Recommend One Al*** From 2008
Posted by: u5227470736789524 on 25 November 2008
Bret Mosley "Light & Blood"
from cd baby.com
A linebacker, a fur trapper, a ballet dancer, a stockbroker, an actor, a computer programmer and a yoga teacher all walk into a room…
You know, birds of a feather…
Actually, there's only one guy standing there.
And it's dobro-spanking singer of songs, Bret Mosley. Yes indeed, he's had a none-too-mundane trip. And it has shaped a voice and vibe like none you've ever heard before…yet it all feels dearly familiar. Music flows raw and steady through this native Texan's veins. Born into a musical family, his first performance was at age 6 when he lit a fire under a retirement home audience with his rendition of "Wildwood Flower." At age 11 – a good while before turntables became musical instruments – he turned a Chet Atkins record by hand to learn "Yakety Axe" note-by-note. He still has the guitar, even though some dear soul at UPS drove a forklift through it several years ago as the culmination to an extremely uphill stint in L.A. It was that experience, though, that helped him wring out his first song, "Lord, Girl".
Brooklyn-based Mosley recently released his first studio album Light & Blood on Woodstock MusicWorks (12/04/07)…thirteen tracks recorded over a two-day span in March 2007 by Pete Caigan (Bad Brains, Tony Levin) at Flymax Studio in Woodstock, NY, and mixed by Grammy-nominated engineer Roman Klun (Sarah McLachlan). Every track was performed live with no overdubs or punch-ins. The result is at once lean and lush...a smoldering confessional work…soulful Americana laced with a driving groove.
He topped off 2007 with a bang, invited to sit in with the renowned Jerry Joseph on a late-night set after the SRO Light & Blood NYC release party at the Living Room. 2008 highlights so far include opening for Big Brother and The Holding Company, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Bret's December 6, 2007 release party at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock was listed in the Top 5 Live Shows of 2007 (just behind Jack Ingram, Ted Nugent, Queen Latifah and Bob Dylan) by upstate New York critic Sandy Tomcho.
He's just fine to go it alone with his dobro and stompboard—and when he doesn't he's with his new band featuring drummer Craig Santiago (Kaki King, Malcolm Burn), bassist John Trent, and cellist extraordinaire Trevor Exter. The band recently debuted on the air at NPR affiliate WAMC 90.3 FM to hundreds of thousands of lucky listeners.
His unreservedly original sound, a deeply authentic soulful rockin' funky blue Americana groove – has gathered an audience ranging from cowhands to bankers, from rastas to cops.
You know, birds of a feather…
from cd baby.com
A linebacker, a fur trapper, a ballet dancer, a stockbroker, an actor, a computer programmer and a yoga teacher all walk into a room…
You know, birds of a feather…
Actually, there's only one guy standing there.
And it's dobro-spanking singer of songs, Bret Mosley. Yes indeed, he's had a none-too-mundane trip. And it has shaped a voice and vibe like none you've ever heard before…yet it all feels dearly familiar. Music flows raw and steady through this native Texan's veins. Born into a musical family, his first performance was at age 6 when he lit a fire under a retirement home audience with his rendition of "Wildwood Flower." At age 11 – a good while before turntables became musical instruments – he turned a Chet Atkins record by hand to learn "Yakety Axe" note-by-note. He still has the guitar, even though some dear soul at UPS drove a forklift through it several years ago as the culmination to an extremely uphill stint in L.A. It was that experience, though, that helped him wring out his first song, "Lord, Girl".
Brooklyn-based Mosley recently released his first studio album Light & Blood on Woodstock MusicWorks (12/04/07)…thirteen tracks recorded over a two-day span in March 2007 by Pete Caigan (Bad Brains, Tony Levin) at Flymax Studio in Woodstock, NY, and mixed by Grammy-nominated engineer Roman Klun (Sarah McLachlan). Every track was performed live with no overdubs or punch-ins. The result is at once lean and lush...a smoldering confessional work…soulful Americana laced with a driving groove.
He topped off 2007 with a bang, invited to sit in with the renowned Jerry Joseph on a late-night set after the SRO Light & Blood NYC release party at the Living Room. 2008 highlights so far include opening for Big Brother and The Holding Company, and the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Bret's December 6, 2007 release party at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock was listed in the Top 5 Live Shows of 2007 (just behind Jack Ingram, Ted Nugent, Queen Latifah and Bob Dylan) by upstate New York critic Sandy Tomcho.
He's just fine to go it alone with his dobro and stompboard—and when he doesn't he's with his new band featuring drummer Craig Santiago (Kaki King, Malcolm Burn), bassist John Trent, and cellist extraordinaire Trevor Exter. The band recently debuted on the air at NPR affiliate WAMC 90.3 FM to hundreds of thousands of lucky listeners.
