Cathi's CD Reviews 12-26-09
Evans, John – “Lollygaggin’” (Image Entertainment) B+Texas Americana rockabilly—lots of Webb Wilder feel with steel guitar and bristling with 2-step beats. Real country pickin’ humor and sardonic gig descriptions, fast cars, booze, and cat-call comments in the middle of lyrics, etc. Must be super entertaining live. Most songs are Evans’ originals—lyrics have lots of “furniture” and are entertaining. Young Texan with lots of juice.
Full Moon Review – “One Last Shot” (Indie) C+
Old timers pulling together to put their skills in on “one last shot.” Sort of rock light – maybe a folky touch too. Instrumentation is ok, but even though there are some manful harmony efforts, the singing is not too evocative. Old fashioned rock-ish guitar overlaid. Not really recommended, although as an ancient player myself, I really WANT it to be.
Grissom, David – “10,000 Feet” (Wide Lode Records) A
Always a pleasure to hear tasty guitar and Dave’s is always SMOKIN’ as well as tasty. Though he’s best known for touring with Joe Ely and a gigantic bundle of stars, Dave always could write and sing, and the GUITAR…sizzle. Here he applies himself to 12 new originals…mostly his trademark rockin’ style and you can hear old friend Kenny Aronoff pounding out the drums in the back on many of the tunes (taking turns with Chris Layton). Still it’s his lyrical and melodic sense, and that killer sense of rhythm that elevates him to a triple threat…and he sings. Dang. Like it that he’s stepping out front…he’s hard to ignore no matter where he stands.
Guthrie, Sarah Lee (‘n Family) – “Go Waggaloo” (Smithsonian Folkways) A-
Charming songstress granddaughter of Woody Guthrie puts her songwriting to excellent use in writing 13 songs for her kids (with husband Jeremy Iron). Many friends assist…Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, help out. Subject matter aside, the harmonies and lilting vocals have a charm all their own, and you can hear the children on the chorus of some of the songs. What a pleasing surprise; you can easily imagine her writing these for the love of her kids, and the joy of the family in joining in to record them. Hammer dulcimer and banjo touches are cool accents.
Kristopherson, Kris – “Starlight and Stone” (New West) B
Old dawg songwriter pulls out his guitar and pens some more great tunes…then with Don Was, Stephen Bruton and drummer Kim Keltner (whew what backup!)..kept all the music spare and straight from the gut. Kristopherson is beginning to lose what vocals he used to have, but he’s lost nothing in the songwriting, and any time you spotlight that, you’ve got a handful. Backup musicians never step on the powerfulness of his songwriting. Recorded pretty much live and straight up, much of the vocals are almost spoken, but Kristopherson – at 73 years—still packs a rough punch.
Lund, Corb – “Losin’Lately Gambler” (New West) B+
Cowboy Americana…stories about ridin’ rodeo, gamblin’ in rough bars and throwin’ down with tinges of rockabilly guitar. Songwriting is colorful and inventive…don’t remember hearing any real good cowboy country for awhile.
This disc pulls you into the saddle all the way. Cool perspective…cool beer and bluejean jacket…woodstove, snow, prairie and steers. Yehaw.
McMurtry, James – “Live in Europe” (Lightning Rod Records) B
Songsmith extraordinare hits Europe with a rock band and those killer lyrics. Sadly his casual tossin’ in of curse words eliminate radio play for a few tunes, and the sardonic remainders are perched on a bed of rock instrumentalization. I’m not sure this showcases his fine writing in best fashion, but it works for the audience. Still some of his great tunes (#5-6) stand alone and shine no matter how much he drinks (heh heh). And then again, when he rocks it (#7) chairs fall back.
Montoya, Coco – “The Essential Coco Montoya” (Blind Pig) B+
A collection of early Montoya (just before he got so well known). Delivered with stinging guitar and a serious overlay of rock. I appreciate the emotive slow ones (what can I tell you?) that really set up his guitar solos
(#4, 7, 10 ), but rock-blues is definitely his bag. Saves himself from the total-rock bin with a nice rollin’ blues (#12).
Murphy, Willie – “A Shot of Love in A Time of Need (Red House) B-
Jump in the way-back machine and you’ll Find Willie Murphy snappin his fingers in the “beat” generation, playing psychedelic music and doing a LOT of drugs in the 60’s while writing some songs with Spider John Koerner and catching the ’69 Newport Festival before producing Bonnie Raitt’s first album in ’71 and then doing a lot of solo work and producing for the next 15 or so years. Here he comes out with a 2-cd collection of R & B (his favorite stuff). Backed with big horns, he delivers funk and soul with about 30 years of grit behind it. He’s got his soul in the pocket and the funky gets WAY funky. Crusty but unapologetic, which sometimes yields what can be some wobbly vocals, and sometimes some FCC cussin (#3). Still, he’s had the goods, spread ‘em around there and back, and still knows how to funky. CD #1 mostly funky, CD #2 is a collection of personal perspective ditties of the rock, pop, ballad and singer-songwriter persuasion—less appealing in my view. This collection, probably like this ol’ musician’s career – has real high- and low-spots.
Young, Zora – “The French Connection” (Delmark) B+
Zora, Big Time Sarah and Bonnie Lee hit Europe in the early ‘80’s and caused a big splash. Zora hit it especially big in France, where two young musician producers were eager to do a record of half acoustic, half electric tunes. Zora really shines on the acoustic ones here (check out the Muddy cover # 5!). Maturity in the blues brings out some very cool vocals with Muddy touches, she does some excellent Koko, and I love the acoustic stuff where her vocals shine in a variety of ways (her band tunes are punchy belters for the most part). There are five live tunes to give you the audience feel to her presentation (#3, 5, 11-12, and 14). She adds some interesting departures with Dylan covers, a gospel touch (#7) and even Elvis! (#9). A better disc than I’ve heard from Zora in a bundle of years.
posted by Cathi N @ 9:00:00 AM
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