FolkBlog

It’s Train Week on the Online Folk Festival (Feb. 20-27). A song about a train, passengers on a train, or someone working on the railroad all the livelong day every half hour or so, all week.

We’ll have songs about late night trains, peace trains, trains to heaven, trains to hell, British trains, American trains, Australian trains, crazy trains, bridal trains, glory trains, freight trains, trains going nowhere, trains going too fast to stop, people who work on trains, people who ride on trains, people who’d like to ride on trains but can’t, and much more. And these songs are performed by your favorite folk artists.

Now on to the new adds

Mary Gauthier: Mercy Now
I’m absolutely blown away by this album. Here is just one stanza from “Prayer Without Words.”

“Justice rides with jaundiced eyes, jaded judges bleed the broken bench
Liberty’s homicide, she been flogged to death with money’s monkey wrench
Desperado apostates set fire to every holy word we’ve heard
Silence billows from the burning book and offers prayers without words”

Highlights include the gutwrenching description of “Falling Out of Love” that opens the album, an existential free association about New Orleans and life and death in memory of Dave Carter, a heartfelt plea for mercy for everyone on the title song and an alcoholic’s frank explanation of the necessity of drinking “I Drink.” Gurf Morlix, known for his work with Lucinda Williams gives each song the right touch.

Steve Robinson: Away For the Day
Every once in a while I get a CD from an independent artist out of nowhere that makes my day, and this CD is one of those. Tampa area British ex-pat Steve Robinson has put together a gem of a jangle pop CD. I caught snippets that reminded me a little of the Beatles, the Byrds, British dancehall music, and British Invasion pop. The Byrds influence is not surprising, since he has been in Roger McGuinn’s backup band. I particularly like the bouncy title track, about the family getting away to a festival for the day. If you like The Kennedys, The Byrds, or just well-done jangle pop, then this CD is worth tracking down. This CD has been living in my car CD player for the last few days.

Also added
Ina May Wool: Crack it Open
JP Jones: Thugs and Lovers
The Band: Greatest Hits
Various Artists: Mountain Journey - Stars of Old Time Music
Erica Wheeler: Almost Like Tonight (live)
Various Artists: Paste Magazine Sampler #14
The Grascals: The Grascals

Sad News
I just read on the FOLKDJ-L that singer/songwriter Rachel Bissex has died from complications from breast cancer. She was 48.