I'm with George on the country thing (the real deal not the current radio station poppy stuff). I dove into playing and listening to blues after moving to New Orleans in the mid 80's after leading an earlier life of hard rock and new wave. As age set in and i was exposed to more life and more music I found that the similarities between swing, country swing, country/twang americana, blues and old school rock and roll were far greater than the differences. Now i'm more of a "if it's got soul and sincere playing behind it i'm gonna listen, regardless of the lable attached.
Speaking of country/twang american. Search out the first release from the hacienda brothers for a killer mixture of country (johnny cash tunes are always part of the live shows), blues, south of the boarder and a tinge of rockabilly. The band consists of Dave Gonzalas of the Palidans fame, the paladin's drummer, Chris Gaffny who did a lot of work with Dave Alvin and has an amazing voice, a great bass player and a pedal steel player that'll make ya cry. The song writing is top shelf and the life shows are not to be missed. I have no affiliation with the band this is just promotion of one of the most grooving talanted bands i've seen in a long time. they deserve success. |
In that video show they mention a double album by GJ; sort of a greatest hits,I guess---That I plan to buy.Since seeing this show I find my self listening to the digital C&W music channels---going back and forth between 'today' and 'classics'. Wish I had one of those HD-recorders.---Funny you should bring up the Dirt-Band Acustic-delux,indeed.Always liked them but don't own any software.---I should mention;I just got my first ever,brand new monoblocks.--Aries-G. My HT-2Ch set up is combined.--Yes, I have a receiver.Marantz sr9300. I use pre-outs for the fronts. Using the receiver for ht I have a White Audio Labs a100. I just keep two pair of ics in place. From the pre-outs I can connect them to the amp of my choice. |
Hi George,
I know where your coming from. Since I've always loved the Grateful Dead, I began looking at who wrote some of the songs they played. Seems fellers like Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash (although I think JC transcends country music) were on the list. I bought the Old & In The Way album (bluegrass w/ Jerry Garcia on banjo and vocals, Vassar Clements on fiddle etc.) and have been hooked ever since. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken", The Byrds' 'Sweetheart of the Rodeo" and Flying Burrito Brothers are great albums. Any recommendations on current or classic country or bluegrass would be much appreciated. |
For me it would be the whole C/W thing.--At 67 I've liked/loved some isolated CW artists,or songs, over the years.Got to see that George Jones tribute on Voom. I've watched it 4 times.-- With a half decent sound system the vocal abilities shine. I was knocked out by just about everybody on the show. I'd never listened to anything by Amie Grant.--What a soulful voice! Gads, even the band--with a Stienway,no less. Just a stunning audio mix. I have always liked Emmylou--but most of her stuff seems like the band members are trying to out-play each other. ---None of that here---As an old guy that loves music (most kinds) good acustic C&W is right up there with the best. Americana delux. But I didn't always have this feelng. |
My Bloody Valentine, especially their Loveless album. This album was a headache and somewhat annoying at first, but slowly over time became a "classic" and yielded hours of sonic bliss. |
I too purchased "Hunter", gave it a listen and was unimpressed. It sat there for about year until I gave it another listen. I don't know what I was thinking the first time (or maybe I wasn't) because this is IMO a great CD. "The Well" is very nice also but for me "Hunter" is better. I'm fortunate to own a 24K limited edition of "Famous Blue Raincoat" that sounds outstanding! If I had one thing to say to Jennifer Warnes it would be: More!!!!!!!Please!!!!!!! I guess I'm a fan. |
Figured there'd be answers like Ornette Coleman, Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, Captain Beefheart, Sun Ra, Ruins, Can... stuff that doesn't really engage many of our built in receptors. Springsteen, Tim McGraw, Jennifer Warnes, Weird Al Yankovic, who wouldda thunk it. |
Mars Volta. At first I thought they were thoughlessly harsh, but I've discovered that my kid's not such a knucklehead. He played it about ten times yesterday, and by the time I got done eavesdropping I discovered they're complex and fun. Geez, I was a real old fart on these guys. |
Anything by Weird Al Yankovic - as long as it's on SACD. |
Didn't know Warrens had a new album out - thanks, will do. Always liked Famous Blue Raincoat for a few of the songs by Lenord Cohen |
For you Jennifer Warnes fans, listen to her lastest release: The Well. It is superior to The Hunter in every aspect. |
C&W. Then I moved to Nashville.
And I started to think, you know, Alan Jackson's not so bad. Tim McGraw's pretty good. Then I discovered Martina McBride. Whoa baby. Fell into, then out of, love with the Dixie Chicks. Then one day I found myself singing along, in my car, at the top of my lungs to Toby Keith's "Whiskey For My Men and Beer For My Horses". I just had to laugh. |
This happens all the time but I distinctly remember the first time. It was Bruce Springsteen's, The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle. I was stationed in Thailand and bought this album. We would sit around the barracks/hut listening to music on those big Sansui or Pioneer speakers. I remember how this album was panned by my buddies and I agreed until I heard it for the maybe the tenth time or so. It blew me away once I got into it. I can still listen to Wild Billy's Circus Story and smile. |
Thanks, CW i haven't tried Facing You, with alot of Jarrett (i know he's great) but the grunting and moaning he does has been an obstacle. Did it ever bug you? Thanks for the link Steuspeed, i probably ought to quit ignoring stuff just because it has vocals on it. Jennifer Warnes... sounds like a tough homework assignment (could be way wrong about this). It was a little surprising to see that Roscoe Beck (Eric Johnson's bass player) is on The Hunter.
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Because of posts here. I re-listened to Jennifer Warrrens Hunter CD on my good system - fabulous. Prior I had only heard it in my car,had not paid very careful attention to it, and had it in my give away pile. |
I am a big local music fan in the Portland area. Most bands I frequent have a female lead vocal singer. A bass player named Brian Cutler played with a number of musicians in the area. At one point he decided to go out and make his own album. I picked up a copy at a show. I took it home and played it a couple times and put it on the shelf. One day I got it back out after I had played every other CD I owned to death. After a few more passes I prolaimed the album genius! I started looking at the credits and realized the thing was loaded with different musicians and singers I knew on almost every track. Brian's vocals take a little bit of warming up to, but once you realize what's going, every track has something special that keeps you listening.
http://www.brian.cutler.net/music.html
Brian's album was produced under the Wrought Iron Record label of Nicole Campbell, who I have been a long time fan. I mentioned this to Nicole and she took the idea further with the next artist on her label, Dave Rummans. I highly recommend his music as well.
http://www.daverummans.com/HTML/Tunes.htm |
Keith Jarret, especially "Facing You"
At first, a bit esoteric. With time, mezmerizing! |
