Recent Additions 7 : Jason Isbell : Southeastern : BUY THIS ALBUM

I bought this on its release last year and it has been on constant play ever since.  Easily one of the best albums of last year if not the last 10 years it has Isbell delivering fully on the promise that he has been suggesting for the last 11 years.
In my opinion the best songwriter from at least the last 20 years he keeps writing songs you just know are a class above what else is out there and that will be covered for years to come.  If only they get heard!!!

For those of you in Australia and NZ he is touring there this month.  Go and see him if you can.  Son Sam is.

My introduction to him was when he was the new boy in the Drive By Truckers when he joined as third guitarist and also had the ability to foot it with Patterson and Cooley as a songwriter. His songs like Outfit, Decoration Day and Danko/Manuel added a more soulful sound to the band but his star shone bright and short and he was gone after three albums.  

Southeastern is his fourth studio album since leaving the Truckers and I have bought each one.  While each of the previous albums had a few very strong songs, Dress Blue, Cigarettes and Wine, Alabama Pines and other I have not always felt they were complete packages.  Regardless of that I quickly came to consider Isbell as one of the best songwriters ever.  Anyone with just two of the songs mentioned above should be recognised more than what he has been.  But that is the music business.  

This one is the complete package. Isbell has a soulful voice suited to the acoustic setting of many of the songs.  The lyrics are, as always well thought out and honest as always they have a semi autographical feel.  In this case the parallels of the songs to Isbell's life (giving up drink and getting married) make seem like we may be reading his diary. Always drawn to darker and sometimes more depressing songs my favourites are;

• Elephant; The story of a friends struggle with cancer "There's one thing that's clear to me, no one does with dignity" 
• Relatively easy : A reflection that life is not really as bad as we think - and a friends suicide
• Cover me up : A horny love song
• Songs that she sang in the shower : The aftermath of a boozy night

Also worth checking out are last year's Live in Alabama and Here We Rest : An album which going back to I have reassessed and consider almost as good.

I don't know much about Jazz but I like........................ Hank Mobley's Soul Station

Another early morning rise here and today I am listening to this wonderful slice of 1960's Bop.   Hank's tenor saxophone style is engaging and warm and the band behind him gel.  Thanks to son Chris for conning me into buying this! 

Recent Additions 6 : Heritage Blues Orchestra : And Still I Rise

This is actually a repurchase after I gave my last copy away.  I suspect this will happen again.  It features father and daughter Bill and Chaney Sims and I came across it through an Amazon recommendation after buying some Carolina Chocolate Drops albums (Similar but rootsier).   This album is part blues, part bluegrass and............ well maybe they say it best in the small poster that comes with it;

Son House

New Orleans

Blues

Debussy

Africa

Field Hollers

Duke Ellington

Mississippi Delta

Spirituals

Nina Simone

Kansas City

Work Songs

Count Basie

Hill Country

Jazz

Ravel

Highway 61

Gospel 

Pretty audacious but they pull it off - bringing consistency to what could have sounded like a mix tape. A selection includes Hard Times,  Don't ever let nobody drag your spirit down, and Get Right Church - but there are no bad tracks on this. 

Sadly it is not available on vinyl. 

I Don't Know Much about Jazz ....... But I like Pat Methany's American Garage

This would have been the second Jazz album I bought. I bought it from a sale bin for about $2 around 1981 solely on the back of the cover which for some reason appealed.

I knew nothing about him at the time - and it was before his collaboration with Bowie (This is not America) but over the years have bought 3 or 4 more.  Very tasteful and tidy guitar work but frequently lacking in a bit of fire.

It is definitely a late night/early morning record.

Connections 4 : David Bowie : Pin Ups

Most people who know me know that one of my first music passions was for that of David Bowie.  Some thought it was strange, gay or just plain misguided but I have to admit to a certain vindication in that he is now regarded as an elder statesmen and has a back catalogue to go with that.  My first Bowie album was Alladin Sane but definitely the most influential one was Pin Ups.  An album of covers released in December 1973 after he had broken up and retired Ziggy.

A gift from my Aunt and Uncle when I was on holiday with them for Christmas 40 years ago (my first plane trip - a fokker friendship - I can almost remember the excitement - time has changed eh?).

