What Are You Listening To? February 2018

[Ojai Sam]

Lukas Nelson - Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real (2017)

This record is getting a lot of attention in the Americana world. Apart from having a famous dad, the band backed Neil Young a couple of years ago. LN&PTR is pleasant enough, and he does sound quite a bit like Willie. But there are so many styles here that the proceedings seem very unfocused ("open-road rockers, R&B workouts, starlit cowboy tunes, breezy beach songs, and country laments" as AMG observed). The mix is light, nothing to harsh your mellow. I enjoyed Lukas' earlier work but this seems like a promise unfulfilled.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

All Them Witches - In-Studio Performance At WRVU (2012)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Police - Ghost In The Machine (1981)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Prince - 1999 (1982)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lost & Found - Across The Blue Ridge Mountains (1995)

Back on Rebel Records (note the anonymous cover), yet another compilation of previously released material.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Police - Synchronicity (1983)

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

One of these d*** things. All. Day. Long.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel (1974)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Wild Frames - s/t (2018)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Atlas Moth - Coma Noir (2018)

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Dinosaur Jr. - Green Mind (1991)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Mose McCormack - Beans & Make Believe (1976)

Vinyl Rip Of The Day.

From Mose's website www.mosemccormack.com:

Son of The Wild Frontier, you will realize, is an understatement after one listen to a Mose McCormack tune. This Alabama born songwriter, literally, “…came from Alabama with a banjo on his knee…”. Packed up his guitar and “headed west young man”. The stark, haunting images of, raw, western reality, come stampeding through your brain. Some times dark, foreboding. ” The curse of man in search of God, to be living in desolate wonder”.

Then, around the bend, you find a song that takes you to, “..sweeter than molasses, that pretty little gal of mine…”. Love seems to be the final outcome. Sometimes it’s as if he’s been spying on your private life. What ever the approach, provoking thought, is his delight and living the songs he writes.

Mose is still layin’ down his Aggressive Country style from his home base, on the banks of The Rio Grande, in New Mexico. Grinding out his Industrial Honky-Tonk up and down the Rio. With the help of his wife Rebecca, and daughter Alma, Mose manages to run the farm, plant a “mess’o’ beans”, maintain the fruit and nut trees, keep 6 dogs and 25 chickens in line, and make it to market with the produce.

You’ll find the family selling “maters” and pitchin’ CD’s. If you ever get a chance to see Mose perform, you’ll see that 50 years of playing for folks and 6 CD’s recorded, (and for humility’s sake, a few days in jail), makes the deliveries straight from the heart to yours. The Ol’ Workhorse is still pullin’ the load…

 

[Ojai Sam]

Various Artists - Music Of Equatorial Africa (Folkways 1950)

Intimate field recordings from more than half a century ago. It's amazing that they were ever released on vinyl, much less Spotify.

 

[Pops]

The Body - A Home on Earth

 

[axolotl]

The Jealous Girlfriends ~ s/t (2008)




Autistic Daughters ~ Uneasy Flowers (2008)



As you might suppose, these groups sound nothing alike.

 

[Nickyboy]

^ "I Quit" is a great tune. I think I will put it on now to wake up the wife and cats.

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I.E.M. - s/t (1996)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Lost & Found - A Trip In The Country (1995)

Bluegrass groups frequently cover country hits as a change of pace but Lost & Found went for the whole enchilada here with an entire album of them. It works pretty well, with Berry Berrier's warm voice well suited to these cheatin' songs. I might not have chosen three Mel Street songs but an 8 minute "Wild Side Of Life" medley closes the record strongly. The 1967 Cadillac is a nice touch, too.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

^
I gotta say that I've never heard Lost & Found (aka The Lost And Found ) and don't listen to bluegrass too much, but the power of suggestibility is getting too much. Sam's frequent postings are wearing me down - I may have to check them out (awful album cover photos and all)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Various Artists - The Rough Guide To Fado - 1st Edition (2004)