NEW AND NOTABLE
***************
"One Endless Night"
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
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With his feet firmly on his native West Texas soil and his
mind on more mystical matters, Jimmie Dale Gilmore ranks as
one of country music's most fascinating performers. His
first record in four years serves as a road map through his
influences and his artistic persona. He balances a couple of
originals with covers of songs by fellow Texas troubadours
like Butch Hancock, Townes Van Zandt, Walter Hyatt, and
Willis Alan Ramsey, as well incisive readings of "Mack the
Knife" and the Grateful Dead's "Ripple." It's all held
together by his uniquely expressive voice.
"'Til You've Seen Mine"
Tom House
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You may not enjoy the music of Tom House, but it will make
an impact on you no matter what. House's third record is
another riveting collection of raw, probing original songs
that sound archaic on one hand, but decidedly advanced on
the other. This is provocative, piercing poetry filled with
stark imagery, troubled characters, and bleak themes.
Couched in a shambling old-time setting and presented by
House's sawed-off voice, there is a beauty in its honesty
and its acceptance of reality that is not for the
faint-hearted.
"You Can't Relive the Past"
Eric Andersen
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As his masterpiece "Blue River" approaches its 30th
anniversary, Andersen proves that he's not finished creating
compelling music unencumbered by anyone's expectations but
his own. Knowing well the universal truth found in his new
album's title, Andersen continues to find new musical
expressions for his songs. Half of the record comes from
mostly acoustic New York sessions, while the other half
stems from a raunchy, beefy Delta blues summit recorded in
Mississippi--a far cry from the soothing sounds of "Blue
River." Four of the tunes were cowritten with the late
Townes Van Zandt.
"Primal Young"
Steve Young
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Steve Young has enjoyed quite a varied musical history. Born
in Georgia, Young first ventured to New York's Greenwich
Village folk scene before heading out West in the late 1960s
and hanging around with the California country-rock
crowd. Then it was to Austin, Texas, and its "outlaw"
country milieu and so on. Not surprisingly, his music is
equally varied, and his first studio album in seven years
incorporates blues, folk, country, rock, soul, and more,
augmenting his own material with covers of Merle Haggard and
R&B belter Lloyd Price, among others.
"Live From Mountain Stage"
John Hartford
CD ON Sale!
Everyone's favorite "Steamboat Silly" returns with a live
set culled from three mid-'90s appearances on the popular
radio show. Few can balance sincerity and absurdity like
Hartford can, using old-time music as a foundation for his
quirky but heart-warming approach.
ST. PATTY'S SELECTIONS
**********************
As usual, the arrival of St. Patrick's Day brings with it a
host of new Irish music releases. Whether your taste tends
toward traditional styles or more modern interpretations,
our list will help you find a suitable record for your
celebratory needs
You can find our list of St. Patty's Selections at
CD ON Sale!
"Wires & Wood"
Johnny Staats Project
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\
The country's most famous UPS driver finally shares his
mandolin prowess with the world, backed by some of
bluegrass's biggest names.
"Butt Naked Free"
Guy Davis
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The bluesman's fourth record returns to a more
straightforward, mostly acoustic vibe and may just be his
best yet.
Best Bluegrass Album
********************
Winner:
"Ancient Tones"
Ricky Skaggs
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Why It Won: The talented 45-year-old Kentuckian joined Ralph
Stanley's legendary Clinch Mountain Boys at age 15, and his
skills as a picker and especially a singer have only
improved since. "Ancient Tones" is his second effort since
his heralded return to bluegrass and it's every bit as
engaging as 1997's "Bluegrass Rules!" with rousing Stanley
and Monroe covers and the top-flight Kentucky Thunder band.
Our Pick:
"The Mountain"
Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band
CD ON Sale!
Steve Earle has always alternated between his electric and
acoustic impulses, but on this stellar collaboration with
the Del McCoury Band, Earle moves into the acoustic camp
with both feet. Earle has come up with perhaps his strongest
collection of songs, filled with vivid characters and
possessing timeless appeal. Though not technically a
bluegrass album all the way through--the musical settings
move from straight-ahead bluegrass to country blues to
honky-tonk to Celtic--McCoury's unit provides the musical
muscle that you'd expect from one of bluegrass's sharpest
ensembles. In the end, it's the quality of Earle's memorable
original material that sets it apart from the rest of an
unusually strong pack. Honorable mention goes to the
Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza, which boasts eight of the
greatest mandolin pickers of our time.
