The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
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Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
November 06, 2007
New Album Releases, 11-6-2007: Country Blues and String Band Music, Jay-Z, Gram Parsons, David Byrne Way the most intriguing item on this week's release schedule is A Richer Tradition Country Blues & String Band Music 1923 - 1942. This moderately priced four CD boxed set contains 100 songs. Even as a dedicated fan of roots music, I'm not familiar with any of these artists. So unless you're a considerably bigger old-timey music geek than even me, this will all be new stuff to you.
This stuff comes from back before there was anything like an industry, or record company executives thinking they knew what would sell. These people seem pretty much straight off the farm. I can't tell much for sure about the race of the performers, and I strongly suspect that some of these folks are obscured enough that no one does. From the bits that I've heard of this set though, I'd say that most of it sounds closer to Robert Johnson than to the Carters.
It's mostly a lot lighter in tone than the anguish of Robert Johnson though, as evidenced for starters by song titles like "I Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop." Also, a fair amount of this is jug band stylings, as evidenced for starters by the names of several of the artists, ie the Nashville Washboard Band and the Birmingham Jug Band. All in all, this is a fine window into what might seem now like pre-historic times to most of us.
From the famed tape vaults of the Grateful Dead comes Gram Parsons Archive, Vol. 1. It is billed as a Gram Parsons album, but it is specifically the Flying Burrito Brothers. These are never-before-released live recordings from two shows opening for the Dead in April of 1969.
The most interesting thing recorded recently is The Knee Plays by David Byrne. These compositions were written to go with a stage play by Robert Wilson, which seems to be set exploring tensions in the pre-Civil War era. Byrne's songs are largely brass band pieces, maybe kinda New Orleans style. From the bits I'm hearing, I'm particularly interested in "The Sound of Business."
The very likely new #1 album for next week will be Jay-Z, with American Gangster. This was apparently inspired by the American Gangster movie, which is the #1 movie in the land and has a soundtrack album this week as well.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Angels & Airwaves I-Empire Suretone/Geffen Alternative Pop/Rock
Dion Son of Skip James Verve Forecast Modern Acoustic Blues
Jay-Z American Gangster Roc-A-Fella Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap, Pop-Rap
Dewey Redman The Struggle Continues ECM Post-Bop, Modern Creative
Tommy Roe Phantasy Fall Out Sunshine Pop, Pop, Psychedelic Pop
60 Watt Kid 60 Watt Kid Absolutely Kosher Indie Rock
Rick Springfield Christmas with You Gomer Holiday, Christmas
Various Artists Art of Field Recording Dust-To-Digital Field Recordings, Traditional Folk, Bluegrass-Gospel, Bluegrass
Various Artists Bullet Records Rhythm & Blues Blue Label Jump Blues, Electric Blues, Piano Blues, R&B
Various Artists Richer Tradition: Country Blues and String Band Music 1923-1942 JSP Prewar Blues, Early American Blues, Folk-Blues, String Bands, Prewar Country Blues, Country Blues, Acoustic Blues
Stevie Ray Vaughan Solos, Sessions & Encores Sony Legacy Album Rock, Modern Electric Texas Blues, Texas Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Blues
White Magic Dark Stars Drag City Indie Rock
White Williams Smoke Tigerbeat6 Indie Rock, Indie Electronic ***************** Gram Parsons pictures
