Madeleine Peyroux returns on March 5, 2013 with The Blue Room, an artistic rendering of a tribute to Ray Charles' ground breaking Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music. The album is not a straight cover project, as Peyroux hand picks tracks from the Ray Charles classic to interpret in her own inimitable style. She also includes takes on tunes by Randy Newman, Warren Zevon, John Hartford and Buddy Holly.
The lead single is Holly's "Changing All Those Changes", and Peyroux does more than just take the song for a walk; she makes it her own. Check out the video below, and keep your eyes and ears open for a lot more of Madeleine Peyroux this spring!
Showing posts with label Warren Zevon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Warren Zevon. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2013
Monday, October 22, 2012
Rob Morsberger - A Part Of You
Rob Morsberger - A
Part Of You
2012, Hieroglyph Records
2012, Hieroglyph Records
Rob Morsberger is the sort of guy who makes things happen
musically. A singer, songwriter and
composer, Morsberger’s work has been featured on PBS’ NOVAScience/NOW,
Frontline and Masterpiece Theater. As a
sideman, he’s worked with My Morning Jacket, Patti Smith, Crash Test Dummies,
Loudon Wainwright III, Marshall Crenshaw, Willie Nile and others. But it’s Morsberger’s solo work that’s most
intriguing. His previous albums have
been a mix of eclectic and literate pop songs with hooks impale your ears and
drag you along for the ride. Morsberger
recently released two new albums, one of which we are reviewing today. A Part
Of You is written from the perspective of a father diagnosed with terminal
brain cancer for his young son; an attempt to leave a lasting message and gift
to see him through his growing up years.
It would be easy to see such a work in terms of darkness,
but while living in a valley of shadows, Morsberger projects light on A Part Of You. The album opens with the contemplative and
beautiful "This Isn't Kindness", exploring the human struggle to
differentiate charity from love. It is a song of thanks and a teaching moment
from father to son. "The Russian Cartographer" is an adept allegory
for Morsberger's own live, swapping out an artist who maps people and emotions
in song for a Man who delineates boundaries and landmarks for others to follow.
It's a beautiful biograph in song with some deeply personal connections.
"An Inside Place" is deeply reminiscent at times of Sting's songwriting on The Soul Cages. The sense of being trapped within oneself transforms into an urgent need to be heard done up in Baroque pop undertones. The transition is vital, and in its own elemental way, beautiful. "The Man And The Birds" is a powerful take on overcoming death. As Death himself looks on, birds come down and lift a man out of his reach. The spiritual allegory between birds and angels is unmistakable, and the imagery has a sort of classical beauty. Brad Roberts adds his distinctive baritone voice here in duet to create an amazing split between light and darkness.
"Maydianne" finds Morsberger taking a break from deeper reflections for a love story told in song. If the Beatles ever wrote in a classical romanticism hue it might sound a lot like this. Issues of spirituality, art and legacy are in play in "Jacob Wrestles With An Angel". Morsberger's path to discovery here is fraught with more questions than answers, reflecting an incredibly real negotiation to find meaning in the fleeting valley between birth and death.
"Cancer Road" is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of life's sometimes surprising curves. The piano- driven arrangement is simple and full if peace, as perspective puts understanding in its proper place. Morsberger is at his most powerful in "A Part Of You", a live song from father to son. The heavily orchestrated arrangement is the perfect complement, as Morsberger creates an eternal greeting in place of words of parting.
"A Good Laugh" is painted against an eccentric and unsettled arrangement seemingly representing the chaos of life. In it, Morsberger reminds listeners that the greatest tragedy of all is not learning to laugh at life. He makes this point by including the infectious laughter of his son Elan. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face then you've forgotten how to listen. A Part Of You closes with "You Son", a sweet love ballad from father to son that is personal and universal all at once.
Rob Morsberger continues to grow as an artist, and in the act of A Part Of You has crafted his most affecting and personal work to date. Informed by the tragedy of a death foretold, Morsberger finds the vitality of life in the love of his son. You might liken his efforts to turning lemons into lemonade, but with A Part Of You Morsberger comes much closer to turning water into wine. A Part Of You is nothing less than a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.
Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)
"An Inside Place" is deeply reminiscent at times of Sting's songwriting on The Soul Cages. The sense of being trapped within oneself transforms into an urgent need to be heard done up in Baroque pop undertones. The transition is vital, and in its own elemental way, beautiful. "The Man And The Birds" is a powerful take on overcoming death. As Death himself looks on, birds come down and lift a man out of his reach. The spiritual allegory between birds and angels is unmistakable, and the imagery has a sort of classical beauty. Brad Roberts adds his distinctive baritone voice here in duet to create an amazing split between light and darkness.