But back to the music - the songs were apparently Bowie's favourites from the English (and one Australian) bands that were gigging around London in the mid 60's.  At the time the songs were all new to me.  However with what I know now the selections appear much more of a fan's viewpoint than that of the musical maven Bowie clearly is now. They included songs by The Who, The Pretty Things, Them, The Easybeats, The Yardbirds, The Kinks and perhaps tellingly (Syd's) Pink Floyd.

The album became the first real example of me chasing connections.  I started to pick up and enjoy albums by almost all of the artists. From completist's fascination and appreciation of The Who and The Pretty Things. I purchased and enjoyed greatest hits collection from Them, The Kinks, The Easybeats and The Yardbirds occasionally venturing into other albums as well.  Ironically I did not do the same for what was my favourite track on the album See Emily Play by Pink Floyd - not that I did not try - repeatedly to get the Floyd (as recently as three years ago).    

Definitely not anywhere near Bowie's best album but for me a very important one. 

Recent Additions 5 : Bap Kennedy Let's Start Again

My first introduction to Bap Kennedy was his 1998 Steve Earle Produced album Domestic Blues.  That was an excellent collection of songs based on what Bap claimed was an exploration of the connection between Irish and Country music.  He nailed that on that solo debut.

Since that debut he had recorded a number of themed albums (not quite concepts) based on Hank Williams, Elvis and Neil Armstrong with varying degrees of success.

Saw this recently and was advised that it was his best in a while - it is very tasteful, laid back and nice Sunday Morning music. Recommended (but try that Domestic Blues as well)

  

Journey through the past 3 : Layla And other assorted love songs

I have quie a few Clapton ( including Bluesbreakers and Cream) albums but this is the only I come back to with any regularity.

The story goes that, like Van Morrison, Clapton was a huge fan of The Band. Both, apparently asked to join.  While Van moved to Woodstock to be closer to "the vibe" Clapton teamed up with Delaney & Bonnie for a while.  He then grabbed some of their band (and some of Leon Russell's as well) to form Derek and the Dominoes.  Adding Duanne Allman it just clicked, Clapton for once sounding inspired and energised while the group retains a loose feel - similar to The Band.  It did not do well when first released and took two more years before Layla became a hit and the album gained momentum. By that time Duanne was dead and the band was no more.

I never owned this on Vinyl instead picked up a second hand cd.  It is now never too far away snd when this deluxe version appeared a few years ago it was a no brainier to get it. When I saw him a few years ago in Brisbane (including at a restaurant with Ian Botham the night before) this album formed the core of the set list) which pleased me immensely.

Everyone of course knows the title song - but most people leave out the sublime ending by Jim Gordon.

The album is full of key songs, I looked Away, Keys to the Highway, Why Does love got to be so sad? and Clapton's version of Hendrix's Little Wing (which I always have to defend my preference for to my son Chris).

I know nothing about jazz but I like ........ Kenny Burrell's Bluesin' Around

Kenny Burrell is best known for his guitar work with Jimmy Smith and his 1963 album Midnight Blue.  But this morning I am playing this to start the day. Pretty cool. It was recorded in 1961 but not released until 1983 - not sure why...

Unsung Heroes 3 : Jim White and the best run of albums since........

I have already written about my visit to Rhino Records in Timaru and how how that set me off chasing down music by four different artists and more connections.  Today I found out that one of the CDs that I bought that day has just been released on Vinyl for the first time.  So I have not left even the house and I am $40 poorer - but richer in so many ways :-).

Therefore whom better to write about today than Jim White as I listen again to this magnificent album.

It was such an interesting title and cover that there was no way I was not going to buy it once it had been recommended. It also came with the short story of the same name that makes the booklet almost impossible to slide in and out.

The album was released on David Byrne of Talking Heads fame's Luaka Bop label which until then had been focused on World Music.  Apparently Jim White had a walk on part in the Talking Heads Movie True Stories.  The album could almost have been an alternative soundtrack to that movie.

It does not have a bad song on it, presents an interesting aural landscape and intriguing song titles and lyrics. From Still Waters, A Perfect Day to Chase Tornados, Angel-Land and When Jesus Gets a Brand New Name.   Also in there is the very Talking Headsish Heaven of my Heart.  That song is slightly incongruous as it is a bouncy happy love song - but have you ever heard lyrics like....

"Got a funny-bone, laugh like a mule, always did pretty good in school

But still I cannot decipher her arithmetic.

'Cause I'd walk to the moon, I'd lick a spittoon,

I'd wear wooly underwear in a sauna,

Just to show her how much I want to be her lovable lunatic".

