Category: Music

Genre: Album  

Grade:  B+

Notable People: The Jayhawks, Produced by: Gary Louris

Title: XOXO

Review:    The umpteenth album from the venerable country rock outfit has no revelations- but very sold in their usual way of producing highly melodic tunes, with well-crafted lyrics, superior musicianship and soaring harmonies. This album marks a departure in that it seems much more like a true band album than any previously, with mastermind Louris taking a back seat at times to the other three members on both writing credits and lead vocals. I like this a lot-they are multi- talented group. Jayhawk albums are always a welcome addition, though I miss the days when the band was built around Louris and long gone co-founder Gay Larsen’s twin writing and Everly-esq harmonies- never quite been the same since he left…..but still durable, reliable and polished music. Keep ‘em coming.

Genre: Album 

Grade:  A

Notable People: Bill Frisell with Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston Produced by: Lee Townsend

Title: Valentine

Review:    Need a break from our current realities? Check out this wonderful, latest Bill Frisell album……or any Frisell album for that matter. All of his dozens of recordings are similar- one tasteful and brilliantly arranged tune after another. Frisell is a true master-genius of the guitar- in my view the worlds’ greatest living jazz oriented guitarist- comparable to Django, Wes Montgomery and Charlie Christian of days gone by. He takes both his own splendid compositions and songs you’ve heard a million times, and makes them into an otherworldly mix of rhythm, licks and sumptuous melody. This set features a trio- one of his may configurations…. with his regular ally- the brilliant Morgan on bass and the fabulous Royston on skins. Frisell for President!

Genre: Album   

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Arlo McKinley, Produced by: Matt Ross-Spang

Title: Die Midwestern

Review:    McKinley emerged from Cincinnati’s vibrant music scene and shuffled on down to Memphis to record this beauty. Crispy produced by Ross-Spang, who has produced John Prine and Margo Price records-  and featuring a full on crack session band, this album is an absolute throwback to the height of 70s country rock, with echoes of everyone form Gene Clark to Johnny Paycheck, with the ghost of the recently passed Justin Townes Earle thrown in. McKinley’s 10 original songs are drenched in emotion from a wounded heart- some apparently composed in a funeral home parking lot after carrying the coffin of his best friend. The title song features the mantra “never going to get out of Ohio alive” …..which I may be a bit too close to home for yours truly. Lyrics may be a bit dark for some, but the music and production are wonderful.

Genre: Album

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Bruce and The Band, Produced by: Ron Aniello, Bruce

Title: Letter to You

Review:    Bruce’s’ 20th studio album and his first since 2014 with The E-Street gang….is a magnificent throwback to his late 70 efforts. Reminiscent of Darkness on the Edge of Town……all jangly guitars, deep and sometimes foreboding lyrics, Roy Bittan’s tasteful driving piano and a wall of guitars and backup vocals. Miami Steve and Nils Lofgren shine with the extra guitars and Max Weinberg may be the most underrated rock drummer around. The tunes miss The Big Man’s sax efforts, but Clarence’s nephew does a nice job of filling in for his late uncle. I had kind of lost interest in most of what Bruce has been doing in recent years, but this will catch your attention. Still a master.

Genre: Album      

Grade:  A

Notable People: Neil Young, Ben Keith, Tim Drummond, Karl Himmel, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, Produced by: Neil Young and Ben Keith

Title: Homegrown

Review:    Oh boy…this is like running into an old friend after a 40-year absence……too good to be true. Max got this for me for pop’s day…on VINYL. So after, a half day getting my old turntable hooked up and functional……Voila…. Originally recorded in 1974-5 and set for release then, Neil shelved it in favor of the much darker and political “Tonight’s the Night” and “On the Beach” …. saying at the time that it was too personal. Many incarnations and years later, he felt ready to be more open. It’s a piece of time for sure….very much of that period….CLASSIC…..some songs on the album have been around for years: Love is Rose has been a Bunty Station staple for many years ; Homegrown….wow, that was a staple of summer camp I worked in 1976, exposing the poor vulnerable children to material that was thankfully over their heads (Mike G.- are you reading this?)…played with just guitar and washtub bass if you can imagine; and Star of Bethlehem showed up year later on his Stars and Bars album…..the crack classic Neil country iteration band had Ben Keith on steel, Karl Himmel on drums and the great Tim Drummond on bass. We also get some cuts with Emmylou on vocals, Levon on drums, and even one with Robbie Robertson on guitar. Too good to be true…send more, Neil….