"Maydianne" finds Morsberger taking a break from deeper reflections for a love story told in song. If the Beatles ever wrote in a classical romanticism hue it might sound a lot like this. Issues of spirituality, art and legacy are in play in "Jacob Wrestles With An Angel". Morsberger's path to discovery here is fraught with more questions than answers, reflecting an incredibly real negotiation to find meaning in the fleeting valley between birth and death.
"Cancer Road" is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of life's sometimes surprising curves. The piano- driven arrangement is simple and full if peace, as perspective puts understanding in its proper place. Morsberger is at his most powerful in "A Part Of You", a live song from father to son. The heavily orchestrated arrangement is the perfect complement, as Morsberger creates an eternal greeting in place of words of parting.
"A Good Laugh" is painted against an eccentric and unsettled arrangement seemingly representing the chaos of life. In it, Morsberger reminds listeners that the greatest tragedy of all is not learning to laugh at life. He makes this point by including the infectious laughter of his son Elan. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face then you've forgotten how to listen. A Part Of You closes with "You Son", a sweet love ballad from father to son that is personal and universal all at once.
Rob Morsberger continues to grow as an artist, and in the act of A Part Of You has crafted his most affecting and personal work to date. Informed by the tragedy of a death foretold, Morsberger finds the vitality of life in the love of his son. You might liken his efforts to turning lemons into lemonade, but with A Part Of You Morsberger comes much closer to turning water into wine. A Part Of You is nothing less than a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.
Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Review: Sonic Bridge - American dReam
Sonic Bridge - American dReam
2009, Sonic Bridge
Sonic Bridge is a singer/songwriter from Massachusetts with a love for melody and an equal love for social commentary. The gift of music was imparted to Bridge from his father on the brink of deployment to Vietnam in 1969. His father taught him the chords to Home On The Range and asked that Bridge play the song for him on his return. It took the tragedy of September 11, 2001 to inspire Bridge to pick up a pen and begin to write; he hasn't stopped since. With influences running from 1960's Folk to Country to Pop Singer/Songwriters of the 1970's, Sonic Bridge has crafted a sound that is comfortable and familiar, and keeps it all fresh with lyrics that are topical, insightful and compelling. Bridge's debut album, American dReam, was released in September, 2009.
Celebrity Society is a humorous and scathing diatribe against the cult of personality that has replaced rational discourse in modern society. Bridge details the oncoming fall of Western Civilization as well as a sociologist, all wrapped in an infectious melody. Likewise, Weapons Of Mass Distraction takes to task all of the devices and gadgets that distract us from the things we should be paying attention to. Bridge uses driving as a real example, but the song has more universal applications than the obvious. The arrangement here is a sharp country setting that would play well to commercial Country radio but probably requires a bit too much thought for commercial success. Bridge makes light of humanity's taste for unusual cross-breeds of dogs in Doggie Style, pointing out that a generation ago the animals people pay thousands of dollars for now were called mutts and generally ended up in shelters.
Open Road Lament is a trucker song with a twist; it's all about reaching a stage where the call of home and love is more powerful than the call of the road. There's an introspective melancholy here; the narrator wants to get back home to where his love is. The melody and harmonies here are part of the aura of the song; and the arrangement is near-perfect. A True Patriot's Work Is Never Done contrasts the madness of a single individual with the madness of a social system that would award a dangerous man an adopted child. The song is a little too over-the-top to be anything but true. The hits keep coming on American dReam, where Bridge details how quickly affluence can turn to dust. The song is based on real happenings of The Great Recession, where the rich and powerful that caused the mess get richer while the common man and woman take the brunt of the consequences. American dReam is written in personal, autobiographical terms, even taking on the health insurance industry in the process. The song is one mass of disillusion with what had long been thought the greatest nation on Earth.
One Floor Taller is a call to rebuild the Twin Towers in New York City, using the tendency in American History to continue to fight and build. Bridge equates this American tenacity with a tribute to all who have died so that America would grow and survive. The song is a strong testimonial of patriotism and love for America and is very well written. Sonic Bridge offers up a bit of Mix Tape Magic with I Wait For You, a warm and poetic song of devotion that could end up as a wedding favorite if the word gets out. Same Sex Marriage gets a few chuckles by taking a different perspective on the entire issue. This is a great tune with a fun twist. Bridge even gets into the realm of global warming, with a fantastic story about one highly improbable consequence on The Polar Bear Giraffe. Bridge closes out with The World I've Been Waiting For, a musical moment in time that recounts the feeling of looking down on the world from the top of 10,000 foot peak. The sense of awe and magic for the narrator is palpable, as Bridge places the listener firmly in the narrator's moment.
