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Welcome to Issue 29 of MMReview!
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Concert Review:
Tracy Grammer
10/1/11—Folk Music Society of Huntington
Reviews: (Click titles to jump to reviews)
Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem—Some Bright Morning
Lou & Peter Berryman—Rocky Frontier
Marc Black—Pictures of the Highway
Ray Bonneville—Bad Man’s Blood
David Bromberg—Use Me
Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer—Little Blue Egg
Johnny Clegg—Human
Kris Delmhorst—Cars
Joe Ely—Satisfied At Last
Kirk Fletcher—My Turn
Annie Gallup—Weather
Eliza Gilkyson—Roses at the End of Time
John Gorka—So Dark You See
Hat Check Girl—Six Bucks Shy
Joy Kills Sorrow—Darkness Sure Becomes This City
Ruth Moody—The Garden
Lisa Morales—Beautiful Mistake
Red Horse—Gilkyson, Gorka, Kaplansky—Red Horse
Nell Robinson—On the Brooklyn Road
Bruce Roper—Accidental English
Danny Schmidt—Man of Many Moons
Sons of the Never Wrong—Church of the Never Wrong
Various—Projekt Bob Dylan: Postani Prostovoljec!
Slipcrackers: (Quick reviews of albums that almost slipped through the cracks, but are way to good to let pass without comment.)
Jim Nunally—Gloria’s Waltz
Concert Review:
Tracy Grammer
10/1/11—Folk Music Society of Huntington
For me, Tracy Grammer at the Folk Music Society of Huntington was more than a concert. It was a chance to see how this strong and spiritual woman has directed her career after the passing of Dave Carter, her “partner in all things.” Although Dave was the duo’s songwriter and creative whirlwind, Tracy was the one it all seemed to channel through. Many of the songs were written specifically for her to perform, not only suiting her vocal and instrumental skills but also Dave’s perception of Tracy herself. The love and admiration they shared for each other was evident to anyone who spent even a few moments with them. They were very much the Yin and Yang of a singular musical expression. As a fan I enjoyed their music, but I also enjoyed witnessing the friendship and kindness that flowed around them. The first time I saw Tracy Grammer perform without Dave, she was bravely carrying on his legacy... their legacy. I was grateful that she had the strength to do it, and grateful that Jim Henry could sound a lot like Dave on some of the songs. It was an emotional concert, and tears filled many an eye when we heard Tracy singing the parts formerly sung by her partner. Hope filled us when we heard her sing songs by other musicians, an indication that her road would go on, and our relationship with her would continue.
Now, after nine years of following Tracy Grammer’s solo career, playing the old albums on a regular basis and doing my best to sing and play the duo’s songs, we meet again. Tracy is, as always, gently genuine, quiet but approachable. She no longer needs to shoulder the responsibility of comforting those who miss Dave. She is at ease in the spotlight, projecting a sense of anticipation for the road ahead.
Performing without accompaniment makes it easier to notice that Tracy is an accomplished guitar player. She establishes mood and tempo with her rhythm playing, while conveying the riffs and melody with flat and fingerpicking. Her voice, if anything, has gotten richer and more confident. Tracy’s renditions of Kate Power’s “Travis John,” Tom Russell’s “Blue Wing,” and Kieran Kane’s “Dirty Little Town” highlight Grammer’s strengths as an interpreter, with her strong sense of melody and meaning. The pace of the concert was leisurely, with frequent fond anecdotes about the songs. “Gypsy Rose,” a song with different versions on two CDs, has evolved further in live performance, as evidenced by this evening’s slower, deeper version. There were similarly evolved versions of many of songs Tracy has recorded, including versions of “Shadows of Evangeline,” “Hard to Make It,” “Ordinary Town” and “Crocodile Man” to name a few. Tracy has also become very comfortable singing songs recorded by Dave, such as “Gun Metal Eyes” and “Gentle Arms of Eden.”
Grammer shared details of an album entitled Little Blue Egg, to be released in early 2012 on Red House Records, of material from ADAT tapes unpacked after her move to Massachusetts. The tapes were in perfect shape, containing versions of duo songs sung by Dave, as well as songs we have never heard before. Tracy sang one of those songs, a yearning ballad they considered to be ready for Nashville, except, she joked, that Dave had to ruin it by plunging into a conversation with Death in the last verse. It is hard to imagine Dave singing the song any more beautifully than Tracy sang it this night.
