June Tabor/Michelle Shocked album help please?

I don't know about the best, but Arkansas Traveler is my favorite Michelle Shocked album. I haven't heard of June Tabor, but if she's similar to Michelle Shocked I'll have to check her out.

June Tabor's latest album "Ashore" is just superb. Excellent songs and recording quality. My album of the year to date.

John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wgzKpWWEjA

Easy. Both v-good. But in moderation, IMHO.

June Tabor - try A Cut Above and Freedom & Rain (thats with the Oyster Band - devestating combination.)

Shell Shocked - try Texas Campfire and Short Sharp Shocked

In both cases, I prefer their older stuff...

Michelle Shocked "Short Sharp Shocked", great album.

"Arkansas Traveler" is good as well.

Thanks Guy's.

I will check them out.

Vinyl would be good?

Keep them coming

I agree with these as an intro to her most accessible work. Great records. Try also "Kind Hearted Woman" which is a lo-fi recording of great tunes with simple accompaniment. "Texas Campfire Tapes" is a VERY lo-fi recording, literally recorded on a walkman around a campfire. Nice tunes, though.

An interesting, wonderful and extremely talented artist. Highly recommended.

A bit like recommending a "Best of" CD but "Anthology" is a great intro to June Tabor.

A big, big second to Ian's recommendation - great selection of songs (including covers of Billy Bragg, Velvet Underground, Richard Thompson, Shane McGowan), and an excellent recording. I'd never heard the Oyster Band before hearing that album and it led me on to their albums, which if you like this one are also worth pursuing.

Michelle Shocked was brilliant in the 80s but I saw her live about 10 years ago in Birmingham's Glee Club looking distinctly out of sorts. She left mid-way through her set and didn't return.....

Same thing happened at the Manchester Academy around the same time. Played 3 or 4 songs then walked off. The band stayed on stage playing a selection of Billy Cobham songs, in the hope she'd return. Unfortunately she didn't.

Wow. Many years ago I saw her Sydney around the time "Kind Hearted Woman" was released (bought it a the concert) and she was great. None of the issues you describe.

I saw her at the time Kind Hearted Woman was released, also bought it at the concert. Good album but very depressing. Great gig, it was probably 3 years later I saw her walk off stage.

For June Tabor you could investigate her 'Anthology' album which features the 'The Band Played Waltzing Mathilda' and the the brilliant (IMHO) 'Hard Love'. It benefits from a clean mastering and I am sure this album will be available at bargain price somewhere.

Regards,

Clive

June Tabor's breakthrough album was Airs and Graces. I recommend it. 

June Tabor did not need and did not have a "breakthrough album".

She was and is remakable in her own way.

Freedom and Rain , with the Oysterband, is a favourite in our house. It's a bit like chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce, a real double whammy.

I also have Always and Anthology, they don't get played so often. 

Airs & Graces was the one that brought her to the attention of the wider public, when she started getting airplay on John Peel's show, and also with the sessions that she did for Peel around the same time - hence it was, in my view, the album that 'broke' her through. 

Short Sharp Shocked for me too.

Gavin