(My humble vote for “Best yet in ’07”) You’ve heard of the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?” I prefer the “Six Degrees of Richard Thompson.” As a nascent Folk-Rock fan, I took a gamble on a little album called Shoot Out the Lights, and the floodgates opened. From producer Joe Boyd, I followed a breadcrumb […]
Richard Thompson – Sweet Warrior
The cover of Richard Thompson’s latest CD is no accident — each song on Sweet Warrior is a battle of sorts, and the vintage French photo (no, it’s not from RT’s baby book) illustrates its stark subject matter. Sweet Warrior navigates territory as dark and familiar as RT’s trademark beret: Unrequited love (“Needle and Thread,” […]
Warren Zevon – Stand in the Fire
The best album not on CD…is finally on CD. Rhino Records rescued Warren Zevon’s classic live album from Asylum’s vaults and released an expanded and remastered version in late March. This album isn’t just live; it’s ALIVE — a vicious assault on songs taken (mostly) from Zevon’s first (and best) two albums. Almost without exception, […]
The Young Dubliners – The Irish Sessions
Though they orginated in Dublin, the Young Dubliners’ turbo charged sound owes more to Alternative Pop than Irish Pub Rock. Over the years, they have merely peppered their six albums and their concerts with traditional Irish tunes; but when they DO perform authentic Irish, the results have been outstanding, and fans have cried out for […]
Bottle Rockets in So. Fla.
Good concerts come to my South Florida town about as often as cold fronts. The dearth of viable venues south of the Carolinas and the unusual length of the peninsula discourage artists from making the long trip. Sure, the major acts fly in from time to time. You can still watch the Billy Joel hit […]
Mike’s Best Albums of 2006
I waited 24 years for The Who (my favorite band) to release a new album, and it didn’t make my 10-best list! What a drag. Oh well, maybe they’ll get it right in 2030. Not to worry, there were plenty of discs to celebrate in 2006. Drum roll… #1 John Gorka Writing in the Margins […]
Favorite Christmas Albums
Tired of your Manheim Steamroller and Manillow Christmas CD’s? Here are ten venerable holiday albums to consider. Feel free to respond and share your picks. #1 Bing Crosby Christmas Classics 1962 My favorite pick is a bit of a curveball; while many favor the 1940’s White Christmas-era recordings of a younger Bing Crosby, this 1962 […]
The New, Weird America: The Harry Smith Project Revisited
“My dream came true. I saw America changed through music.” As a Grammy Awards audience acknowledged his genius, a frail Harry Smith, months before his death, basked in the recognition that had eluded him for a half century. The importance of his landmark Anthology of American Folk Music cannot be overstated: it is often credited […]
Loomer – Songs of the Wild West Island
When asked about remaking his favorite songs, Scott Loomer remarked, “You don’t cover ‘Crazy’ unless you’re Patsy Cline, which we’re not.” That’s a taste of the wit and wisdom that makes Loomer (the band) so appealing. No flash, no pretense, Songs from the Wild West Island is just a solid batch of songs that pierce […]
Pogues Reissues
Rhino does it again! Remastered, repackaged and revived editions of the first five Pogues albums were released in America last week (their entire catalog was reissued in the UK in 2005). Supervised by the band, the remastered sound is sterling, and the 29 bonus tracks should satisfy any completist — they include the entire Poguetry […]