Old Enough To Know Better

My first musical loves fall generally in the way of cryin' tunes (Tom Waits' "Tom Traubert's Blues" was to have been my lead-in) but fate stepped in. I’m a recent transplant to Minnesooota so springtime here brought a feeling of freedom. I had to load up the CD player and go somewhere on the first nice day. So most of this collection simply fell out of a group of CDs I had arbitrarily selected for my car's changer (yep, it is NICE to have a large changer). Anyhoo, it was a fabulous day, I was driving in the country and well, you know...

No traffic tickets this time, I'm happy to report. So the song list mostly wrote itself; I hopped on home and picked out a few more to round out the list. As the first few were recent purchases, I tried to stick with that theme. Of course, that says nothing about the recording dates…The editing of this collection prompted no less than three visits from my upstairs neighbor, "um, say, that's kinda loud today".

I hate one-tune wonders. You know, you hear a great song, you rush out and buy the CD and discover the meaning of filler. I've bought many such and they don't last long in my rotation. So I have lots of stuff available cheap for those who are easily pleased. But none o' that here. All of these pieces are solid throughout so if you like what you hear you'll like the rest. OK, so I did sneak in one or two heartbreak tunes. Sue me.

Side 1 – Fat Horns!

1. James Hunter – Watch & Chain c People Gonna Talk (2006)
   

   This is a 2006 release, mind you. Mr. Hunter appears to have fallen through a serious time warp. I looked askew at this recommendation when I got it because Blue Eyed Soul is such a silly moniker. I think it's closer to old-school R & B. White guys rarely do a good job with such music so this one is terrific fun.

2. Gigi – Tew Ante Sew – Gigi (2001)
   

   More fat African horns! This CD is more down-tempo than this song but it's all good stuff. Her new one is pretty good too but this one's better. My sister gave me this some years back as she figured I needed to get over my crush on Sade. It worked. Of course, if either lady tires of a life of fame, wealth, and privilege, Minnesoooota's not such a bad place, eh?

3. Karl Denson – Dance Lesson #2 – Dance Lesson #2 (2001)
   

   Mr. Denson got off to a dubious start-playing backup for girlie-man Kravitz. He has redeemed himself nicely since then, moving from pop into acid jazz (this too is a fairly useless name for a genre); soul-jazz is probably closer. I hear that Dance Lesson #1 was better but I can't find a print. Another fun, dance-oriented thing.

4. Junior Walker – Shake And Fingerpop – Shotgun (1965)
   

   This is from Junior Walker’s classic R & B horn-fest. Everyone knows the title tune but I love the horns on this one. If you want a more musically sophisticated variation, Don Byron put out a fine jazz LP: Do The Boomerang – The Music of Junior Walker (2006). And if you’re greedy, like me, Shotgun and Soul Session are now sold as a two-fer.

5. Antibalas – Who is this America Dem Speak of Today? – Who is this America? (2004)
   

   Ya gotta love what them Afro-beat bands can do with a horn section! Note, some of the lyrics are a bit political but it's a fun, fat, dancy kinda thing all the way through. Went to their home page wondering about tour dates. Arrgh!I kid you not, they played their only Minneapolis date TWO HOURS before I clicked the link. Note that this is not their latest CD, which is reputedly pretty good but a bit different.

6. Count Basie – Boogie Woogie (I May Be Wrong) – At Newport (1957)
   

   OK, it's dated. But it's a kicking live album by the greatest swing band ever. This tune has Jimmy Rushing on vocals and there are also several by the immortal Joe Williams. You will have to ignore a little yada-yada from a rather annoying emcee.

Side 2 – A Bit o’ This, A Bit o’ That..

7. Lauren MacColl – Tha mi tinn Leis a Ghaol (I am sick with love) – When Leaves Fall (2007)
   

   Gorgeous, melancholy Scottish fiddling and one of the best song titles ever. Well, the translation, anyway.
   

8. Rosanne Cash – God Is In The Roses – Black Cadillac (2006)
   

   The title tune is terrific but it’s been all over the radio so you must have heard it. The Cash name never gave me the urge to run out and buy music. But this was such a surprise to me; it’s a keeper! I've bought a few alt. country CDs before and enjoyed them but they don't hold up terribly well over the long run so I have some reservations here. It’s one unashamedly emotional piece, all about dealing with the death of Rosanne's parents. If you don't care for your grief laid out front and center, this is not for you.