His unreservedly original sound, a deeply authentic soulful rockin' funky blue Americana groove – has gathered an audience ranging from cowhands to bankers, from rastas to cops.
You know, birds of a feather…
This my record of the year by a short-head from re-issue of many Shirley Collins tracks on her Harvest Years collection.
CSI: Ambleside is wonderful album that becomes more appealing with every listen.
Thirteen tracks that are so quintessentially English that they make Ray Davies's Waterloo Sunset seem almost transatlantic.
Evening Of Swing (Has Been Cancelled)
Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess
Took Problem Chimp To Ideal Home Show
Ode To Joyce
Blue Badge Abuser
Totnes Bickering Fair
King Of Hi-Vis
Lord Hereford's Knob
On The 'Roids
Petty Sessions
Little In The Way Of Sunshine
Give Us Bubblewrap
National Shite Day
The lyrics tackle what most of us acknowledge as the problems we all face in day to day life:
Checkmate
Dennis Bell of Torquay
Too late
With your N to e3
Good game sir
Do you want another bout?
Well Dennis ain’t replying
Cause he just signed out
Bad losers on Yahoo Chess
........
Cetshwayo got a shock
When he attacked Rorke’s Drift
But he didn’t get stroppy
And he didn’t get miffed
Ernie Shackleton retreated
Close to the Pole
He didn’t want men dying
To achieve his goal
But did he get a cob on
No he gave a little grin
Heed this Dennis Bell
When you next sign in
Bad Losers On Yahoo Chess
or Nigel B's observation on the growing trend to find things to entice people to take an interest in the world around them
Assorted nautical jigsaws
Horticultural slideshows
Another castle by Edward the First
Another manor house supposedly cursed
Don’t they realise we’re easily pleased?
Don’t they know that all they’ve really got to do is
Give us bubblewrap
Hendrix sung Hey Joe, Wind Cries Mary, but never a song about Joyce
Hey Joyce
I know you’re not as far out as Ronnie Boyce
And I am aware that you’ve got a few quirks
But it hurts when I hear
All the songs to Maria
When we haven’t really done with J
Or K
Much to my dismay
When the bad gets worse I turn to a girl called Joyce
....
And the brook runs crystal clear
And the wind cries Joyce
And to a familiar tune, we have
I stick me big nose in
When I go out
Sealed-off car park
What’s it all about?
I like an altercation with a member of staff
“That was a ten pound note!”
I ring up Dial-A-Pizza
I ring up Dial-A-Pizza
I ring up Dial-A-Pizza
And say that’s not how I would spell “Hawaiian”
Facebook Mum
YouTube Dad
Sea Bass Man Bag
Fifty quid to Chad
It's life Jim and exactly as we know, it sums up what living in the UK is all about - love it or hate it (and there's plenty of reasons to do both), it is as it is.
CSI: Ambleside is a wonderful record from four lads who shook the Wirral and could have gone on to conquer the world, but quite frankly, they couldn't be bothered, and that is a quality that I find admirable.
ATB Rotf
I recommend this. Orchestral pop along the lines of Zombies IMHO. while not my absolute favorite, I really enjoy it from start to finish, especially while staring at the cover!!
No single doubt in my mind.
No hesitation.
No hesitation.
quote:Originally posted by jim learoyd:
For me it's just got to be:
Shelby Lynne "Just a little lovin". A class album from start to finish.
jim.....
I second that.
quote:Originally posted by Luxen:
No single doubt in my mind.
No hesitation.
... only recommended if you can handle the compression.
Biases aside...I know this album inside out and back to front and I am still enchanted by it. Difficult to find those kinds of records these days...
"The Hawk Is Howling" by Mogwai...
Well, if I HAD to pick just one, it would probably be Strauss's Alpensinfonie played by Jansons and the Concertgebouw on their own label - it's just blown me away (and I'm not normally the biggest Strauss fan) and I can't stop listening.
However, there's been lots of good stuff (I think, I'm not 100% certain all these are 2008 so sorry if not).
I enjoyed Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds latest effort Dig Lazarus Dig very much.
The final instalment of Paul Lewis's Beethoven sonata series confirmed him as someone to watch and one of the finest interpreters of the composer (I can't wait for the forthcoming concertos and Diabelli Variations.
Marin Alsop recorded a wonderful Dvorak 9th symphony with the Baltimore orchestra on Naxos, hopefully more are to follow.
I also very enjoyed young Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth's debut disc which included the concertos of Haydn and Hummel.
Lastly, I'll have to mention Mackerras (probably in a very close second place to Jansons, and only because I always expected great things from this disc so it wasn't a lovely surprise in the same way) and his recording with the SCO of Mozart's last four symphonies on Linn records. More please.
regards, Tam
However, there's been lots of good stuff (I think, I'm not 100% certain all these are 2008 so sorry if not).
