Monthly Archives: November 2011

Personal & the Pizzas: Diet, Crime and Delinquency

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Joey Ramone meets Stiv Bators and Handsome Dick Manitoba

This three-song EP could easily be lumped into the neo-Ramones category, but as Jason Diamond of Impose Magazine suggests, there’s a strong helping of Stiv Bators’ post-Dead Boys pop, and the opening monologue (which tells kids to smoke, drink, fight and eat pizza) rolls in the self-aggrandizing style of the Dictators’ Handsome Dick Manitoba. The closing “Bored Out of My Brains” is among the best Ramones songs never actually written or recorded by the Ramones. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

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Willie Nelson: Remember Me, Vol. 1

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Willie Nelson strolls through great country hits

In contrast to the deeper picks of last year’s Country Music, this year’s model has Nelson working through some of the most famous tunes in country music’s chart history. Included are signature hits from Ernest Tubb (“Remember Me”), Merle Travis (“Sixteen Tons”), George Jones (“Why Baby Why”), Hank Snow (“I’m Movin’ On”), Porter Wagoner (“A Satisfied Mind”), and many others. Nelson teams with Nashville session players and producer James Stroud (the ‘J’ in the R&J record label) to record surprisingly straightforward and twangy covers of fourteen selections. The singularity of Nelson’s artistry allows these simple recitations to escape the shadows cast by the original hits; the instant identifiably of his voice is all that’s needed to make these songs his own. The result finds Nelson easily sharing the stage with both the songs and their famous originators, as if he were a cabaret singer taking a stroll through the great American songbook. It’s just that the songbook in question is mostly Nashville’s rather than Tin Pan Alley’s.

The song list selects heavily from the 1950s, but dips back into the mid-40s and forward to Vern Gosdin’s 1989 hit “That Just About Does It.” The one pick from outside the country charts is Rosemary Clooney’s 1954 pop chart-topper “This Old House.” Nelson and Stroud set the latter into the song list with a light swing arrangement that’s half way between Clooney’s original and Shakin’ Stevens’ 1981 rockabilly cover. The swinging continues with Tex Williams’ “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” and Bob Wills’ “Roly Poly,” providing balance to ballads that include a wonderfully idiosyncratic take on Ray Price’s “Release Me.” It’s a mark of Nelson’s stature and impact on country music that his unique styling provides inspiration, rather than a challenge, for the assembled pickers. This is a fine, easy-going collection of covers, as much about Nelson as it is about the hits. The sessions turned out enough finished works for a second volume, which is expected next year. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

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Arthur Lyman: Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)

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Vibraphone master gives holiday classics an exotica twist

Together with Martin Denny, vibraphonist Arthur Lyman defined the Hawaii-based instrumental style known as “exotica.” After recording the seminal Exotica album with Denny’s combo, Lyman struck out on his own, recording numerous jazz-flavored exotica albums for the Hi-Fi and Life labels, including the classic Taboo in 1958. This holiday entry was originally released in 1964, and features Lyman’s exquisite mallet work on a dozen titles. In Lyman’s hands, these classic Christmas songs take on an island languor you’re unlikely to hear in others’ versions, but it’s not all drifting and dreaming, as Lyman’s combo turns up the tempo on a few stagey romps. If you’ve tired of the crooners and rockers, Lyman’s brand of Polynesian pop-jazz will provide you a sheltered cove for the holidays. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

Buck Owens and Susan Raye: Merry Christmas from Buck Owens and Susan Raye

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Bakersfield country legend sings original holiday fare

Buck Owens was no stranger to holiday recordings, having released Christmas with Buck Owens and his Buckaroos in 1965 and Christmas Shopping in 1968. By the time of this album’s release in 1971, Owens was recording duets with Susan Raye, and riding the tail of their first three hits, this holiday album was released. Ten of the eleven tracks are originals, capped by Raye’s solo cover of Gene Autry’s “Here Comes Santa Claus.” The songs favor idealistic Norman Rockwell-styled holiday scenes, but there are a few mournful lyrics of missing fathers, absent lovers and tough economic times. Raye sings lower harmonies than Owens or Don Rich, making these duets satisfyingly distinct from earlier recordings of these titles with the Buckaroos. Fans should start their Buck Owens holiday collection with Christmas with Buck Owens, but when you’ve played it to death, this is a good addition to the carousel. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

Tommy Emmanuel: All I Want for Christmas

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Superbly talented guitarist picks holiday chestnuts

Australian guitar player Tommy Emmanuel may just be the single most talented picker of his generation. His finger- and flat-picking are precise yet graceful, with tone that’s clean but still soulful. Emmanuel sticks to his acoustic here, playing in both solo and band settings. It’s the former, in which his syncopated bass runs support the melodies, that is the most mesmerizing. The song list is mostly well-worn chestnuts, but Emmanuel’s sprightly and sensitive renderings make them sound fresh. This album will fit perfectly into many different holiday activities, whether you need background music for family gatherings, meditative instrumentals to unwind after the rigors of shopping, or rich instrumental versions of Christmas classics to set a holiday mood. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

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Lyle Lovett: Songs for the Season

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A three-song holiday treat from Lyle Lovett

This three-song EP from Lyle Lovett includes jazzy covers of Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmastime is Here” and Frank Loesser’s “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” with vocalist Kat Edmonson serving as harmonist and foil. There’s also a sly new original, “The Girl with the Holiday Smile.” The latter is slated to reappear on Lovett’s next album, but the cool yuletide covers are only available here. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