Although she plans to make next year, the tenth since Dave passed, a special time to bring his music to an even wider audience, Tracy said that she will also be turning her attention to her songwriting. This is surely great news to all who know this joyful, centered human being and immensely talented musician. One gets the sense that she is ready, sure of her own voice, and that “The Verdant Mile” is but the first part of a mighty good road of song. —Michael Devlin
Reviews:
Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem—Some Bright Morning
2012, Signature Sounds
As I listen to this album for the first time, I’m reminded of the lovely summer night I saw Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem at a free concert in Huntington, New York. As is the case in concerts of this kind, most of the people in attendance had wandered by because it was there for free in the local park. After a few songs, people were nudging each other and nodding, by the end of the show the band had won a lawn-full of fans. Some Bright Morning has that same kind of instant accessibility and charm. One must suspend one’s disbelief in the possibility of fresh and new music from traditional forms when Daisy Mayhem blends and plays it with musicianship, friendship and the “Drumship.” Rani Arbo’s voice is as pure as a tomboy’s, yet as strong and sure as the mom and veteran musician she is. Her fiddling has the same straightforward charm as her vocals. Rani and Andrew Kinsey have been kindred spirits since their days with Salamander Crossing. If you have ever met Andrew, you will realize that his solid bass playing and baritone singing are somehow not contradicted by his forays with the ukulele. Anand Nayak is a talented singer and songwriter whose guitar work adds an eclectic and sometimes electric edge to the sound. Scott Kessel is the Picard of the Drumship Enterprise, the whimsical but finely timbred collection of objects (a suitcase, cookie tins, etc.) he percusses as persuasively as if he had a normal kit.
The more one listens to this album, the more deeply one appreciates the depth of the material and the talent and chemistry of Daisy Mayhem. Their harmony singing reveals a shared musical vision as the voices perfectly compliment one other. Similarly, their playing has a sparkling quality, arranged to bring out the best in the songs and each other.
Arbo’s own songs highlight the transparent quality of her voice that connects you directly to the emotions of the songs. “Miami Moon,” from the point of view of an old man reminiscing about how he would dance with his sweetheart, is hard to listen to without a tear in your eye. The same guilelessness makes “Build a Bridge” more than the sum of its gorgeous harmonies. “Crossing the Bar,” the Tennyson poem with music by Arbo, originally done with Salamander Crossing, is beautifully phrased and arranged here.
Although Arbo is eponym of the band, everyone gets a chance to shine. Anand Nayak takes the lead on “Reason to Believe,” (a Springsteen song that was begging for the Mayhem/gospel/string band treatment), and the traditional “East Virginia Blues.” Andrew Kinsey takes the lead (and ukulele) on the traditional “I’ll Fly Away.” His “Fire in the Sky” gets a new interpretation, starting with high lonesome harmonies before roaring out in a fuzzy electric haze. Although Scott Kessel seems content to back the others with his tastefully textured percussion, he gets to show off his sticks on the funky blues of “Little Johnny Brown” and “Travelin‘ Shoes.”
Some Bright Morning is a joyful and consummate achievement. —Michael Devlin
Lou & Peter Berryman—Rocky Frontier
2011, Cornbelt Records
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Marc Black—Pictures of the Highway
2010, Suma Records
Have you ever gone to a concert by someone you never heard of, and from the very first note, you know that the artist knows exactly what to do with a song? Such was my experience listening to the first song of this album, “Red Lite,” with its leisurely pace that allows Black to wrap his voice around the melody, taking a little extra time with a phrase when it is the right thing to do. This is not unexpected for a man who has been a performing with some of the top names in music for decades. He is joined on this album by the legendary Steve Gadd on drums and Warren Bernhardt. His touring band includes John Sebastian. Oddly, given his productive career, he was a Kerrville “New Folk” finalist in 2009. Black’s voice reminds me of Tim Hardin (a friend of his), but his style is relaxed and frequently wryly humorous. The perky “Ooh I Love My Coffee” is getting some notice as is the catchy and topical “I Love You Rachel Maddow,” (about the MSNBC host). The predominant style of the album is casual, but the cookin’ kind of casual that happens when dedicated musicians get together. A thoroughly enjoyable album from a surprisingly obscure troubadour. —Michael Devlin
Ray Bonneville—Bad Man’s Blood
2011, Red House Records
