Just a quick note to let folks know that, although I'm holding off on posting anything of real significance this close to the move, thanks to some amazing benefactors and patronage, I'm hoping to have good news and a new site address sometime later this week. (Of course, there's always room for a bit more encouragement as the process continues; if you haven't had a chance to offer your support, please check out our call for patronage below.) The plan is to resume regular twice-weekly posting, with the depth and breadth [...]
Ziyah Gafic - Kabul Afghanistan (2006) Out in the desert there's a soldier lying dead . There's gotta be an end to that . It's a good time for Superman to lift the sun into the sky . All I want is a state of hope . There's a man on the horizon . He said "Oh yes you can" . Maybe hope can shine a light so true . To bring about the change within [...]
With that autumnal chill now prominently in the air, I figured it would be appropriate to discuss my favorite fall-time electric folk collective. There's nothing better than Fairport Convention on the ghetto blaster as the soundtrack to a crisp, dry, cool autumn evening. Evidently, the band agrees as well. Look at all those dried up dead leaves in the old band photo above. Smokey the Bear would have had a shit-fit if he was there. I know I have a bad habit of going off-topic and chasing tangents, but it's worth mentioning [...]
If you're a younger folkfan like myself, and you know Jim Henry at all, it's probably for his work with others – whether it's as a session musician for the likes of The Weepies, Mark Erelli , or Cliff Eberhardt, a guitar and mando collaborator with fellow stringwizard Brooks Williams a la Grisman and Garcia, or, most recently, as a David Rawlings to Tracy Grammer, whose career performing the songs of her late partner Dave Carter is much enriched by Jim's direct, honest string work, harmonies, and production. [...]
It's been a relatively quiet week over at collaborative themeblog Star Maker Machine , but I'm particularly proud of two coverheavy sets I put up earlier this week: a trio of Springsteen carsong covers from Ani DiFranco, Patty Griffin, and Townes Van Zandt, and a short set of tiny Woody Guthrie sillysong Riding in my Car , with covers by Springsteen and Cover Lay Down kidsong fave Elizabeth Mitchell . Some good guest posts over there this week, too, from a few of my favorite new [...]
While researching this post, I discovered an astounding thing: Richard Thompson had never made an appearance on Star Maker Machine! Fortunately, this little gem fits our theme perfectly. Richard Thompson: MGB-GT [ purchase ] If anyone needs an introduction, Richard Thompson was one of the founding members of Fairport Convention, the group that can be justly credited with inventing British folk-rock. After leaving Fairport, Thompson and wife Linda recorded as a duo for many years, producing well known songs such as "Shoot Out [...]
Teddy Thompson has released his fourth studio album, 'A Piece Of What You Need' - which includes one my favorite songs released in 2008, "In My Arms" . I've been intrigued by Teddy Thompson, not only because of his talent, but because of his ability to capture a rustic and classic sound that has subtly eased into the realm of mainstream music. It's also good to see true musicianship is still alive and well in the 21st century. Sometimes it's difficult to see musical camaraderie amongst the commercialization [...]
Tim Finn: Persuasion [ purchase ] Richard and Teddy Thompson: Persuasion [ purchase ] In my first entry for this week's theme, I looked at an example of song creation in which found poetry was adapted into song, both through minor textual change and, more significantly, through setting that material to original music. Today's song is the reverse: an adaptation of a borrowed instrumental into [...]
• Two beer-related news stories in one day? It must be Memorial Day weekend! I can't wait to go to work for seven hours and watch people strolling through the door with that look of complete and utter relaxation spread across their ugly faces. I'm not bitter about having to work on major holidays, trust me. So, yeah. Article number one speaks to the fact that in this "economic downturn" the price of brewing beer has risen, but the actual cost of beer has not. I guess that makes booze just about the only thing in this world that is [...]
Before last night, if I was going to make a list of my all time least favorite musicians, John Mayer definitely would have made the top five... probably third, after Kenny G and Barbra Streisand. Sure the guy's song are terrible, and despite being a massive tool, he seems to bag every hottie in Hollywood as if he were checking them off a list. But the biggest reason I can't stand the douchebag dates back his very first column in Esquire, when he responded to a query about The Beatles by saying "I've missed too many episodes to follow the [...]
