned 40, Jackson has been quoted...

If you're among the fortunate 10,000 fans who snared tickets for radio station WKQX's Twisted Christmas charity extravaganza Thursday at the UIC Pavilion, you're in for quite a show. Tickets...