What I Listened to in 2009
I just can’t do this anymore. Music seems to have lost most of its relevance. I listen to almost no new music, i.e. music by new artists. I only listen to new and old music from the old fogies I mostly grew up on. Why? I suppose it is meant to be this way. Today’s music does not speak to me for the most part. Is it a quality issue? Maybe. Is it older age? Probably. I am amazed at the shelf life of the music of the 60’s and 70’s. Not only for me but for today’s listeners as well. A lot of that music still resonates
40+ years on. I wonder: forty years from now will people be listening to Modest Mouse, to Arcade Fire, to Phoenix? I suspect not.
Having vented and shown my age, I did listen to some stuff last year:
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Maria Muldaur & her Garden of Joy – Good Music for Hard Times
Geoff Muldaur and the Texas Sheiks
Depression-style jug band music makes a triumphant return in recession era. The tone is very appropriate to the times. Maria’s voice, in particular has aged very well.
Buy New or Used through amazonFire in My Bones – Raw + Rare + Other-worldly African-American Gospel (1944-2007)
Absolutely amazing compilation of raw (sometimes almost unlistenably raw) black church music. Included are the expected admonitions against rock & roll – tracks that rock themselves. There are some substandard tracks, but for the most part, this is incredible.
Buy New or Used through amazon OR @ eMusicKeep Your Soul – A Tribute to Doug Sahm
Took me several listens to appreciate this. For a relative commercial obscurity, Doug sure was influential. And missed.
Buy New or Used through amazonLevon Helm – Electric Dirt
A continuation of Levon’s disease-ravaged voicing of Americana, as only the one American born Band member could.
Buy New or Used through amazon OR @ eMusicThose Darlins
A silly confection of retro girl group punk. Especially recommended: DUI or Die
Buy New or Used through amazonTom Waits – Glitter and Doom Live
As entertaining as ever, typical Tom Waits. Especially recommended is the bonus disc of spoken material. He is a hoot.
Buy New or Used through amazon OR @ eMusicThe New Mastersounds – Plug & Play
Booker T lives.
Buy New or Used through amazonCharlie Haden Family & Friends – Rambling Boy.
Actually a 2008 release, but so what. Multi-genre Charlie enlists the whole family and others for a great roots release. Understated and elegant.
Buy New or Used through amazonJohn Fogerty – Blue Ridge Rangers Ride Again
Always a sucker for John. Not quite as rootsy as the first one, but great anyway.
Buy New or Used through amazonWilco – (the album)
Every time I have had enough of Jeff Tweedy, I get sucked in again, this time by the lack of pretense of this very popish album. But this is it, no more after this one (maybe).
Things I Missed Before but Picked Up on in 2009:
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Del-Lords – Frontier Days, Based on a True Story, and Johnny Comes Marching Home
Not sure why these 3 albums eluded me, but I listened to them a lot. Simple, straight forward, as music should be.
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Gogol Bordello –Live from Axis Mundi
Amazing.
Live Shows
Slavic Soul Party
Twice: once at the staid Academy of Music in Philadelphia and once on the water in an East River cruise (thanks Mark).
Leonard Cohen
Much has been written about his current tour, and I must admit that I had previously not been a big fan. I am a convert. A musically elegant performance that was mesmerizing. From the moment he skipped (yes skipped!) onto the stage, until he ran off 3 hours later, great. An impeccable band, completely in tune with Mr. Cohen.
Bloodshot Records Anniversary Concert
A day long, 11 hour marathon extravaganza of Bloodshot artists, current and former. A test of listening stamina, especially for the aging. Too many highlights! Robbie Fulks, Yayhoos, Bottle Rockets, Waco Brothers, Dex Romweber Duo. All for $5, including a brief buffet.
Irv, Philadelphia, PA