It's been suggested that this will be the year of the British band at blogfave musicfest SXSW. Ironically, however, last year's SXSW featured a pair of sets by a seminal member of the original British Invasion, and hardly anyone seemed to notice, or remember. So while others prep for the indiefest, I thought it was high time to take a look back at a man who is so underrated in the US that none of the current generation of folk-rockers seem to bother listening to him, despite obvious musical similarities between today's indiepop and his [...]
i figured i'd put these two star spangles posts together. "i feel so good i'm going to make somebody's day tonight i feel so good i'm going to make somebody pay tonight i'm old enough to sin but i'm too young to vote society's been dragging on the tail of my coat now i've got a suitcase full of fifty pound notes and a half-naked woman with her tongue down my throat" richard thompson - i feel so good [...]
Agathe Snow - Right on Target (2007) 91) Blonde Redhead – 23 (mp3) 92) Black Kids – I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (mp3) 93) CSS - Music Is My Hot Hot Sex (mp3) 94) Lupe Fiasco - Dumb It Down (mp3) 95) Richard Thompson – Dad's Gonna Kill Me (mp3) 96) [...]
You know, when I was listening to this playlist this afternoon, I was struck by just how fun it was. Country covers are a blast, and here I am, sharing them with you. "Georgia On My Mind" Ray Charles "Georgia On My Mind" Willie Nelson "Georgia On My Mind" Taylor Hicks Taylor's version is absolutely great. Now he may be the American Idol winner, but when he recorded this version he was just a soul singer in Alabama. His is still [...]
I adore a good cover! The following are the ones that really amuse me. I'm On Fire by Carbon Leaf , covering Bruce Springsteen. They do this one a lot live, this particular version is from a set they did for iTunes. It can be found here. I am not a big fan of the original (I have issues with Bruce's voice), but this I love. Bron y Aur Stomp-She Talks to Angels by Carbon Leaf and Toby Lightman , covering Led [...]
The big news around these parts is we will be leaving these parts. For Thanksgiving , The Duchess, Duke Jr. and I are flying back to the Midwest. To stay at my parents house on the Mississippi River . To get me (and you all) in the mood for my time at the river, here are 30 " river " songs, and 3 " Mississippi " songs (1 overlap) and one named after the woman who is named after my hometown. Some you've heard here before, some you haven't. [...]
7 Means of Movement: Sailing Fairport Convention, A Sailor's Life (alternate take). Clifford Jenkins, The Sailor's Alphabet. World Party, Ship of Fools. As dark night drew on, the sea roughened: larger waves swayed strong against the vessel's side. It was strange to reflect that blackness and water were round us, and to feel the ship ploughing straight on her pathless way, despite noise,
OOPS... I DID IT AGAIN! (LIVE) Richard Thompson 1000 Years of Popular Music Cooking Vinyl : 2006 [Buy It] Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that. -Britney Spears
Meng een beetje folk, een scheutje country en een dosis pop en je krijgteen superlekker plaatje. Deze ingrediënten bevat het nieuwste album vande Britse singer en songwriter Richard Thompson. Je zult misschien zijnnaam herkennen - en dat zou ook niet gek zijn want deze man gaat allang mee in de muziekwereld. De man staat bekend om zijn meest veelzij-dige muziek, uiteenlopend van vrolijke countryl...
The day after a holiday (or the Grammys) is usually a wasteland for new releases, but there's still some worth checking out this week. The latest releases from Richard Thompson , Juliana Hatfield and Je Suis France rank in order from great to interesting. Also: releases from alterna-legends Perry Farrell (with his Satellite Party ) and Smashing Pumpkins (single.) Playlist: New Releases 05.29.07 ------------------------------ ---------------- Album: Richard Thompson - Sweet Warrior [...]
Cover Lay Down
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Sleeve: “1991″ by Azealia Banks
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Music Singles Chart #109
