Subtlety and delicacy aren’t usually associated with hard rock. But those are the qualities that (to these ears) stand out when you unpack this recording and hear the tracks separately. Listen to the guitar, the bass. Sledgehammers? More like sushi knives. Rolling Stones, “Gimme Shelter,” 1969 voice (Mick Jagger & Merry Clayton) *** guitar/1 (Keith Richards) [...]
Archive for November 2010
Tuesday, 11/30/10
11/30/2010Monday, 11/29/10
11/28/2010. . . the best and most original guitar player of his generation. —James “The Hound” Marshall *** Someday Quine will be recognized for the pivotal figure that he is on his instrument—he is the first guitarist to take the breakthroughs of early Lou Reed and James Williamson and work through them to a new, [...]
Sunday, 11/28/10
11/28/2010With voices like these you don’t need instruments. “Father, I Stretch My Hands To Thee,” live, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, Chester, South Carolina, 10/08 ********** lagniappe In African American Churches in certain parts of the South Eastern United States, there still exists a style of music that pre-dates what the Gospel Music industry refers to [...]
Saturday, 11/27/10
11/27/2010This guy and the guy we heard Monday (Syl Johnson) are brothers. Speaking of Syl, he’s getting a lot of attention right now: the cover story in this week’s Chicago Reader; a big new boxed set on the Numero label; and a concert tonight, in Chicago, with a top-flight band and guest Otis Clay (yeah, [...]
Friday, 11/26/10
11/26/2010Deep, wide, strong: the groove, with this guy at the drums, is like a river. The Levon Helm Band with guest Jim Keltner (drums), “Deep Ellum Blues,” live, Los Angeles (Greek Theater), 8/15/10
Thursday, 11/25/10
11/25/2010How many pop stars have given thanks so memorably? Sly & The Family Stone “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” live (TV broadcast), 1973 *** “Thankful N’ Thoughtful,” 1973 ***** Michael Jackson and George Clinton and Miles Davis Big influence on all three? Short list. James Brown Sly Stone
Wednesday, 11/24/10
11/23/2010Coolest guy on the planet? Will Gaines (tap dance) with Steve Beresford (piano), Alex Ward (clarinet), live, London, 2009 Want more? Here. Here. ********** lagniappe I tap-danced for ten years before I began to understand that people don’t make musicals anymore. —Zadie Smith
Tuesday, 11/23/10
11/23/2010what’s new (an occasional series) Dad, listen to this . . . —my (19-year-old) son Luke Lupe Fiasco, “The Show Goes On” (2010) *** Take 2 Live, Georgetown University, 10/30/10: “Superstar,” “The Show Goes On” (’til he forgets the lyrics), back to “Superstar” ***** More from Georgetown “Hip-Hop Saved My Life” More? Here. Here. Here. [...]
Monday, 11/22/10
11/22/2010Walk into a blues bar on Chicago’s south or west side in the mid-1970s: this would jump out of the jukebox. Syl Johnson, “Take Me To The River,” live, 1975, Memphis
Sunday, 11/21/10
11/21/2010ain’t no grave can hold . . . Johnny Cash, “Ain’t No Grave,” 2003 (recorded), 2010 (released) ********** lagniappe The Johnny Cash Project is a global collective art project, and we would love for you to participate. Through this website, we invite you to share your vision of Johnny Cash, as he lives on in [...]
