Country Music: A way of life to many but completely underrated in the UK. I'm going to help change that here as I review and introduce country classics old and new, filtering the trite from the truly brilliant and dispelling your notions that country is corny. A lot of it is, but even then it can be great.
Opinions expressed are all mine and uninfluenced by external factors!
Whilst work promoting Vanessa Carlton's phenomenal third album, Heroes & Thieves seems to have lost momentum somewhat (cough, yet again her art goes under-appreciated by her label), there is finally a new video available. The single is Hands On Me and whilst the video is a poor follow-up to its predecessor, Nolita Fairytale, it simplicity does help to showcase the same simple perfection of the song itself.
'Dark Come Too Soon' is one of those songs I wish I wrote. Taken from Tegan & Sara's best album to date, The Con, it is a dark and heart breaking composition powerfully and enigmatically punctuated by the intonations in Tegan's voice as she sings lead. In the below video, watch a live acoustic performance which has to be the best I've ever heard Tegan sing. It's so good you wish you could marry it (the song/the voice/Tegan).
Be prepared to have your mind blown and your soul ripped in two...
For anyone that doesn't already know, Jewel is my favourite female singer/songwriter of all time. And for those that are interested, Ryan Adams is my favourite male (singer/songwriter of course). It seems, therefore, that I am fated with adoring devestatingly incredible artists that enjoy starving their fans of new material! You may question how I can possibly say that about Ryan Adams but trust me, I WANT MORE!!!
But back to Jewel. Not only has she had five genius albums so far, she also has stacks of songs in her live repertoire that still haven't made it onto a record - be it a studio album or just a live release (hint hint). Fourteen years after her debut, I find myself again promised that the next album, due in June, WILL feature more of her vast back catalogue (for those in the know, this will include Rosie & Mick!).
To kick start the record, Jewel has released the single Stronger Woman. On first listen, I'll admit I was a little disappointed. After being promised a country album it seemed a little 'polished' but on repeat listens and after discovering a live radio performance that is quite simply mesmerising, I can finally hear the song for what it is: classic Jewel. Hearing it in its acoustic format, one could easily believe the song was written for Spirit or This Way and lyrically, it tells another powerful story of female empowerment. Even I like to put on my feminist hat sometimes and Jewel, yet again, has knocked it out of the park.
For your viewing/listening pleaseure, here are both the live and single versions of the song:
Laura Marling's 'Ghosts' is the best album opener I have heard in...too long. With a driving rhythm and undeniably catchy melody, to say that it draws you in and captures your interest is a severe understatement.
'Old Stone' is an instrumentally complex composition with introspective lyrics and climatic choruses that could move even the most hardened soul to tears.
'Tap At My Window' could have been recorded in 1972, with its classic Joni-inspired movement, whilst it also draws clear parallels with Martha Wainwright's debut.
'Failure' would not have been out of place on Court & Spark, which is probably why I love this album so much. It sounds utterly contemporary - as the real classics do - and yet simultaneously nods its head towards the work of the great singer songrwitetrs of the early 70s that I admire so much. Towards the song's end, the strings add depth to its contemporary flair and yet it then dips into the folky plucking that characterizes Jewel's work. Vocally, comparisons can certainly be made to Shea Seger, a wholly under appreicated artist whose sufferings will certainly not be endured by Laura.
The impression may be that this album does not sound original, when in fact it is one of the most powerfully unique and musically sound albums I have heard in years and should share the shelf with the likes of those it appears to pay homage to.
If there is one album by a 'new' artist that you are to buy this year, it should be this one.
You know that you are in the presence of greatness when a band decides to run a documentary about quantum physics instead of booking a support act. Not quite as bizzare as it sounds, 'E' (born Mark Oscar Everett) from Eels recently took part in a documentary about his father, an incredibly famous (in certain circles) physicist who came up with the parallel worlds theory. If your eyes are already starting to glaze over, just imagine all those hideously boring science lessons you were forced to endure at school and then think how much more enjoyable they would have been with the musical soliloquies of Eels' devestatingly good back cataloge to accompany you. In all honesty, I hated physics, which I foolishly did to A-Level but even I was captivated by the complex quantum confusions that seemed so in-tune with the son's heart breaking compositions.