Genre: Album  

Grade:  A-

Notable People: Dr. John, The Nevilles, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Produced by: Stewart Levine   

Title: Goin’ Back to New Orleans

Review:    The Doctor is making house calls on this wonderful 1992 release I got from The Nave for my birthday. Filled with Cajun’, Blues and Swampy rhythms and the magnificent keyboard musings and silver vocals of Mr. Rebennack, this is a reminder of the greatness of this one of a kind performer. Top- notch backing musicians. Charmed with the sounds and myths of The Easy. A refreshing throwback. Got to go get me some Gumbo.

Genre: Album

Grade:  B+

Notable People: Van The Man and his sterling band

Title: Three Chords & The Truth

Review:    Another….and another….and another……Van The Mans’ 52^nd (count ‘em) album release since the mid-60s…. Whoa-can you say prolific?……………..Nothing new here…but The Voice is as good as ever, the songs are well catchy and written and the backing band top notch…after a while they all sound pretty much the same…but no less for it….He is THE MAN…It’s like CHURCH…………a treasure….

Genre: Album

Grade: Not Rated

Notable People: Brother Al Ball, Ferlin’ Berry, Flaco Hanson, Floyd Morrison, Martinman Tayse, Special Guest: Feel Unetic, With: Marty Reiter, Produced by: Patrick Cody

Title: “Sweetheart” Live

Review: The Bunty boys have hit the Vermont studio again for their fourth studio effort in 40 + years. Bunty Station has been together for 25 years and plays a blend of folk, bluegrass, country, blues and rock music- all forms of American roots music- sometimes dubbed “Country and Eastern”. The band members prefer playing in living rooms but are reluctant living legends on the Pig Roast circuit and are perennial favorites of Central Ohio’s Lutheran communities. The band has its origins in the Columbus 70’s cult band, Steaks and Chops- of which there are three founding members; joined on this outing by the fourth living founding S&C member…the elusive Feel….plus local slide guitar master, Marty. Famed for playing at the primary intersections of very small towns”, this outing finds the Bunty boys paying homage to the 50th anniversary of the Byrd’s “Sweetheart of the Rodeo”, which ushered in the American Country Rock movement in 1968. The Bunty boys present the album’s eleven songs as they were presented on the original Byrds recordings. The last bonus track is a fortieth year re-recording of Berry’s “Rundown Vision”……a band highlight for years. I’d say this is an album not to miss…but I may be biased.

Full video:https://www.dropbox.com/s/w6ip563n1aynx84/BuntyStation_SweetheartoftheRodeoSessions_Full.mp4?dl=0

Genre: Album
Grade: A-/B+
Notable People: Robbie Robertson, Van the Man, Frederick Yonnet, Derrick Trucks

Title: Sinematic
Review: The sixth solo album from the legendary leader of The Band is not much of a surprise. Eccentric guitar and very eccentric raspy vocals that are an acquired taste. I did not really like the album on first listen, but it has grown on me. Robbie has always been a superb songwriter and way, way out there in subject matter. The opening song, featuring the great Van Morrison, is about hit men (called men who paint houses)….and it continues from there. There is a lament for his long-lost brethren in The Band called “ Once Were Brothers” which is really sad. (Robbie and Garth Hudson are the only survivors of what may have been the greatest ever American band). That song is from a documentary on The Band just released and winning prizes at film fests (directed by Robbie’s long-time buddy, Martin Scorsese). I imagine you have to be longtime fan to really get into this…which I certainly am.

Genre: Album

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Van Morrison, Joey Defrancesco

Title: You’re Driving Me Crazy

Review: Van the Man’s 39th album (yes, 39!)- is a new studio collaboration between Van Morrison and legendary Hammond organist Joey DeFrancesco. It features interpretations of jazz and blues standards as well as selections from Van Morrison’s songbook and is the follow-up to 2017’s ‘Versatile’, Van’s chart-topping jazz album. Nothing revolutionary here, but Van just keeps churning out quality rock, Celtic, blues and jazz-he even plays some saxophone on this one. Must have for Van lovers….and good juju for the rest.