What are you listening to? January 2018

[Nickyboy]

Americana.

Not familiar with that term. Can you describe it and give some examples of Americana bands I might have heard before? Graphs and other visual aids not necessary for this exercise.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Not familiar with that term. Can you describe it and give some examples of Americana bands I might have heard before? Graphs and other visual aids not necessary for this exercise.

I think of it as Pop music with banjos and fiddles. It has suggestions of 1960's Folk and acoustic Country music.

The big two:
Mumford & Sons
The Avett Brothers

Also:
The Lumineers
The Civil Wars

Older bands that might qualify:
Wilco
Old Crow Medicine Show

 

[Nickyboy]

I have one Wilco album, and don't know the other bands you mentioned. I guess my Americana shelf is rather empty.

 

[axolotl]

I have one Wilco album, and don't know the other bands you mentioned. I guess my Americana shelf is rather empty.

I yodel a catcall in your general direction.

But, it's a good one.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

I have one Wilco album, and don't know the other bands you mentioned. I guess my Americana shelf is rather empty.

How about Nitty Gritty Dirt Band?

Can you imagine The Limelighters, The Kingston Trio or The Weavers but with a modern backup band - drums, bass, rhythm guitar and maybe piano.
Or perhaps Creedence Clearwater Revival but all on acoustic instruments, with a mandolin doing all the guitar solos.

Mumford & Sons is probably a good listen and a good representation if you're interested. Bruce Springsteen did an album of Pete Seeger songs in Americana style with a bunch of local musicians. "We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions." If you're a Springsteen fan you might listen to that.

 

[Nickyboy]

I will check out your recos. I don't know what you are recommending.

 

[Pops]

John Wetton - Caught in the Crossfire

 

[Unsomnambulist]

Mythic Sunship - Upheaval (2018)

 

[axolotl]

The Alan Parsons Project ~ The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980)



Blah to the meh. Then, I didn't like it fresh out of the chute, either.

 

[Pops]

Mythic Sunship - Upheaval (2018)

View attachment 601

How is it?

 

[axolotl]

Tito Puente ~ Mambo Diablo (1985)



This is not intended as an answer to Pops' question, immediately above.

Although, when I'm happy, I do think everything is Tito Puente!

 

[Unsomnambulist]

How is it?

It was very good (3.5 stars).

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Elvis Costello - My Aim is True (1977)

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Elvis Costello - This Year's Model (1978)

Think I'll keep this Elvis-fest goin' for a bit

 

[Unsomnambulist]

The Black Keys - El Camino (2011)



This is where I stop with the Black Keys, as I really disliked Turn Blue.

 

[lpfreak1170]

The Kinks - Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire


Next one on the Pitchfork list...already know I love this one!

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

The Black Keys - El Camino (2011)



This is where I stop with the Black Keys, as I really disliked Turn Blue.

I appreciate that they were going in a different direction, but I agree with you. The more I play El Camino though, the more I really dig it.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Yep, went to Armed Forces next and now:

Elvis Costello - Get Happy!! (1980)

20 songs of rapid fire goodness - no duds, only a few ho-hum songs. I've always enjoyed this a bit more than most Costello fans.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Lazer Lloyd - Freedom's Child



Lazer Lloyd - s/t



Israel's most popular blues artist.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Not familiar with that term. Can you describe it and give some examples of Americana bands I might have heard before? Graphs and other visual aids not necessary for this exercise.

I've often felt we should have an Americana thread at the ol' MG, and in fact (no surprise) I've come close to starting a personal Americana listening series a number of time as I enjoy the genre myself.
Don't think I personally would be one to start such a thread though (Ojai would be a good pick; maybe you'd be up for it OUT?). I do enjoy the genre but enjoy "roots music" (i.e. blues, early R&B, country, etc) that compreises the influences of Americana that much more.