So you wanna buy some blues? Various albums worth your time

Thursday, September 11, 2003

What would I spend my money on these days?
Good question!
Glad someone asked me that finally.

About this time of the year I begin to kick around a Top Ten list for January. Some of the discs that are bound to be in that list include (in no particular order);


Robben Ford / Keep On Runing -

If you aren't hip to Robben Ford yet, the time has arrived. No list of great guitar players is complete without Robben Ford. Ford's performance at last year's Indigenous Jam was nothing short of spell-binding. Ford teams up with John Wooler to produce a polished yet passionate disc that includes some brilliant covers including; Nick Lowe's 'What So Funny 'Bout Peace Love & Understanding', 'Homework' as covered by the J. Geils Band and Albert Collins earlier, and 'Badge' by Eric Clapton & Cream. This is a VERY GOOD' album replete with horns, great band, and excellent music. What's not to like?


Various Artists / Remembering Patsy -

You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a tribute album these days. What's the deal? There are three reasons you're seeing so many tribute albums (most of which are stink-ola);
a.) Its an effort to bring rock fans back into the music buying mode (and in many cases into the blues genre specifically), b.) There is a need for tested "great" songs, and c.) They're fun and allow artists to record songs that are quick, easy, and fun.

You may THINK you don't know a lot of the music of Patsy Cline but chances are you actually do know quite a few of the songs she sang. Jazz chartreuse Diana Krall covers the Willie Nelson penned tune, Crazy; k.d. Lang simmers on 'Leavin' On Your Mind' and Natalie Cole's cover of I Fall to Pieces' (also covered by Linda Ronstadt) is excellent. Other artists featured on this VERY GOOD disc include multi-Grammy award-winning-it-kid Nora Jones, Patty Griffin, Amy Grant, Michelle Branch, and more.


Los Lonely Boys / Los Lonely Boys -

When Austin's Waterloo Records owner John Kuntz recommends a band; you listen. LLBs have lite the critical world on fire with a buzz hotter than Joe Perry hot sauce! Apparently three Hispanic brothers from the San Marcos area just north of Austin LLB use three part layered harmonies on top of a faux-Mexican/rock guitar sound and pumpin' Texas-blues sound. Its really worth some looking at. Like any debut albums this one is relatively unfocused on a 'specific sound' and, for me, that's what makes debut albums interesting.


Joe Bonamassa / Blues Deluxe -

This kid is quickly rising to the top. Luckily he's NOT on a major label and his fan base will develop at the same speed as his notoriety. You only have to see this guy one time to understand that he's got that something special that differentiates good from great. In many ways Bonamassa is the great continuation of 70's arena blues-rock with bands like Humble Pie and Spinal Tap (just kidding). A healthy mix between Jimi, Stevie, Carlos, and Keith, Bonamassa has a super sharp feel for playing the guitar with a keenly developing ability to do what so many great players can't do... write a bluesy pop song. I am a bonafide fan of this kid: maybe you should be too?


Jonny Lang / Long Time Coming -

This could very well be a 'GREAT album: time will soon tell.

Jam packed with great songs, excellent playing, and dynamic vocals I can't imagine anything coming between this record and imortality. I've seen Lang play numerous times and I can see the appeal. For whatever reason I still don't consider myself to be a "fan" but this album may soon teach this old dog to change his ways!


Lyle Lovett / My Baby Don't Tolerate -

I hate to fall into predictable trends; however, I suspect I'll be buying Lyle Lovett records as long as he's inspired to put them out. Oh sure, I know, he's now being labeled as Yuppie Roots Music. Oh hogwash. Just because someone finds commercial success does not mean they've sold out or watered down their art. After seemingly having suffered from writers block for nearly a decade Lovett finally releases a new album of new songs. While he won a Grammy for the album,' The Road from Ensenada' Lovett's last few albums have been a soundtrack, a greatest hits album, a live album, and a double album of cover songs written by some of the great Texas songwriters. So all I can say is, "IT's ABOUT TIME LOVETT!" And say that with great affection!

Now, as they say on M*A*S*H... that is all