STACK #123 Jan 2015

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Billy Pinnell is one of Australia’s most passionate and well informed broadcasters.

ROOTS MUSIC IT’S COUNTRY

Leonard Cohen Live in Dublin Hot on the heels of his latest studio album Popular Problems comes this triple CD recorded live in Dublin in 2013. In what is virtually an on-stage career retrospective, the 80 year old singer/songwriter, backed by his versatile six piece band and a trio of female backing

singers, includes just about everything fans would want to hear. Bird On The Wire, Suzanne, First We Take Manhattan, Dance Me to the End Of Love, and Hallelujah are performed in Cohen’s distinctive talk/singing style with a nuance and skill that makes them timeless. Sony

Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra Sirens of Song Before Jools Holland hosted BBC2’s program Later... With Jools Holland in 1992, the pianist/composer had forged a successful career as a session musician, a founding member of UK band Squeeze – and with the late Paula Yates – co-presented TV music show The Tube . In 1987 he formed the Jools Holland Big Band, that gradually became his 18-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra. On this release they provide big band support to an elite gathering of world class female singers, representing genres spanning from today back to the jazz age. Apart from two songs recorded for Holland’s TV show – Amy Winehouse performing Toots And The Maytals’ Monkey Man and the legendary Eartha Kitt who sang the jazz evergreen Ain’t Misbehavin’ – everything was recorded specifically for this album. With the exception of Ruby Turner’s cover of Ray Charles’ Jumping In The Morning, singers selected material out of their comfort zone, Emeli Sande chose Ruth Etting’s 1928 hit Love Me or Leave Me, KT Tunstall reinvented Cole Porter’s Night And Day, Laura Mvula offered Nina Simone’s See Line Woman, Melanie C made Stevie Wonder’s I Wish her own. Warner

Bryan Ferry Avonmore 4 1/2 As he so often does, Bryan Ferry cleverly weaves touches of contemporary production into the fabric of his signature sound on his first release of new material in four years. With a shifting cast that includes guitarists Nile Rodgers, Mark Knopfler, Johnny Marr and Steve Jones, Ferry – always the

romantic – ponders the mysteries of love, embellishing each song with subtle wisps of sax, trumpet and keyboards. The last two tracks are intriguing covers of Stephen Sondheim’s Send In The Clowns (that opens with a backwards-running guitar) and Robert Palmer’s Johnny And Mary. Cooking Vinyl/Universal

Marcia Ball The Tattooed Lady and the Alligator Man American singer, pianist Marcia Ball – whose style includes elements of zydeco, swamp blues, boogie woogie, R&B and soul – experienced a musical epiphany aged 13 when she heard legendary New Orleans singer Irma Thomas. This led to an interest in Louisiana-style

Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating the Music of Inside Llewyn Davis This one-night-only concert was held at New York City’s Town Hall to celebrate the music of the movie Inside Llewyn Davis, the story of a-week in-the-life of an aspiring young singer struggling to make his mark in the

pre-Dylan Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. The concert included a handful of songs from the film and appearances of cast members joined by The Punch Brothers, acting as house band, folk icon Joan Baez, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Milk Carton Kids, Jack White, Conor Oberst, Marcus Mumford, and Elvis Costello. Warner Music

piano playing as exemplified by Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and James Booker who have continued to inspire her throughout a long and successful career. Featuring her stellar touring band, (bass, drums, guitar, sax) the husky voiced storyteller paints musical pictures full of characters like those in the title track. Alligator/Only Blues

Check out STACK ’s music review teamsTop 5s of 2014 at www.stack.net.au and write us a reader review while you’re at it!

Denise Hylands just gets country music like no one else around

Willie Nelson & Sister Bobbie December Day: Willie’s Stash Vol. 1

Outlaw country icon Willie Nelson and his sister Bobbie were both taught to read music and play instruments by their grandparents, who raised them, when they were pre-teens. Now both in their ’80s, that’s a lot of years of

music making. Bobbie joined Willie’s Family Band when it was founded in 1973, and over the years they’ve spent many a journey on the tour bus playing and singing. December Days offers new versions of their personally selected favorites. With Bobbie on piano and Willie on his trusty guitar Trigger there is a familiar comfort to these laid back recordings, like we’re listening into something really special. Sony Music Jim Lauderdale I’m a Song

Justin Townes Earle Absent Fathers Getting to 33 is a great achievement in itself for Justin Townes Earle, The son of Steve Earle has followed in his father’s footsteps – in more ways than one. Having won the battle with alcohol and drugs, he’s continued to build himself a successful career with his own blend of soulful country, folk and blues. Now sober and recently married, there’s no stopping him. Following the success of his fifth album Single Mothers, released only four months ago, Absent Fathers is the companion piece. Both were recorded in the same session, and were intended for double album release. But Earle ultimately decided the albums needed their own specific identities. The titles of both records reveal much about Justin and his upbringing, and he continues to tell his story, with his sincere introspective songs. Through truthful revelation lies a new maturity, with every newly created album. Along with his trademark guitar pickin’ and straightforward honest presentation, his touring band appear to know and feel these songs with great respect. A standout track, not intended for this release, was recorded while in Australia on his recent visit, a beautiful cover of the Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams, added as a bonus. Warner

Jim Lauderdale is Mr Americana, and he is a song. Constantly writing, recording and producing new projects with people like Elvis Costello, Ralph Stanley and good friend Buddy Miller. He’s a Nashville hit maker for others – but not so much for himself. On his 26th album he co-writes with

Costello, Bobby Bare and The Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter, whom he’s worked with extensively. This is a true country album from Lauderdale in that classic Bakersfield style with songs about love and all its honky tonk associated side effects. With a crack band and a little help from friends LeeAnn Womack and Patty Loveless, this is another totally satisfying Lauderdale record. WJO

Hard Working Americans The First Waltz In 2013 Todd Snider joined forces with a talented bunch of guys to play and interpret a selection of other people’s songs in a rock ‘n’ roll kinda way. With Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) they brought together Neal Casal (The Chris Robinson Brotherhood), Chad Staely

The Grand Ole Opry Story The Grand Ole Opry is an American institution. A radio program, founded in 1925, initially named WSM Barn Dance , is among the longest-running radio broadcasts in history. Based around performances broadcast live to air, it is dedicated to honouring country music and its legacy. Country, bluegrass,

folk, gospel and comedy are on offer. This four-CD/100-track release of studio recordings will take you on a journey through country music history. Old time country of the ’20s and ’30s with Uncle Dave Macon and The Delmore Brothers, to the heyday of country’s popularity of the ’60s with Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. And everything in between.

(Great American Taxi) and Duane Trucks. They’ve gone all out on their second release, and recorded a live album, accompanied by a DVD rockumentary. The doco follows them from their beginnings, recording their debut album and on to playing sold out shows. These Hard Working Americans have their hearts in country, and heads in rock ‘n’ roll. Planet/MGM

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