A weathered voice, a pulse of a beat, fuzzy electric guitar, growling harmonica, late-night vibe, blues-cool... it’s Ray Bonnevile at his best. Although he is a native of Canada, his diction and verbal rhythm seems to have been born in a deep-southern swamp. Bonneville’s rhythmic playing with muted guitar thumps and the heartbeat pound of his boot obviate the need for a lot of percussion, forming the backbeat for his syncopated vocals. His approach to the guitar frequently finds him with the volume in overdrive with a light touch on the strings, giving his tone an ominous restraint. The songs have a simmering quality, solidly cooking on a fire that just might flare. He reprises “Blond of Mine” with the familiar phrase “fly all over but come back home,” a piece typical of his other songs, hook laden and dealing with complex situations like love and yearning with a catchy, sometimes iconic, well-crafted phrase. There are others who would fit on a bill with Bonneville (Chris Smither comes to mind) but he is truly the original master of his own authentic groove. —Michael Devlin
David Bromberg—Use Me
2011, Appleseed Recordings
David Bromberg was part of the Greenwich Village music scene in the mid-sixties, session man for the likes of Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Willie Nelson, Carly Simon and others, and successful solo artist through the seventies. Perhaps his “retirement” in 1980, when he escaped the hectic life of a touring musician to learn to make violins, has kept him fresh. He still sings and plays with the brash confidence of a man who can pull off a breakup line like, “You’re gonna be walking those streets for a long old lonesome time before you find a man like me to curl your toes and roll your eyes back in your head.” Use Me is the result of Bromberg contacting several of his musical acquaintances to ask them to write or choose a song for him, then help him record and produce it. His verve is matched by the talents of the many friends he has tapped for this album. The result is way more than just “been there, doing it again.” Producer/contributors John Hiatt, Levon Helm, Tim O’Brien, Dr. John, Keb’ Mo’, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill, Los Lobos, Widespread Panic and the Butcher Brothers all do their own thing, yet the album is cohesive, held together by a glorious full sound, crisp, brilliant playing and Bromberg’s distinct vocals and guitar playing. When someone from the mid-sixties, hits their mid-sixties and still has something to say, it’s a thing to celebrate. When anyone of any age or background puts out an album this fine, it’s a thing of beauty! —Michael Devlin
Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer—Little Blue Egg
2012, Red House Records
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Johnny Clegg—Human
2010, Appleseed
At first listen, Human seems unusual for an Appleseed release. It is a pop-rock album filled with multilayered vocals and an infectious backbeat. It also features a large dose of the kind of South African pop that made Paul Simon’s Graceland such a popular breakthrough. But true to Appleseed’s vision, Johnny Clegg is a pioneer and politically active. Human is joyful, frequently political and impossible to listen to while keeping still. Raised in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Clegg started blending South African and Western music and musicians when it was still a crime under apartheid (and years before Graceland). Lack of air-play at home could not stop the creative energy of this blend of cultures from finding an international audience, as he went on to sell five million albums. Clegg’s tenor vocals remind me at times of Ellis Paul, with a stylistic nod to Sting. His use of Zulu lyrics introduces the rhythms and flattened vowels of the language, adding textures and flavors that simply don’t exist in other pop music. Until now, Clegg’s recent solo albums have only been available as imports in the US. Hats off to Appleseed for bringing us this exciting and diverse album. By the way, when is the last time you heard a song with Zulu lyrics and bagpipes? —Mike Devlin
Kris Delmhorst—Cars
2011, Signature Sounds
As I remember the 1980s and The Cars, I remember them in comparison to other bands. I remember Devo, being odder, The Talking Heads being edgier. I remember working the graveyard shift and people turning up the radio in the shop every time The Cars came on. They came on a lot and it wore pretty thin. Over the years though, I find myself turning them up every time I hear them on the radio. Through it all, I have never truly heard these songs until this album by Kris Delmhorst. The Cars usually sang and arranged their songs like they were all a bit of a lark. Delmhorst and the wonderful musicians she has gathered treat these songs with more respect than Ric Ocasek and his crew. The goofiness of the originals is replaced with imaginative arrangements and excellent singing and playing. Delmhorst guides her band with spot-on attention to the body moving groove that made this music so popular. Starting with the familiar “You Might Think,” one notices acoustic instruments replacing electric over the signature heavy drum beat. Although the pace is the same as the original, the vocal harmonies, fiddle and piano highlight the melody, rhythm and hooks. “Why Can’t I Have You” aches with yearning, undiminished by the electronica of the original. “Hello Again” uses keyboard and sound effects, but it’s the punctuation of banjo that knocks the arrangement appropriately off kilter. Delmhorsts vocals are real enough to convey a smile in “Shake It Up,” an intimate half whisper in “Magic” and somehow manages to make the stuttered “uh irl, uh irls” of “My Best Friend’s Girl” sound sexy! Get this CD in your player, crank it up and drive around with the windows down! —Michael Devlin
