Some
More Reviews and Observations Edition
by J. Freeman
This edition to the couch is a review of recent releases and cranky music observations.
So MTV turned 20 this month -- we'll by the looks of it they are not getting older but more immature. Hey MTV learn to pull up your pants and support artists not cartoon characters and teen heart throbs.
Review: Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)- Welch and her partner David Rawlings offer up another fine retro front porch country cd. These two would sound equally at home having a jam with the Carter family or included in a Harry Smith Anthology. The sound is basic but the ensemble playing of this duo is magic. Rawlings is a master acoustic player with the ability to elevate his solos and take the songs to another level not an easy trick on an acoustic guitar.
Mariah Carey has a breakdown. Ok so what exactly is the pressure of her life: what party to go to? How do spend all that money? What to wear? Will Carson Daley call me for TRL? I'm sorry Mariah I know it must be tough being you but a breakdown? OK get well soon and remember to write. We here at LakinLand support divas in their darkest hour.
Review: Travis - The Invisible Band -- When I first saw them on MTV I thought...oh wait that couldn't have happened this band is too smart and pop for a music tv channel. Yes here is a band who writes wonderful pop songs for adults. Showing more range and command as a band with each release Travis's songs grow deeper with each listen. Often lumped into the next big British thing (Oasis, Coldplay etc) Travis is my pick to last the longest. One of the few bands that I look forward to their next release.
Headline: MICK JAGGER PLANS NEW ALBUM ON VIRGIN. I don't why but that just struck me as a funny concept album for Mick to be doing.
Headline: MC HAMMER PLANS COMEBACK . Is this a sign of the end of the world? What's next Vanilla Ice or Billy Idol (oops too late to stop that one)? I'm sure he plans to comeback but who really cares. My advice would be to forget music and to develop some kind of kitchen cooking device along the lines of the George Foreman grill...it worked for George's comeback.
Review: Michael Burks - Make it Rain- By the looks of the cover I'd say he has a serious fascination with Albert King. One spin of the CD confirms that he has spent a lot of time listening to Albert but is wise enough not to copy him but it is the main influence in his style. What I like about the cd is that it is in a tight blues / soul sound leaving the rock / blues so prevalent in most new blues cds behind. But in the end he doesn't have the songs to make this a key release by a young blues artist. Maybe next time the songs will rise to his talented guitar playing.
Review: Buffalo Springfield - Box Set**-
This was a release I had been looking forward to for quite a while. When
the big release day arrived I was a bit let down. First the good news:
the sound is brilliant a huge improvement over prior releases. The
rarities are well chosen great acoustic demos and works in progress from
Stills and Young. Now the bad news: it is a four cd set with the
essential first two albums on CD four, however they also include those
same songs interspersed on the rare tracks on CD's 1-3 so in essence you
are buying them twice. Even though the record label may claim disc 4 is
a bonus cd you are paying the price of a 4 cd box set.
In the end this is far from the last word on the band. It is an example
of a box set that misses the mark of being a "definitive" statement. The
sonic upgrade is great but something is missing...could it be live
tracks? or am I miffed at getting their first 2 album twice on the same
box set? Either way I'm sure in 5 years I'll be buying another Buffalo
Springfield box set that will correct the deficiencies of this one.
Until then....
**You can read another perspective on this box set in this months "Listen with Lakin" column.**
Past Editions:
| View From the Couch -Top 10 at the Half way mark- From Alt.Country - June 2002 | ||
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Take a quick hit- |
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