eMusic December Downloads By Amanda on December 22, 2008 1:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
Country/Blues/Folk
A Virtual Landslide by Pete Molinari
I read a wee blurb on this chap in the latest Uncut (Leonard Cohen cover) in which he was proclaimed "the next Woody Guthrie" or something stupid. I was undetered anyway and looked him up. I love this record, which you could deduce by the fact I put it number 4 on my best of list after owning it for less than a fortnight. It has mostly nowt to do with Woody bloody Guthrie in any direct way, though. Dylan, definitely. There's at least a couple of songs that are reworked versions of the Ballad in Plain D melody, and his nasal singing is not a million miles removed from the Dster. But there's also a mix of Roy Orbison and Gene Vincent or one of those rockabilly/rock guys, some 50s country. His own songs are great, although my pick is the Billy Childish cover "I Don't Like the Man That I Am." I put that on my 2008 8tracks. There is an earlier album of acoustic stuff which I'll get later, although the samples didn't grab me immediately (am a bit put off by the echoy vocal affects meant I suppose to simulate scratchy old timeyness and just succeeding in sounding like it was recorded at the bottom of a 40 gallon drum) so I'm content to wait on it. You can hear songs from both albums on his MySpace, the label page also has digital downloads.
From Uncut ed Allan Jones' review:
Molinari, of course, reaches us from the Medway Delta, via Nashville's Music Row, Greenwich Village in its boho 60s pomp and Sam Phillips' Memphis, a Chatham kid eerily possessed of the kind of musical chops you'd most likely associate with something that came out on Sun records in its glorious heyday.
There are some YouTube vids of him from Melbourne gigs so I guess he's already been here - next time for sure I will be there.
Dona Got a Rambling Mind by Carolina Chocolate Drops
Showdown! by Albert Collins, Robert Cray & Johnny Copeland
You, Me and the Horse by Jerry Leger
Another interesting new (to me) singer-songwriter folky country guy. Songs on MySpace.
Jenny Scheinman by Jenny Scheinman
Nancy & Lee by Nancy Sinatra And Lee Hazlewood
Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs by Charlie Louvin
A new one, release a week or two ago. Exactly as the title says. Charlie Louvin sings murder ballands and disaster songs, Therefore, excellent.
Heart of Stone by Chris Knight
Rott 'N' Roll by Grayson Capps
Rock/Pop
Acoustic Live by Nils Lofgren
Great record. I got it when I heard "Black Books" on the second Sopranos soundtrack. then I lost it. Now I have it again. Yay.
Boys and Girls in America by The Hold Steady
I got this b/c their new album Stay Positive is in a million hipsters' best of lists and the description sounded sufficiently intriguing. That one isn't on eMusic but this previous one (2006) is. Eh, it's OK but I'm thinking the lead guy's style could get old. I mean, there's all the early Springsteen comparisons but Bruce moved on from that when the 80s began. So I'll look in on them if they get to Nebraska, but not if they keeping doing The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle over and over again. BUT there is this one song "Citrus" -- probably not coincidentally the least noisy/posing song on the album and of which there are no good version of on YouTube because the band issued takedown orders on them. Way to go SO CALLED INDIE HEROES -- which contains the refrain "I've had kisses which make Judas seem sincere" and I approve of that lyric.
Between You And Me by Fabienne DelSol
I found her browsing Damaged Goods, Pete Molinari's label (such is one of the cool things about eMusic, I never paid much attention to labels as such before) Catchy and fun French pop-folk in French and English. Sometimes it hits the spot. Cover of Gene Vincent's Gonna Catch Me a Rat and a Staus Quo song.
Jazz
The Avishai Cohen and Bobby Watson I checked out after they got on the eMu editors Best Of 08 list.
Gently Disturbed by Avishai Cohen
Treat Me Gently by George Coleman Jr
Roll With It by Corey Christiansen Very cool soul jazz-esque bebop west coast stuff.
From The Heart by Bobby Watson
"World"
Mother Earth! Father Sky! by Huun-Huur-Tu
Stoki Stoki: The 30th Anniversary Recordings by Mahlathini And The Mahotella Queens
Soul/Funk/Gospel
You Can Dig It! by Ted Taylor
Never heard of the guy, but this is a really, really great soul album.
What Have You Done? by Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens
Sugar's Boogaloo by Sugarman Three
Christmas
Latin Jazz Christmas by Various
A Very Ping Pong Christmas: Funky Treats From Santa's Bag by Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra
It's Christmas, Baby! by Various Artists (Ecko Records, chitlin circuit type blues)
The Christmas Collection by Various Artists (Fantasy/Prestige, classic bebop jazz)
Binky Griptite Christmas Single by Binky Griptite & the Dee-Kay's
By Shaun
on December 22, 2008 8:47 PM
I know The Hold Steady's "Stay Positive" was on a lot of people's best of lists (most likely to make sure they as hip as the next critic) but I didn't really like it as much as "Boys and Girls in America."
"Boy and Girls" had better songs and riffs("Southtown Girls" for example).
And "Showdown" is a classic blues album. Have loved that recorded for many year.
By dogpossum
on December 22, 2008 11:24 PM
Your Chocolate Drops reference is a bit too close - I've just added them to my 'Traditional and Bluegrass' list. I have been a very big fan of the Be Good Tanyas ( http://www.emusic.com/artist/The-Be-Good-Tanyas-MP3-Download/11598652.html ). Boy, I haven't played them in ages.
My interest in blues and jazz keeps bleeding over into a renewed interest in American folk/traditionals from the 19th and early 20th century. I have a bit of a thing for Bessie Jones atm.