Hey, where'd the words go?

This week I have been listening almost exclusively to Canadian Bruce Cockburn's 2005 instrumental acoustic guitar CD, Speechless. By compiling only the instrumental songs from his more-than-three-decade career and adding a couple of new ones he got a CD-worth pretty painlessly. It ranges from early 70s folksy stuff through 80s jazzy into 90s back-to-the-delta on a resophonic. Nice in the car.

Through MySpace friend requests, I got to hear Rachael Yamagata, who I enjoyed and is in the same vein as Madeleine Peyroux, one of my newer favorites who sounds very Billie Holliday-ish. Also The Electrolites for some Beatle-y pop.

That's all for this week, I guess. See yas next time.

Ed--Feb 24

Been busy this week: spent two days learning how to be diverse, one evening waiting for my neice to bring in the new Nicholson/Hoffman clan bundle of j0y, one evening rehearsing for a weekend gig. So this week's listening has been somewhat limited.

I did, however manage to listen to the Eric Clapton/ JJ Cale collaboration, Road to Escondido. For me, listening to Eric Clapton is kind of like going to McDonald's for a Big Mac. You know what you're going to get; no surprises. But every once in a while, it fits the culinary bill. Billy Preston did some really nice stuff on this CD. Derek Trucks is also a guest (if you've not had a chance to listen to him, check him out--he's a MF on slide). There is one kind of out of character song, "Dead End Road," which has a good country guitar solo, I'm guessing by Albert Lee, since he's on the credits. The one thing you have to give old Eric (and his techs, I suppose), whether you like him or not: he is a tone master. If they could model those tones, I'd be standing in line to buy. But I believe about two-thirds of tone is in your head and hands, and the rest is in the gear.

Othewise, I've been listening to the "Real Jazz" channel (ch. 70) on XM in the car. I figure if one wants to claim to know anything about jazz--and I can't--you need to be able to at least ID half the songs in the Real Book. Which I can't.

BTW, I'm linking to Amazon on some things, not because I'm interested in assisting in rationalizing their absurd P/E ratio, but because they have clips to most of these albums.

As If You Care...

This week I've been listening to my wife nag me to have the stairs refinished. And to paint the downstairs den. And rearrange the garage. And quit being such a moon calf. Oh yeah, and to The Adventures of Jet's "Coping With Insignificance". Interesting power pop with great singing (Hop Litzwire), playing and...get this...relevant, witty lyrics. These kids, I tell ya. Larry Carlton's "Firewire" is also in heavy rotation in the obsessive compulsive-mobile. Kick-ass production meets simple tasteful ginch. Don't hate him cause he's beautiful, OK? And finally, for those who are well grounded, know who they are and are comfortable with that; Tom Jones' "The Lead And How To Swing It". GRRRRRRR! Pappa likes. As per usual, ol Tom can take any song from any artist from any decade and any genre and do it better and more interestingly than the original. Don't believe me? Be prepared to be struck dumb, dim bulb. More later.

All Songs Considered

I installed a link to NPR's All Songs Considered. The NW AR affiliate doesn't carry it, but you can subscribe to the podcast or just go online and listen. This week's guest DJ is John Waters. If anyone else has any links they want to suggest, let me know.

Morty--Feb. 16

This week I've been listening to Larry Williams' best of CD. He was a late 50s rock and roll writer/singer who the Beatles covered with Dizzy Miss Lizzie and Bad Boy. When I first got it, I listened to only the songs I was familiar with, but I've been listening again for the hidden treasures. Also received my DVD off eBay of Derailroaded (the documentary about late 60s street singer, Zappa discovery Wild Man Fischer). So I've been listening to him, too.

Due to 16-year-old son Jack's retro prog/fusion rock phase, when we've been together in the car this week, he puts on Utopia's RA cd from '76.

Finally, been listening to Nashville guitarist and closet pop rock recording artist, Pat Buchanan. No, no, not the politician pundit guy, Faith Hill, Swan Dive and Rodney Crowell's guitar man. Go to: http://patbmusic.tripod.com for more info. Last time I saw him live, he got more different styles and sounds out of one acoustic guitar than I thought possible, as well as being the only slide player that can move effortlessly from George Harrison style to Tampa Red bottleneck blues style in a blink. His solo stuff is splendid vocal power pop ala British Invasion.

Oh well, that's all for now, glad to contribute. See yas next week.

Ed--Feb 15 06

Chet Baker--Somewhere Over the Rainbow
I'd listened to quite a bit of the later breathy-tone Chet Baker. He's a young guy here, in 1962, and playing with a bit more energy--maybe before he channelled too far into the heroin. I really enjoy his guitarist, Belgian Rene Thomas, on this record. Good versions of "Pent Up House" and "Well You Needn't"
Jerry Lee Lewis--Last Man Standing
I've never been a huge fan of Jerry Lee, but I gotta say, I've really enjoyed a lot of this record. Jerry Lee is actually playing pretty well, even at a rode-hard 71. This is one of those collaborations with an all-star cast: Jimmy Paige, Jagger and Richards , Neil Young, Merle, George Jones, John Fogerty (high-energy version of "Traveling Band"), Springsteen ("Pink Cadillac"), and more. Really good version of "Hadacol Boogie" with Buddy Guy. Jerry Lee does most of the singing-the guests just sort of cameo in most of the time.
Kate Campbell--Blues and Lamentations
Country/folkish singer songwriter with a Southern lit sensibility.
8 versions of "Stella by Starlight"
Trying to learn this one myself.
Joanna Newsom--Ys
Quirky. Couldn't do a regular diet of this, but it's certainly different. Don't buy the record, but listen to it if you get a chance. This album made it on to several critics' "Best of '06" lists. I guess just because she's so eccentric. She plays harp, sings in a really high, squeaky voice, and writes long abstruse lyrics.
Django--Souvenirs
What I listen to when I go back to the same old stuff.