Playlist Januar/Februar 2011 **** half
Stacie Collins , Sometimes Ya Gotta ...
(REV Records)
There goes off the post. Juicy and crisp guitar rhythms dominate the album of a third person Stacie Collins from Nashville. Your Honytonk hardcore and rock 'n' Roll sounds like the erstwhile Georgia Satellites, with female vocals. No wonder: the album has produced (as was the second of Stacie) Satellite Dan Baird, who is also self-permitting. Moreover, while guitarist Warner E. Hodges (Jason & The Scorchers).
****
Abigail Washburn , City of Refuge
(Foreign Children)
Again, versatile and always surprising is the third album by Abigail Washburn. The banjo virtuoso with the fragile voice spans the distance from folk and a touch Blue Grass and Blues to Chinese sounds and jazzy elements. Among the many musicians are also large numbers such as guitarist Bill Frisell and bassist Viktor Krauss - and fiddler Rayna Gellert, Abigail at the Uncle Earl plays together.
Shannon McNally , Western Ballad
(self-released)
Their last album "Cold Water", the talented singer / songwriter who in 1973 was born on Long Iceland in New York, in Memphis with Jim Dickinson (who has since died) recorded. "Western Ballad" was born in New Orleans and Los Angeles. The ten separate new Songs, plus the title track from Beat poet Allan Ginsberg, are rooted in rock and country, but they are fertilized with many influences from pop to Cajun. A piece with a touch of Cajun has Shannon can even translate into French: "Tristesse oubliée.
Rachel Timberlake (self-released)
from Indiana is Rachel Timberlake, who recorded their debut in Nashville. This is similar to how rock from the new album by Stacie Collins (see above), then waits but also with mainstream country sounds. And the second track "Girls Are the New Boys" on it comes in the end a second time with more urban undertones as "tha Gurlz R Nu BoyZ". A talent that one must keep in mind.
Hot Club of Cowtown ,
What Makes Bob Holler (Proper American)
The trio fiddle virtuoso Elana James (formerly Elana Fremerman, toured with Bob Dylan) plays the Western Swing on a beautifully simple yet elegant style that I liked from the beginning very well. Their seventh album is a tribute to Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, which they describe as "foremost influence and inspiration." There are titles which they live have always played and have now been included in a tour stop in London in three days, including about "Time Changes Everything," "Maiden's Prayer," "Big Ball in Cowtown" (!), "Keeper of My Heart," "Faded Love" and "Stay a Little Longer. "
John Prine , In Person & On Stage ( Oh Boy)
The great singer / songwriter with 14 songs recorded live, except for "Bear Creek Blues" all of the Carter Family songs. Including "In Spite of Ourselves" and "Undwed Fathers" a duet in the Iris DeMent, "Angel from Mongomery" with Emmylou Harris. Very nice.
Augie Meyers , Trippin Out On Triplets
(El Sendero)
Good ol 'Augie, the man at the organ at the legendary Sir Douglas Quintet, has become now 70, but still still active. Relaxed and serene as his last albums, the new sounds, this is the horn-heavy "West Side Sound" of his hometown of San Antonio, Texas dedicated. With this old hands who had also "Sir" Doug Sahm saxophonist Rocky Morales as ordinary courts, trumpeter Al Gomez and bassist Jack Barber. Twelve original songs, including classics such as "Sittin 'Up At Night," "Crazy Crazy Baby" and "I Cried a Tear."
Carolina Chocolate Drops ,
Genuine Negro Jig (Nonesuch)
This album has escaped me, as it last year had appeared, now it's a Grammy (Best Traditional Folk Album was excellent). The black trio, a woman and two men playing with banjo and fiddle as the main instruments mainly string music from the 1920s and 1930s. And this is more pure and raw. Very nice.
*** half
Elvis Costello , National Ransom (Hear Music)
also Elvis Costello's new album is kinda like me last year in between. When it appeared the end of year in some year's best lists, I've purchased it myself yet. It is produced by friend T Bone Burnett, recorded in Nashville with some of the local top skiers such as steel guitarist Jerry Douglas, fiddler Stuart Duncan, guitarist Buddy Miller and the (background) singers Vince Gill and Jim Lauderdale, plus guitarist Marc Ribot and piano legend Leon Russell. A beautiful album, well, But a new "King of America" (1986; ***** ) it is not for me.
Wanda Jackson, The Party Is not Over (Nonesuch)
Even so, a much praised part. And the Jack White-produced album of the 73-year-old rock 'n' roll legend Wanda Jackson has come out really pretty. I prefer their early recordings but most clearly.
***
Gregg Allman , Low Country Blues (Rounder)
The Allman Brothers Band was the soundtrack of my teenage hippie years. After the early death of Duane Allman is the best time of the band, however, was already over. Now, the surviving brother Gregg an album of old country blues has recorded. It's very pretty - that offer producer T Bone Burnett and musicians such as guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and pianist Mac Rebennack [aka Dr. John] to change - but overall a bit less exciting and stimulating.