Joe Ely—Satisfied At Last
2011, Rock ‘em Records
Joe Ely started making music after seeing early rock and rollers Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and others. He was a founding member of The Flatlanders, and toured internationally opening for the likes of The Clash, Carl Perkins and Merle Haggard. He spent some time caring for animals at the Ringling Brothers circus and acting in movies. His discography has dozens of titles, not including some that were lost or never released. After all this time you might expect him to be coasting a bit, but his music still has the urgency of a teenager, even though his lyrics reveal a more mature point of view, frequently dealing with how life has been spent. “The schoolyard seems smaller, the church steeple seems taller... Not that much has changed,/ It’s all just rearranged./ Like a picture in your mind/ Of a love you’ve left behind. /Not that much has changed.” Ely produces a sound that is lean and dusty even with a lot of guys playing. We hear Joel Guzman on keyboards and accordion, Lloyd Maines on steel guitar along with Mitch Watkins on various guitars, Glenn Fukanaga on bass and Pat Manske on percussion. Ely may be satisfied at last, but he’s not taking anything for granted. “I didn’t come here with nothing, just a slap on the ass./ You can bet when I’m leavin’ I’ll be satisfied at last.” A vibrant work! —Michael Devlin
Kirk Fletcher—My Turn
2010, Eclecto Groove
Kirk Fletcher plays fat licks on his guitar somewhere between Chicago blues, Hendrix and jazz-funk fusion. There’s lots variety with horns and a funky rhythm section. Everyone is capable of blistering playing, but best of all, these guys are having fun! Fletcher has toured with national acts such as Charlie Musselwhite, James Cotton, Pine Top Perkins, Larry Carlton and others, so you know he can play, but know this too—he’s got something to say! Whether the tunes are penned by himself or others, his riffs are lucid and satisfying. His “Blues For Antone” will remind you of Stevie Ray Vaughn for its amped-up yet fluid intensity. There are lots of guitar monsters out there, but few who take their music to the level of genre-bending eloquence that Kirk Fletcher brings to everything he plays. Essential! —Michael Devlin
Annie Gallup—Weather
2010, Waterbug
Annie Gallup’s typical arrangement includes her guitar, maybe a bass and a bit of space between the notes. This album is a departure because she is backed entirely by a string quartet, but it is also familiar in the way she recites and sings her poetic lyrics in and around the beat. Here the beat is often the throbbing of a cello, supported or countered by violas and violins. After listening to Weather, one understands that this is a natural and even inevitable setting for her songs. Her lyrics are cerebral in their stream of imagery and the way she uses language’s many meanings to explore shades of feeling and reality, yet sensual with particular details of where your eyes may rest in a moment of emotional clarity. “Sixty-Eight” is a good example of this, as Gallup captures that year’s turmoil in the memories of a little girl, as she watches her family react to historic events. We see the sweat rings from a cold drink glass, the black blood of rioters shown on the finicky black and white TV, and her mother crying in the dishrag not noticing her coming in late. For all of the genre bending sophistication of Gallup’s art, it is extremely accessible. One has but to stop and listen to “Hound” to appreciate both dogness and humanity. “When I was a dog, all leg and heart and lung and senses,/ My yen for motion made my world wide, deep and potent.” The deftness of the arrangements of Gallup’s voice with the string quartet is to be expected with Peter Gallway involved in the production, but it is still a remarkably intimate recording. Weather is a treasure of sound and poetry, and after many listenings, I feel as though I have barely gotten to know one of its seasons. —Michael Devlin
Eliza Gilkyson—Roses at the End of Time
2011, Red House Records