The rest of the gig continued to build on this introduction of 'genius' as we were carefully guided through a cross-section of some of Eels' best songs. Accompanied only by 'The Chet' and both dressed in boiler suits, it was an entirely unique evening, as The Chet played saws with bows, read extracts from E's autobiography and regularly swapped instruments with E mid-song.
As one would predict, there were the usual dunces in the crowd that were more interested in drinking eight pints before the band even started (thought process: "what, watch a documentary on science...I don't think so, i'm getting another pint!"). These simpletons joined the many that have gone before them at gigs the world over, heckling the guy with the mic, shouting "play a song" and "stop talking" that gave me painful flashbacks of being at a Ryan Adams gig. SHOW THE GUY SOME RESPECT! HOW WOULD YOU LIKE IT IF SOMEONE STARTED SHOUTING AT YOU IN THE STREET, TELLING YOU TO SHUT UP OR PERFORM LIKE A MONKEY? E must also have been expecting it, as he was sufficiently resilient to the cries and calmly continued with what he wanted to do - after all, it was his gig and no one else was contractually required to be there.
So aside from these regrettable 'incidents', the genius and showmanship of E (and the remarkable Chet) shone through and amounted to what was an enjoyable show stuffed full of great compositions. The earth didn't move for me as it does when listening to Eels records but the guy's brilliance was undeniable.
Here's a great video of one of my favourite (and most under appreciated) artists, Loni Rose, singing on a rooftop in Nashville, Tennesse last Summer. Look past the very shaky camera work for a truly magical performance.
Carrie Underwood: Carnival Ride - Best Country Album of the Year!
Technically, Carrie Underwood's incredible sophomore album was released in 2007 but seeing as it didn't come out until the end of the year, I feel perfectly entitled to call it my 'record of 08' so far.
Musically, Carnival Ride is a big step forward from its 2006 predecessor, Some Hearts. The songs showcase real diversity whilst remaining true to Carrie's country roots. She shows real spunk and country-girl crass (in a good way!) on opener 'Flat On The Floor' and the ridiculously catchy 'Last Name', where a tale of too much tequila leaves 'Carrie' in Vegas married to a stranger and no longer knowing her own last name. It's pure country rock at its finest.
The girl can never really be taken too far away from what she does best, though, and that is the soaring country ballad, supported by dazzling production that crescendos into drawn out high notes and perfectly showcase her incredible vocal talent. Smash single 'So Small' epitomizes this and is undoubtedly the perfect follow-up to her first real hit, 'Jesus Take The Wheel'.
'All-American Girl' is the album's real standout track - country pop at its finest - yet the rest of the CD is so packed full of killer hooks (notably 'I Know You Won't), heartbreaking lyrical references to the Iraq war, ('Just A Dream') and the highs and lows of dating, which are told with such wit and irony ('More Boys I Meet') that this album deserves to catapault Ms Underwood into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She is that good and the strengths and renewed success she is helping to give Country music is worthy of high praise.
The only downside is this: with this renewed popularity comes the irritatingly predictable 'watered down/jumping on the bandwagon' attempts to cash in on another 'hot new sound' that the likes of Jo Simpson and his woefully misguided daughter(s) cannot pass up.
Come on Carrie, Kellie, Taylor and The Wreckers - show 'em how it's meant to be done!
So I've been feeling a little lost lately. The last few months have brought a lot of changes and distractions (hence the lack of new posts!) but I think i'm finally starting to find my feet again. It's amazing how a lack of new music and inspiring surroundings can leave you drowning in grey dullness.
One of the hardest things I have found about life in my relatively short experience of it, is that whilst change is great, losing friends is heartbreaking. So what should one do when the loneliness starts to creep up? Listen to an amazing record.
Right now, I'm listening to my favourite Rufus Wainwright album, Release The Stars. Yes, 'early' Rufus fans believe his first two records cannot ever be surpassed in perfection and yet the compositional brilliance, rich harmonies and complex arrangements make this album sound as accomplished as any of Mozart's sonatas and a truly miraculous occurance in today's music industry. Only Rufus Wainwright could sample Phantom of the Opera in a song about...er...'shedding a tear' between one's legs. The sheer brilliance of this man is mind blowing and it is an album like this that can move you to the edge of wonder.
Here's a live performance of that incredible aforementioned song, 'Between My Legs', featuring an impromptu and rather amusing appearance from Jake Gyllenhaal that just can't help but make you smile.
