320 kbps | 157 MB | LINKS
They say a rolling stone gathers no moss but Stu Larsen, a veritable nomad, has in his travels gathered an impressive amount of love and affection for his easy on the ear singing and song writing. With record sales eclipsed these days by streaming statistics his make for some startling reading for a relative unknown – his song, Thirteen Sad Farewells (from his debut album, Vagabond), generating eleven and a half million streams. Vagabond was released in 2014 and undoubtedly benefitted from being produced by Mike Rosenberg of Passenger who had befriended Larsen when the latter was his road manager for an Australian tour. Soon enough Larsen was not only the roadie but also the support act with exposure to sold out amphitheatre shows following. From there he went on the road for his own version of Dylan’s never-ending tour crisscrossing the world and documenting his travels on his website and Instagram page.
Vagabond was as much a travelogue as it was an album, visits to locations from San Francisco to Dublin all catalogued in song and Larsen continues in this vein on Resolute. The songs were initially snippets of thoughts and words recorded on his phone as he globe-trotted around before retreating into various locales in Scotland, Spain and his native Australia to hammer these memos into shape. Hermit-like he hunkered down and went off grid, at one point staying in an old army bunker, wrestling the songs out before recording some demos at Passenger’s Brighton studios with Luke Thomson, a long time friend and record producer. The plan was then to record the songs in Australia but again his wanderlust was itching and prior to this he set off to Indonesia only to experience a ruptured appendix which almost nixed the planned recording dates. Happily, he recovered in time to rejoin Thomson who, in Larsen’s absence had started to lay down backing tracks. Aside then from the appendix incident, the pathway to the eventual album was not so much tortured as torturous but, to his credit, Larsen has woven his disparate threads into a fine tapestry. The ten songs here float finely from the speakers, his voice an intimate postcard from abroad while the arrangements are nimble and sure footed, an attractive blend of confessional singer/songwriter and pop balladeer.
The album opens with Aeroplanes, a song that just about defines Larsen as he relates a tale of two lovers separated geographically, yearning to be together but never connected. Over a melancholic country shuffle from the band he name-checks several cities, places they have been and places they could be, but there’s a sense that they’ll never connect again as he sings repeatedly, “so far away from me.” There’s foreign romance again on the autobiographical I Will be Happy And I Hope You Will Be Too but here it’s more upbeat as Larsen plans a Caribbean holiday for his Spanish girlfriend, the optimistic and sunny rhythm delivered on acoustic guitar. Here his only regret is that he can’t speak Spanish to her but for all that she’d be a harsh mistress not to be moved by his earnest yacht rock like lovability particularly with the sly Happy Birthday reference at the end. Another love affair features on the infectiously rhythmic Chicago Song with Larsen in thrall to a guitar (a 1973 Martin D-35 if you must know) which he bought in Chicago. The song details the places they played at as he tries to decide on a name for his new axe and its delivered with a decided skip in its step and a melody that’s somewhat reminiscent of Paul Simon’s effervescent Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard before bowing out with a positively Dylan-like harmonica solo, a nice touch.
320 kbps | 85 MB | LINKS
Broken Witt Rebels pay homage to the sounds of blues, rock and Stax guitarists, but it’s their direct approach, their swagger and their brilliantly crafted songs that have helped create a reputation for electrifying live shows that showcase all three of the EPs. With crunching riffs and soulful vocals, their songs have the energy and drive that are the warning signs of something mighty big and beautiful.
FLAC | 222 MB | LINKS
Country music duets have a deep and long tradition going back to the origins of the genre, celebrating its heydays in the 60s and 70s, now it’s Rhonda and Daryle’s time and with “AMERICAN GRANDSTAND,” a mixture of re-recordings of old classics and some new material, they deliver in high fashion.
