The MG Album Club #25: James King - Three Chords And The Truth

[Unsomnambulist]

When I was young, I would have absolutely hated this. Now, I can hear the musicianship and tunefulness and marvel. It's sad that this level of talent isn't proportionately rewarded because it's in the wrong genre.

As far as I can tell, this was recorded around 2013, and it was either done with analog equipment, or very carefully with digital gear. It's masterful and laid-back, very pleasant to listen to.

I rate it:

 

[lpfreak1170]

Finally giving this a spin...just friggin' unreal!!

 

[Nickyboy]

This is Sitting on the Front Porch in Your Rocking Chair and Sipping on a Glass of Lemonade music. Not exactly my cup of tea....er....lemonade, but I wouldn't make you take it off if you decided to spin it while we were sippin'. It sounds like the Horseflies, Emmylou Harris, Willy Nelson, and A Prairie Home Companion all rolled into one. Fine musicianship from all the players. And if the date 2013 wasn't up there in parentheses, I would have sworn this was a vintage recording from one of those folklore labels.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

I keep meaning to come back here and review this and I keep getting distr...

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

So this was a really nice listen. I appreciate bluegrass, the musicianship of it is amazing. But I find I like it in small doses. Much of the bluegrass around me is pretty twangy and wears me out. This was a nice contrast. It had a really warm sound. I really enjoyed the harmonies and the fiddler stood out to me as a highlight every time he played.

As an aside, while listening to this I realized there's a signature to bluegrass harmony that isn't used in other music. I'm not a singer or musician myself so I can't quantify it. But it was nice to realize something new about music.

I'm not sure I'll listen to a lot of James King in the future, but I enjoyed this album very much.

 

[Ojai Sam]

So this was a really nice listen. I appreciate bluegrass, the musicianship of it is amazing. But I find I like it in small doses. Much of the bluegrass around me is pretty twangy and wears me out. This was a nice contrast. It had a really warm sound. I really enjoyed the harmonies and the fiddler stood out to me as a highlight every time he played.

As an aside, while listening to this I realized there's a signature to bluegrass harmony that isn't used in other music. I'm not a singer or musician myself so I can't quantify it. But it was nice to realize something new about music.

I'm not sure I'll listen to a lot of James King in the future, but I enjoyed this album very much.

Bluegrass does present a challenge for the casual listener. When I first started listening to the Sirius bluegrass channel, I could only stand about 30 minutes at a time before the banjos got to me.

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[lpfreak1170]

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Bluegrass is a genre I admire and appreciate but never break out. I will agree that for the untrained ear (like my own), it's wonderful in short stints - I too, Sam, have switched to Sirius XM's Bluegrass station only to turn it off 10 minutes later. I seem to have more staying power when I've seen artists live. So maybe it's to this album's credit that I stayed around for the whole thing Talented music - I'll trust Ojai that this guy is the cream of the crop. Enjoyed it but didn't love it

 

[axolotl]

The unvarnished (porch swing) truth is, it's quite good.

I could clog to it.

from here.