Eliza Gilkyson is one of our very finest singer-songwriters, producing albums on a regular basis, touring constantly and performing with her peers. Roses at the End of Time took me by surprise the first time I heard it. Her music frequently has an edge, be it thinly veiled political commentary, or somewhat explicit lyrics. So it was a bit unexpected when first couple of tracks on this album were without Gilkyson’s sharp wit and funky take on life. “Blue Moon Night“ has a softly grateful note, a mid-life ode to romance, with a simple chord progression and a quietly smiling vocal. “Death in Arkansas” is played as a straight and true as country porch music, as Gilkyson reminisces about the way people used to gather together to support each other in their time of need. She focuses on particulars, imbuing the details with a sense of appreciation in beautiful phrases, such as her description of unmet ancestors, “And those who came before were the pictures on the wall.” “Looking for a Place” changes the pace, at once smart-alecky and self-deprecating in a way that Gilkyson always manages to make sound fresh and real. Her band, which includes her son, Cisco Ryder, really rocks out on this one. The title track is as romantic as the roses of the title, but the phrase “at the end of time” lends a certain air of urgency. “Belle of the Ball” invokes a post-tragedy ghostly visit, “You said I would you again when I checked out of my room at the end of the hall.” The arrangement is as haunting and beautiful as the lyrics, with deep echoing percussion and yearning guitar riffs. “2153” dares to poke fun at those who await the Rapture, “they waited for their God in vain,” as well as the world they are helping to create while they wait, “They did guns, extreme sports and special hobbies.” The album closes with “Once I had a Home” a slow, sincere prayer for those who have been displaced from their homes and the lives they once lived. Roses at the End of Time is an essential listen for long-time fans and a great introduction for those who have not yet to discover this witty, profound troubadour. —Michael Devlin
John Gorka—So Dark You See
2009, Red House Records
If you love singer-songwriters you know why you anticipate albums from the masters—it’s for songs like “Ignorance and Privilege.” It is one of those great songs that say something poetically, from a unique perspective you may have rarely considered. “I was born to ignorance, yes,/ And lesser poverties/ I was born to privilege that I did not see/ Lack of pigment in my skin won a free and easy in/ I didn’t know but my way was paved.” A typical criticism of this genre of music is that it tends to be narcissistic, but here is an inward look with that gives a great many people food for thought. Gorka also sings the songs and poetry of others, “A Fond Kiss” from a Robert Burns poem, Utah Phillips’ “I Think of You,” “Where No Monument Stands” from a William Stafford poem and Michael Smith’s “The Dutchman” (with Steve Goodman’s somewhat inaccurate second-hand version of the lyrics). Gorka’s political commentary manages to be sharp and subtle at the same time in “Night Into Day” (“Some haven’t yet paid for last winter’s heat/ Labor Day is done and the ends don’t meet”) and “Live By The Sword” (“They live by the sword, but die of old age”). Gorka’s baritone is supported by production so subtle that the harmony singing by such distinctive singers as Eliza Gilkyson and Lucy Kaplansky are anonymous unless you are really listening for them. So Dark You See is yet another beautifully played, thoughtful album in a long career, and surely one of his best. —Michael Devlin
Hat Check Girl—Six Bucks Shy
2011, Gallway Bay Music
Peter Gallway and Annie Gallup together—even before listening I knew that this was going to be special. The sensual and poetic Annie Gallup with Peter Gallway, the producer who can can rock out a roomful of musicians and sound like there are only one or two playing. They are as unique as singer-songwriters get, yet similar in pace, attention to detail, and in songs that are reflective and musing yet catchy. My expectations were so high, I almost didn’t want to play the CD. I listened to the whole album once through just savoring the sound. As is typical with Gallway, the arrangements are perfect, subtly layered, with solid bass, touches of inky electric guitar and echoing percussion, punctuated by moments of near silence. Gallup’s guitar accompaniment has always had a similar affinity for the spaces between notes and phrasing off the beat. Her quiet animation is perfect for the songs and the mood established by the arrangements. Whether it’s Gallup half-whispering or bending a lyric into a question mark, or Gallway singing a restrained but jazzy refrain, or they are singing together, the vocals are perfectly suited to the material. Like the music, the lyrics are casually complex, sliding from profane to metaphoric with the ease of a chord change. The sophistication of their songs often comes from what is not said or played. There is a cinematic fascination with particular people in particularly complex situations. “August Sin” portrays illicit lovers on a hot night, maintaining a regard for the couple that acknowledges both the tawdry sweat and the sacred sharing of lovers. In “Getaway Car,” a duet of jewelry