Crooked Still

This is a wonderful acoustic band from the Boston area that just has a fantastic sound. They are a quartet with a cello and bass on the low end and a banjo and vocals on the high end. The way they sonically mix the two and the way they arrange traditional Old- Time music is really exceptional. To top it all off, the main soloist is the cello player and he is phenomenal. Keep your eyes out for this group coming to your town.

This is there first album, Hop High. Literally every single track is excellent. I almost randomly picked some sample tracks.

Darling Corey

Last Fair Deal Gone Down

Old Virginia

Zuba

This was a funky, dance, jammy, bar band out of Boulder during the nineties. They are really hard to classify; which I consider a compliment. I never saw them live when they were a quintet as they are here on this album. This album is really fun and hard to pin down and always fun to revisit now and again. I was friends with Liza , who is the lead singer and lead guitarist. She is a wonderful talent. A remarkable singer; I think of her as a sultry Bonnie Raitt. I remember when we lived in T-town together and she would play some Raitt covers just her and her acoustic guitar. She does 95% of the guitar work here I believe; at least, she does all the electric duties. She has a great funk rhythm style. As it is hard to pin this group down, I am throwing a few songs up to enjoy.

Keep On Movin

Bring your Love To Me

Song 34

And my personal favorite:

Sunrise On The Road

Simply Incredible

This album is amazing. Two world class musicians playing in a duo format. An immaculate recording. Just some incredible playing. Timing, tone, spirit, this disc has it all. Mike Marshall is one of the best mandolin players right now and Thile is no slouch either. Their fingers just fly. For you headphone fans out there, Thile is in your left ear and Marshall is in your right. The album opens with

Harvest Tune (Marshall)

All the songs are spectacular on this release. I particularly enjoy:

Stranded in Kodiak (Thile)

Then the second to last track, just blows the record out of the water.

What a Blast! (Marshall/Thile)

Man, I wish I could play like that. Even play half as well as that! This album is fantastic.

Get On Board

I need to get everyone on board with one of my favorite guitarists of all time. Though this is not the album I started with, this is Pat's first. This album has had an incredible affect on jazz guitarists to this day. Recorded in Germany in a trio format, it has none other than Jaco Pastorius on bass and Bob Moses on drums. So really, we are going to check out two incredibly talented guitarists early in their careers.

I saw Pat live just last month in a trio and he still performs the title track; so I will give you that. I then I'll throw in an extra gem.

Bright Size Life

Missouri Uncompromised

Workin', indeed...

I was listening to three of the four classic Miles Davis Quintet albums last night while I was doing the dishes, stoking the fire, etc. There were four amazing MDQ records recorded in mid to late 1956. All with the same band: John Coltrane on tenor, Philly Joe Jones on the kit, Red Garland on piano and Paul Chambers on bass. This was just an amazing group that effortlessly worked together. Talk about tight. I have all four albums and they are fantastic. But back to last night, I had Steamin', Cookin' and Workin' on rotation last night. I was sitting there and this first tune from Workin' just blew me away again. Coltrane isn't even heard from but the rhythm section impeccably strolls along as Red sets the scene.

Tone and Control. Miles throws out a clinic. This would apply for all artists and musicians. This is an example of complete control of your tone. Phew.

It Never Entered My Mind

New Mexicana

I do not have much of a bio for Boris McCutcheon but I do have his first album Mother Ditch. It is an excellent folk/roots/americana deal. I believe he grew up in Massachusetts and moved to New Mexico where he currently resides. His first album is great and has a few Boston area players on it. What I truly like is his off beat songwriting and the fact that the album has touches of Old Time instrumentation. The whole album is solid but I will throw up my favorite. This track has Aaron Goff on mandolin and Mark Lever on tuba. Just the whole mood of the track is exceptional. And I always love the old school tuba replacing a bass. Throw that mandolin in there and I am hooked.

Enjoy.

Eden's Brow

Ain’t been to heaven but I been told

Well, I admit I am not a huge fan of Bruce (sorry, Jonathan) but I do own two albums: Nebraska and We Shall Overcome.

The latter isn't even really a Springsteen album as it is entirely covers of Pete Seeger songs. This album has a loose feel, with off-the cuff solos and jangly kitchen sink rhythms. It fun to Hear him yell on the key changes and who gets to solo next. It has that Springsteen enthusiasm too. There are a number of tracks that are excellent but it is the late 9, 10, 11 tracks that I think are best. Here is number nine:

Eyes On the Prize

This is one starts slow but builds momentum. It twangy, but the chorus kicks in and so do some 'Nawlins horns. Then mellows out meanwhile keeping Bruce gritty-ness throughout.

Enjoy.

Post Script Rant: Bruce contracts 18 musicians for an Old-Time record and doesn't hire one mandolinist?

Far From Enough

This is a pretty ironic title considering all the threads this album is going open on this here blog. Kind of exciting, in fact, at least for me. So to get right to it: this is a fantastic album that came out a few years ago. It is Victor Krauss' first solo album and he is Alison Krauss's brother. Victor has been a supporting a number of musicians before this project; too many for me to mention here besides a note that he is Lyle Lovett's bassist for a while (maybe still is).

I was reminded of this album from all the talk of the Robert Plant and Alison Krauss duets album that has come out recently. I guess I wasn't as skeptical as most on hearing about this collaboration. This is due to the Robert Plant cover that Alison sings on this album. I really like it and Alison's voice has always just slayed me. There will definitely be more posts with her involved in the future.

Big Log

But this album is so much more than that. I can't just leave you with that sample. Bill Frisell on guitar and Jerry Douglas on dobro really shine here. Any project with either of these guys will get me psyched. Bill adds so much texture to a project and songs take such great twists and turns when he is on board. Jerry Douglas is just a phenomenal talent and has played in a multitude of projects. Check out this fun little song:

Here To Be Me

We still haven't hit what this album is totally about and without posting the whole album I never will. Victor is so good at creating mood and context. There will definitely be more nuggets from all four of these artists in the future.

For A Good Time

Joy Kills Sorrow

This is a really cool band out of the Boston area. They have recently changed lead singers but this band is incredibly talented. As a buddy mandolin player, I especially enjoy the work of Joe Walsh. He does some terrific rhythm work and has very tasteful precise solos. Adam, on banjo, is extremely skilled and keeps the whole thing on track. And Matt, on guitar, has just won the National Flatpicking Championships recently I believe. There are accolades for whole band that a simple web search will reveal.

I have a bunch of their tunes and they are all so good and inspiring (at least for me). I have been listening to this a lot lately on the commute. Incredible vocals on all. I am putting up two older ones to start. I have more that I might post later. One tune has some great bass bowing on it. Check out the sedate but accurate chop of Joe, too.

Oh, I do need to add that both tracks are not a great recording. They start to break up at the very high reaches of the vocals; but I still think they are very listenable.


Barbara Ellen

Handsome Molly

The Rosewood Thieves

This album, I should say EP, came out last year but the beauty of being a new blog is that I have a ton of things to revisit. The Rosewood Thieves have just issued their second EP and thus the post. I wouldn't characterize this as Americana so much but it is very reminiscent of 60 folk -rock . I see Bob Dylan ( though he is kind a in everything), Beatles, ... i don't know , a few others; i guess it has all been said before. Every track on the EP is good. So here is a taste.

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