New Music: Prodigal Son
There’s a wonderful group of videos on YouTube – featuring Ry Cooder in the studio performing new songs from Prodigal Son.
Category Archives: music
Mary Gauthier
Mary Gauthier
ABC heritage under attack
Neil Young
Neil Young’s entire catalog is available to stream for free on his newly launched archival website. Wow!!! – Thanks Neil
Tom Petty
Robert Plant
Midnight Oil
Randy Newman
A review of Dark Matter – click here.
Randy Newman
Women in music
A list of women in music – turning the tables; click here
Justin Townes Earle
Album Review: Justin Townes Earle – Kids in the Street
This is an album I am playing a lot. My rating would be 5/5.
K D Lang Ingenue
special 25th anniversary edition
here’s a re-issue of some really beautiful – magnificent music.
Neil Young
John Mayall
K D Lang
Randy Newman
Dark Matter – August 4th 2017
Dark Matter, Randy Newman’s first album of new material in nine years, is due August 4 on Nonesuch; vinyl on August 18.
Natalie Merchant
Ry Cooder
Chuck Berry
His last album: Chuck
You would have heard many songs over the decades – but this is something new.
Penguin Cafe
Steve Earle
New Album: So You Wannabe An Outlaw
A new Steve Earle album is due out soon – this time, with a few friends, moving back to his roots – being country music.
Lyle Lovett
Review: Lyle Lovett Greatest Hits 2017
It has been a while since we have seen a ‘greatest hits’ by Lyle Lovett – and this collection is one to have.
Sgt Pepper turns 50
Sgt Pepper’s at 50 – the greatest thing you ever heard or just another album?
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band : is this the best popular music has to offer? Paul Townsend, flickr, CC BY
Willie Nelson
Rhiannon Giddens
Music Review: Rhiannon Giddens: Freedom Highway, February 2017
My comments have nit changed much from my previous post on Rhiannon Giddens: This 2017 album features a woman with a strong and beautiful voice – singing folk songs of America – making very beautiful Americana music.
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder – Jesus on the Mainline (Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017)
Wonderful music from Ry Cooder – see Youtube below..
Bob Dylan
Review: Triplicate – 3 CDs, 2017
Here’s a challenge – Bob Dylan in slow swing doing this set of 30 songs. I recommend listening to these with the volume up – not soft.
I enjoyed 2015’s Shadows in the Night & also the 2016’s Fallen Angels. I recommend both of those albums.
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt Pepper’s 50th birthday
I cannot be! That it is 50 years since at around 11pm when I was suppose to be asleep in bed, that I heard this music coming from the lounge room.
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Oh how we wish for more voices to be critical of the current political class and their hangers-on – and I include many journalists as being hangers-on.
International Women’s Day 2017
Celebrating with visual art and music
click on image for more….
Randy Newman
Randy Newman on PUTIN
Time for some fun – and a new song from Randy Newman…
The Rolling Stones
Review: Blue & Lonesome
Once upon a time thought The Rolling Stones were one of the great rock’n’roll bands – who also occasionally sang the blues. In between those early years and now there was not a lot of great music from the Stones – loads of concerts and a mix of music – some good and some ok. Would they ever make great music again?
Vinyl
yet another story on vinyl hanging in there
click on the image for the article.
Paul Thorn
Review: best of Paul Thorn (2016)
Here’s a highly recommended album for those who want to hear good Americana with a touch of rock. This is a best of Paul Thorn-2016 album – two discs. Rating 4/5
Neil Young
A review: Neil Young – Peace Trail
I think the reviewer has it about right for this new album by Neil Young – Peace Trail. Click on the image for the review inThe Guardian.
Howe Gelb
Music Review: Howe Gelb, Future Standards
Feel like some laid back almost soporific songs as if you had wandered into a quite bar or club. And some music that does not quite follow current americana, rock, blues or jazz trends.
Here’s an album of all of that and a little more. Admittedly I am a fan of Howe Gelb and Giant Sands music – but this is not his usual fare. Yes it still has that Arizona feel but it is very laid back – and enjoyable.
Suzanne Vega
Review Suzanne Vega: Carson McCullers Lover Beloved
One very nice recording just out by Suzanne Vega.
Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Leonard Cohen
Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Shine A Light – Field Recordings From The Great American Railroad. 2016 Billy Bragg & Joe Henry
Here’s a fun story about two musicians and how they made this album. They hopped on the train and then jumped off at stops along the way to record a song – while making sure they were back on board as the train left. And yes – the music is good stuff. Definitely worth a listen if you are a follower of Billy Bragg and Joe Henry. Click here for more on the album.
