Album Review Bruce Springsteen's Devil and Dust

Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust Monday, April 25, 2005

Artist: Bruce Springsteen
Title: Devils & Dust
Rating: Niche

There are moments when “rock” music can be as significant an artform as other more recognized mediums such as painting, dance, or a Classical piece. Few “pop” artists are able to transcend their confines to create a sonic mindscape where words and music come together to create series of mental images that other forms of art are accredited with.

It’s been twenty-one years since Springsteen’s, ‘Born in the USA’ ruled the airwaves. Since his massive commercial bonanza Springsteen has calmly down shifted his career.

In many ways Springsteen has nurtured two careers; one with the E-Street Band and a series of solo & acoustic recordings. His first album, Greetings from Asbury Park, a wordsmith extravaganza, straddles the middle ground between these two careers. In a strange duality Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum sans’ E Street Band in ’99 although clearly his biggest successes have been with the band.

Devils & Dust is the third in the series of studio acoustic albums: Nebraska (’82), [Unplugged (’92)], Ghost of Tom Joad (’96) and now Devils & Dust. Generally critics have lauded most offerings by Springsteen. While Nebraska is widely appreciated, his acoustic albums have been dark and ponderous. Devils & Dust is more Steinbeck and less Little Richard.

I like Springsteen and I purchased this album in the new Dual Disc format; one side is a compact disc, the other side is a DVD that features four videos as well as the full album. Consequently the Dual Disc format allows the recording to be played on CD, DVD or CD Rom (computer) players. So it is convenient. This format allows the artist an expanded medium in which to communicate their art; music, album jacket art, and now video(s). The Dual Disc also allows the artist flexibility to include live, behind the scenes, and interview video. So the ability to communicate the art and concept is greatly expanded. The five videos included are; Devils & Dust, Long Time Comin’ Reno, All I’m Thinkin’ About, and Matamoros Banks. All the videos are shot in the same setting and resonate of ‘The Grapes of Wrath’… an empty 40’s ish house with bare walls, blistering wallpaper, and wooden floors.

The video pictures reflect the stark bareness of the music and the stories being told. Make no mistake; if you want an album to sing along with, to lift up your spirits, this ain’t it. This album’s 12 songs delve into brief lingering images that are true reflections of a harsher side of life. Appropriately the third track, Reno, includes an “adult” warning as it deals with the explicit transaction between a prostitute and her customer and drags the entire album down. On this recording Springsteen uses many of the non-E-Street Band members from, ’The Rising’ sessions including Producer Brendan O’Brien, Soozie Tyrell and The Nashville String Machine.

In the early ‘70’s the relatively unknown up & coming Springsteen’s career was condemned when he was compared to Bob Dylan. Today comparing a relative unknown songwriter to Dylan is rote but back then it was sacrilege. In retrospect, while most of the last 30+ years of Dylan’s career have been a wasteland, Springsteen remains firmly in control of his career and exercises his right to ‘turn off’ the Springsteen-Machine by releasing albums, such as Devils & Dust, that are tome-like literary works but hardly commercial or uplifting. Devils & Dust is as close to literature as music may be capable of; however, this album deals with images that do not appeal to me. For the die hard Springsteen fan this will be yet another in a long line of well above average to great albums; however, to the average pop music fan, unless The Grapes of Wrath happens to be one of your favorite books, Devils and Dust will probably not be something you’ll enjoy.

For certain this album requires multiple listenings before it begins to show itself and for a niche few it will be well worth the investment.

What's On Serial April 20th 2005

What's On @ PS Blues 05202005Wednesday, April 20, 2005
What’s “on” at Pacific Street Blues?
Vol. 3

Artist: Marcia Ball
Title: Live! Down the Road
Rating: Good

Like many blues progenitors, Marci Ball has her style and she does it very well. If it’s a style that you appreciate then having Ball’s live interpretations of these songs is something you’re going to appreciate. However, if you’re not already a fan then this album is an average outing that will sell well off the stage and poorly in the stores. Let’s not beat around the bush, Ball is quite good and very entertaining live: a charming stylist with a smokin’ band. That said, this effort breaks no new ground and while fans will adore the effort, others will quickly forget it ever came out. Plan on hearing, ‘Down the Road’ for a few months on KIWR’s Pacific Street Blues and make your own decision.