"Yes she's a brainy girl, that is good. 

She's smarter than me but then so is wood,

But that don't mean I should submit to her authority

I want to make her sing, 

But she won't do a doggone thing, and don'tcha know

When she don't it makes her even more adorable"

I immediately searched out the hard to find Gimme 5 EP but then had to wait a while for the follow up.  What became apparent with the release of No Such Place was that this was another outstanding selection of songs and the Song Titles are still intriguing. "The Wound that Never Heals" "Handcuffed to a Fence in Mississippi" "God was drunk when he made me" "Corvair" and "10 miles to go on a nine mile road".  Again some interesting lyrics throughout

"You know freedom's just a stupid superstition, 'cause life's a highway that you travel blind. It's true that having fun's a terminal addiction. What good is happiness, when it's just a state of mind?" 

"I have a buddy philip who is a gas station attendent, strangers call his name a 1000s of tmes a day, they don't know him they're just asking phillip for a fill up. funny how life plays tricks on us that way"

"Nothing's prettier than a pretty girl digging a heart shaped hole in the ground"

This album was followed up with perhaps his finest statement to date - with "Drill a hole in that substrate and tell me what you see" -Again interesting lyrics and songs and this time he teamed up with Aimee Mann, Joe Henry and Mary Gauthier (a few future blog topics there) amongst others. Songs to check out include "Static on the Radio", "If Jesus Drove a Motor home", "Combing my hair in a Brand New Style" and "Bluebird".  They all deserve a wider audience.   I was also lucky enough to pick a copy of the Japanese release with a few extra tracks.

A few years passed before his next official release in which time he made a movie "Searching for the wrong eyed Jesus" , made a collaboration album with Johnny Dowd and produced Mama Lucky.  When it came Transnormal Skiperoo was a generally happier affair but still had the usual offbeat songs.

To my ears after releasing that album Jim had completed one of the finest runs of albums since the Stones great run from 68-72.

I was a bit  disappointed when, just after shifting to Singapore Jim toured NZ.  I did persuade many friends to go to see him. Both sons Chris and Sam got to see him and Sam even scored his denim jacket as Jim has a practice of auctioning some of his clothing at his shows to raise money for local charities (Which reminded me in a way of a Lester Bangs Story about Iggy Pop in Creem Magazine in about 1976 - maybe a later blog!).

He has since released one more solid album - but for whatever reason it did not connect with me the same way.  Apparently a new one is coming soon.  I know that it will still be worth checking out.

Jim was my first real introduction to what some call "Gothic Americana" - that loosely includes artists like 'The Handsome Family" and Johnny Dowd.

However if there was to be a King of Gothic Americana
then for me it would have to be Jim

I dont know much about Jazz but I like ....... Lee Morgan's Sidewinder

This will be the start of a new series about some of the Jazz records I have started to collect, listen to and enjoy.  I have my son Chris to thank or blame for this.  It was his enjoyment of hip hop that made him look for connections and search out some of the old Jazz samples.  In his student, no money days, he then pestered me to buy him the CDs which we would rip and then I would own!  So I started listening... and enjoying.

Currently, I have a bit of a ritual every morning.  Most people know that I am an early rise and while sometimes it is straight to the office - other times, I do relax a bit and put on some jazz while reading the paper, working, or more recently writing this blog!!!

I am really a jazz novice but what I will do is just let you know some of the Jazz albums I do enjoy and recommend.  Most of what I listen to is Bop or Be Bop from the late 50's and early 60's. One thing is clear in Jazz though is that it is a music of connections, players swapping between each others's bands, taking turns to take the lead.

So today's recommendation : Sidewinder by Lee Morgan

Recent Additions 4 : Willie Nile - American Ride

I have been aware of Willie Nile for years but never heard anything until recently.  American Ride was both getting good reviews and also coming up in the recommended for you pages on Amazon.  So I decided to keep an eye out for it.  On my last trip to Auckland I saw a copy in Real Groovy in Auckland - and decided to give it a whirl.  I am very impressed with it.  Something new wave about it but updated for the older audience - that we all are now!!!  Good musicanship, good songs and delivered with passion.  The customer reviews on Amazon suggest that his last four albums are all worth checking out.  I think I will.

Always good when a new record comes with a CD as well for taking in the car.  

