FolkBlog

Once again, it has been too long since I have blogged new adds, so here we go:

Mark Berube: Suspicious Fish – Singer/songwriter specializing in humorous, occasionally novelty songs

Kate Campbell: Blues and Lamentations – Any new release from Kate Campbell is a cause for celebration. As with most of her albums, this one is built around a general concept, described by the title. The “blues” as defined by Campbell in this collection are omnipresent (”Miles of Blues”) and fundamental to the human experience (”Genesis Blues”), and music is not only a way to express them, but also to ease them. There are so many reasons for the blues: poverty (”Lord, Help the Poor and Needy”), disappointment in love (”Fade to Blue”, “Shallow Grave”), war (”Peace Comes Stealing Slow”). Perhaps the emotional centerpiece in this cycle, and so typical of her penchant for story songs that explore innovation and religous faith, is “Wheels Within Wheels”, the story of Texas preacher Burrell Cannon, who built a flying machine, loaded it up on a train for the St. Louis World Fair, and then abandoned it when it blew off the train saying that it was God’s will. This is the best, most consitently good album I have heard this year. It is intellectually honest, musically interesting, and well produced - everything we have come to expect from Kate Campbell.

Debra Cowan: Dad’s Dinner Pail – These songs are from the Helen Hartness Flanders Collection, a book of traditional songs of New England collected by folk archivist Helen Hartness Flanders. If you dig traditional folk, you will like this - Deb Cowan has a rich voice, and with guitarist Michael DeLalla, the tunes have a sparse, acoustic arrangement that put the focus on the song. Also, if you like this you will also like the new one from Karen Mal (see below)

The Dreamsicles: Luv Songs for Grownups - Recently married singer/songwriter team Tom Prasada-Rao and Cary Cooper have put together a clever, occasionally cute collection of songs about romance for grownups. You’ll laugh, you’ll smile, I think you’ll like it.

Bob Franke: The Other Evening in Chicago — Great live album, full of wit and wisdom from one of the best working singer/songwriters that you may never have heard of.

The Knitters: The Modern Sound of the Knitters — In the 80s, John Doe and Exene Cervenka of the alternative band X recruited Dave Alvin of the Blasters and a couple others to help them put out an album of roots and rockabilly cover tunes. Years passed. Now they’re back. Dave Alving lends some really nice crunchy guitar, and both Doe and Cervenka really know how to sing this stuff. Highlights include a killer version of “Long Chain” and a nice version of Alvin’s tune “Dry River.”

Love Hall Tryst: Songs of Misfortune: John Wesley Harding’s alter ego, Wesley Stace, has written a new novel, Miss Fortune, and so Wes recruited some friends to help him put together a collection of traditional tunes to go with the novel, recorded in four-part a capella. It’s good stuff if you like either traditional ballads or a capella singing.

Karen Mal: Dark Eyed Sailor — Karen Mal is known primarily as a singer/songwriter performing her own material, as well as a fine mandolinist, but here she puts together a fine collection of traditional old English and Celtic traditional tunes. Sparsely arranged, the focus is clearly on Mal’s lovely voice.

Abigail Washburn: Song of the Traveling Daughter — This album arose from Washburn’s sojourn in China, where she performed traditional old-time American music, occasionally translating the songs into Chinese. Two of the songs are in Chinese on this collection.

Other New Adds:
Liz Carlisle: Five Star Day
Beth Neilson Chapman: Look
Foghorn Stringband: Weiser Sunrise
Hackensaw Boys: Love What You Do
Alex Kash: Florida Heat
David Ross MacDonald: selftitled
Terence Martin: Lost Hills
The Peasall Sisters: Home to You
U. Utah Philips: Starlight on the Rails, a Songbook
Amy Rigby: Little Fugitive
Claudia Russell: Ready to Receive
Ben Schmidt: While You Were Sleeping
Darrell Scott, Danny Thompson and Kenny Malone: Live in NC
Shanti Groove: Songs From the New Album
Peter Spink: Heartland
Swingin’ Amiss: Speakeasy
Richard Thompson: Live in Austin, TX
Various Artists: Acoustic Rainbow #22

That’s all the time I have right now - I may come back later and add some more comments. Some of these deserve a more full treatment than just listing them.