store thieves share their suspicions and secrets with us but not with each other. Their dreams seem to be represented by the mysterious chorus, “I’ll never know what I would have done/ But somewhere in Oklahoma/ Somewhere in Oklahoma/ A wild horse runs.” The criminal theme continues through “Six Bucks Shy.” “Echo Echo” evokes lovers in World War II London, while “Leave Most of It Out” is set in September 2001 New York. This song is emblematic of their approach—less is more in the hands of these masters. So many of these songs deserve to be heard and read and pondered repeatedly, even as so many of the phrases haunt you for days on end. As an example of just how many times you can listen to this album and hear something new... I’m listening for the zillionth time as I wrap up this review, and I just now realize that “Jake and the Five Plaids” is a cappella! Was it really so long ago when an album of this quality would sell millions of copies and been ubiquitous on the radio? —Michael Devlin
Joy Kills Sorrow—Darkness Sure Becomes This City
2010, Signature Sounds
Joy Kills Sorrow has retained only award-winning flatpicker Matthew Arcara and acclaimed songwriter and bassist Bridget Kearney from their self-titled 2007 release, but their sound is much the same. The most notable difference is that their lead singer, the delightful Heather Masse, has left, joining the Wailin’ Jennys and launching a solo career. Fortunately, Emma Beaton’s vocals have a similarly compelling quality. The songs are melodic and catchy, taking full advantage of the stellar playing of each musician. Although the band is named for early bluegrass radio station WJKS, bass, banjo, mandolin and guitar subtly play off of each other, weaving elements of jazz and pop into the mix. It is hard to pick out one song or solo that stands out above the rest, but Kearney’s bass playing has a band-leading quality and Wesley Corbett’s banjo playing is brilliant enough to warrant comparison to Allison Brown. This is a beautifully recorded and produced album from a unique and uniquely talented band. —Michael Devlin
Ruth Moody—The Garden
2010, Red House Records
Ruth Moody is the acclaimed soprano voice of the Wailin’ Jennys. She is also a wonderful singer-songwriter who is as comfortable singing with a piano as she is with banjo and mandolin. Her classically trained voice makes her capable of hitting and holding incredibly pure and lovely notes, but it is the fact that her singing is full of feeling and personality that makes her so appealing. With the variety of styles and arrangements, I was surprised to note that Moody wrote all of the songs. In particular “Travellin’ Shoes” struck me as funky folk-rock cover of a Townes Van Zandt song. As for the playing on the album, there is a long list of outstanding guest musicians including Luke Doucet, Kevin Breit, Crooked Still and her Wailin’ Jennys partners, but Moody’s own playing on piano, guitar, banjo and ukulele impresses with its sophistication and attention to tone. The production is as polished as the talent, making this a great-sounding example of what is possible when musicianship meets creativity. —Michael Devlin
Lisa Morales—Beautiful Mistake
2011, Zaino Records
This album marks Lisa Morales’ beautiful first step away from her sister Roberta and Sisters Morales. It turns out that Lisa has been a diva in disguise. She sings the love songs of a strong grown woman in a voice that demands that you look her in the eye. One imagines her singing a roadhouse into rapt attention. The rhythm section rocks hard when it needs to, led by Michael Cornbread Traylor on bass. All of the songs are superbly crafted with verbal and aural hooks. The Tex-Mex influences are not as apparent as they are in her work with her sister, but the years of playing live give her music a Texas flavor delivered with an air of authority. “You Forgot To Love Me,” a quiet ballad with a memorable slide guitar drone is a striking change of pace, highlighting Morales’ simple but elegant lyrical style. “You’ve got to fill up the passion jar or I won’t breathe/ You’ve got to touch me if you’re sleeping next to me.” This is a very complete work from a woman whose talent demands the spotlight. —Michael Devlin
Red Horse—Gilkyson, Gorka, Kaplansky—Red Horse
2010, Red House Records
Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka and Lucy Kaplansky are each singer-songwriters with decades of reparatory and loyal followings. If you like this kind of music, you probably have not been this excited since Cry, Cry, Cry (Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell and Dar Williams). If you had impossibly high expectations for what these kindred spirits sound like together, prepare to have those expectations exceeded!
With so much material to choose from, one wonders how they picked the songs. They seem to have been chosen on the basis of their enduring quality, rather than, say, most requested at concerts. Although the songs are instantly alluring they usually require more than one listening to grasp their essence.
