Critical Upgrade: Linda Rondstadt

 Posted by
Mar 282008
 

For those of you of a certain age, think of all the great songs from an earlier era in rock ‘n roll that you first heard through the hit cover versions by Linda Rondstadt. Take Betty Everett‘s “You’re No Good”. I know you, loyal Townsperson, are about as cool and knowledgeable as rock ‘n roll fans get, but if you’re of that certain age range, I doubt you’d ever heard of Betty Everett and her version of “You’re No Good” until years after you’d dug then completely denied the wonders of Linda Rondstadt’s string of ’70s hits. Excluding those of you younger than 38 years old, raise your hand if you honestly heard Everett’s excellent original before this major hit song. In fact, I’d bet that most of us didn’t know if was a cover until a good 5 years after the song’s release.

Linda’s version isn’t as cool as the original, but you’ve got to give her credit for looking good in a Plain Jane way.

Let’s pause for a second to reflect on just how cool the original version of “You’re No Good” is…and let’s give thanks to Linda for turning most of us onto this definitive version!

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Insta-Review: Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand

 Posted by
Nov 172007
 


Today I set out to listen to and share my thoughts on the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss album, Raising Sand. This collaboration, which the artists have taken great pains to say is not an album of “duets,” was produced by T-Bone Burnett. I’ve been looking forward to hearing it in its entirety. I must note that unlike most of my Insta-Reviews, I couldn’t help but hear snippets of some of these songs on the artists’ recent radio interviews, but I’ll try to keep my thoughts as fresh as possible. You have counted on me to fire from my gut, and with 2 eggs over light and a few strips of bacon still rattling around in my innards, I’m in tune with that ample part of my anatomy.

“Fortune Teller”: Right from the start, producer T-Bone Burnett’s deliberate, futuristic-retro hands are all over the production of this chestnut. It sounds like it’s more of a set-up piece than all that this collaboration promises. Is Krauss anywhere to be found other than on the backing vocal tracks? Cool guitar solo.

“Gone, Gone, Gone”: I love this Everly Brothers song! Just seeing the title scroll across the Phawker Radio player gets me excited. Plant and Krauss sound good, but what happened to the groovy beat of the Everlys’ orginal? Burnette’s insistence on seeing through his musical designs can be his strength as well as his weakness as a producer (think the ups and downs of Sam Phillips’ Martinis and Bikinis). Watch it, T-Bone! When this version needs to cut loose and hit a new dynamic, the same beat and grinding rhythm guitar carry on, as if programmed in long before any of the players got cooking in real time. Not bad, though, not bad.

“Killing the Blues”: Here’s a tender ballad featuring sweet harmony; pedal steel guitar; and a low, twangy guitar solo. Folk Scientist Burnette lets the musicians play on this one without the need to adhere to any grand concept. AAA radio was built on such dignified takes on earlier works. Maybe getting old’s not so bad!

“Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson”: Krauss takes the lead on this track, and this woman’s got pipes! The guitar work is really nice, which I’m finding is a consistent theme throughout this album. I guess Plant is sitting this one out.

“Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us”: This track’s got that straw hat/overalls rolled up/bare feet in the pond feel. I’m afraid of it. Mischievous boys should be whitewashing a picket fence. T-Bone probably wore suspenders while producing this one. Plant looks stupid with a waxed handlebar mustache. Don’t get me wrong – this is a beautiful little song, but I have no business listening to it.
Continue reading »

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10 Country Songs I Can Tolerate, If Not Actually Like

 Posted by
Jun 142007
 


E Pluribus,

You posed a difficult question to me this afternoon, asking me to list 10 country songs that I could tolerate, not including rock-influenced country songs. I admire you for posing this question in such a straightforward manner, requiring me to abide by some restrictions. As you know, without rules there can be no rules to break. As you also know, nothing beats breaking the rules from the inside, that is, by abiding by them and respecting them more vigorously than even those who’ve set the rules. Along with answering your question and commenting on 10 songs that I can tolerate, if not actually like, I’ll do my best to meet and exceed your expectations.

A few things up front for readers hoping that my tastes will dovetail with their own:

  • Because my list will not include country-rock songs, I will refrain from including anything involving Graham Gram Parsons, including his best works, all of which were done with Flying Burrito Brothers.
  • Johnny Cash spent a lot of time with rockers and started out, more or less, as a rocker. I’ll leave my favorite Johnny Cash songs off the list. Beside, hie best songs are basically rock ‘n roll songs, which give them an unfair advantage compared with real country songs.
  • No songs by that controversial trio E Pluribus claims to like so much – the two sisters with bad posture and the pig-nosed, badass lead singer – will be included. I don’t know enough about their music to include them, and I’m bugged by their Look.
  • Finally, I’ll refrain from including any songs from the film soundtrack for Nashville. Although it’s by far my favorite country album, its inclusion might upset the apple cart and hurt my credibility. Likewise, I’ll rule out the scenes in Tender Mercies in which Robert Duvall picks up his acoustic to play that new song he’s been working on, or when he sings the song he pretended he couldn’t remember singing to his daughter. That whole movie kills me, but although Duvall’s character is not influenced by rock, some of you might gripe that Duvall himself is not a real country musician and that including him on my list cheapens this entire effort. I’ll respect that possible concern.

So here goes, 10 real country songs I can tolerate, if not like… Continue reading »

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Rock Docs: Dixie Chicks and Diamonds Are a Hip-Hop Artist’s Best Friends

 Posted by
Mar 052007
 

Townswoman Crystal checks in with her views on the latest in Rock Docs.

Shut Up and Sing, which chronicles the Dixie Chicks’ meteoric fall and resurrection, is well worth a watch if you missed it last year. Surprisingly even handed (except for a few scenes), Natalie Maines’ statement about being embarrassed that the President is from Texas sparked, as most of you know, a firestorm from the country establishment that was nearly unprecedented. It’s also an interesting peak into what happens to a band, in particular an all female band that were at the peak at their success, having to battle their way back because of a one-off semi-political statement. You have to at least watch for the scenes of Rick Rubin who has transformed himself into a crazy Buddha-looking producer. In the end though, even with the president’s dropping ratings and the recent Chicks’ CMA nominations, has the country really changed?

VH1 Rock Docs presents Bling’d – Blood Diamonds & Hip Hop is a fascinating look at the impact of diamonds in hip-hop and what is happening in the countries (in this case Sierra Leone) that produce them. Rappers Raekwon (Wu Tang Clan), Tego Calderon, and Paul Wall (the guy who brought us all those hideous grills) all travel to see what the diamond industry is really like. I don’t know if all for show but the plight of those living in Sierra Leone (albeit a small part) is highlighted in a realistic and sometimes unbearable light. I’ll be interested to see if the Hip-Hop community takes their lead or if it’s “We are the World” all over again. You know, there are a couple of benefit shows, a couple of checks drafted, and then nothing happens. I don’t know if it’s still playing but it’s listed on the VH1 site.

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