Artist: Jimmy Thackery
Title: Healin’ Ground
Rating: Good

With the release of his umpteenth solo album Jimmy Thackery has his niche in the blues world well carved. A canny good guitar player that can stoke a hot riff I lump Thackery a bit lower down the totem pole of uninspired players along with; B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Jonny Lang. Thackery’s live shows have devolved into rote-recall of distant songs with dull edges and well anchored safety nets. In the past decade he’s moved from a red-hot dynamo as heard on, ‘Empty Arms Motel’ to, well, just another act passing through town eeking out an existence. His latest album, ‘Healin’ Ground’ will get the airplay it deserves (because that’s what people want to hear) but count on this piece passing through the night quickly. I guess I am incredibly disappointed in his vocal performance and, based upon that apparent lack of effort, can’t get past it. Sorry fans. Sorry Jimmy.

Artist: Robbie Fulks
Title: Georgia Hard
Rating: Very Good

A known name that I know little about, Fulks latest effort, ‘Georgia Hard’ is a very good country roots album that is left of Lyle Lovett & George Strait and pushing hard up against Merle Haggard. Fulks’ ability to write a good song and get it recorded with a fresh, inspired sound makes this album unfold nicely. While the songs stall amid this 15 song album (tracks 6, 7, & 8) things quickly rev back up. Once again Fulks’ effort is punished by trying to make too long of an album. As you’ve all heard me rant before, no artist, NO ARTIST, can sustain a career spanning numerous albums that requires an artistic vision the equilivent of double vinyl album release every time. So tune into KIWR’s Pacific Street Blues to hear this album over the next few months and, once again, you decide!

What's on Serial April 15, 2005

What's On @ PS Blues 05172005Friday, April 15, 2005
What’s on at Pacific Street Blues? (Vol. No. 2)

Artist: Mem Shannon
Title: I’m from Phunkville
Rating: Very Good
Shannon marketed his first album as the blues cab driver from New Orleans. While his debut album was a worthy effort that occasionally still hits the “turntable” these days, his subsequent albums have been average. Shannon’s new album, “I’m From Phunkville” is an inspired modern blues album. His guitar playing is crisp and aggressive, the songs have non-cliché ridden melody lines, and his vocals are earnest. You know me, I love texture rather than twoXfours and Shannon lays off his playing giving the song room to develop and space to resonate. The packaging is superb. This is a very good modern electric blues album.

Artist: Various
Title: “You See Me Laughin’”
Subtitle: The Last of the Hill Country Bluesmen
Format: DVD
Rating: Great / Niche

Fat Possum Records is one of two or three labels that releases “purist” blues today. I love Alligator and Blind Pig but those are Urban recordings cleaned up for the White Middle Class – NOT that there’s anything wrong with that. On their DVD, ‘You See Me Laughin’ Fat Possum captures the true grit that REAL blues is: pure emotion, heart felt when there’s an absence of “talent.” The DVD features video clips of T-Model Ford and Cedell Davis with a focus on the incredible R. L. Burnside. And like anything that borders on ‘being too cool for the room’ there’s a litany of rock artists that want to add their chic to the project in order to build their own street credibility: so don’t act surprised when U2’s Bona, Jon Spencer’s Blues Explosion or Iggy Pop, ahem, pop-up. For the true-blue Blues fan this is a fantastic piece of entertainment that will sizzle your circuit board; however, for most it’s too deep and too cool. That said, if you’ve read this far you’re probably just the kind of character that would absolutely [adulate] over this DVD!

Artist: Sarah Benck & The Robbers
Title: Suicide Doublewide
Rating: Very Good

I can’t get enough of this band. The focus point of the band is a young Sarah Benck who leads this band through the moves with seeming ease. While I’m the guy least likely to break away for an evening out (young family:family comes first) this band has never failed to create that impression of future possibilities: the songs are there, the live performance is electric, and the band rocks ‘til it hurts. The opening track, Real Friend, is an up-tempo tune that is the featured track on PS Blues these days.

What's On Serial April 12, 2005

What's On @ PS Blues 05122005Tuesday, April 12, 2005
What’s on at Pacific Street Blues?

Time. Time is of the essence. There never seems to be enough time!
Here’s a snapshot of some of the albums you’ll hear this week on PS Blues.