Gorka and Kaplansky have long been known for their collaborations with each other and other artists, but it is interesting to hear how well Gilkyson’s smokey drawl blends with the trio. She takes the lead with her distinctly grown-up voice on the opening track, Neil Young’s “I Am a Child,” with the harmonies of Gorka and Kaplansky giving the cover a wistful flavor. On the next track Kaplansky takes the lead on “Scorpion,” which is as close to a signature song as there is on this album. John Gorka makes Gilkyson’s enigmatic and fantastic “Wild Horse” his own with his understated guitar and the lightest touches of harmony singing from the trio. It’s one of those songs that begs to be heard repeatedly. Kaplansky’s lead over Andy Ezrin’s piano on Gilkyson’s “Sanctuary” brings unexpected tears to my eyes. I’m sure I’ll seek out this song in some time of need.
“Blue Chalk,” “If These Walls Could Talk,” “Walk Away From Love,” —song after excellent song done with love and skill. Red Horse closes with the traditional “Wayfaring Stranger” a timeless close to an essential album. —Michael Devlin
Nell Robinson—On the Brooklyn Road
2011, Nell Robinson Music
If we are lucky, we carry a place we call home with us for our whole life. Sometimes it is not exactly the place we spent the most time. Nell Robinson moved around quite a bit due to her father’s Air Force career, but the farm where her mother, aunt and uncles grew up on the red clay Brooklyn Road in Alabama is the place that shines golden for her. Her music yearns for a life and times that were already fading when she was a little girl. Robinson started singing in public about five years ago, taking the name of her grandmother for her stage name. She sounds like she has been studying and plying her craft for a lifetime. Her country-sultry voice is making her a rising star in the Northwest bluegrass scene. From the first notes of On the Brooklyn Road one can hear that the best part of Nell Robinson has always lived in places best described by bluegrass music. The sweet abandon of her vocals call upon her ancestral memories in a way that takes you to farm country, while field recordings of her relations let you meet the family. Some of her own songs have the universal appeal of classic country and bluegrass, such as “Woe is Me,” and “Wahatchee,” co-written with Laurie Lewis. “I’m Brilliant,” a song about alcoholic denial and shame, has the raw emotional power of a Hazel Dickens song. She is accompanied by renowned bluegrass musicians, with Jim Nunally adding harmony vocals and co-producing. The album includes a couple of bonus tracks by Robinson and Cary Sheldon performing as The Henriettas, a tribute to the 1930s duo, the DeZurik Sisters. The songs are delightfully silly with yodels and chicken vocalizations. Grandma Nell would be proud... and amused! —Michael Devlin
Bruce Roper—Accidental English
2011, Waterbug Records
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Danny Schmidt—Man of Many Moons
2011, Red House Records
Danny Schmidt’s lyrics flip and fold, exploring and revealing Danny and his subjects. His tenor is soft enough for a touch of vibrato to shiver through, thoughtful and real. His finger-picking is orchestral, establishing melody and rhythm along with memorable riffs. All this is remarkable enough when it is done as well as Schmidt does it on this album, but there is a heart of kindness that draws one to these songs again and again. A poignant example of this is “Little White Angels,” with it’s chorus “Little white angels, little white pills, free her from freedom and the burden of will. Wash clean the sparrows that lie dead on her sill, watch them all come alive in the end.” One could sing these lines from a wryly humorous distance, but Schmidt leaves no doubt how much he loves the woman in this song. Schmidt takes Bob Dylan’s “Buckets of Rain” and makes it his own with lush finger-picking and the gentle backing vocals. After several albums and a decade of the troubadour life, Schmidt’s songs are full of unexpected phrases and not a wasted word. Perhaps the final song, “Know Thy Place” gives a clue to what keeps him on the road seeking songs and honing his craft. “I’ve heard them tell you lies, that all that’s true’s been tried.” A true and beautiful album! —Michael Devlin
Sons of the Never Wrong—Church of the Never Wrong
2012, Waterbug Records
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The album title taken by itself could be taken a certain way by certain folks, and I’m sure the Sons of the Never Wrong take some delight in the ambiguity, but the songs here are presented respectfully in the spirit they were written. As the liner notes indicate, the concept was to have the band’s many Chicago-based musical friends contribute their talent and their favorite “holy” songs for them to “Sons-ify.” Secular songs with religious references such as “Circle of Gold” and “Hog Heaven” coexist ecumenically with traditional tunes and catchy originals. The Sons of the Never Wrong, Bruce Roper, Sue Demel and Deborah Lader, lend their distinctive styles to the songs of their peers, resulting in an album that touches upon an extraordinary variety of spiritual themes, as it jumps from genre to genre. The first track is Michael Smith’s “Five Angels,” the opening track of the 1994 autobiographic Michael Margaret Pat & Kate. Revisiting this simple sounding yet mysterious song is quite a treat, with Deb and Sue introducing the chorus in a cappella harmony. Bruce Roper’s “Rings On Your Fingers” follows, with piano accompaniment and light percussion. Regardless of the arrangements, there is a great deal of loving attention paid to the acoustics, with the reverb set to make it sound like the album was recorded in a church. Pat Roper gives a stunning performance of his “Holiness Adorns Your House,” a song with lyrics that are “churchy” in a way that usually leaves me cold, but the melody and harmony are so inspiring that I find myself drawn to this song. There is so much music to enjoy, whether you like bluesy gospel, country, traditional songs or singer-songwriter originals. With twenty tracks, you find a different one jumping out at you nearly every time you play the album. Last time through, it was Megan McDonough’s “Meditation” (which somehow reminds me of “Pancho and Lefty!”). I would like to think that the choirmasters of various congregations will take note of this inspired collection of music and enhance their repertories. —Michael Devlin
Various—Projekt Bob Dylan: Postani Prostovoljec!