You can find Bluegrass Mandolin Extravaganza at
CD ON Sale!
Best Traditional Folk Album
***************************
Winner:
"Press On"
June Carter Cash
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Why It Won: Arriving on the eve of her 70th birthday, this
is June Carter Cash's first solo record in more than 25
years, but she shows no signs of rust. Supported by the
acoustic strumming of Marty Stuart, Norman Blake, and Rodney
Crowell, as well as her own Autoharp, Cash delivers a
provocative collection of mostly original material. She also
reprises three of her uncle's Carter Family chestnuts and
her own composition, "Ring of Fire," a song she wrote for
(and about) husband Johnny. The Man in Black even joins her
for a stirring gospel duet.
Our Pick:
Cash does a wonderful job balancing the classic lyrical
themes of God, love, and death with more contemporary
themes. No one can explain the semi-autobiographical album
better than Cash herself, who says in an exclusive
Amazon.com interview: "Whatever anybody felt, whether it was
laughing or crying, I wanted it on this record, so it was
not just about singin' the right notes or playin' the right
melodies. It was just an honest, sincere way to do the
music."
You can read the interview in its entirety at:
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Best Contemporary Folk Album
****************************
Winner:
"Mule Variations"
Tom Waits
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Why It Won: "Mule Variations" continues Tom Waits's string
of recordings that are simultaneously avant-garde and
arcane. There's no better evidence of this dichotomy than
the fact that his last Grammy award was for Alternative
Music in 1992. "Mule Variations" marks the inscrutable
songsmith's return to album making after five years of
soundtrack and stage work. Few are more adept at
bastardizing genres to create a thoroughly unique and
compelling sound.
Our Pick:
Waits gets the nod in a rather eclectic category. The
Contemporary Folk nominees include a roaring Cajun band
(Beausoleil); an old folkie doing honky-tonk duets (John
Prine); a 30-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man doing a
collection of labor songs (Ani DiFranco & Utah Phillips);
and a pair of country-weaned divas singing modern rock
classics (Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris). Of course, Waits
has them all beat when it comes to eclecticism.
New Releases From Past Winners
******************************
"Telling Stories"
Tracy Chapman
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Over the course of her career, Chapman has picked up Grammys
in a wide variety of categories: Best New Artist, Rock Song,
Pop Female Vocal, and Contemporary Folk. "Telling Stories"
is quintessential Tracy Chapman, enriched as it is with
insight, heart, and soul.
"Water From The Well"
The Chieftains
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Ireland's beloved Chieftains have won six Grammys in the
1990s across the categories of Traditional Folk,
Contemporary Folk, Pop Vocal Collaboration, and World Music
Album. Their new release revisits their musical roots with a
wide spectrum of traditional Irish music and traditional
Irish guest players.
This year's Grammy Awards for Blues went to two of the genre's best-loved and talented stars: B.B. King and Robert Cray. No surprises from the Academy here, though it did manage to reward these greats on the release of their best recordings in years. To supplement the small amount of actual blues nominations, we have decided to include our picks for three of the top awards in the upcoming W.C. Handy Awards for blues. From AcoustiCDigest/newCDnews.com, associates of Amazon.com...
CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM
************************
Grammy Winner:
"Take Your Shoes Off"
The Robert Cray Band
at our CD Sale!
There's no doubt about it: Robert Cray is immensely
talented, from his soulful voice to his technical prowess on
guitar. And while various blues critics and fans have
accused his music of rockism, "Take Your Shoes Off" is an
unabashedly enjoyable--and smart--tribute to Memphis
soul. Of course, it's a bluesy soul record, one that equals
the work of his late mentor, Albert Collins.
Our Pick: From a sentimental standpoint, it would have been nice to see Luther Allison's "Live in Chicago" win the award. But Cray's was the best album nominated, so we agree with the Academy here.
TRADITIONAL BLUES ALBUM
***********************
Grammy Winner:
"Blues on the Bayou"
B.B. King
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B.B. King's debut as a producer--at age 73, better late than
never--resulted in a terrifically bare-bones, rollicking
effort that's easily his best disc in years. All around,
this is a solid blues album by a master of the form, one
that's evocative of the Louisiana countryside where it was
recorded.