Sonic Bridge plays with strong melodies and poetic words and do both well, but it's his ability to create a world or scenario around the listener that distinguishes him from other singer/songwriters. If you listen with your eyes closed, you might become convinced that you could simply open them and walk out into the worlds and moments that Bridge sings about on American dReam. The fact that many of his themes are universal helps, but Bridge has a singular ability to find that one detail in his lyrics that makes the moment real. This is not a gift that can be learned or taught. American dReam mixes serious social commentary, humor and fantastic songwriting to create a listening experience you won't soon forget. American dReam is magical; a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Don't miss out on this one!
Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Sonic Bridge at http://www.sonicbridgemusic.com/, where you can purchase American dReam using the Nimbit application.
2009, Sonic Bridge
Sonic Bridge is a singer/songwriter from Massachusetts with a love for melody and an equal love for social commentary. The gift of music was imparted to Bridge from his father on the brink of deployment to Vietnam in 1969. His father taught him the chords to Home On The Range and asked that Bridge play the song for him on his return. It took the tragedy of September 11, 2001 to inspire Bridge to pick up a pen and begin to write; he hasn't stopped since. With influences running from 1960's Folk to Country to Pop Singer/Songwriters of the 1970's, Sonic Bridge has crafted a sound that is comfortable and familiar, and keeps it all fresh with lyrics that are topical, insightful and compelling. Bridge's debut album, American dReam, was released in September, 2009.
Celebrity Society is a humorous and scathing diatribe against the cult of personality that has replaced rational discourse in modern society. Bridge details the oncoming fall of Western Civilization as well as a sociologist, all wrapped in an infectious melody. Likewise, Weapons Of Mass Distraction takes to task all of the devices and gadgets that distract us from the things we should be paying attention to. Bridge uses driving as a real example, but the song has more universal applications than the obvious. The arrangement here is a sharp country setting that would play well to commercial Country radio but probably requires a bit too much thought for commercial success. Bridge makes light of humanity's taste for unusual cross-breeds of dogs in Doggie Style, pointing out that a generation ago the animals people pay thousands of dollars for now were called mutts and generally ended up in shelters.
Open Road Lament is a trucker song with a twist; it's all about reaching a stage where the call of home and love is more powerful than the call of the road. There's an introspective melancholy here; the narrator wants to get back home to where his love is. The melody and harmonies here are part of the aura of the song; and the arrangement is near-perfect. A True Patriot's Work Is Never Done contrasts the madness of a single individual with the madness of a social system that would award a dangerous man an adopted child. The song is a little too over-the-top to be anything but true. The hits keep coming on American dReam, where Bridge details how quickly affluence can turn to dust. The song is based on real happenings of The Great Recession, where the rich and powerful that caused the mess get richer while the common man and woman take the brunt of the consequences. American dReam is written in personal, autobiographical terms, even taking on the health insurance industry in the process. The song is one mass of disillusion with what had long been thought the greatest nation on Earth.
One Floor Taller is a call to rebuild the Twin Towers in New York City, using the tendency in American History to continue to fight and build. Bridge equates this American tenacity with a tribute to all who have died so that America would grow and survive. The song is a strong testimonial of patriotism and love for America and is very well written. Sonic Bridge offers up a bit of Mix Tape Magic with I Wait For You, a warm and poetic song of devotion that could end up as a wedding favorite if the word gets out. Same Sex Marriage gets a few chuckles by taking a different perspective on the entire issue. This is a great tune with a fun twist. Bridge even gets into the realm of global warming, with a fantastic story about one highly improbable consequence on The Polar Bear Giraffe. Bridge closes out with The World I've Been Waiting For, a musical moment in time that recounts the feeling of looking down on the world from the top of 10,000 foot peak. The sense of awe and magic for the narrator is palpable, as Bridge places the listener firmly in the narrator's moment.
Sonic Bridge plays with strong melodies and poetic words and do both well, but it's his ability to create a world or scenario around the listener that distinguishes him from other singer/songwriters. If you listen with your eyes closed, you might become convinced that you could simply open them and walk out into the worlds and moments that Bridge sings about on American dReam. The fact that many of his themes are universal helps, but Bridge has a singular ability to find that one detail in his lyrics that makes the moment real. This is not a gift that can be learned or taught. American dReam mixes serious social commentary, humor and fantastic songwriting to create a listening experience you won't soon forget. American dReam is magical; a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc. Don't miss out on this one!
Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Sonic Bridge at http://www.sonicbridgemusic.com/, where you can purchase American dReam using the Nimbit application.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Review: JJ Soul Band - Bright Lights
JJ Soul Band - Bright Lights
2009, Arizona University Records
JJ Soul Band formed in 1993 in Iceland over a partnership between Oxford, England singer/songwriter JJ Soul and Iceland composer/keyboardist Ingvi Thor Korkaksson. Three albums and fourteen years later, JJ Soul band is still creating their distinctive mix of Rock, Soul and R&B. Their fourth album, Bright Lights, was released in Europe in 2008 and sees a 2009 US release.
Bright Lights opens with At The Mall, brandishing a classic Motown/R&B beat and gentle pop hooks that will stick with you. The song itself is entertaining, following a mysterious yet whimsical chain of events as they happened to the narrator in the song. Let Love Find Us opens with the funk on guitar, horns and some unusual keyboard sounds. The rhythm here is palpable; you simply won't be able to resist, much less want to. JJ Soul has a sound that's part Warren Zevon and part Keith Grimwood from Trout Fishing In America. I've Been Bad Again gets down into the Blues featuring tight musicianship but a vocal line that just doesn't fully connect. There's a Sinatra-esque disconnection but Soul just doesn't have the charisma Sinatra had to pull it off. Getting Colder By The Year is an interesting sidebar, sounding a bit like Billy Joel accompanying Gordon Lightfoot. The song looks back on what's been lost to drink in direct terms. The song is a gorgeous soliloquy with a distinct sense of melancholy. Bright Lights could be written about most any big city, calling out the price of living in big cities to a great Blues/Rock arrangement.
I don't need to describe the rest of the album to you because I essentially already have. JJ Soul Band sticks to the mix of Early Rock, Blues, Jazz and Lounge and ends up creating a strongly homogeneous album that's solid all the way around but never seems to take risks. Bright Lights is a solid listen; I enjoyed the album, but it just doesn't stand out from the crowd in significant fashion.
Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about JJ Soul Band at http://www.jjsoulband.com/ or www.myspace.com/jjsoulband. You can purchase a digital copy of Bright Lights at eMusic. Hard copy CDs are apparently available for sale at stores in Iceland, but no online availability could be found. If you really want a CD copy, contact the band through their MySpace page. I’m sure you can work something out.
2009, Arizona University Records
JJ Soul Band formed in 1993 in Iceland over a partnership between Oxford, England singer/songwriter JJ Soul and Iceland composer/keyboardist Ingvi Thor Korkaksson. Three albums and fourteen years later, JJ Soul band is still creating their distinctive mix of Rock, Soul and R&B. Their fourth album, Bright Lights, was released in Europe in 2008 and sees a 2009 US release.
Bright Lights opens with At The Mall, brandishing a classic Motown/R&B beat and gentle pop hooks that will stick with you. The song itself is entertaining, following a mysterious yet whimsical chain of events as they happened to the narrator in the song. Let Love Find Us opens with the funk on guitar, horns and some unusual keyboard sounds. The rhythm here is palpable; you simply won't be able to resist, much less want to. JJ Soul has a sound that's part Warren Zevon and part Keith Grimwood from Trout Fishing In America. I've Been Bad Again gets down into the Blues featuring tight musicianship but a vocal line that just doesn't fully connect. There's a Sinatra-esque disconnection but Soul just doesn't have the charisma Sinatra had to pull it off. Getting Colder By The Year is an interesting sidebar, sounding a bit like Billy Joel accompanying Gordon Lightfoot. The song looks back on what's been lost to drink in direct terms. The song is a gorgeous soliloquy with a distinct sense of melancholy. Bright Lights could be written about most any big city, calling out the price of living in big cities to a great Blues/Rock arrangement.
I don't need to describe the rest of the album to you because I essentially already have. JJ Soul Band sticks to the mix of Early Rock, Blues, Jazz and Lounge and ends up creating a strongly homogeneous album that's solid all the way around but never seems to take risks. Bright Lights is a solid listen; I enjoyed the album, but it just doesn't stand out from the crowd in significant fashion.
Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about JJ Soul Band at http://www.jjsoulband.com/ or www.myspace.com/jjsoulband. You can purchase a digital copy of Bright Lights at eMusic. Hard copy CDs are apparently available for sale at stores in Iceland, but no online availability could be found. If you really want a CD copy, contact the band through their MySpace page. I’m sure you can work something out.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Review: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Funny People
Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Funny People
2009, Concord Records
On July 28, 2009, Concord Records releases the soundtrack to the newest Judd Apatow flick, Funny People. The film, starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan And Leslie Mann, is Apatow’s third (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), and is all about his days rooming with Adam Sandler when they were struggling comedians. The soundtrack features a selection of deep cuts and first takes from big name artists primarily from the 1970’s, with exclusive live cuts from James Taylor and Wilco.
Funny People opens with Paul McCartney on Great Day, a bluesy acoustic piece built from guitar, hand rhythms and voice. McCartney digs into the gorgeous melody line with everything he has for a highly enjoyable experience. Robert Plant's turn on All The King's Horses is thrilling; you almost wouldn't know this was the former Led Zeppelin front man. Two songs from Warren Zevon make the cut; Keep Me In Your Heart and Numb As A Statue, showing some of the range of his songwriting talent. Neil Diamond's We is presented here in an early form and may just be better than the recorded work most are familiar with. The star of the disc is John Lennon on an acoustic version of Watching The Wheels. The coffee-house feel to this cut just adds to the charm of a vastly under-appreciated song. James Taylor runs a close second with a live version of Carolina In My Mind.
Adam Sandler gets in two performances of his own, but these probably would have been left to the movie and omitted from the soundtrack. His cover of John Lennon's Real Love finds Sandler overmatched vocally and in the production booth. Already week vocals are overpowered at the end of the verse. George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone is a performance piece from the movie that disappoints on several levels. This is closer to the Sandler you might have heard during his SNL days, but humor is pushed aside in favor of jocularity and shock value. For a movie entitled Funny Men, it seemed to miss the point.
As soundtracks go this one is fairly typical. There are some brilliant performances (McCartney, Lennon, Neil Diamond), some so-so ones (Wilco and Andrew Bird, Ringo Starr) and some truly puzzling ones (Adam Sandler, Coconut Records). The inclusion of McCartney and Lennon will ensure some decent sales of this disc (or at least downloads of those songs), but one is left with the impression that some of the song selections were settled by a randy game of Rock, Scissors, Paper, Lizard, Spock.
Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Funny People at http://www.funnypeoplemovie.com/. You can purchase the Funny People soundtrack at Amazon.com or as a download through Amazon MP3.
2009, Concord Records
On July 28, 2009, Concord Records releases the soundtrack to the newest Judd Apatow flick, Funny People. The film, starring Adam Sandler, Seth Rogan And Leslie Mann, is Apatow’s third (The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up), and is all about his days rooming with Adam Sandler when they were struggling comedians. The soundtrack features a selection of deep cuts and first takes from big name artists primarily from the 1970’s, with exclusive live cuts from James Taylor and Wilco.
Funny People opens with Paul McCartney on Great Day, a bluesy acoustic piece built from guitar, hand rhythms and voice. McCartney digs into the gorgeous melody line with everything he has for a highly enjoyable experience. Robert Plant's turn on All The King's Horses is thrilling; you almost wouldn't know this was the former Led Zeppelin front man. Two songs from Warren Zevon make the cut; Keep Me In Your Heart and Numb As A Statue, showing some of the range of his songwriting talent. Neil Diamond's We is presented here in an early form and may just be better than the recorded work most are familiar with. The star of the disc is John Lennon on an acoustic version of Watching The Wheels. The coffee-house feel to this cut just adds to the charm of a vastly under-appreciated song. James Taylor runs a close second with a live version of Carolina In My Mind.
Adam Sandler gets in two performances of his own, but these probably would have been left to the movie and omitted from the soundtrack. His cover of John Lennon's Real Love finds Sandler overmatched vocally and in the production booth. Already week vocals are overpowered at the end of the verse. George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone is a performance piece from the movie that disappoints on several levels. This is closer to the Sandler you might have heard during his SNL days, but humor is pushed aside in favor of jocularity and shock value. For a movie entitled Funny Men, it seemed to miss the point.
As soundtracks go this one is fairly typical. There are some brilliant performances (McCartney, Lennon, Neil Diamond), some so-so ones (Wilco and Andrew Bird, Ringo Starr) and some truly puzzling ones (Adam Sandler, Coconut Records). The inclusion of McCartney and Lennon will ensure some decent sales of this disc (or at least downloads of those songs), but one is left with the impression that some of the song selections were settled by a randy game of Rock, Scissors, Paper, Lizard, Spock.
Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)
You can learn more about Funny People at http://www.funnypeoplemovie.com/. You can purchase the Funny People soundtrack at Amazon.com or as a download through Amazon MP3.
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