What Are You Listening To? February 2018

[Ojai Sam]

Ray LaMontagne - God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise (2010)

I have been somewhat underwhelmed by the whole Americana movement. Ranker says that "Americana artists are by nature are traditionalist American musicians who infuse roots music - which includes elements of rock, folk, blues, bluegrass and even R&B - to create a sound that channels the spirit of traditional American music." Maybe, but unless the artist has a really powerful personal vision such as Lucinda Williams, too often it comes across as warmed over rock, bar band style.

One of my friends tipped me to this one a while ago, and darn if it didn't just roll in from Music Boomerang. Like Lucinda, Ray has that streak of rugged individualism. His songs range from rowdy rock, to weepy country, to quiet introspective folk.

Highly recommended. (Yeah, @Nickyboy , we do need those stars. My bad.)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lost & Found - New Day (1989)

Note to Rebel Records: About that art director of yours...fire him/her immediately. Just sayin'.

 

[axolotl]

The Durutti Column ~ Love in the Time of Recession (2009)

 

[axolotl]

Lost & Found - New Day (1989)

Note to Rebel Records: About that art director of yours...fire him/her immediately. Just sayin'.

He's gone the way of pastel suits, now.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

CFM - Dichotomy Desaturated (2017)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Cosmic Letdown - In The Caves (2016)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Cocteau Twins - Victorialand (1986)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Police - Outlandos d'Amour (1978)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lost & Found - Classic Bluegrass (1991)

Bluegrass groups tour constantly and depend heavily on merchandise sales to survive, especially recordings. Lost & Found didn't make it into the studio between 1989 and 1992 so Rebel Records threw together this compilation. It holds a generous 16 songs, including three new ones of indeterminate date. The best of these is a melancholy cover of Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone".

Overheard at the record company:

Producer: "We need cover art for the new Lost & Found album."

Art Director: "OK. Got any recent photos?"

Producer: "Nope. Haven't seen the boys in quite a spell."

Art Director: "OK. We'll do without. Say, what is the group's real name, anyway? 'Lost & Found', 'Lost And Found', 'THE Lost and Found'?"

Producer: "Hell, I don't know. Whatever. And don't bother to look at their old releases. We don't have time."

Art Director: "Gotcha. I'm on it."

Producer: "And don't forget to make it real ugly so it stands out on those truck stop CD racks."

Mission accomplished.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Lost & Found - Classic Bluegrass (1991)

Bluegrass groups tour constantly and depend heavily on merchandise sales to survive, especially recordings. Lost & Found didn't make it into the studio between 1989 and 1992 so Rebel Records threw together this compilation. It holds a generous 16 songs, including three new ones of indeterminate date. The best of these is a melancholy cover of Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone".

Overheard at the record company:

Producer: "We need cover art for the new Lost & Found album."

Art Director: "OK. Got any recent photos?"

Producer: "Nope. Haven't seen the boys in quite a spell."

Art Director: "OK. We'll do without. Say, what is the group's real name, anyway? 'Lost & Found', 'Lost And Found', 'THE Lost and Found'?"

Producer: "Hell, I don't know. Whatever. And don't bother to look at their old releases. We don't have time."

Art Director: "Gotcha. I'm on it."

Producer: "And don't forget to make it real ugly so it stands out on those truck stop CD racks."

Mission accomplished.

That cover seems to be suggestive of both a curved sword and a handgun.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell Knoll (1988)

 

[lpfreak1170]

Cigarettes After Sex - S/T


Not sure what I was expecting, but dream pop wasn't it.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lasse Werner & (Hans van) Christer Boustedt - Kropp & Sjal (Dragon 1975)

Vinyl Rip Of The Day.

Somehow I got roped into a project to collect the output of Sweden's Dragon record label. This is a highly eccentric duet outing with some flashes of genius. Pianist Werner and saxophonist Christer Boustedt (look ma, no Hans) were both composers of some note, perhaps best known for their work in Vilgot Sjöman's 1970 film "Lyckliga skitar" ("Happy Shit").

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (1990)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)

 

[Pops]

Gentle Giant - Gargantua

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Dr. Dog - The Psychedelic Swamp (2016)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Police - Reggatta de Blanc (1979)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lost & Found - January Rain (1992)

Berry Berrier and Lywood Lunsford are back with stalwarts Dempsey Young and Allen Mills. Berrier handles most of the lead vocals which run mostly to covers of country hits. Still no picture of the band. Must be camera shy.

 

[axolotl]

Earth, Wind & Fire ~ Greatest Hits (1998)