Our Pick:
"A Good Day for the Blues"
Ruth Brown
at our CD Sale!
Echoing her Atlantic Records heyday, the 70-year-old Brown
entered the studio with a big band--including a full horn
section--and really went at it, belting out strong, supple
versions of traditionals such as "Cabbage Head" and new
songs from the great Dan Penn like "Can't Stand a Broke
Man." Brown was at her peak in the '50s, saw some really
hard times, and is now back at the top of the game. A Grammy
would really have meant a lot to this sweet, ultratalented
lady.
AN EARLY PLUG FOR NEXT YEAR'S GRAMMY AWARDS
*******************************************
"Senegal to Senatobia"
Othar Turner
at our CD Sale!
Note to the Academy: if anyone on Earth deserves to be
nominated for a Grammy next year in the Traditional Blues
category, it's Othar Turner, the nonagenarian master of fife
and drum music. Alan Lomax, the great folklorist and
collector of traditional blues music, called fife and drum
"more African than anything previously recorded on this
continent." Fife and drum is insistently rhythmic,
inventive, and the deepest of deep blues sounds out
there. On "Senegal," Mr. Turner is joined by some
percussionists from Africa, and the result is strange and
wonderful.
THE W.C. HANDY AWARDS
*********************
Why aren't there more blues categories in the Grammys,
anyway? Oh well, at least we have the 21st Annual W.C. Handy
Awards to look forward to. With that in mind, let's recap
some of the most interesting nominations:
Entertainer of the Year
Our Pick:
R.L. Burnside
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Never one to hide behind tradition, this Mississippi
bluesman can nonetheless serve down-home blues with the best
of them, as he does on his efforts from the early 1990s "Bad
Luck City" and "Too Bad Jim." But he can also be daring,
making such unlikely ambassadorial gestures as 1998's
electronic remix CD "Come On In" one of the most interesting
(and successful) crossover efforts of recent years.
For a complete list of the W.C. Handy nominations for
Entertainer of the Year, go to:
at our CD Sale!
Band of the Year
Our Pick:
Joe Louis Walker and the Bosstalkers
at our CD Sale!
Few can handle so much variety as well as Joe Louis
Walker. On his latest, "Silvertone Blues," the guitarist
moves from country blues to full-band modern arrangements
with ease, and it all hangs together very well indeed. In
addition, Walker possesses a wit and cleverness in both his
musicianship and his songwriting that's a rare treat.
For a complete list of the W.C. Handy nominations for Band
of the Year, go to:
at our CD Sale!
New Artist of the Year
Our Pick:
Big Bill Morganfield
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As the son of Muddy Waters, Big Bill Morganfield has some
awfully large shoes to fill. He'll do just fine, though, if
his debut "Rising Son" is any indication. A collection of
original songs and some by Muddy himself (including
lesser-known material such as "Diamonds at Her Feet"), this
is a strong debut, boding well not only for Morganfield's
career but for the future of the blues.
For a complete list of the W.C. Handy nominations for New
Artist of the Year, go to:
at our CD Sale!
NEW & NOTABLE
*************
"Live at Pachyderm Studio 1998"
Indigenous
New BLUES Review!
Anyone who's seen Indigenous live will tell you that's when
they're at their best. "Live at Pachyderm Studio 1998"
certainly seems to bear this out. The audience is tiny,
true, but it seems to be encouragement enough. The band
smokes, with far more energy than was heard on their
national debut, "Things We Do."
"Blues Had a Baby"
Lurrie Bell
New BLUES Review!
Though Bell records on an utterly sporadic basis, the
results when he does get into the studio are always
superb. With a burgeoning guitar talent and strengthening
vocal prowess, it's no exaggeration to say that Bell is
helping keep the blues alive, in the best Chicago style.
"Suspicion"
Coco Montoya
New BLUES Review!
Start out playing rock & roll, take a turn as sideman for
such notables as John Mayall and Albert Collins, and the
result is Coco Montoya. He works from a stable blues-rock
idiom but avoids the more obvious pitfalls of the genre,
reaching instead for touches of soul and using his
considerable skills on guitar to expressive advantage
instead of just showing off.