Artist: David Jacobs-Strain
Title: Ocean or a Teardrop
Rating: Excellent

This is the best “blues” title I’ve heard in some time. It took multiple listens for Jacob-Strain’s album to unfold but when it did, IT DID. DJS takes a fresh approach to modern blues in that he plays an acoustic guitar and prefers texture to ‘twang-bar’ doodling. He is also comfortable branching beyond the ‘purist’ restrictions allowing the songs to take him where they may. His guitar playing, with an emphasis on slide, is amazing. The songwriting is refreshing and the actual recording is sharp and clear.

Artist: Tinsley Ellis
Title: The Hard Way
Rating: Very Good

Tinsely Ellis is an artist that has played the markets several times. Clearly he’s a road warrior. Historically I have found his previous albums uninteresting and yet his live show ganders plenty of praise. So it was a pleasant surprise when his latest album exhibited beautiful melodies, appropriate blistering guitar work, and strong vocal lines. This is a fine album by a strong live performer. Very enjoyable!

Artist: Nora Jean Bruso
Title: Going Back to Mississippi
Rating: Good

Bruso’s debut album has all the blistering female vocals of a true Chicago shouter ala’ Shemekia Copeland or Etta James’ latter career work. Bruso hit’s all the appropriate blues bar genres on her album with a stellar slow cooking performance on the 7th track, ‘Don’t You Remember?’ Bruso is coming to town for the Blues Society of Omaha’s debut Blues Crusie (www.omahablues.com) and if her album is any indication, it’s going to be a rockin’ good time!

Album Review: Neil Young's Greendale

Neil Young's GreendaleMonday, February 28, 2005
Artist: Neil Young
Title: Greendale (DVD & CD)
Rating: Good

Neil Young is one of the few artists that never compromised his art for commerce. Among others in that group I would include Patti Smith. Bruce Springsteen, and Iggy Pop. His latest offering, Greendale, does not rank among the many great albums that Young has put out or participated in over his now four decade career; however, for any fan that has “bought into” Young’s art, it’s a pretty cool piece.

Available on CD and now DVD, Greendale, is a musical drama set in a small California town. With his back-up band Crazy Horse offering their usual haphazard approach to keeping the music simple, Young tells a story of a drugs, murder, the devil, environmental concern and a small town’s dealing with all this excitement.

What makes this story of interest is that Young chose to use his neighbors, employees and friends in the movie/DVD to tell the story. Much like Omaha’s own Jeff Davis and the Playing With Fire concert series, Young evidently reached a point in his life where he wanted to use some of his wealth to create an artistic medium for the fun and the benefit of his community. In, Greendale, Young and friends made a stripped down movie that depicted the story on his album of the same name. So no-name actors perform in front of the amateur film makers: much like his music, Young strips down the art to it’s bare essentials and spins 90 minutes of pure hippy culture entertainment that leaves the viewer with a sense of having participated in something fun.

To compound all this fun Young toured, Greendale, and took many of his neighbor-actors on the road with him: which had to be a gas! At the end of the DVD, included in the “Making of Greendale’ section Young includes concert footage of the tour’s final song, “Be the Rain.” The entire cast is on stage performing the song. Interestingly one of Young’s two sons, both of whom suffer from Cerebral Palsy, is wheeled on stage. For those that have followed Young’s life it’s a touching moment that goes by unheralded. (By-the-way, Young’s album, Trans, (1983?) with it’s synthesized & processed vocals and the heavy use of electronic instruments, is about Young’s effort to communicate with his special needs sons).

Anyway, back to Greendale, it’s not going to win a Grammy next year but it’s encompassing, it’s passionate, and it’s anti-slick n’ polish. I really enjoyed it. Really now, “this note's for you.”

Album Review: Indigneous' Long Way Home

blues views By Rick Galusha

I have been working in retail music since 1978. I was a Classical & Jazz deejay at KVNO while in college and have hosted KIWR's PS Blues for more than 13 years [Sundays from 9 am - Noon at 89.7 fm]. I don't know it all but I think I have a pretty rounded - reality based - hype free opinion. You may agree or you may read this column figuring if I liked it you're going to stay away . . . hey, whatever you want.

