DAVID GRAY- FOUNDLING
New, two-record set from the critically acclaimed, British folky. I dozed off during disc one, so I can't be fair with this review.
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Foundling-David-Gray/dp/B003TL0IRM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1282044109&sr=1-1
RAY LAMONTAGNE & PARIAH DOGS- GOD WILLIN' AND THE CREEK DON'T RISE
The Pariah Dogs are Jay Bellerose (drums), Jennifer Condos (bass), Patrick Warren (keyboard), Eric Heywood (guitar) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). There is a lot of music under those belts, and Lamontagne's songwriting is strong as always, but few songs if any, get above a moody stroll. Probably best taken in a little at a time, where each song could sneak up on you. Too much at once is just too much at once. Know what I mean?
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/God-Willin-Creek-Dont-Rise/dp/B003QCCS36/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1282044133&sr=1-1
JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUESBREAKERS- SO MANY ROADS (4 CD BOXED SET)
"2010 four CD anthology from the British Blues legend. This lavish box set contains 74 tracks, all newly remastered from the original master tapes, including five tracks released in Europe, on CD for the first time. The 40-page booklet features sleevenotes by Mark Powell with rare and previously unseen photographs. Universal."
TRACK LIST
Disc: 1
1. Crawling Up A Hill - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2. Mr. James - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3. When I'm Gone - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4. R&B Time - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5. Runaway - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
6. What's The Matter With You - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
7. Crocodile Walk - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
8. Blues City Shake Down - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
9. I'm Your Witchdoctor - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
10. Telephone Blues - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
11. On Top Of The World - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
12. They Call It Stormy Monday - John Mayall's Bluesbreakers
13. Have You Ever Loved A Woman - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
14. All Your Love - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton
15. Double Crossing Time - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton
16. Steppin' Out - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton
17. What'd I Say - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton
18. Key To Love - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton
19. Parchman Farm - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton
20. Looking Back - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
21. So Many Roads - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
22. Long Night - John Mayall, Steve Anglo
23. Dust My Blues - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
24. The Stumble - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Disc: 2
1. You Don't Love Me - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
2. It's Over - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
3. The Super-Natural - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
4. Sitting In The Rain - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
5. Ridin' On The L And N - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
6. All My Life - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
7. Double Trouble - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
8. Suspicions - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
9. Oh Pretty Woman - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
10. Snowy Wood - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
11. Checkin' Up On My Baby - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
12. No More Tears - John Mayall
13. Brand New Start - John Mayall
14. Picture On The Wall - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
15. Look In The Mirror - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
16. No Reply - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
17. Hartley Quits - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
18. 2401 - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
19. Walking On Sunset - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
20. Medicine Man - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
21. Miss James - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
22. Fly Tomorrow - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers
Disc: 3
1. The Laws Must Change - John Mayall
2. California - John Mayall
3. Room To Move - John Mayall
4. Sleeping By Her Side - John Mayall
5. Don't Waste My Time - John Mayall
6. Something New - John Mayall
7. Waiting For The Right Time - John Mayall
8. Counting The Days - John Mayall
9. Off The Road - John Mayall
10. Crying - John Mayall
11. Nature's Disappearing - John Mayall
12. Accidental Suicide - John Mayall
13. Prisons On The Road - John Mayall
14. Unanswered Questions - John Mayall
Disc: 4
1. Television Eye - John Mayall
2. Memories - John Mayall
3. Nobody Cares - John Mayall
4. Good Times Boogie - John Mayall
5. Got To Be This Way - John Mayall
6. Mess Around - John Mayall
7. Country Road - John Mayall
8. Moving On - John Mayall
9. Things Go Wrong - John Mayall
10. High Pressure Living - John Mayall
11. Driving Till The Break Of Day - John Mayall
12. Burning Sun - John Mayall
13. Little Kitten - John Mayall
14. Gasoline Blues - John Mayall
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Many-Roads-John-Mayall-Bluesbreakers/dp/B003LJNNZ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1282044159&sr=1-1
JOHN MELLENCAMP- NO BETTER THAN THIS
The story here is that Mellencamp, producer T-Bone Burnett and band traveled to various legendary locations--Sun Studios, a hotel room where Robert Johnson sang, a diner where Billy Boy Arnold once ordered jello---and recorded these tunes in the primitive way Elvis recorded, in mono, one microphone, guitarist positioned like Scotty Moore, blah, blah. It all sounds like a very nice time, but this is still another, semi-acoustic, cliche-ridden, just okay Mellencamp record.