9. Slewfoot & Cary B – Rainin' In New Orleans – Rainin' In New Orleans (2006)
   

   I shouldn't like this album, but it’s rather haunting. Technically a blues duo, they’re a pair of New Orleans street performers doing a sort of hippie/folk/blues/street thing. An acquired taste for sure but it stubbornly remains in my rotation. This is one of those pieces that require several listens to grow on one.

10. Eddie Hazel – California Dreamin' – Games, Dames, and Guitar Thangs (2006 by way of 1977)
    

    I only recently stumbled across this chestnut from the psychedelic/funk era. You'll only care for this if you really enjoy checking out guitarists as the sound is maybe a little dated. But there's real genius at work here and, what the heck, the neo-psychedelic revival is still in flower. Less self-indulgence than Hendrix, more funk. Eddie would have been a contender for the throne had he not passed on in much the same fashion. The original recording is from 1977 but the CD is a new release, believe it or not.

11. The Waterboys – And a Bang on the Ear – Fisherman's Blues (1988)
    

    Irish folk / pop. I'm told they're an acquired taste but this one just keeps growing on me. This song sticks in my head the whole day after hearing it in the car.

12. Richard Buckner & John Langford – Sweet Anybody – Sir Dark Invader vs. The Fanglord (2005)
    

    Yep, Jon Langford of Mekons fame teams up with a folk/country sort of guy. It ain't punk, folk, or country in my opinion. But it’s another one that keeps getting airtime around here.

13. Snow Patrol – Shut Your Eyes – Eyes Open (2006)
    

    Guitar-driven pop, nice songwriting, hooky vocals; doesn’t fit neatly into one style. Sounds good on the car radio.

14. The Rockford Mules – True North – Crooked Tooth (2005)
    

    Straightforward bone-crushing guitars plus a bit of lap steel from a Minnesooota band. Really no fun at all if played at responsible listening levels.

15. Muse – Starlight – Black Holes and Revelations (2006)
    

    It’s gothic power pop / neo prog rock, another high-volume thing. Reasonable listening levels will disappoint. I'm getting too old for floor pounding from my neighbor. Time to buy a house?

16. Sonny Landreth – Creole Angel – South Of I-10 (1995)
    

    Sonny is a slide guitar magician and represents the pinnacle of Cajun-style rock. It was hard to pick one song from this CD. In spite of Sonny’s gentler vocal style, this one comes with a volume warning as well for you gotta crank it up to appreciate that slide work. I get funny looks every time I drive into the lot at work playing this one (shouldn't a guy have matured by his age?).

17. Rhys Chatham – Two Gongs (1971)
    

    Heh-heh, just kidding, it's not here. No idea how I ended up with the strangest avant-garde CD I've ever heard. This is a one-track CD, 61:39 of two guys keeping two large Chinese gongs busy.

Sacrifices to the 80-Minute God
I need more room, Scotty! Captain, she canna take no more. Sorry.

• Big Country – Driving To Damascus (2002)
  

  They’ve been around 20 years and this is one of their best. Soaring guitars and hooky vocals everywhere! Plus a great cryin’ tune (Fragile Thing).

• The Black Angels – Passover (2006)
  

  Darkish, neo-psychedelic guitar drone kinda stuff. Not too many listens yet, but I gotta make room in the changer for it!

• Drive-By Truckers – A Blessing And A Curse (2006)
  

  Country / hard rock. Sorta Rolling Stonesy (circa their Exile On Main St days when they didn’t suck) guitars and vocals. Maybe a little like Wilco et al but more enjoyable listening.
  

• Mavis Staples – We'll Never Turn Back (2007)
  

  No kidding, her new album is great! Ry Cooder produced and did the guitar work. It’s a terrific set of spirituals harkening back to the civil rights heyday.

• The Bottle Rockets –Brooklyn Side (1995)
  

  It's unusual for me but here's another entertaining country/rock outfit. I’m making money and I'm having fun, with my brand-new radar gun.

• Ketama, Toumani Diabate, Jose Soto – Songhai 2 (2006)
  

  Honorable mention. Flamenco crossed with African folk music. Sorta flamenco done gentle
  and pretty.