Indigenous - Long Way Home
Monday, February 21, 2005

Artist: Indigenous
Title: Long Way Home
Rating: Good (and then some)

One hundred and twenty-six years ago, Chief Standing Bear stood in the then Indian Territories of Oklahoma, on the eve of his historic trek that would bring freedom to all indigenous people of North America, and probably thought that his 500 mile walk in January was a long way home to his native lands near what is now Valentine, Nebraska. Standing Bear’s return home to bury his son would result in a trial in which the decision would end the Indian Reservation system. Although largely forgotten Standing Bear stands as one of the great civil rights leaders of our nation’s history.

This new seven-song album by the band Indigenous shows them trying to reignite their career. Although all the tracks were recorded recently some of the songs were written early while some are new. The opening track, Well You Know, harkens back to the bands last album: the self-titled release on Silvertone Records. Whether due to the absent efforts of the band’s label, the over-powering influences of the Davey Brothers, the departure of their long time manager or numerous family issues, the band’s desire to reach a younger audience with a more modern sound failed to garner significant sales and their career cooled off to room temperature. This song belonged on that album.

The next track, Rest of My Days, first appeared on the band’s ‘Circle’ album. This version of the exceptionally well-written track includes crisp airy acoustic guitar “weaves” that add depth and texture. Were it not for the “play-for-pay” policies adopted by major & regional radio conglomerates this song would be blaring out of every car radio in America by mid-July. Let me say that a different way, were radio station “Music Directors” actually empowered to pick the music they played, and were their consultants not accepting payola for choosing songs by faceless bands that sound like other faceless bands which happen to be quite good at selling useless disposable products to amorphous demographics that remain uncommitted to most things, this song would be a massive hit. It is a “great” song by any standard in the rock idiom.

Awake, the 3rd track on the album has appeared a few times through out the band’s career including their first self produced album, ‘Awake’, and their ‘Live- Blues from the Sky’ album. Awake was written by the sister-drummer Wanbdi: who’s beau Jesse Davey, of the recently signed Interscope Records act, The Davey Brothers, appeared on, produced, co-wrote a track and shot the photographs for this CD-EP (which Mato assures me HE did NOT wear mascara for!). As an aside I would add that Wanbdi has a voracious appetite for literature. Once again this is a very strong track for the band, which fans will enjoy.

The fifth track on the album, Six Feet Down, shows a glimpse of what this band is capable of. Co-written with Jesse Davey, this track has a thick blues base that thematically barks of a modern blues-rock standard. The electric guitar solo is a pure Hendrix; languid, well paced, and tasty. Since the departure of Horse, the band has been ripe for a fourth member. Could it be Jesse Davey? If so, where would that leave the Davey Brothers? Clearly Wanbdi and Jesse are a couple and there appears to be a strong musical repartee between Mato and Davey. The forthcoming release by the Davey Brothers will read volumes into where this young Englishman’s heart, and fingers, is. Is it possible to be in two bands on the cusp of breaking big?

The sixth track, Don’t Let Me Go, co-written by Pte (bass) and Mato (a/k/a Standing Bear) is a manifestation of the band’s split personality. Anchored in Santana & Hendrix, Indigenous’ evolution in sound tend to follow the modern fad of being heavier and murkier with less distinct melody lines or what I would call “aching pastels of showering powerchords” which I find uninspiring.

Last but not least is a live track of what could be considered one of Mato’s two songwriting high points. Things We Do, is a song that ebbs and grows with the band. Things We Do was the name of their first Pachyderm album as well as their contribution track to the 'Honor the Earth' benefit album. At the very least this song is an all too brief look into what Indigenous is capable of. Put ten songs of this caliber together on one album and you have the makings of a significance musical statement. However, Mato is over-taxed and incapable under current circumstances. Mato is the van driver, the lead guitar player, the singer, the songwriter, the liaison with management, and the mouthpiece with media & radio. He’s also the ‘father figure’ within the band as well as a genuine father to his own three children. On all levels this band’s very existence rests more and more on his shoulders. For this band to transcend it’s creative trap Pte and Wanbdi need to step up and assume some of the responsibilities. A true partnerships need to develop between these siblings or they will never be given the mental and emotional break necessary for this band to create an album of music that we can see lies withinTwo of rock’s most significant albums, ‘Revolver’ and ‘Rubber Soul’ by the Beatles were both under 28 minutes long. ‘Long Way Home’ clocks in at 35 minutes. It’s is the perfect length with the perfect price point - under ten dollars. Technology allows today’s bands to record up to 74-minute albums onto one compact disc or a double vinyl album. No wonder fans are disillusioned. I can count on one hand the number of double vinyl albums that were able to maintain an artistic vision of that length. (When Tupac Shakur released a double CD of rap music, the equalivent of four vinyl albums, I had to laugh at the cynical joke being played on innocent music listeners.)