Daryle Singletary, one of the most underrated traditional country music singers and Rhonda Vincent fit like a hand into a glove. The album opens with a salvo, 57-year-old classic, Harlan Howard penned “Above And Beyond” ages well like a fine wine. The interplay between fiddle, steel guitar and “honky tonk” piano is pretty magical. Rhonda and Daryle’s current single “One” is one of two George Jones / Tammy Wynette duets remade, the other one being the classic composition “Golden Ring” a #1 in 1976. Not sure, why they re-recorded “After The Fire Is Gone” as it already appeared on Daryle’s 2002 album THAT’S WHY I SING THIS WAY?” That 1971 L.E. White written cheating classic, still, a monster song and they do again a great job on it. The other Loretta Lynn /Conway Twitty hit, “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” also a #1, features Michael Rajos’ accordion giving the song a nice “Cajun” feel.
Daryle’s phrasing is better suited to sing Jones than Twitty, so no surprise, that there are two more Jones hits. The first goes back to 1963 and George’s partner in the recording, Melba Montgomery wrote the song “We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds.”
George Richey and Norro Wilson, who just passed away a month ago, penned “A Picture Of Me Without You.” It was a Top-Five-hit in 1972 for George, 1966, a year after Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens got hitched, Capitol Records released an album consisting of duet-singles recorded for Tally label, co-owned by Haggard and songwriter Fuzzy Owen, writer of “Slowly But Surely,”
Coming out of the Bluegrass corner is “Can’t Live Life” written by Edgar Loudermilk. He and Rhonda recorded “Can’t Live Life” for his album “ROADS TRAVELLED.” On “Up This Hill And Down” the steel guitar makes way for a resophonic guitar, marvelously played by “The Rage” member Brent Burke. Billy Yates is the composer of the slow ballad “As We Kiss Our World Goodbye,” as strong as his song, is the title track “American Grandstand,” Rhonda brought to the table.
Besides Rhonda & Daryle hitting all the vocal highs and lows in superior form, they were helped by a who’s who in the studio. There is current Hot Rize member Bryan Sutton on acoustic guitar, Stuart Duncan on fiddle comes courtesy of the Nashville Bluegrass Band. The electric guitar is shared by former Merle Haggard guitarist and now Austinite Redd Volkaert and Nashville session pro, James Mitchell. I haven’t seen Hargus “Pig” Robbins’ name in awhile, glad to hear him on some of the tracks, Michael Rojas tackles the keys on the others, he is also adding accordion and organ on one track each. And then there is steel guitar wiz Mike Johnson, who does a lot of TV work and tours with Reba.
320 kbps | 132 MB | LINKS
Desire is her third album release, and also shows off her songwriting skills. A 13 song combination of covers, and original compositions, it comes together cohesively to cover one topic; catharsis. The blues is all about releasing emotions, and Mitchell has learned that lesson well.
Right from the jump, she covers her musical idol, Etta James. “(I Don’t Need Nobody To Tell Me) How To Treat My Man,” comes on like a velvet freight train. Though nobody could match James’ epic growl, Mitchell’s voice does the song true justice. It’s also a bit funkier than the early Chess hit, which is just fine with us. The horn section, made up of Joe Sublett, and Darrell Leonard, add authenticity to this cut. On “Jump Into My Fire,” Mitchell again channels James. This time, with a bit more gravel, and just as much soul.
Four original tracks grace this album. One of which gets our vote as personal favorite. The title track, “Desire,” is a swampy, Delta flavored masterpiece. Lyrically, it comes on strong, urging us to rise like a Phoenix from the flames. Musically, it is brilliantly composed and played. Part Delta blues, part Gospel hymn, and all positive, it has true staying power. Steve Fister also adds some wicked slide guitar. Mitchell shows her great songwriting diversity in the last two tracks. She goes from the unrequited love ballad, “Lead Me On,” to the party shuffling, “Brown Liquor,” without missing a beat.
Mitchell’s vocals on the original, “Soul Music,” are especially noteworthy. With a loving nod to her father, she brings back those sultry, classic sounds of the 60s and 70s. She covers the gospel-tinged, “Bridge of My Dreams,” and the sad, lost love tune, “Today,” with equal aplomb. Her rockin’ version of Bettye LaVette’s, “Stand Up Like a Man,” is a breath of fresh air, while the funky, greasy, “Anti-Love Song,” brings out the feline assets of her voice. She purrs, she hisses, she growls, and she makes us love it all.