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003NWS5DQ/ref=s9_simh_gw_p15_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0FM2VB35TZFEKHG44B00&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
BRIAN WILSON- REIMAGINES GEORGE GERSHWIN
I couldn't imagine listening to this, let alone enjoying it.
Brian Wilson has nothing left to prove. The man is a genius, and if he left us nothing but "The Warmth Of The Sun," that would have been more than enough for a lifetime. But I couldn't get on board any of his solo records, not even the critically acclaimed debut or the reconstruction of "Smile." And it was for one reason only. Brian couldn't sing anymore. His sweet falsetto of the sixties sounded more like a struggling caveman these days, and for me, it was just too painful. He is a musical hero of mine, and I just couldn't deal with the spotty and often embarrassing output.
So quite frankly, I am shocked by how much I love "Brian Wilson Reimagines George Gershwin." It doesn't look good on paper, but it thankfully made sense to Brian Wilson.
First and foremost is Brian's voice. Nowhere in the last 30 years has Brian sounded so inspired and so young. There are moments when Brian is singing like it's 1967. Sure, not on every song, but on many. And if you think classic Beach Boys'arrangements of these Gershwin standards is a mistake, think again.
The instrumental take of "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'," tipping its hat to both "Help Me, Rhonda" and the title song from "Pet Sounds," is worth the price of admission alone. Then there is the "Little Saint Nick" take of "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Just fantastic. Even the odd choice of "I Loves You, Porgy" over the gender-appropriate "Bess, You Is My Woman" is a success, though Stephen Holden in yesterday's NYT called it an "embarrassing, low point." I couldn't agree less. Brian is crooning and selling it.
This record is something you don't have to feel obligated to love out of pity for Brian Wilson and his sad life. It's a genuine success. The material is timeless and me thinks Brian Wilson has made the best record of his solo career.
BUY IT--->http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Wilson-Reimagines-Gershwin/dp/B002RWKSII/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1282044186&sr=1-1
6 comments:
ooo, a contrarian review——cool. this sounded like an awful idea to me, really stupid. but i'll definitely check out some samples. hearing brian in good voice, now, seems truly miraculous. just the thing in the dog days: recrudescence.
which just proves once again that with the geniuses, it's never safe to write them off. as long as they're breathing, there's always the chance that they'll produce something fresh and unexpected.
I got wind of this a few weeks ago and my initial reaction was "Oh no!" I listened to a few samples that were out there and was intrigued. I'm glad that you are of the same mind no matter what Holden says. Looking forward to hearing it in it's entirety.
The snippets I've heard of the Brian/Gershwin album have been spine-tingling. This is wonderful news...
well hopeth springeth eterneleth haha
now you have made me glad i ordered the vinyl!!!!
We listened to BWRG tonight and were similarly blown away. Holden must be holdin' his head up his ass, as Brian's singing on "I Loves You Porgy" is some of the most sweet and sensitive of his entire career. One you did not mention is the hiliarous, surf-guitar-adorned take on "I Got Rhythm". And I hear Brian's other first musical love (besides Gershwin), the Four Freshmen, coming through in "Can't Take That Away". What's most amazing is the sense of humor he brings to the entire project, mostly in the ballsy but also winking choice of instruments and approaches.
I think one secret hero of the album is drummer Todd Sucherman, who outdoes himself here, driving the beat in multiple musical environments, accenting polyrhythms, and injecting a bit of a modern sensibility into the at times old-fashioned styles.
All in all, it's a fascinating union of east coast and west coast, Jew and goy, different generations, different genres, a dude who collaborated with his two brothers and one who collaborated with one brother, into something new under the sun. And conceptually, hasn't Brian Wilson covering "Summertime" been something that should have happened years ago?
I can't wait to listen more, and to write about it more -- but don't worry, Sal, I'll find another venue than your comments section! :^)
-Jeff
How Do Sal - brief unusually from ASH HQ.
I love the Brian Wilson album and I take on board all that you say about his solo stuff.
Looking forward to the Mayall box set, sound is supposed to be ace.
Leave you on a negative note .
David Gray is dreadful, the only good thing he ever did in the UK was draw attention to other much better singer songwriters as the Record Execs clamoured for that breed.
I saw him once as a support to Ian McNabb when he berated the audience for not listening to his music.
Perhaps had he sang something worth listening to and it wasn't in a ridiculous nanny goat voice, we might have.
Post a Comment