I enjoyed Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds latest effort Dig Lazarus Dig very much.
The final instalment of Paul Lewis's Beethoven sonata series confirmed him as someone to watch and one of the finest interpreters of the composer (I can't wait for the forthcoming concertos and Diabelli Variations.
Marin Alsop recorded a wonderful Dvorak 9th symphony with the Baltimore orchestra on Naxos, hopefully more are to follow.
I also very enjoyed young Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth's debut disc which included the concertos of Haydn and Hummel.
Lastly, I'll have to mention Mackerras (probably in a very close second place to Jansons, and only because I always expected great things from this disc so it wasn't a lovely surprise in the same way) and his recording with the SCO of Mozart's last four symphonies on Linn records. More please.
regards, Tam
Too many favorites to report all but if I was forced to capture a few highlights throughout the year I'd probably mention the following. Some may not be new for 2008 but they were bought in 2008 and I've probably had more repeat listens for months on end of these than the 100's of other albums I could mention without any reservation as well.
1) I've always appreciated Alfred Brendel and have the highest admiration for his interpretations and for his insight, conviction, and knowledge regarding music. I have most of his recordings and listen to them regularly (especially his 3 different sets of Beethoven sonatas). This is the year Alfred Brendel is retiring from the concert stage after a 60 year run. I'd highly recommend any Alfred Brendel recording. (What I would have given to hear him live at least once....)
2) 2008 was also the year that I suddenly grew to really appreciate Andras Schiff. His Beethoven Sonata series on ECM (Eight CD's) is now complete and I quite like it.
3) Murray Perahia is another pianist with quite a legacy and unquestionable devotion to music. 2008 saw the return to the recording studio after yet another period of dealing with a hand injury. Hoping we can continue to benefit from many more upcoming recordings.
4) Jean-Efflam Bavouzet was the new kid on the block for me. His complete recordings of Debussy's works for Piano is stunning and this set (4 CD's) is among the best that I own.
5) Neil Young is certainly one of my all time favorites and my favorite album this year was the 1971 Massey Hall concert. I just love this album and I can't help feeling like I'm part of the audience.
1) I've always appreciated Alfred Brendel and have the highest admiration for his interpretations and for his insight, conviction, and knowledge regarding music. I have most of his recordings and listen to them regularly (especially his 3 different sets of Beethoven sonatas). This is the year Alfred Brendel is retiring from the concert stage after a 60 year run. I'd highly recommend any Alfred Brendel recording. (What I would have given to hear him live at least once....)
2) 2008 was also the year that I suddenly grew to really appreciate Andras Schiff. His Beethoven Sonata series on ECM (Eight CD's) is now complete and I quite like it.
3) Murray Perahia is another pianist with quite a legacy and unquestionable devotion to music. 2008 saw the return to the recording studio after yet another period of dealing with a hand injury. Hoping we can continue to benefit from many more upcoming recordings.
4) Jean-Efflam Bavouzet was the new kid on the block for me. His complete recordings of Debussy's works for Piano is stunning and this set (4 CD's) is among the best that I own.
5) Neil Young is certainly one of my all time favorites and my favorite album this year was the 1971 Massey Hall concert. I just love this album and I can't help feeling like I'm part of the audience.
quote:Originally posted by Florestan:
1) I've always appreciated Alfred Brendel and have the highest admiration for his interpretations and for his insight, conviction, and knowledge regarding music. I have most of his recordings and listen to them regularly (especially his 3 different sets of Beethoven sonatas). This is the year Alfred Brendel is retiring from the concert stage after a 60 year run. I'd highly recommend any Alfred Brendel recording. (What I would have given to hear him live at least once....)
I wouldn't disagree with any of this, but I would quibble as to whether this collection can really be called a disc of 2008. After all, it is just 4 previous sets (the most recent of which is the Diabelli Variations set, released in 2007) which have just been stuck into one slip case.
On Brendel, Brilliant have just reissued a 35 disc box of his old Vox and Vanguard recordings, which is superb and extremely cheap (if not quite so wonderful as his later recordings).
regards, Tam
absolutely stunning in every way ...
quote:Originally posted by Ewan Aye:
I would second this one. Not much has given me a rush of blood this year.
Maybe I need to give The Porcupine Tree more of a listen as a lot of guys on the forum love them.
quote:Originally posted by ewemon:quote:Originally posted by Ewan Aye:
I would second this one. Not much has given me a rush of blood this year.
Maybe I need to give The Porcupine Tree more of a listen as a lot of guys on the forum love them.
Bruce W.,
are you reading this?
Best
Huw