Producer/drummer, Tony Braunagel, had his hands in this one all the way. After spending decades playing with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, and Robert Cray, he knows a little something about the blues. Braunagel surely coaxed a bit more something-something from Mitchell, who hardly required tutoring. The other skilled artists on this release include Johnny Lee Schell, Josh Sklair, and Jose Ramirez on guitar, Reggie McBride on bass, Jim Pugh on keyboards, and Lenny Castro on percussion. With backing vocals by Maxanne Lewis, Kudisan Kai, Leslie Smith, and Mellodye Perry, this is an all-star, powerhouse lineup.
We see this as a woman’s album. Sung by a strong woman as a message to other women, Desire shows that venting can purify the soul, and heal the heart. Fellas, get this one for the woman in your life, but don’t be surprised when she no longer takes your guff.
320 kbps | 80 MB | LINKS
Having won acclaim from the likes of The Independent, The Irish Times and Hot Press for their feisty first album, After the Sherry Went Round, in 2015, Dublin-based gypsy folk ensemble The Eskies are now preparing to pounce back onto the scene with the release of their highly-anticipated second record, And Don’t Spare the Horses, on December 1st.
Recorded at Ireland’s Orphan Studios in early 2017, the quintet describes the enlivening eleven track undertaking as encompassing “melodramatic tales of woes, betrayal, conflict, upheaval, rebellion, love, loss, fear and anger, all wrapped in tongue-in-cheek irreverence and self-deprecation, occasionally giving way to a flurry of triumphalism or whisper of introspection.”
Things get off to an invigorating start with the stupendously spunky instrumentation and singing of “All Good Men” before “I’m Not Sorry” arrives to entice with its terrifically impudent music and delightfully defiant melody. “The Man Who Ran” is another captivating quirky composition afterwards, flaunting a fantastically fiery sound ahead of the comparatively calm but no less characterful beat and vocals of “Building Up Walls”.
“Napolean” is another superbly spirited and speedy addition next, the magnificently vivacious vibe of which is maintained by “Shame” as it races wackily in the direction of the endearingly disaffected instrumentation and entrancingly incensed serenade that bring “I’d Rather Be Lonely” to life. This is succeeded by the seductively festive introduction of “You’d Already Gone”, which proceeds to stomp steadfastly towards the relatively restrained yet arresting mandolin, riffs and refrain of “Hail, Hail”. The strikingly sombre “Death to the Sentry” follows from here, maintaining a meditative ambience until the title track takes over to endow the proceedings with a spectacularly stirring denouement.
The Eskies have spawned an exceedingly sprightly and singular alternative folk record here that keeps consistently colourful and compelling from commencement to conclusion. Its inordinately electrifying fusion of fractious refrains and frisky instrumentation is sure to allure a large listenership.
Various Artists
Songs of the Earth: Astonishing and Rare Voices
(Unesco Collection of Traditional Music/Folkways, 1955 [2014])
more details
320 kbps | 234 MB | LINKS
Tracks:
CD1:
01 – The Long Way Around
02 – Lubbock Or Leave It
03 – Truth No. 2
04 – Easy Silence
05 – Long Time Gone
06 – Nothing Compares 2 U
07 – Top Of The World
08 – Something In The Air
09 – Goodbye Earl
CD2:
01 – Travelin’ Soldier (Acoustic)
02 – Don’t Let Me Die In Florida (Acoustic)
03 – Daddy Lessons (Acoustic)
04 – White Trash Wedding (Acoustic)
05 – Bluegrass Instrumental: Bluegrass Instrumental: Roanoke/Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)/Seven Nation Army/Can’t Feel My Face/Wheel Hoss
06 – Ready To Run
07 – Mississippi
08 – Landslide
09 – Cowboy Take Me Away
10 – Wide Open Spaces
11 – Sin Wagon
12 – Not Ready To Make Nice
13 – Better Way
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![Wilco - Being There 1996 [Deluxe Edition] (2017) [HDtracks]](http://lossless-galaxy.ru/uploads/posts/2017-12/thumbs/1512404678_01.jpg "Wilco - Being There 1996 [Deluxe Edition] (2017) [HDtracks]")
