As suggested, the following reviews are all for CDs by bands with female singers. All are fairly new and not necessarily well known. which is why I'm here. So let's get crackin'.
THE CIVIL WARS-LIVE AT AMOEBA
Full disclosure: I knew almost nothing about The Civil Wars when I purchased this special Record Store Day Release. Apart from their brief appearance at the Grammys I'd not heard a thing by them and didn't know what to expect. What I got was a charming little disc that made me want to investigate further.
The Civil Wars are a duo who rely solely on an acoustic guitar and their own voices, at least during the live sets. Their music sounds like a blend of Southern songs from the 1800s, and 60's folk songs. It is a sound that is both trapped in time and timeless. Stark, simple, and in places, hauntingly beautiful. The on stage chemistry of John Paul White and Joy Williams is a treat, especially Williams whose girl next door persona makes you love her instantly. There's a lot of talent in these two.
Be forewarned, this is not a disc to drive to. It is for listening to in the quiet times, contemplating and absorbing. The songs are stark and arrangements are bare. If there is a complaint its that the music doesn't vary enough, and that may hurt them in the long run. And the production value is pretty horrible, it sounds like a bootleg. But it is a live recording from a record store so what can one expect?
I can see why some people aren't impressed with the style, it's not easily accessible, and if you're not in the right space could be considered boring. But it works for me.
Key Songs: Tip Of My Tongue, 20 Years, Dance Me To The End Of Love
3.5 out of 5 Daves
GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS-LIVE FROM THE LEGENDARY SUN STUDIOS
Another Record Store Day release. This one is really great. The songs go from bluesy and soulful to fuzzed out screamers and back again. Potter's vocals have that slightly gravelly quality that's full of sex and full of soul, regretful and joyful. You know, the way fans of Janis Joplin think she sounded. If Joy Williams (from The Civil Wars) is loveable for all the right reasons, Grace Potter is loveable for the other reasons. The ones you don't tell your mother about.
These songs were recorded over two separate sessions at Sun studios in Memphis and I'm happy to report that it sounds great. The band is on and every track is a good one. I can't recommend this enough. If you can find it, buy it.
Key Songs:: Night Rolls On, Sugar, Put Your Head Down, Can't See Through
5 out of 5 Daves
ALABAMA SHAKES-BOYS AND GIRLS
Alabama Shakes have a great, gritty, Southern soul sound. They have a tight band. They have an awesome front woman in Brittany Howard. They have a great vibe and all the potential to be one of the great bands of the decade.
They just don't have the songs to back it all up.
Don't get me wrong, "Hold On" is the best single in recent memory, but it's as good as the record gets. There are moments, sure, when the record almost touches greatness, but it consistently stops just short of what it could do. And that's the frustrating thing about this disc. It's not bad, just disappointing.
About half of the songs on "Boys And Girls" feel like demos that weren't fleshed out. It's seldom that I'd say this but this band needs a name producer to show them how to finish the songs, smooth out the edges and make a cohesive record that hits all the lows and highs a soul based record should. Brittany does sing these songs with total conviction and saves most of the record. But musically the songs all sound of sameness, and there's only so much she can do.
Look, I want to like this record. I want to love this band. I really do, I've listened to this disc multiple times, and it just hasn't grown on me much at all. Maybe in a few months I'll listen again and be blown away and have a "What was I thinking" moment. I certainly hope so. I will say, in fairness, that I would like to see them live as I think they'd be killer. I just wish the material held up to the band playing it.
Key Songs: Hold On, I Found You, You Aint' Alone, Be Mine
3 out of 5 Daves
That's it for now. More soon.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Recent release:Shooter Jennings-Family Man
Family Man marks Shooter Jennings's return to his alternative country roots. As good as his Heirophant side project was, this is a welcome return indeed. His sound has always been one part country and one part rock, but in many ways this may be his most country record yet. Make no mistake, the rock and roll heartbeat runs through this release, but the fiddle and harmonica make enough appearances here to dress the material in just the right amount of western duds to make this album a treat for fans and newbies alike.