Now Playing 4 : Juanita Hall Sings the Blues

In Singapore the Adelphi Centre is a shopping mall almost exclusively dedicated to Hi-Fi and record stores.   You would be forgiven for assuming that it was a favourite haunt of mine and place that Jan encouraged me to avoid.  One record store in particular always had an interesting collection of unusual vinyl and an owner, like all good record store owners, who would note what I picked up and looked at and not be afraid to make recommendations.  And that is how I ended up with this gem - Juanita Hall Sings The Blues.   You can hear it here.  I think this is her only album, the great saxophonist Coleman Hawkins plays and arranges this set of blues standards.  Apparently Juantia Hall was the original Bloody Mary in South Pacific on Broadway - Bali Hi  !!!

Unsung Heroes 2 : Los Lobos

I first became aware of Los Lobos when I saw the video for Will the Wolf Survive on Radio with Pictures in what must have been about 1984 or 85.  Great song and I immediately searched out and bought the album.

While they had released some Spanish language music earlier and had also released an excellent EP this was really their debut and was part of roots related mini music boom around Los Angeles (including Jason and The Scorchers, The Blasters and Rank & File).  It had that sometimes rare mix of sounding new and and old at the same time as well as having great songs and musicianship.  

It was also the first time I heard the name T Bone Burnett as a producer.  Soon he would be everywhere and that is another story for my Connections series. 

The follow up, By the Light of the Moon, was not that well received at the time - I could not quite understand why as I thought it was a better album.  In that respects it mirrored the path of the first two albums by The Band with Big Pink being so revered that anything that followed always being a let down. The almost cinematic One Time One Night and two stories of the Mexican/Los Angeles diaspora (Is this all there is and Hardest Time) made to sound almost universal.  And then there is Shakin Shakin Shakes which Lil' Band of Gold covered at a great show in Christchurch between quakes.

It was about this time that everyone else became aware of them as the band that played La Bamba from the movie of the same name and a song that became so huge for them that it came to define their career for many.  They indeed felt it became hard for their own music to be appreciated by many more than their initial fans.

At the time they were suddenly everywhere on record with David Hidalgo as an in demand guitar player, Steve Berlin producing albums for others.  They also contributed to Paul Simon's Graceland album. However that ended in acrimony when the band felt they were not given the credit they deserved

A few albums later and out of the blue almost came the groundbreaking and very different sounding Kiko. An album that has ever since been in my top ten of all time and a family favourite.  So much so that when he was only about 5 Sam wrote out the entire words to Whisky Trail for something he was doing at school. Not sure what his teacher made of that!!!   The album was quite experimental in nature which two of the band and the producers Mitchell Froom and Tchad Blake took to even more interesting places with the offshoot Latin Playboys.  From what I gather the album was only released on vinyl in Croatia!!! (and while I did find a copy eventually the quality of vinyl and printing was not quite right so I am now considering the newly released version)

The title track, Kiko and the Lavender Moon, has been one of my go to auditioning songs when I upgrade my stereo (which is normally a gradual process with cables, power supplies and cartridges being moved and tweaked about annually and larger gear only when it has to - that is probably another blog topic or page).  

Since Kiko there have been many good solid albums with only two standing out for me.  The immediate follow up Colossal Head and Good Morning Aztlan.  The latter I consider their great lost album while their last album proper Tin Can Dance seemed to gain a lot of praise it did not grab me the same way -

BUT LOS LOBOS DO NOT MAKE BAD ALBUMS.

Now Playing : True Believers : True Believers

Really enjoying this, this evening.  It's hard to believe that an album this good could have been largely ignored. At the time it was recorded (1986) these guys were the hottest young band in Austin. The band had two future luminaries in the world of Alternative Country (Jon Dee Graham and Alejandro Escovedo) and folded before the second album was released.

A fine collection of poppy, punky country. Similar in feel to Rank & File (whom Escovedo also played for) and Jason and the Scorchers from a few years earlier.

I originally bought the now hard to find Hard Road cd which combined the two albums on one release but was stoked a couple of years ago when I found a vinyl copy in a second hand music shop in Brisbane. 

Unsung Heroes 1 : Chuck Prophet

I first came across Chuck Prophet in a magazine review of the album This Hurting Business which intrigued me.  I think it mentioned  something like a mix of Americana, hip hop and European 60's music style.  What is not to be intrigued right???  That Chuck Prophet was the guitarist in Green on Red - an 80s "Paisley Underground" band out of California was an added bonus.  Then I heard Dyin' All Young on a compilation CD and I was sold.

