Worth a listen –

Perhaps it is a sign of the holiday shopping season that will be upon us before we know it, but I have been receiving a large number of CD’s in recent weeks. I thought I would do a few “mini-reviews” of new CD’s that I highly recommend:

 

MARLEY’S GHOST – “Spooked” (www.marleysghost.com, www.sagearts.com ).

This CD actually was released earlier this year, but a copy managed to find its way into a batch of CD’s I received this past week. I have to admit, the Robert Crumb cover was my first draw to this CD. Most of the work that Crumb has chosen to illustrate proves to be interesting and of high quality, and this CD is no exception.

The West Coast based Marley’s Ghost is a string band quartet that has been together since the mid-80’s. Their previous CD’s have shown their appreciation of roots music with explorations into country, western swing, folk and sprinklings of Cajun, Celtic and even Reggae! While I have not had the pleasure of seeing them perform live, I know the group has built a reputation for putting together highly spirited and fun shows.

Their new CD is produced by Van Dyke Parks, the legendary producer/musician/songwriter/author who has produced recordings for numerous artists including Randy Newman, Ry Cooder and Phil Ochs. Parks and the band have worked out exciting arrangements of songs that will be familiar to most listeners as well as offering new pieces that fit perfectly in this setting. This CD is an example of how “roots” or “Americana” explorations should work!

The CD starts off with a rousing rendition of “Sail Away Ladies”, and old chestnut that has been done so many times it can become a cliché, but Marley’s Ghost breathes new life into the song. A Civil War era pro-emancipation song “Get Off the Track” (borrowing the same tune used for “Old Dan Tucker”) is not only a historical reference, but a reminder for current issues that still plague the country.

I’ve always felt that “Old Time Religion” is often sung by rote, the meaning of the words lost in a ritualistic mantra that has a hypnotic effect on the singer. Marley’s Ghost dusts off this song and sings it with conviction and clarity.

Even Bob Dylan’s “Wicked Messenger” takes on the attitude of an old cowboy tune, similar to Dylan’s original recording but somehow becoming “authentic” in this setting.

One unique story song is “The Ballad of Johnny Hallyday”. With a French lilt, the song offers a bit of humor – a hallmark of the group’s performance style.

The CD concludes with a rousing version of “Seaman’s Hymn” – a fitting closer for a CD that takes us on a unique musical trip through the sounds of America.

THE KENNEDYS “Songs Of the Open Road” (www.appleseedrec.com, www.kennedysmusic.com )

This CD follows a similar philosophy as Marley’s Ghost CD while traveling down an alternate highway.

In addition to the duo being one of the most visually and acoustically pleasing performers on the folk circuit, Pete and Maura Kennedy are also accomplished songwriters. They also have some of the best ears for music and often incorporate others songs into their performances. On this new CD, they give us their first all-covers collection. I’ve noticed that many contemporary musicians seem to be hesitant about covering the songs of others, but the Kennedys show us it is possible to offer something unique and personally expressive. That is the essence of folk music.

In some respects, this CD reminds me of tapes that I used to make when I went on long car trips. I would choose songs that would help the trip speed by, and offer music that aligned with my outlook on life. My personal mix tapes would guide me on my journey. The Kennedys have the same approach, but since they are accomplished musicians they can make their own music!

A number of classic songs are explored by the Kennedys such as the Byrd’s “Eight Mile’s High”, Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall”, Nick Lowe’s “Raging Eyes”. There are also a number of songs that have rarely been recorded by others such as Gene Clark’s “Gypsy Rider”, Gram Parson’s “Sin City”, and Nanci Griffith’s “Late Night Grande Hotel”. While all these songs have strong identification with other artists, the Kennedys make them their own.

One of the songs that stood out for me was Jimmy Webb’s “Galveston”. The words of a soldier missing his girl have a special poignancy that the Kennedys capture. Their take on John Stewart’s “Jasmine” capture the pull of “the road”, a calling that the Kennedys have shared for well over a decade. While maintaining the gospel roots of Mahalia Jackson’s “I’m On My Way”, the Kennedys offers the piece as a rocking anthem. All of the selections on this CD move the listener with diverse emotions.

There are two Dave Carter songs on this CD – “Gypsy Rose” and “Happytown(All Right With Me”. The Kennedys shared similar performance and lifestyle experiences with the Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer (Tracy will be performing at the Hurdy Gurdy on December 2, 2007). When Dave Carter passed away in 2002, the Kennedys accompanied Tracy for moving performances at the Falcon Ridge and Philadelphia Folk Festival. The expression of loss and love also showed the audience that the music will be carried on, a philosophy that can be found at the heart of every Kennedys performance.

The emotions that the Kennedys explore in their music make them a “must-see” wherever they perform, and this CD is a definite “must-listen”!(NOTE: THE KENNEDYS “SONGS OF THE OPEN ROAD” WILL BE AVAILABLE IN STORES ON OCTOBER 3RD, BUT YOU CAN ORDER NOW AT WWW.KENNEDYSMUSIC.COM )