The concept of family runs through this album, though not always front and center. Some of the better songs here like "Daddy's Hands", "The Family Tree" and the unnecessarily controversial "Southern Family Anthem" touch on it directly. Others such as "The Long Road Ahead" and "The Deed And The Dollar" approach it from the angle of a relationship. The other constant here is quality musicianship and quality songs.
Unfortunately, there are a few misfires. "The Black Dog" is a meandering dark ghost story that never really goes anywhere, "Summer Dreams" is nice but fails to make much of an impact. And closer "Born Again" is a valiant effort that just misses the mark. Normally three off songs wouldn't be bad, but there are only ten songs on the disc. Fortunately the good far outnumbers the bad and make this a disc worth buying.
Yet there are still a few questionable choices even in the good stuff. For example, Tom Morello's guitar sounds fine when he's raging at the machine (see what I did there?) but he probably shouldn't be guesting on a potential hit country song like "The Long Road Ahead". And as far as "Southern Family Anthem" goes, Shooter should have known a title like that would cause people to give special attention to the track. It does reinforce some negative stereotypes about the South but these problems are nationwide, the song is just set in a Southern family. All true stories from his extended family according to Shooter, but I'm not convinced. Besides, if the word "Southern" were removed most people complaining would have no problem. At any rate, the song is an attempt at a Drive-By Truckers style song, not only in it's sound and structure but vocally too. I like the song but it's a rip off, let's face it. And as for the previously mentioned "Black Dog", well, Jennings produced this CD by himself so that's the kind of stuff you get when there's no one around to say no.
But enough complaining. There's a lot to like here. More than once there will be reminders of Waylon that should warm the soul. The rock songs are fun ("Manifesto No. 4" comes into mind), "Daddy's Hands" just might bring a tear to the eye, and the country blues of "The Family Tree" will make you want to lay around the shanty, mama, and put a good buzz on. Ten Internet points if you got that reference and are humming to yourself right now.
So all in all, a solid release, though a flawed one. But definitely worth your ten bucks at Wal Mart.
4 out of 5 Daves.
Visit http://shooterjennings.com/
The concept of family runs through this album, though not always front and center. Some of the better songs here like "Daddy's Hands", "The Family Tree" and the unnecessarily controversial "Southern Family Anthem" touch on it directly. Others such as "The Long Road Ahead" and "The Deed And The Dollar" approach it from the angle of a relationship. The other constant here is quality musicianship and quality songs.
Unfortunately, there are a few misfires. "The Black Dog" is a meandering dark ghost story that never really goes anywhere, "Summer Dreams" is nice but fails to make much of an impact. And closer "Born Again" is a valiant effort that just misses the mark. Normally three off songs wouldn't be bad, but there are only ten songs on the disc. Fortunately the good far outnumbers the bad and make this a disc worth buying.
Yet there are still a few questionable choices even in the good stuff. For example, Tom Morello's guitar sounds fine when he's raging at the machine (see what I did there?) but he probably shouldn't be guesting on a potential hit country song like "The Long Road Ahead". And as far as "Southern Family Anthem" goes, Shooter should have known a title like that would cause people to give special attention to the track. It does reinforce some negative stereotypes about the South but these problems are nationwide, the song is just set in a Southern family. All true stories from his extended family according to Shooter, but I'm not convinced. Besides, if the word "Southern" were removed most people complaining would have no problem. At any rate, the song is an attempt at a Drive-By Truckers style song, not only in it's sound and structure but vocally too. I like the song but it's a rip off, let's face it. And as for the previously mentioned "Black Dog", well, Jennings produced this CD by himself so that's the kind of stuff you get when there's no one around to say no.
But enough complaining. There's a lot to like here. More than once there will be reminders of Waylon that should warm the soul. The rock songs are fun ("Manifesto No. 4" comes into mind), "Daddy's Hands" just might bring a tear to the eye, and the country blues of "The Family Tree" will make you want to lay around the shanty, mama, and put a good buzz on. Ten Internet points if you got that reference and are humming to yourself right now.
So all in all, a solid release, though a flawed one. But definitely worth your ten bucks at Wal Mart.
4 out of 5 Daves.
Visit http://shooterjennings.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)