Some Diurnal Aural Awe: 2023

Wednesday 27 December 2023

ANOHNI and the Johnsons - My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross
Baby Rose - Through and Through
Bastards Of Soul - Give It Right Back
Beth Malcolm - Kissed and Cried
Black Oak Arkansas - The Devil's Jukebox
Black Pumas - Chronicles of a Diamond
Buddy & Julie Miller - In The Throes
Brad - In The Moment That You're Born
Chris Stapleton – Higher
Christine and the Queens - PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE
Corinne Bailey Rae - Black Rainbows
Dylan LeBlanc – Coyote
Feist – Multitudes
Fiona Grond – Poesias
Foo Fighters - But Here We Are
Hiss Golden Messenger - Jump for Joy
Holly & The Reivers - Three Galleys Irreversible Entanglements - Protect Your Light
Israel Nash – Ozarker
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
John Francis Flynn - Look Over the Wall, See the Sky
Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter - SuperBlue; The Iridescent Spree
Lana Del Rey - Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
Lauren Watkins - Introducing The Heartbreak
Lisa O'Neill - All of This Is Chance
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real - Sticks and Stones
Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View
Meg Baird – Furling
Nashville Ambient Ensemble - Light and Space
Molina, Talbot, Lofgren & Young - All Roads Lead Home
Neil Young - Chrome Dreams
Nguyên Lê - Silk and Sand
Nils Lofgren – Mountains
Nils Petter Molvær - Certainty of Tides
Nitin Sawhney – Identity
Olivia Dean – Messy
Paul Simon - Seven Psalms
Piers Faccini - Songs I Love Volume II
Rita Wilson - Rita Wilson Now & Forever Duets
Rival Sons – Lightbringer
Robin Trower, Sari Schorr - Joyful Sky
Róisín Murphy - Hit Parade
Rufus Wainwright – Folkocracy
St. Paul & The Broken Bones - Angels in Science Fiction
Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
The Soul Motivators - Do It Together
William Prince - Stand in the Joy
Willie Nelson - Bluegrass

Some Observations

These days I listen to as much music as ever, but reviews have lessened and lessened: I tend to devote my writing time to other interests.

Favourite albums of the year are: Róisín Murphy - Hit Parade for its original and often eccentric interpretations which make it such a joy to listen to, and The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds for its signature, unoriginal sound which make it such a joy to listen to.

These two and the following are albums I returned to again and again: ANOHNI and the Johnsons - My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross (gorgeous); Buddy & Julie Miller - In The Throes (a return to form); Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Weathervanes (storytelling songwriting); John Francis Flynn - Look Over the Wall, See the Sky (sublime, distinctive 'folk'); Matthew Halsall - An Ever Changing View (this should be my third favourite); Paul Simon - Seven Psalms (this should be my fourth favourite); William Prince - Stand in the Joy (great songs / great vocal)

Tuesday 5 December 2023

Into the Distance Music 119

Dolly Parton - Rockstar, album review

Pomp and Circumstantial

It's a celebration of Rock and it's a celebration of Christmas timing, obviously. I think Dolly Parton is talented enough in the history of her songwriting, performance and elongating a legendary status, that this plaything of rock songs with so many 'star' duets is a reasonably interesting addition to that reality. I like much and am indifferent towards some, but with this many songs/tracks, that is inevitable beyond opinions about quality. There are some 'big' get-togethers throughout and I'm yet to listen to all a few more times to be definitive about favourites. One certainty so far is Parton with Peter Frampton on Baby, I Love Your Way where the duetting harmonies on the chorus are genuinely sweet. Bob Seger's Night Moves partners Dolly in many obvious ways with Chris Stapleton, though there could/should have been more of him. Stairway to Heaven with Lizzo rides the crest of the song's innate charm - and that shift from prettiness (Lizzo's flute flitting within this) to heaviness - but this couldn't possibly compete with previous artists' covers by respectively Ann Wilson and Beth Hart. It does get the big choric treatment, but that's just production. Let it Be reflects what is problematic with much: although not many fans' favourite anyway, it is more pomp than substantive as interpretation.

The solid guitar solos shining out of the blander orientations to their original melodies (eg Free Bird) are not enough to cement the rock credentials, and the AOR for XMAS circumstance of the whole does ultimately usurp meaningful interpretation.

I am a Dolly Parton fan and look forward to her next Country outing. I suspect she enjoyed making this album hugely, and good for her.

Into the Distance Music 118

Holly & The Reivers - Three Galleys, album review

Old-School

This is delightful: wonderful vocals/harmonies and great instrumental playing. A debut album that reminds of just how gorgeous folk music is in talented and empathetic hands: Holly Clarke (vocals, guitar), Merle Harbron (vocals, fiddle, hammered dulcimer), Bertie Armstrong (vocals, banjo, lap steel guitar).

It is all superb, but the final three tracks are especial triumphs - Walking Boss, John Randall, and the most beautiful of all folk songs with a lineage of beautiful versions to which this has now attached itself, Willie O' Winsbury.