"Rush Hour Blues"
Sam Lay Band
New BLUES Review!
As one of the finest drummers the blues has to offer, Sam
Lay is no slouch as a singer and bandleader either, as his
latest recording proves. "Rush Hour Blues" remains firmly
rooted in Chicago, as the inclusion of classic songs by
Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf indicate.
"Frett'n the Blues"
Various Artists
New BLUES Review!
Anthologies often present the best introductions to the
blues, and this album is no exception. Spanning much of the
history of blues guitar, from early acoustic music through
the advent of electric guitar and on into rock & roll,
"Frett'n the Blues" includes music from notable blues
pickers such as Buddy Guy, Homesick James, John Lee Hooker,
and Muddy Waters.
AWARDS
******
Here come the Grammys: Congratulations to blues siren Susan
Tedeschi for her nomination in the Best New Artist
category. Nominees in the Traditional and Contemporary Blues
categories include Luther Allison, Jonny Lang, B.B. King,
and Odetta.
Handy2K: The nominations for this year's W.C. Handy Awards, to be presented on May 25th, have been announced.
Learn about all the nominees at Amazon.com's Blues page:
New BLUES Review!
ESSENTIALS BY ARTIST
********************
Elder statesman, preservationist, and innovator--Taj Mahal
is one of those artists who constantly reinvents his genre
while keeping a firm eye on tradition, as his recent
collaboration with Toumani Diabate illustrates. Mahal's
style encompasses everything from Delta blues to soul to
reggae, while maintaining a character all its own.
Discover Taj Mahal's essential recordings at: Current Taj Mahal CDs
EDITOR'S CHOICE
***************
"Welcome to Little Milton"
Little Milton
New BLUES Review!
If you're asking "Little who?" then you need to hear this
album. And if you're already in the know, you need to listen
to it anyway. The author of several blues/R&B hits over the
past few decades, Little Milton gets some of his own back on
the exceptionally strong tribute "Welcome to Little Milton."
The album is also a contender for this year's Grammy Awards,
in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category.
WE GOT NEXT
***********
"The Folkways Years: 1959-1973"
Memphis Slim
Release date: February 22, 2000
New BLUES Review!
Over a decade's worth from one of the finest blues pianists
ever.
"Best of the Vanguard Sessions"
Charlie Musselwhite
Release date: February 22, 2000
New BLUES Review!
A retrospective collection from one of the best blues
harmonica players around today.
Folk/Blues:
New Titles
Ungar/Mason "Catskill Collection"
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Blue By Nature "Hard Daze"
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Josh White Jr. "In Tribute To Josh White-House"
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Trout Fishing In America "Closer To The Truth"
Check it out!
Johnny Nocturne Band "Million Dollar Secret"
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Renbourn/Grossman "Keeper Of The Vine"
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Ungar/Mason "Catskill Collection"
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La Bottine Souriante "Rock & Reel"
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Trout Fishing In America "Closer To The Truth"
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VA-Superharps "Superharps"
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Ladysmith Black Mambazo "In Harmony-Live At The Royal A"
Check it out!
Various Artists-Superharps "Superharps"
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Tab Benoit "These Blues Are All Mine"
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Joan Baez "Best Of Joan Baez"
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David Mallett "Ambition"
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Tab Benoit "These Blues Are All Mine"
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Leadbelly "Bridging Leadbelly"
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John Mccutcheon "Storied Ground"
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VA-Whole Lotta Blues-Songs Of "Whole Lotta Blues-Songs Of
Led"
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Fairport Convention "Cropredy Box Set"
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Shannon Curfman "Loud Guitars Big Suspicions"
Check it out!
Patty Larkin "A Gogo"
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Little Milton "Welcome To Little Milton"
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Mimi Farina & Richard "Pack Up Your Sorrow-Best Of VA"
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VA-Whole Lotta Blues-Songs Of "Whole Lotta Blues-Songs Of
Led"
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Patty Larkin "A Gogo"
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Ronstadt/Harris "Western Wall-Tucson Sessions"
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VA-Songs Of Willie Dixon "Songs Of Willie Dixon"
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Me'shell Ndegeocello "Bitter"
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Grady Champion "Paying For My Sins"
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Kate Rusby "Sleepless"
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King/Vaughan "Albert King With Stevie Ray VA"
Check it out...
