These are some of the CDs that I’ve really been enjoying lately. Feel free to chime in with who you’ve been listening to lately.
- Brooks Willams – Baby O! : I’ve been a big fan of Brooks Williams since I first heard him on WCBE in the mid-90s (it seems like so long ago now). I still can’t understand why a guy who sounds like James Taylor and has amazing finger-style guitar skills hasn’t blown up into a monster mega-star by now. Like Williams’ last few CDs, this CD blends a mix of originals and covers, with an emphasis on the acoustic blues. The instrumental version of “Amazing Grace” on resonator guitar is alone worth the price of this disc, but he also does fine covers of Son House, Mississippi John Hurt and Duke Ellington.
- Red Molly – James: Red Molly continues to excel, bringing top-flight acoustic musicianship and tight three-part harmonies to a collection of mostly cover songs. Their fascination with coal songs continues with a cover of Lynn Miles’ underrated “Black Flowers” as well as Darrell Scott’s “You”ll Never Leave Harlan Alive.” They also totally rip up Gillian Welch’s “Tear My Stillhouse Down.” If you like the Dixie Chicks, then you should go out and buy everything that Red Molly has ever recorded, starting with this new one. Right now.
- Catherine MacLellan – Water in the Ground/Dark Dream Midnight: The first thing I noticed about Catherine MacLellan is her gripping, rich alto voice. As I spent more time with the album, I became more impressed with the way the generally acoustic production wrapped itself around these catchy songs.
- Lynn Miles – Black Flowers Volume 1 and 2: Lynn Miles has long been criminally under-appreciated in the United States. She is a gifted songwriter, and for the ongoing Black Flowers project she has been re-recording some of her best songs in a more “unplugged” style. These CDs have been available only from Lynn at her website and concerts, but now True North has released the first two volumes as a two-CD set.
- Patty Griffin – Downtown Church: Patty Griffin goes gospel and tears the roof off. When I hear her sing “If I Had My Way (Tear This Building Down)”, I halfway expect the building to come down. It’s a full-on gospel throwdown, produced by the great Buddy Miller and backed up by some of Nashville’s finest.
- Grace Pettis – Grace Pettis: Perhaps being raised around music by a musician has helped (father Pierce Pettis is an outstanding singer/songwriter), but 22-year-old Grace Pettis shows an impressive maturity on her debut CD. The standout track is “Nine to Five Girl” about the trials of low-paid working women that many take for granted.
That’s my list – what have you been grooving on lately? And remember, I moderate the comments, so don’t post your spam here, please.