When I finally picked up the CD.  Guess what .......  The review was 100% accurate a mix of modern country, hip-hop and some with a 60's European feel - check out I Couldn't Be Happier.    And indeed I could not have been happier.  Certainly now in my list of favourite albums.

As usual when I like something I start to search out earlier music and the best of his earlier solo stuff, for me was this one.

Homemade Blood

The album after This Hurting Business, No Other Love was a solid album but, despite the almost hit, Summertime Thing,  to me lacked something.  However since then despite what I would imagine are not great album sales he has produced great album after great album.  My favourite of those would be Soap and Water.  I have been lucky enough to come across many of his albums on limited release vinyl as well.  

Soap and Water

In a drunken night one time he also recorded a complete copy of Waylon Jennings' classic Dreaming my Dreams album - called it Dreaming Waylon's Dreams .  Well worth checking out both the original and Chuck's remake.

I also checked out some Green on Red and came to enjoy that as well especially this compilation of their first two albums.  I also saw the other day that one of the ones I picked up in a bargain basement is a collectors item now worth US$200.  

Connections 3 : A trip to Rhino Records in Timaru : Or Finding The Wrong Eyed Jesus

Like all good music collectors I seem to be able to smell out good record shops. Whether they are in London, Boulder, Pasadena, Venice Beach, Sydney, Melbourne or ............. Timaru.  Some time in 1998 I was returning from running a workshop in Oamaru one day when I noticed a small record shop in Timaru.  It was called Rhino Records which I thought was interesting because I was aware of the boutique US label of the same name.

So I stopped and went in.  I immediately noticed that this store was not what I expected to find in Timaru. They had a few albums by bands that were on the Sounds of the New West album in Connections 1. So I started to talk to the guy behind the counter who was also the owner. Mentioned I was a great fan of that album and asked for recommendations. So we listened to a few tracks and about an hour later I left with four CDs that would lead to both more music discoveries and recommendations adopted to friends.   Nothing was cheap and this was before just getting obscure music from Amazon or eBay was easy in New Zealand but all worth it. Thanks Warren. 

So here were the albums that I bought that day;

Faithless Street by Whiskeytown - which lead me to Ryan Adams, Jesse Malin and The Finger

The Mysterious Tale of How I shouted Wrong Eyed Jesus  by Jim White which along with his next three albums I think make up the strongest run of albums since the .... A long time

Escape from Monster Island by Jon Dee Graham and 

More Miles Than Money by Alejandro Escovedo

At the time I did not realise that Jon Dee and Alejandro were once in the same band and that Alejandro had also been in Rank and File (a favourite cow punk band from the 80s).   I will write separate posts about all these artists later on. 

I think I can trace about 50 albums directly back to that 1 hr stop. I did get back a few times but it was that first visit that made its mark. 

Thanks Again Warren. 

http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~rhinonz/about.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Dee_Graham

Recent Additions 3 : North Mississippi Allstars : World Boogie Is Coming

I have enjoyed music by these guys since hearing their first album playing in Radar Records in Christchurch. That album, Shake Hands with Shorty,  nicely updated the blues of R L Burnside and  Junior Kimbrough bringing in hints of hip hop and giving a real feel of new Millennium Blues.

North Mississippi Allstars is essentially a brothers act of Luther and Cody Dickinson.  They are the sons of Jim Dickinson a session musician (check out the keyboards on the Stones' Wild Horses) and 70's producer (Big Star's Third).

Since the first album I have checked back in with the band from time to time, usually courtesy of sale bins, but this album seems to just have a little more to it than some of their more recent efforts. They have now been together more than 10 years (as a band) and they sound road tested without being road weary.  It is still their modern take on some relatively obscure delta blues songs by the likes of Willie Dixon, Sleepy John Estes and Bukka White.  They also do a neat take on Muddy Water's Rollin'n'tumbin.      Their hodown is nice and sloppy and Granny Does Your Dog Bite is typically irreverent.  Overall you can almost smell the sawdust and bourbon as you play through the album.

Special mention needs to be made of the packaging as well.  The double album comes with a gatefold sleeve, large booklet, download card with extra songs and videos and an extra 45 (with Robert Plant on harmonica).  Good Value 

Recent Additions 2 : The River and the Thread : Rosanne Cash

Could have also posted this in the Now Playing Section as well.