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Haley Reinhart and Casey Abrams: Baby, It’s Cold Outside

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Talented American Idol Top-10 finalists sing a holiday duet

Reinhart and Abrams were each too sophisticated and jazz-oriented to win the popularity contest of American Idol, but hopefully the attention they received will turn into full-length releases. In the meantime, this duet is a nice showcase for their hip style of singing. Too bad they didn’t include an Abrams bass solo! [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

Haley Reinhart’s Home Page
Casey Abrams’ American Idol Page

Sherrié Austin: Circus Girl

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Sherrié Austin writes for her female fans

It’s been more than eight years since Australia-to-Nashville transplant Sherrié Austin released her last solo album. She’s been busy in the interim starring in Broadway musicals (including Bonnie & Clyde and Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show) and writing songs for Blake Shelton (“Startin’ Fires”), George Strait (“Where Have I Been All My Life”) and Tim McGraw & Faith Hill (“Shotgun Riders”). She also spent time rethinking the writing she did for herself, and began penning songs expressly aimed at her like-aged forty-something female fans. Many of her songs (several of which were recorded previously by other artists) address unrequited desire, both humorously, with the romantic incompatibility of “I Didn’t” and datelessness of “If I Was a Man,” and introspectively in the search for self of “Tryin’ to Be Me.” There’s romantic discord, both in-process and fully digested into spiteful recrimination, but it’s Austin’s ability to dramatize every day details and wrap them in modern-pop flavored country that will appeal to “Friday Night Girls.” She fits into a growing group of female country songwriters, including Matraca Berg and Suzy Bogguss, whose post-radio careers are proving a fertile perch from which to write songs for their peers, rather than for Music Row. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

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4th Annual Beatles Complete On Ukulele Concert

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PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK, NY: The 4th Annual Beatles Complete On Ukulele Marathon Concert returns to Brooklyn Bowl on Saturday January 14, 2012 from 3-11 PM. Every Original Beatle Song (185) will be performed by some of New York’s top players sprinkled with a star or two. Previous shows have featured Nellie McKay, Ben Kweller, The Pierces, The Naked Brothers Band, Ryan Miller of Guster and many, many more.

The event is produced by Performance Philanthropist and Ukulele Master Roger Greenawalt, who has raised literally hundreds of dollars for the likes of Yoko Ono, EMI Records, and most famously, beloved billionaire Warren Buffett. Buffett used his 2009 donation to buy 17 ukuleles for at risk inner city youth through his daughter Susie’s pet charity, Girls Inc. of Omaha.

This year’s beneficiary is the world’s leading investment bank, Goldman Sachs. Why give money to Goldman Sachs, when they already have so much? Greenawalt explains: “Unfortunately it appears that by entirely legal means, Goldman Sachs has been able to acquire The Government of The United States of America. It’s up to We The People to get creative. I have an idea that’s so crazy it might just work. It’s called Buy America Back from Wall Street!”

Based on past shows, Greenawalt feels confident that the concert will be able to comfortably raise somewhere in the neighborhood of “the high three figures.” Greenawalt hopes this will serve as an initial good faith gesture and down payment until The American People are able to come up with the other $14 trillion or so to Buy America Back from Wall Street. After the show, Greenawalt will personally deliver the cash to Goldman Sachs in a brown paper bag/photo opportunity just like he did with Warren Buffett.

Opening the festivities again this year will be the Mass Uke Mob, all audience members who show up between 2:00 and 2:30 with a ukulele will be admitted free. There will be a rehearsal and then the entire volunteer uke group will take to the stage to play together two easy three-chord Beatle songs, “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road,” and “All Together Now.”

This is a kid friendly event. Headliners TBA.

For more info see Greenawalt’s site, where he is rerecording uke versions of the entire Beatles catalog: beatlescompleteonukulele.com

Brooklyn Bowl
61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY
www.brooklynbowl.com

Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings: Collector’s Edition Box Set

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Legendary bassist’s post-Stones R&B band

After leaving the Rolling Stones in 1992, bassist Bill Wyman formed the Rhythm Kings around a core of Graham Broad, Andy Fairweather-Low, Georgie Fame, Albert Lee, Beverly Skeete and Geraint Watkins. The group is joined by a revolving line-up of British all-stars that has included Gary Brooker, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins and Mick Taylor. Wyman shares lead vocals with Fame, Skeete, Watkins, and the occasional guest, such as Paul Carrack. Wyman’s hoarse whisper hasn’t the power or charisma of Mick Jagger, but with the crack band chugging away, and the other vocalists taking the lion’s share of leads, his limitations aren’t really noticeable. The mix of original and cover songs play out like a rhythm and blues review, like Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, minus the stoned country influences. Proper American’s box set pulls together the group’s first four studio albums, from their 1998 debut, Struttin’ Our Stuff, through 2001’s two-CD Double Bill, packaged in mini-LP sleeves in a cardboard wrapper, with full credits and new liner notes by Bud Scoppa. There’s nothing revelatory here, but if you enjoy a night out with a talented band happily playing jump blues, R&B and rock ‘n’ roll favorites (not to mention new compositions that will remind you of your favorites), this is a nice spin. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com]

Bill Wyman’s Home Page