Pure spirituality. People talk about being born again or being enlightened. This is the closest I can say I have ever gotten to either of them and it is because of Medium Cool by Luther Russell. This is uplifting in addition to being a vital release. I am going to take out Ms. Sally’s magic mirror from Romper Room. I think a lot of those names were made up, but what I am about to write is 100% authentic, like the music I am listening to. So instead of see, I hear REM, The Byrds, The Cramps, Cheap Trick, The Velvet Underground, and some Big Star. As I have stated before, pop does not have to be a dirty word. In this case, pop is the ultimate compliment.
John McCutcheon is a singer, songwriter, and musician with 47 plus years of performance experience. He just released his 40th album, To Everyone In All The World: A Celebration Of Pete Seeger. This is a collection of songs of music written and performed by Pete Seeger who was one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century, among Pete’s other attributes. John speaks in detail about his new album as well as touring, and many other interesting topics.
JM – John McCutcheon TL – TwangriLa
TL: Thank you for doing this interview. I really appreciate it. It’s an honor.
JM: Well I appreciate you taking an interest in the project.
TL: I’m speaking with John McCutcheon, a musician and performer with a 50-year career and 34 albums under his belt. With John’s biography, there are endorsements from Johnny Cash and Pete Singer. Welcome.(more…)
What a breath of fresh air. Just beautiful music that never goes out of style. People still like real singing and instrument playing. There is no substitute for that, yet. Real singing is what you get, and even more. In fact, you will get The Whole Shebang. Way to work that title in, huh? But in addition to getting some world class vocals, you get some really fine playing. The drumming and percussion really stand out to me. (more…)
Hayes Carll doesn’t need a lengthy introduction on TwangriLa. I am confident 95% or more of the audience knows exactly who Hayes is and they probably own at least one release. Even though it may be a bit of a review, I am going to give a proper introduction to Mr. Carll. (more…)
The best interviews are the ones that are conversation, just friends chatting. That is exactly the way it was when I chatted with Ben Morrison of The Brothers Comatose. He is gracious and extremely open. Ben speaks in detail about his upcoming album and solo project. He also speaks about the current break from The Brothers. This Brother has a lot to say.
I started listening to this as a critical reviewer and within ten minutes, I was lost in the music. This is one time that being lost doesn’t cause me to go into a full panic. The songs are arranged and executed so beautifully, this is an easy listen. This is a collection of Pete Seeger original compositions as well as songs Pete performed. Seeger was a pivotal writer and musician, along with being a social and civil rights activist. Seeger was one of the early people who threw his support behind Bob Dylan.
I don’t know if magnum opus is the proper phrase because Aaron is still a going concern. It is too soon to starting bandying words around such as masterpiece or phrases like magnum opus. The point is, this album is going to be talked about for a while. And it is a gem. It’s always easy to compare another performer or group to the “Fab Four”, but in this case there is a clear line. It’s as if John, George, Paul, and Ringo were contributors on this album. They were, in fact, their influence on Aaron’s songwriting, composing, mixing, and engineering is undeniable.
The proof is in the pickin’. And the pickin’ on Walkin’ Shoes is blissful. Very heavily blues influenced outlaw country that rivals anything or anyone doing the same right now. This definitely takes me back to the late 50’s and early 60s, in some spots, when rockabilly was the king. And Elvis was king also. Rockabilly and Elvis shared the kingdom. There are other moments where I transport into the late 70s.
What happens when you mix late 60s and early 70s soul with some traditional country? You get The Imperial by The Delines. The Imperial is this Portland, Oregon outfit’s second album and it as a good one. The music grooves and has a very understated vibe that is more comfortable than 1,000 thread count sheets. This is an album to be listened to around 6:00 PM to officially ring in the weekend.
It’s funny what happened to punk rock. What started out as songs of rebellion and revolution morphed into bubble gum pop. What was once scary and forbidden became mainstream, accepted, and for commercial gain. Everything against the original punk ethos of music over profits and do it yourself. Well, the glass is half full, I tell ya. Here come the Flesh Eaters with I Used To Be Pretty. No only a new album, but a new lineup that is actually their 1980 lineup. It is a who’s who of LA punk and Americana: John Doe, Dave Alvin, Chris Desjardin, Bill Bateman, Steve Berlin, and DJ Bonebrake.