I really can't recommend this album high enough.  Buy It Now.

While I have been an admirer of Rosanne since getting Interiors some 20+ years ago I have always felt that she had a better album in her.  And here it is.  Not Country, Not Folk, Not Rock - just bloody good music. 

Now Playing 2 : Cabretta - Mink DeVille

What a magnificent album. Sometimes you can let yourself forget how good some music is.  I have recently rediscovered it and it is now never far from the turntable.

I have no idea what Cabretta may mean.  This album was released in 1977 but really did not take off until about 1979 with the single Spanish Stroll.  The album was produced by Jack Nitzsche  (a colorful character on the periphery of music from the early 60's who I came across through his connection with Neil Young).

It was also was one of the first made by a band from the mid 70's CBGBs scene in New York in the mid 1970s where bands like Mink DeVille, Television,Talking Heads, The Ramones, Blondie and the New York Dolls could be sharing the bill on any particular night.  I have often pondered how such a diverse band of musicians could have coalesced in a single location, what they had in common and how they spurred each other on to make such great music.

Mink DeVille is probably the least known of these bands but that does not mean that they were of any less quality.  Leader Willy DeVille took the band down a street tough update of the 1950's and 60's New York doo wop sound, blending it with soul and making something quite distinctive in the process.

There is not a bad track on the album with tracks like Cadillac Walk, Mixed Up Shook Up Girl, Gunslinger, She's So Tough and Party Girls.

If you like this there are other recommended albums by Mink DeVille especially Coup De Grace and Le Chat Bleu

Journey Through The Past 2 : Who's Next

One of my all time favourite albums and possibly one of the most written about albums of all time.  I am not going to go into any detail as to how this album evolved from the much more ambitious (if not somewhat mad) multimedia Lifehouse dreams of Pete Townshend.

The original single album set a blue print for rock albums, inspired Stevie Wonder's later use of synthesisers and produced three of the most enduring Rock Standards of all time in Won't Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes and Baba O'Riley.  The other tracks aren't bad either.  While the original single album could hardly have been improved - I think the first CD issue bravely tried adding further great songs dropped for the original release.  Particularly impressive are Naked Eye, Too Much of Anything, I Don't Even Know Myself and Pure and Easy.  So while the concept of Lifehouse may have been difficult to comprehend it did inspire Townshend to produce his best work.  

The Who would also never be better in the studio - Moon and Entwistle cementing their place as best and most innovative rhythm section in rock at the time.

While the big songs are almost cliches now it is always worth rediscovering this album.  

Connections 2 : That Summer

That Summer was the Soundtrack not only to a movie that bombed but also to so many parties from 1979 to 1982.  It really did present some of the best new wave music in a package that meant you had 40 minutes of non stop party music. Whether it was that grimy Flat 9 in 1979 in my first year studying away from home (where the favourite songs were Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll, I don't want to go to Chelsea, She's So Modern and Another Girl Another Planet dominated or later in the flat in Morris Terrance in Wellington where Jan and I met and the Because the Night and Whole Wide World were added to the party list.  I remember one particular party there where the dancing to Because the Night resulted in cracked, falling ceiling plaster and complaints from the flat below.

Over the years albums by almost all the artists on this album but particularly The Only Ones, Patti Smith, The Boomtown Rats, Costello, Ian Dury, Ramones, Wreckless Eric and Richard Hell.

If I was to make a list of my favourite 100 songs both Because the Night and Another Girl Another Planet would be there - so that is pretty impressive for an obscure soundtrack album to a movie no one ever saw!

Journey Through the Past 1: Led Zep III

Continuing where I left off in my facebook posts in 1970 (I will go back at some stage for those who have come to Some New Town more recently).

I was a late comer to Led Zeppelin.  Of course when I was at school no party was complete without some half drunk hoon playing the generally undanceable Whole Lotta Love at high volume and causing the party to break down. Led Zep IV was everywhere, cooler people said they preferred Houses of the Holy.

In 1976 NZ was briefly famous for being the first place in the world to have a commercial release of Physical Graffiti.   I remember the then mighty 2ZM having an all night session playing it from beginning to end and the not so trusty JVC cassette radio that we had turning metres of cassette tape into something resembling a steelo soap pad.

