STACK #169 Nov 2018

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Various Muscle Shoals: Small Town Big Sound In 1961, fledgling songwriter/ producer Rick Hall established Fame, a recording studio in the tiny, highly segregated, Alabama postage-stamp town of Muscle Shoals. Hall hired an all-white group of Southern musicians to back the many black artists he would record. Blending the earthiness of blues, R&B and Southern funk with strains of gospel and country, Hall and these extraordinary musicians crafted the 'Muscle Shoals sound' on more than 500 recordings, including 75 gold and platinum hits. On this release, contemporary musicians including Alison Krauss and Steven Tyler interpret songs originally associated with the Muscle Shoals sound recorded by The Staple Singers, The Rolling Stones, Etta James and others. (Sony) Billy Pinnell Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Live From The Ryman Long gone are the days when Jason Isbell was known as that guy who played in Drive-By Truckers. Forging a solo career as a highly respected songwriter and performer, Isbell's multiple Grammys and Americana awards are true acknowledgment of his talents. Not his first live release, this album hails from recordings during six sold-out nights at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium in 2017, documenting the last three critically acclaimed studio albums and putting a spotlight on Isbell's band, the 400 Unit. Over the13 tracks, they prove themselves to be a polished and professional Unit, supported by an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. A great opportunity to catch Isbell and band live without leaving the house. (Spunk) Denise Hylands

Pierce Brothers Atlas Shoulders

Troy Cassar-Daley Greatest Hits

Julia Holter Aviary A lush crescendo of sound

opens up Aviary , a signpost for the grandness that pervades the sixth record from Julia Holter. As a leading figure in baroque pop, Holter embraces the unknown in brand new ways on this album, immersing the listener in her world via some dazzling improvisation. Songs such as Chaitius and Why Sad Song are some of her most ambitious works to date, seeing the musician adapt a medieval Occitan troubadour song and a Buddhist Nepalese song, respectively. Voce Simul offers an ambient detour before a choir breaks through, and Colligere induces a contemplative mood. Holter has created her own universe with Aviary , a place in which the fantastical is embraced and the euphoric emphasized. (Domino) Holly Pereira

They started out as buskers in Melbourne. Now the Pierce Brothers – twins Jack and Pat – are a global act, and deservedly so. Their debut album, Atlas Shoulders , is a cruisy collection of folk-pop celebrating peaceful, easy feelings. Back End Roads sounds like an instant summer smash, depicting holiday flings and getting away from it all. “Gotta get away from the city with its mass confusion,” the brothers sing; “Everyone’s addicted to the grand illusion.” Simple stories, beautifully told, these songs will provide the soundtrack to many endless summers. File next to Busby Marou, Xavier Rudd and John Butler. (Warner) Jeff Jenkins

Troy Cassar-Daley has a song called Home . A poignant and wistful piece about childhood memories, it’s a modern country classic. “Standing proud and tall,” he sings about his family home, “now it looks so small. My world was in that street, I thought I had it all.” Home is one of 42 tracks on this generous best-of, which gathers songs from 10 solo albums (plus two tracks from a previous best-of, 2007’s Born To Survive ), as well as a collaboration with Adam Harvey, and two new songs – Wouldn’t Change A Thing and Shadows On The Hill . Heartfelt and honest, Troy Cassar-Daley is one of the great Australian country writers. (Bloodlines) Jeff Jenkins

Colter Wall Songs Of The Plains

Karise Eden Born To Fight Karise Eden was still a

Tom Petty An American Treasure

'Country and western' was a term used back in the day, with 'western' referring to the songs of the singing cowboy – rarely a type of music we hear much these days. Introducing Colter Wall. The 23-year-old is from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, a place steeped in farming, rodeo and cattle culture. Now based in Nashville, Wall’s second album (recorded at RCA Studio A and produced by Dave Cobb) is a love letter to his home. He says: “It’s western. Fanatically, musically, lyrically.” Wall’s voice is the first thing that smacks you in the face, raw and honest, a deep rich baritone. With stripped-back arrangements, he creates real imagery of his Canadian prairie. (ThirtyTigers) Denise Hylands

I'm never going to get used to referring to Tom Petty in the past tense, so I won't. This new career- spanning collection is in no way a greatest hits compilation; what we have is a 60-track set of previously unreleased recordings, alternate versions of classic songs, rarities, historic live performances and deep album cuts that emphasise Petty's remarkable depth as an influential songwriter. Both the condensed and deluxe editions stretch from Petty's early tracks with The Heartbreakers to his late work with Mudcrutch, the hometown band he reformed in 2007. The album contains one gem after another and will, I'm sure, be embraced by both long-time fans and more recent devotees. (Warner) Billy Pinnell

teenager when she became the first Australian winner of The Voice . It was a whirlwind ride. For one week in 2012, she had four of the nation’s Top 5 singles – a chart feat only The Beatles had previously achieved. Somehow, she’s three. And the defiant title of this record – her first in four years – suggests she won’t be compromising anytime soon. Then there’s the opening cut: Stop F-cking With My Head . With her sassy attitude and potent vocal, Eden comes across as a thrilling mix of Janis Joplin and Renée Geyer. (Universal) Jeff Jenkins managed to survive and make it to album number

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NOVEMBER 2018

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