2011
When a thick envelope arrived at Music Matters from the Embassy of the United States of America, Ljubljana, Slovenia, I assumed that I received a misaddressed package. It sat for a couple of days before I opened it to find a DVD case with a CD, Projekt Bob Dylan, a letter from the Public Affairs Officer and several pages of musician bios and information about how this project was made possible by a grant from the U.S. State Department Fund for Innovation as an effort in cultural diplomacy. I thought, “Hmm, my tax dollars at work... great.” So the CD was pushed off to the “when I get around to it” stack. When I finally picked it up with intent to play and looked at the oddly accented and unfamiliar names of the musicians, I thought, hopefully, that this would be so bad it was good. I’m ashamed of my assumptions, but delighted to tell you that this is the best Dylan tribute album imaginable! The album starts with a hushed, slightly accented acoustic version of “Don’t Think Twice (It’s All Right) by Vlado Kreslin. It’s dead-on emotionally and features a knock-out harmonica solo. It’s the second track by 6 Pack Cukur, a hip-hop artist, that really gets down to what this album is all about. 6 Pack takes the song several different directions at once, sounding a bit Lou Reed, dance pop and hip hop. He makes it completely his own, perhaps not having so many preconceived notions about what it should sound like. Niet does “Just Like a Woman” in British punk-rock style, complete with acquired British accent. It’s my favorite version of the song, ever! Severa Gjurin is a well established Slovenian singer. She sings “Not Dark Yet” in a haunting way that reminds me of Jeff Buckley, backed by delicately processed acoustic guitar, a whisper of keyboard and light percussion. Perfectly arranged songs are the second theme that emerges. “Boots of Spanish Leather” is done in a way that would make Bruce Springsteen proud, “Señor” sounds ominous, “Gotta Serve Somebody” is pure hip-hop, “Blind Willie McTell” reminds me of Sinead O’Connor, and “Simple Twist of Fate” is a jazzy torch song. “Ballad of a Thin Man” is a perfectly over-the-top nightmare. It’s all so different and presented with joyful authority. There are fourteen tracks full of surprise and scintillating musicianship. The best way to acquire this CD right now seems to be to do a search on Projekt Bob Dylan... you’ll be glad you did! —Michael Devlin
Slipcrackers:
Jim Nunally—Gloria’s Waltz
2007, FGM Records
Jim Nunally is a San Francisco Bay area flatpicking guitar player who has gained acclaim in bands with such notables as Sam Bush, David Grisman and John Reischman, but this is his first solo release. As with any of FGM’s releases, the recording is impeccable and the playing is superb, with musicians whom Nunally supported over the years returning the favor. Jim’s playing is quietly brilliant throughout the album, and simply lovely on his interpretation of Don MacLean’s “Vincent” and his own touching tribute to his mother “Gloria’s Waltz.” His tenor voice is high and lonesome with a light twang that makes you want to sing along on favorites like “Tennessee Mountain Home,” “Pancho and Lefty,” “Old Paint” and “Across the Great Divide.” Bluegrass pickers will appreciate his chops in a bluegrass melody that features “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” ”Pike County Breakdown” and “Turkey in the Straw.” Here’s hoping that Jim is working on another solo album! —Michael Devlin