These Things Inside Me, They Repeat Like Broken Records..
I'm not sure if anyone has heard it or not, but the new Ryan Adams record is gorgeous. It's called "Cold Roses" and it is assuredly one of the finest albums to come out so far this year. Ryan keeps evolving as an artist. He is chameleon-like and hard to predict, and that makes for some beautiful surprises and some amazing records. Outside of "Heartbreaker," I think this is his best work. He's back to a more acoustic, singer-songwriter approach. It is a huge departure from the meaty indie-rock-pop hybrid of the "Rock N' Roll" sessions. This record is Ryan at his most basic and poignant. Songs about love and sentimental longing, with twangy nuances used to color the folky landscpaes. It is so marvelously executed. I can't say enough about it.
A friend gave me a bunch of Jeff Caudill stuff. He's really grown into something amazing. I loved all of the Gameface records and I loved "The Way Back." That EP encapsulated a certain feeling. It felt like home. He hasn't had a lot of mainstream exposure, but he's a songwriter with a lot of heart. I hope he gets a break.
I've also been blown away by "Hoochie Coochie Man: The Complete Chess Masters Volume 2, 1952-1958," which is a Muddy Waters collection. It's a two-disc set that is raw, gutty and soulful. I recommend this album to everybody because it is the bridge that links generations. It is the canon. This is really the root of what became the early American rock scene. Muddy Waters is perhaps the single-most influential bluesman of the early rock n' roll sound in America. He is a legendary figure and once you give this a listen, you'll see why. If Muddy Waters isn't enough to entice you alone, you also get the legendary Willie Dixon on bass, where you can hear the raw slap of the wood that paces these historical gems. It's a must have and now I'm glad I have it.
I'm practically pissing myself, looking forward to the new Ray Lamontagne and Sparklehorse records. If anybody doesn't have Ray Lamontagne's "Trouble" or Sparklehorse's "It's A Wonderful Life" I would advise you to give them a listen. They're brilliant records.
Some other good records that you may or may not be interested in:
Marianne Faithfull - Before The Poison
Blind Boys Of Alabama - Atom Bomb
Ben Lee - Awake Is The New Sleep
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Shake The Sheets
Mark Geary - Ghosts
Ani DiFranco - Knuckle Down
Summer Pierre - Far From Here
Al Green - Everything's OK
Scattering bluebirds all over the place,
BR
A friend gave me a bunch of Jeff Caudill stuff. He's really grown into something amazing. I loved all of the Gameface records and I loved "The Way Back." That EP encapsulated a certain feeling. It felt like home. He hasn't had a lot of mainstream exposure, but he's a songwriter with a lot of heart. I hope he gets a break.
I've also been blown away by "Hoochie Coochie Man: The Complete Chess Masters Volume 2, 1952-1958," which is a Muddy Waters collection. It's a two-disc set that is raw, gutty and soulful. I recommend this album to everybody because it is the bridge that links generations. It is the canon. This is really the root of what became the early American rock scene. Muddy Waters is perhaps the single-most influential bluesman of the early rock n' roll sound in America. He is a legendary figure and once you give this a listen, you'll see why. If Muddy Waters isn't enough to entice you alone, you also get the legendary Willie Dixon on bass, where you can hear the raw slap of the wood that paces these historical gems. It's a must have and now I'm glad I have it.
I'm practically pissing myself, looking forward to the new Ray Lamontagne and Sparklehorse records. If anybody doesn't have Ray Lamontagne's "Trouble" or Sparklehorse's "It's A Wonderful Life" I would advise you to give them a listen. They're brilliant records.
Some other good records that you may or may not be interested in:
Marianne Faithfull - Before The Poison
Blind Boys Of Alabama - Atom Bomb
Ben Lee - Awake Is The New Sleep
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Shake The Sheets
Mark Geary - Ghosts
Ani DiFranco - Knuckle Down
Summer Pierre - Far From Here
Al Green - Everything's OK
Scattering bluebirds all over the place,
BR