On one of my regular trips into Wellington to scour record shops I managed to pick up a second hand copy of Led Zep III at some bargain basement price. I could suddenly see what the fuss was about.  I connected with the wistful english folk of Bron Yr Aur Stomp - Live and the blues of  Since I have been loving you and all points in between.  

This album I really showcases the dexterity of the band on music that they did not like. I understand that when it was released it was not well received by fans as it was not wall to wall muscle like they expected.  However on reflection and considering where Robert Plant's solo career has taken him I think it shows that perhaps he influenced it more than Jimmy Page.  

It was great to hear Plant's treatment of some of these songs last year in Wellington and confirmed to me that the world is better off with him continue to explore and experiment rather than "Get the Band Back Together".  

Connections 1 : sounds of the new west

In the connections theme of Some New Town I will be covering how certain themes have led me to discover new music and how different music is linked, at least in my head.  There is an almost obsessive/compulsive element to this part of my record colecting and collection as I search out music related to artists, producers, band side projects, band members, books, recording studios.  You get the picture.

It's kind of like the Amazon recommended for you approach, "you liked that, try this".
So for the first of my Connections Series : I am going to talk about this album.


http://www.discogs.com/Various-Sounds-Of-The-New-West/release/2005416
This "free" cd turned out to be one of the most expensive records I ever bought. It came attached to a relatively early copy of Uncut Magazine. It came at a time when Jan and I were coming up for air after mortgages and the first ten years of parenthood.  It came at a time when I was starting to believe that there was not a lot of good new music out there.

And then I heard this. Uncut's introduction to what they called at the time "Alternative Country".  Twenty songs by 19 Artists (the magnificent Emmylou Harris got 2) and every one a winner. Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris

Suddenly I realised there were new (and old) artists out there creating challenging and vibrant music. My music buying shackles were broken and off I went exploring new music with a hunger that has continued almost unabated for the following 16 years.

Uncut went on to produce 3 more of these over the following four years. Two of them were probably even better but this is the one that caused the damage.  I ended up with one, and in many instances many more, albums by 15 of the artists on the original album. 
More-Sounds-Of-The-New-West
The-Best-Of-Americana-2001/release/980242
Americana-2004



These albums introduced met to artists such as:
The Pernice Brothers. http://www.pernicebrothers.com/
Lou Ford
The Flying Burrito Brothers and Gram Parsons
Willard Grant Conspiracy
Lambchop http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambchop_(band)
Vic Chessnut
Josh Rouse http://www.joshrouse.com/
Calexico
Nadine http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nadine-mn0000376415

Over time I will write about many of these artists, recommending albums I think capture their essence or are just too good to continue to be ignored.

But for now I am just thinking about picking out the CD again and putting it on.


  

Now Playing 1 : Trombone Shorty : Say that to Say Say This - Released 2013

I have been lucky enough to see Trombone Shorty twice.  Great shows both times.  Each year in Singapore there is a roots and blues festival that follows on from the Byron Bay Festival and Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) came two years in a row.  The first year as about 3rd down the bill and the second year as a headliner after blowing John Legend off the stage the first time.

It was in the second show that he really showed his class and that I remember best.  The night was plagued by bad sound and complete breakdowns. While it stopped the other acts cold - Troy and band jumped down off the stage and literally took the music to the people marching and playing through the crowd while the roadies worked desperately to get things going again.  In doing that he turned disaster into triumph and it made for a truly memorable night.

Some of you may have gotten into the TV series Treme about New Orleans recovering from Cyclone Katrina.  Troy played himself a few times with one of the main characters, Antoine Batiste, regularly bitching about Troy's success.  By the way it is worth checking our John Boute's Jambalaya where you get the terrific title tune to the show.

Anyway back to Trombone Shorty:  This is his latest CD - Say that to say this which I am just getting into (sad to say it is not available on vinyl)  - it has  all the normal flashes and mixes up New Orleans Funk, Jazz and Second Line rhythm.  It even has a bit of soul.   I am sure it will grow on me as his other two have - however it is his first CD Backatown that I keep coming back to.

By the way shorty is a joke!!!



If you like this do not hesitate to check out this one as well - less varied but still got the New Orleans jump! Rebirth Brass Band

Let's Get it On : The Journey Begins!

Welcome to Some New Town - a journey through a combination of my life, my lifetime's fascination with music and of course my record collection.   I initially started doing this by posting about albums I enjoyed on Facebook and my brother in law and friend (thanks Tony Laidler) suggested I blog instead of just doing the facebook thing.  So here it is.  I hope that you find it interesting.

