Lot’s of good listening this month.
Here’s what I acquired in June:
Shrunken Heads, Ian Hunter
Thanks to Perry for sending this one along with the classic Hunter Ronson Band album Yui Orta from 1989. Hunter is way underrated (don’t you really love Mott The Hopple?). I loved Hunter’s cover of Alejandro Escovedo’s “One More Night” on the Escovedo tribute cd from 2004. Anyway on to Shruken Heads, here’s the short review: Ian Hunter’s new album has at least two songs that Bruce Springsteen wishes he could write and the rest of the album is pretty darn good too.
Yui Orta, The Hunter Ronson Band
“You’re never too small to hit the big time!” All Music Guide says: “YUI Orta remains an exciting album that is worthy of rediscovery by both anyone interested in Ian Hunter’s work and anyone interested in good, old-fashioned rock & roll.” And they’re right. Thanks Perry for pandoing these my way.
Do You Trust Your Friends, Stars
Remixes of Montreal indie electronica/chamber pop. Just okay, but I’ve not given it a fair listen really.
Dislocation Blues, Chris Whitley & Jeff Lang
Chris Whitley was great bluesman/singer-songwriter/roots rocker. This album was recorded with Jeff Lang just seven months before he died from lung cancer in 2005. If you don’t have his masterpiece Living With the Law do yourself a favor and go get. On Dislocation Blues he does to fantastic covers of Dylan (a radical reinterpretation of “When I Paint My Masterpiece” which I’ve played over and over and “Changing of the Guard”). Patti Smith’s recent cover of “Changing of the Guard” is also recommended. Plus Whitley and Lang covers Robert Johnson and do versions of Whitley’s own “Rocket House” and “Velocity Girl” that are riveting. Highly recommended.
Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams
Ryan Adam’s Heartbreaker is considered classic and Gold is a great album, and Cold Roses and Jacksonville City Nights are superior records. Adams has been notoriously prolific and uneven the past few years, but on Easy Tiger he’s lean and mean. It’s not Heartbreaker but its pretty darn good.
Era Vulgaris, Queens of the Stone Age
In the mood for some stoner metal? No pop/crossover stuff within miles…AMC says “it’s mercilessly tight and precise, relentless in its momentum and cheerful in its maliciousness…best rock & roll record yet released in 2007.” Thunderous!
Giant of Southern Soul, 1965-1975, O. V. Wright
This is a UK compilation of one of the great unsung soul singers of the 60s and 70s. Absolutely mindblowing deep soul music from Overton Vertis Wright, whose gospel roots are never far from the surface. You may not know “Nickel and Nail” or “You’re Gonna Make Me Cry” or “Ace of Spades” or “I’d Rather Be Blind, Crippled or Crazy” or “I’ve Been Searching” or “What About You” (which I’ve played over and over and over lately), but you should! If you can’t find this comp, get The Soul of O.V. Wright.
Guitars, Cadillacs, etc. etc. (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), Dwight Yoakam
Dwight is my hero, I held off picking up this deluxe reissue b/c I already had much of it, but there were some unreleased tunes and, well. Just had to have it. Everybody needs their guitars, Cadillacs and hillbilly music!
Icky Thump, The White Stripes
The White Stripes are touring Canada right now. Not just Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, but they’re playing in every province and territory Including Iqaluit, Nunavut (63° north latitude, population 6,184). What’s red and white and rocks Canada?
Propeller, Guided By Voices
Kings of lo-fi. This is a 1992 album, with the epic “Over the Neptune/Mesh Gear Fox,” and GBV classics “Exit Flagger” and “14 Cheerleader Coldfront”. I downloaded this from eMusic, which is a great (and cheap) music downloading service if you’re looking for stuff on independent labels (eMusic is not the site for your Hot 100 tracks, which is a good thing).
1000 Years of Popular Music, Richard Thompson
It is what it says and it has loads of great covers including tunes by Britney Spears, The Easybeats, and Squeeze.
Sweet Warrior, Richard Thompson
There is not a bad Richard Thompson album. For his third post-Capitol records release he’s given us a rock album (hoo-ray!). I really liked his two previous albums, Old Kit Bag (a trio) and Front Parlour Ballads (acoustic), but Richard knows how to rock with the best of them. Hey Dave remember when he blew your ears out at The Egg in Albany? That was one loud concert, this album is more relaxed, in the mold of Rumor and Sigh. “Dad’s Gonna Kill Me” is a great anti-war song and there’s the ska-influenced of “Francesca” and other gems. Anyway, this is another “routine” four star album for a guy who should be a humongous star himself.
The Wagonmaster, Porter Wagoner
Way back when in those pre-MTV days in West Columbia, SC I had my favorite music shows on TV: Sunday morning there was “Gospel Jubilee” (with the Blackwood Brothers, The Stamps, The Florida Boys, The Happy Goodmans, etc.) and there was Dick Clark’s “Where the Action Is” (with Paul Revere and the Raiders), and, of course, American Bandstand every Saturday. Shindig (which had The Rolling Stones AND Howlin’ Wolf! REALLY!), Hulabaloo. But then there was The Porter Wagoner Show, with Dolly Parton (and Mel Tillis) . The King of Country Gospel, member of the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and maker of some really weird country albums too. At 80 years of age, The Thin Man from West Plains as released a killer country record (on the ANTI- label). Produced by Marty Stuart, The Wagonmaster is straight ahead, no frills traditional country music. It includes the obligatory country gospel tunes, plus a sequel to the infamous “Rubber Room”—”Committed to Parkview,” which Johnny Cash wrote for Wagoner but never recorded himself—a creepy, sad, and powerful weeper. (Cash and Wagoner were both “guests” at Parkview). Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you like real country you gotta have it.
Sky Blue Sky, Wilco
Jeff Tweedy added ace guitarist Nels Cline to the Wilco line-up and shifted away from experimental pop to more of a California country/pop sound and it’s a nice change of pace. It’s not a retreat to the alt-country sound of Uncle Tupelo or early Wilco, which is fine with me. Beautiful music, dark lyrics.
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Once again, my man, you’ve created quite an eclectic list. Thanks for the White Stripes. I’m slowly getting this band. I still struggle wih Wilco. I think Tweedy is vastly overrated. Everything you say about Richard Thompson is true!!
pmm
Dwight Yoakam; Guitars, Cadillacs… this is a pretty good album i never would of guessed i would enjoy this type of hillbilly music!! Just wondering you ever give Depeche Mode and / Uncle Nestor a try?
Hi Sonny, not a big Depeche Mode fan, but they certainly have their moments. I’ve not heard Uncle Nestor, but checked them out on the web, looks like a group I’d really like! Thanks for the tip.