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen: You Want It Darker
Yes, there’s a new album out by our man, Leonard Cohen.
George Monbiot & Ewan McLennan
George Monbiot & Ewan McLennan – Breaking the Spell of Loneliness
A collaboration between the writer George Monbiot and musician Ewan McLennan seeking to use music and word to open up the issue of loneliness and bring people together.
Neil Young
Neil Young news – coming to the 2017 Byron Bay Bluesfest – online notice click here.
Van Morrison
Music Review: Keep Me Singing, Van Morrison 2016
Here’s an album for the many Van Morrison fans. They will love it.
Nick Cave
A new song from Nick Cave – one you may need to stop and listen to especially when you realise when he wrote it – just after his son had died. Continue reading Nick Cave
Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle
Review: Colvin & Earle June 2016
Join two wonderful voices, join two approaches to making music and two lives that have crossed over several times, and you have two marvellous talents – and the result – a great album. Many of the songs are original – and some are covers. It’s all good stuff.
Recommended: Rating 8/10
Paul Simon
A new album is on the way – click above to hear about it.
Peter Garrett is back
The first track from his coming album, A Version of Now – which is to be released July 15
Neil Young
Time to play this again – After The Goldrush – where it all began so many years ago.
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s new album ‘The Things That We Are Made Of’ will be available May 6th. Click on image for youtube preview.
Bob Dylan
Melancholy Mood
Bob Dylan has released a song, Melancholy Mood from his forthcoming album, Fallen Angel. The song is also on a four track EP released for Record Store Day. This is his second album of Frank Sinatra inspired songs – the first being Shadows InThe Night.
Lucinda Williams & Elvis Costello
Live from 2001 – Wild Horses – click on image for You Tube video
Natalie Merchant
Brandy Clark
Video above for Brandy’s new single (2016) and for her 2013 album – click here.
Neil Young
Australia Day is as good a day as any to replay this video clip – just a reminder of what we used to be – but as yet are yet to put aside.
David Bowie
goodbye Major Tom…..
Tracy Chapman
Review: Tracy Chapman Greatest Hits 2015
The first thing to say is that tis is a great collection.
It is a new collection made by Tracy. The title – Greatest Hits – does not quite sit easily with this selection.
Neil Young
Music Review: Bluenote Cafe, Neil Young (2015)
If you like Neil Young’s music, then this album must make its way into your collection. This is Neil Young at his best and doing so as a Blues musician.
The music is from live recordings from 1987 – 1988 and is more or less based around his studio album, This Note’s For You .
Mark Seymour
Good to see artists speak out on issues – click on the image for the story
Music Review: Natalie Merchant
Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings (2015)
It is the done thing for musicians to cover other musicians songs and to do new arrangements of those songs rather than just attempting to mimic them.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton enjoys his 70th birthday at the Albert Hall London. Click on the image for the video
Natalie Merchant
here’s another opportunity to enjoy Natalie Merchant – Equestrienne
John Mayall
First Listen: New John Mayall album
Find a Way To Care – John Mayall (2015)
For all the many John Mayall fans this is great news. A new album and even better, John and his band are in top form. There’s more than usual use of keyboards and a few with strong brass instruments.
Amy Helm
First Listen: Amy Helm, Didn’t It Rain (2015)
I have had the pleasure of recently discovering the wonderful talent of Amy Helm. While her music is probably somewhere in the style of Americana and alt/country, there is a great mix of other styles in there, from blues and gospel and more. She makes great music.
Recommended: rating 8/10
Natalie Merchant
Wonderful news for those who follow Natalie Merchant’s music.
Cilla Black
Cilla Black dies – see video above and the report in the guardian here.
Neil Young
Neil Young has released a 10-minute short film, Seeding Fear. Click here for the link.
Neil Young
It’s about the music! click on image for the latest from Neil
Neil Young
First Listen: Neil Young + Promise Of The Real, ‘The Monsanto Years’
Neil Young
Neil protests over the use of his song, Rockin’ In The Free World, by the wonderful presidential candidate, Donald Trump – click here.
William Elliott Whitmore
Music Review
William Elliott Whitmore, Radium Health 2015
This album takes a slightly different direction to the two albums I had previously reviewed – click here. And while I am enjoying listening to this album, I still prefer the other two.