To put things straight from the start I am no musician, I would not make a musician's arsehole - that is how much of a musician I am (not).   I am not a critic either and I do not intend what I write to be considered criticism.  It is written as a fan's viewpoint.

My motivation for writing this is simply that over the years I have done thousands of hours of research.  Time listening, in record stores, talking to friends, going to shows, reading books and magazines.  This has allowed me to discover both new and old music that many people do not get to hear for a combination of reasons. I came to the conclusion long ago that like other things in life the best in music does not always (and indeed hardly ever) rise to the top.  The reasons for this are a combination of bad and good luck, bad management, bad  name choices (great bands with names like 10,000 Maniacs, Slobberbone and Drive By Truckers - have given themselves an automatic handicap before starting) and indeed corruption and greed.  In writing this I will unashamedly try and redress the balance for some bands.

Every album I will write about I own in one or more physical formats.  I now own more than 3,500 records, cds and music DVDs and more than 200 books, so there is plenty of choice.  I am also only going to write about music I enjoy and rate and think needs or deserves to be heard by more people.

I can not fully explain why I like some albums. However I hope I will inspire a few people to go and check out some of the titles.   I used to be (slightly) embarrassed by some of the music I have and enjoy (people are frequently surprised - "I never thought you would have that!!"  The fact is, as a non musician, my response to music is first and foremost an emotional one and not always easily explained.

I will not write about albums, bands or music I do not like.  So even though over the years I have been quite vicious in my assessment of  the likes of Pink Floyd, Brian Adams, The Eagles and others I no longer have the energy for that,  realising instead it is much more important to concentrate on what I like rather than what I don't. That will therefore be the last time you have to hear those names.

My collection includes the initial start I made in music listening to Glam Rock as a third former in 1973, some 70's heavy metal, the punk rock era, new wave and post punk (whatever that is) and then from the 90's the exploration of Americana, Country and Jazz.  When I started Britannia ruled the airwaves but now what I listen to comes mainly from the US and outside of the UK.  It's been an interesting journey.

Why Some New Town??
Not surprisingly I have taken the title of the blog from a song title from one of my favourite albums of all time. I have chosen it as it seems to also be a good reflection of what motivates both my musical adventures and my life. It seems to invoke the sense of quest in some and confusion by others as I search for something new whether in music or in life experience that either has me picking up that new album from a sale bin simply because I like the bass player, producer or cover or a taking a new job in a Some New Town.

So Some New Town is the second last track on an album by Slobberbone Everything You Thought Was Right Was Wrong Today. In my opinion as close to a perfect country rock/americana album as you would ever likely get.  I got directed to the album after hearing Give Me Back My Dog on a free CD attached to a copy of Uncut Magazine.  That song is simply one of the best and cleverest dumb songs ever written.  It's is not just me as over the years this has become a favourite album with all the family and a go to album when we are driving.  A great mix of punk attitude, good songs, mandolins and musicianship and the sound of a road tested band.  Plus what an album cover!!



I will be building the blog with the following areas or themes;
A Journey Through the Past : In which I will continue the journey I have already started on Facebook to go through  some of the highlights of music collection more or less in a chronological order.  I will initially start where I have left off in Facebook - somewhere in 1970 - but I will also go back to the 1920's and pick up those Facebook posts.

Playing now : Where I will talk about some music that I am listening to at the moment.  It may be something new, something that I have rediscovered in the collection or one of those albums I go back to on a regular basis.

Recent Additions : These may be newly released music (hey I am still hip!) or new purchases.  While many people think that the best in rock and other music is behind us. I hope I can prove you wrong by introducing you to some great new music.

Unsung Heroes : where I will be unashamedly a fan - encouraging you all to listen to artists that I think to deserve to be BIGGER THAN ELVIS as the saying goes. I will cover artists such as Greg Trooper, Dan Penn, Eddie Hinton, Dirk Hamilton, Jon Dee Graham, Microdisney, Tindersticks, Phil Cody, Billy Joe Shaver, Josh Ritter, Josh Rouse and .... well its a long list.   One interesting side of the internet is that many of these unsung heroes are more contactable than they have ever been.

Connections : When I will explore connections in my collection and how those connections have lead me to explore and discover new music.  These could be things such as record producers, studios, writers, musicians, compilations.

So there it is the start of what I hope you will all enjoy.