Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Saturday, 30 April 2011
VA - Celtic Heartbeat Collection 2 (1998)
There's so much gray area in the music generally termed Celtic that it's hard to know what to make of it. While some dives straight into the new age bins, much is as authentic as a shot of Bushmill's. This release is closer to Irish breakfast tea. It's new agey in spots, but with enough of the real thing to offer satisfaction. There are no pretensions of being traditional, and there's a definite attempt to woo the rock market, as on the song that finds the masterful Christy Moore joined by Bono and the Edge from U2. Nor are the women ignored. Kate Bush contributes her first new offering in a long time, singing in quite passable Gaelic. The crowning glory, ironically, belongs to someone who at one time seemed determined to put her heritage behind her--Sinead O'Connor. Here she gives a glorious sean nos--old style--rendition of "He Moves Through the Fair," one of the great songs from the tradition, with beautiful ornamentation, more than enough to tip the scales heavily in this collection's favor.
Labels:
Music
VA - Dressed In Black: A Tribute To Johnny Cash (2002) (Lossless)
As befits a release on a fledgling indie label, Dualtone's tribute to Johnny Cash celebrates the feistier fringes of the Man in Black's catalog, adding a few mainstream milestones. In what is plainly a labor of love for all concerned, highlights extend from the pop innocence of "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" by Rodney Crowell (formerly married to Johnny's daughter Rosanne) to the folkier strains and husband-and-wife harmonies of "Pack Up Your Sorrows" by Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis to the honky-tonk majesty of "I Still Miss Someone" by pianist Earl Poole Ball. Some of the more familiar touchstones don't fare quite as well, with Billy Burnette turning in a tepid "Ring of Fire" and Dale Watson singing in a lower than comfortable register on "I Walk the Line," though James Intveld rises to the challenge of "Folsom Prison Blues." The house band and the largely acoustic arrangements give the 18-cut album more unity than many such projects, as the collection shows why one of the most influential and commercially successful artists in country's history remains an icon of alt-country as well.
Labels:
Music
Tom Kubis Big Band - (Plays Steve Allen) - Fast Cars & Fascinating Women (1995)
Steve Allen, who was most famous as one of the great standup comedians and talk show hosts, enjoyed writing songs. Of the thousands that he penned, only "It Could Be the Start of Something Big" made it to become a standard. Tom Kubis arranged 36 of Allen's better songs for his big band, recording two CDs of which this was the first one. Kubis' charts always swing and they certainly uplift Allen's obscure songs, giving them plenty of life. With such soloists as trombonists Andy Martin, Charlie Morillas, Alex Iles, and Rich Bullock, trumpeters Ron Stout, Stan Martin, George Graham, and Jeff Bunnell, and Kubis on tenor, flute, and soprano, there are plenty of fine individual moments throughout the spirited set. Steve Allen makes a guest appearance, singing "The Girl Can't Help It." Overall, this CD is one of the strongest recordings of Allen's music. ~ Scott Yanow.
Labels:
Music


