On this 2015 album William Elliott Whitmore has moved slightly away from hos more folk/ americana sitting on the porch style – to having some fun with a small band with various moods and styles, some being a little more rock & roll than previous.
Leonard Cohen
Music Review
Leonard Cohen: Can’t Forget: A Souvenir of the Grand Tour, 2015
Here’s an album for the fans of Leonard Cohen. The album has a number of well known songs that had been revisited during a number of live performances. He has added a couple of new ones. This is great listening (provided you love Leonard Cohen and his music).
Caro Emerald
Music Review: Carlo Emerald Acoustic Sessions 2013
I have reviewed Caro Emerald’s music before. It is great! I recently came across some acoustic versions of previous songs that had been released but may now be hard to find. Luckily I found a copy and there are several of the songs online.
Cassandra Wilson
Coming Forth By Day , Cassandra Wilson, 2015
Here’s an album by a great jazz blues singer who continually crosses over genres in her many albums. This being a year of celebration of Billie Haliday (her 100th Birthday), Cassandra Wilson has taken a selection of Billie’s songs and covered her music not by doing an imitation, but by making the songs her own.
James McCurtry
Music Review
James McCurtry, Complicated Game 2015
I enjoyed James McCurtry’s 2008 album Just Us Kids with its touches of politics and comments on life, the universe and anything else.
This music may not be joyful enough for everyone, but if you like a touch of Americana with blues, rock and folk along the lines of a great singer/songwriter, then this could be for you.
Steve Earle
Music Review
Steve Earle & The Dukes, Terraplane, 2015
If you already like the music of Steve Earle, then this is easy for you. This is a good album. It is not quite his usual. Steve is having some fun and is accompanied by close colleagues – The Dukes. The music is Texas blues, Steve Earle style. This form of blues takes several directions, wandering across Americana, a little Delta, a southern stomp here and there and a little southern grizzle along the way.
Rhiannon Giddens
Music Review
Rhiannon Giddens: Tomorrow Is My Turn, Feb 2015
This album, the first for Rhiannon as a solo artist, features a woman with a strong voice who is singing songs about women written by women. Rhiannon Giddens wrote just one —the last one. The musicians on this album do a fabulous job – and together it is one beautiful experience. Some people may have some difficulties, as she has collected 10 songs from very different sources.
John Mayall
Music Review
John Mayall: A Special Life, 2014
When I first listened to the Bluesbreakers in the 1970s, I was listening to music that was almost ten years old. Good heavens, how uncool was that!
John Mayall was making his form of blues in the sixties, in the seventies – and now in the 21st Century he is still pumping it out. How cool is that! Back in the seventies no-one could have imagined that we would be listening to the same guy in 2014 as he turned eighty.
Bob Dylan
Review: Shadows in The Dark
Bob Dylan, 2015
I am sure there are plenty of people who are not taken with much of Dylan’s later music. It has been very much a mixed affair. I am sure that there will be plenty of people who will not get this new album by Dylan. The songs and Dylan’s treatment of them do not fit easily with any category.
Bryan Ferry
Music Review
Avonmore, Bryan Ferry, 2014
Bryan Ferry’s album, Avonmore, concentrates on the failure of love. Obviously something to do with his most recent marriage and divorce. The music links directly back to former albums such as Boys and Girls (1985) and Bête Noir (1987) as well as Roxy Music’s Avalon (1982).
The production is pure Bryan Ferry. His music continues. What’s age got to do with it? He’s 70 years young and still making music. Good stuff.
Joan Osborne
Music Review
Albums by Joan Osborne, including Bring It On Home, 2012
This was my first album by Joan Osborne despite her longish career. This album is for those who love to hear blues and rhythm & blues music being revisited by a talented singer. This is not about simply duplicating the former versions. Rather Joan Osborne and her musicians have delivered some great music through their own soul interpretations.
Neil Young – Caitlin Canty
Music to be enjoyed
Caitlin Canty sings Neil Young’s Unknown Legend
I noticed a rave review online for a singer I had not noticed before, Caitlin Canty. After some further research and listening to the online samples, I dutifully downloaded her music to hear the whole album.
All was going OK, but I was not that enthusiastic on the first listen. No worry, this often happens. I was about to put aside for the night – when I came upon the second last track.
Marianne Faithfull
Music Review
Give My Love To London, Marianne Faithfull, 2014
First a warning: Smoking is bad for your health.
This album from Marianne Faithfull sees her return to a style close to that of her 1979 album, Broke English – which remains a great piece of music. I recommend this music. Those who have followed her music will really enjoy this album.