Although the band considers this a stop gap recording while it shops for a new label, I hope their point of reference changes to considering this to be a new marketing technique; two 5 - 7 track EPs a year that are musical diverse and mark the growth of the band’s sound during this transitional period. Two albums a year would keep the product pipeline full and fans engaged. It would also force the creative juices to flow year-round. Indigenous continues to be an act whose goal should be the national stage - selling out 2,500 seat auditoriums across the nation. Refining efforts like ‘Long Way Home’ and a hard, focused, work schedule for the next 36 months should get them back where they belong.

Album Review: Carolyn Wonderland

Artist: Carolyn Wonderland
Title: Miss Understood
Writer: Rick Galusha

The Beatles had ‘Sergeant Pepper’; the Stones ‘Exile on Main Street.’ At some point in every band’s career there is a point to create a definitive work of art. Without taking that leap of professionalism the band is more times than not trapped in a cycle of recording the ‘same’ figurative album again and again. (See Boston or Journey) Bruce Springsteen had ‘Born to Run’ and Buddy Guy has ‘Damn Right I Got the Blues.’ With the release of her latest album, ‘Miss Understood’ Houston’s bluesy rock n’ roll actress Carolyn Wonderland, now based in Austin, Texas, is back with an album that could very well mark a significant upturn in her recording efforts.

In many ways Wonderland, fresh off her interlude playing with Bob Dylan, has intentionally embraced the path of another East Texan (Port Arthur) Janis Joplin. Having nurtured an image of hard drinkin’ and fast living Wonderland’s career has, at times, seemed to be a fatal wound in slow motion. One need only watch a couple of VH1 ‘Behind the Music’ programs to realize that substance abuse has ended more than a few thousand promising careers.

‘Miss Understood’ is a very strong and entertaining album that leans more towards ballad than blues: more towards 1968 Austin than 1955 Chicago. Part of that may be due to the production efforts of ‘Asleep at the Wheel’ front man Ray Benson. Tulsa based drummer Jamie Oldaker, who plays on numerous tracks, may also have had an impact on Wonderland and her willingness to take exciting chances. (According to the liner notes in Oldaker’s, “Mad Dogs and Okies” he has had an amazing career including playing with Eric Clapton during his Oklahoma/J.J. Cale period, backing up Peter Frampton (and a post-Kiss Ace Frehley), a member of the multi-platinum band The Tractors, discovered Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, and playing at Live Aid including appearing with Phil Collins.) Perhaps as a testament to the new found Carolyn Wonderland she covers ‘Still Alive and Well’ by Rick “Hang on Sloopy” Derringer (Zerringer); a song originally made famous by Beaumont, Texas’s Johnny Winter – who’s own struggles have been epically Richards-ian in scope and length.

The sixth track on the album, “Long Way to Go” with violin and soft accompaniment could have come off John Mellencamp’s transitional album, ‘Scarecrow.’ The album’s closing track, ‘Feed Me to the Lions’ transcends predictable genre as Wonderland successfully reaches for a song of depth and texture. The album’s tenth track, ‘I Live Alone with Someone’ has a Ray Charles, ‘Lonely Avenue’ quality to it and is very radio friendly. The violin accompaniment; Leigh Mahoney and Tracy Seeger of the Tosca String Quartet, is yet again stunning in texture and taste.

On “I Don’t Want to Fall For You” Miss Wonderland employs jazz vocals that go to seemingly unfamiliar territory. Yet the brush snare and piano backing is, well, wonderful. It is refreshing to see an established artist grasp beyond the confine of preconception toward something bigger; something better. Carolyn Wonderland is easily among the finest barroom brawlers in the Midwest floorboard pounding business. Her newest album, ‘Miss Understood’ is the kind of album that any roots and blues music fan will fully enjoy and derive hours of listening enjoyment from for years to come. While listening to this album over the past few weeks I have dared to consider that perhaps Wonderland is charting a course that Janis Joplin, had she lived and matured, may have pursued. We’ll never know but the dobro laden, The Farmer Song’ gives hint to what might have been.

This is an album that most blues fans and all roots music fans should enjoy.