Neil Young
Neil teams up Willie Nelson’s sons
News on Neil Young’s new music for 2015
J J Cale
Music Review
Eric Clapton & Friends – The Breeze: An Appreciation of J J Cale (2014)
I am going to keep this short. I have for a long time liked the music of J J Cale. I also happen to like much of , but not all, the music of Eric Clapton. I am aware of many collaborations between J J Cale and Eric Clapton. They are, were, a natural mix and between them we have some great music to enjoy.
True Lies
A Dedication
for all those lying bastards out there!
Marianne Faithfull has delivered yet another album, Give my Love To London (2014), with loads of emotions underpinning some powerful lyrics. (a full review to follow)
One song, True Lies, is obviously based on some of her own relationship experiences. However her lyrics point the finger at people any of us have been unlucky to have known.
Mary Gauthier
Music Review
Mary Gauthier, Trouble & Love, 2014
If you have read my former post on Mary Gauthier (click here,) you know that I very much like her two former albums. This album is hard blues country by a very talented singer songwriter about love gone wrong. Through the eight songs, Mary lets us in on the thoughts and reactions she worked through as she dealt with the end of a relationship. It hurts.
Steve Earle
New Steve Earle Album Announcement
There’s a new Steve Earle Album due in February 2015.
J J Cale and political leaders
Comment on musicians making political messages
I have commented before about musicians who have used their music to make political comments. Sometime the relevance of a former song can still ring true to today’s political situations.
The song I ma referring to is a tune by J.J Cale, The Problem. It is from his wonderful 2004 Album To Tulsa and Back.
John Prine
Some Humans aren’t Human
We would all love to think that everyone we meet had a kind heart and that they were humane and that they would always treat others well. Sadly this is not so.
In fact one wonders whether such people are in the minority! Our current Federal Government is made up of people who would have trouble being classed as human and everything they are doing clearly shows that they lack humanity.
Lucinda Williams
Neil Young & Starbucks
Neil Young urges fans to boycott Starbucks
click on the image above for more about the Neil Young story.
Is there anyone thinking that Starbucks serves coffee? I could recommend many cafes who serve real coffee for anyone interested?
J J Cale
Review: Music
J J Cale’s last album, Roll On
This is a great JJ Cale piece of music. Published in 2009. It was his last before his death in 2013.
If you haven’t already – have a good listen. It will be worth it. As usual, he has stuck mostly to his usual style being somewhere out there between okie folk, blues, roots music and a bit of americana. All good stuff.
Annie Lennox
Review: Music
Annie Lennox – Nostalgia
This is difficult for me as someone who has liked much of Annie Lennox’s music. I have always thought she was going to get even better with age. But as she said in an interview, the rage is not there now that she is happy with life. This new album by Annie Lennox is about revisiting some wonderful jazz and blues numbers, but..
Neil Young
A New Neil Young Album: Storytone
This new album is due out 4th November. There’s a video online of one of the songs. The Deluxe album will contain two discs with two versions of the sons. One with the full orchestra/big band and one as an acoustic. Yes that is Neil with a ninety piece orchestra. I have been online and listened to the full album of the orchestral version.
Jesse Winchester
Review: Music
Jesse Winchester – his last two albums:
Love Filling Station (2009) & A Reasonable Amount of Trouble (2014)
Over many decades I have tuned in and out of the music of Jesse Winchester. I have always liked it but cannot say that I ever fully embraced much of his music.
This was a shame as he was indeed a very gentle and quiet personality with an eye on the world.
Cowboy Junkies
Review: Music
The music of the Cowboy Junkies
This group of talented Canadians has been making fantastic music for a couple of decades. I cannot remember how many times I have sat back, often with my headphones on, and allowed their music to take me away from all the troubles hanging around. These days life is much more peaceful and the music is even better.
Lucinda Williams
First Listen: Lucinda Williams
Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone
I have downloaded and listen to this album just the once. I have read quite a bit about this latest gem from Lucinda but was prevented from listening to it earlier due to some international travel and an online problem I was experiencing. But all this was solved at last this afternoon and I have been sitting here, with headphones on, making my way through this wonderful album. If you have not already gathered, this is a great album.
Jackson Browne
New Album announcement
Jackson Browne – standing in the breach
A new album by Jackson Browne is gathering plenty of positive reviews.
It is great to see established singer/ songwriters being relaxed in his approach to music so that he brings together an album of new and original songs.