Some recent Americana releases and one Canadiana album: Like the equally understated and private Tony Joe White, Otis Taylor‘s quiet authority draws listeners in. He keeps his blues tight, using as few words and chords as possible, and creates a musical whirlpool without ever seeming to try. He’s slightly more expansive on Clovis People Vol. [...]
Tag Archives: Reviews
Dance and Coo
June 9, 2010 – 10:45 am
Right now, I have a lot of cool dance music on my desk, a lot of it world incarnations. Lagos Disco Inferno (Academy LPs) collects tracks from the late 1970s recorded in Lagos when the disco craze was worldwide. The weakest tracks find Nigerians parroting the disco beat and language – songs include “Boogie Trip,” [...]
Something Else
May 7, 2010 – 10:46 am
After spending a couple of months with few musical thoughts that don’t involve New Orleans’ music, it’s time for a palate-cleansing listen to the world outside. Carolina Chocolate Drops Genuine Negro Jig (Nonesuch) What keeps their exploration of string band folk’s history from being another well-executed trip through history is the cover of Blu Cantrell’s [...]
Tobacco and the Sound of Middle America
April 16, 2010 – 12:43 pm
As we approach a few weeks where New Orleans music is unavoidable, I’m taking a quick time-out to listen to other stuff. LCD Soundsystem’s upcoming This is Happening is streaming now at the band’s Web site (and so far, I’m enjoying it a lot & love the self-aware “You Wanted a Hit”), and I hope [...]
Treme: The Instant Reviews
April 12, 2010 – 3:18 pm
In the Twitter era, who composes full reviews? Here are some of the highlights from a quick survey of Tweets on HBO’s Treme, which debuted last night. @midtownNY: #HBO #Treme was ok. I’m pretty sure I’ll watch the series. @bigleaguestew: I liked it enough to form my own second line band. RT @Greg_Schaum Is Treme [...]
“Treme” in the News
April 7, 2010 – 4:10 pm
Momentum hasn’t faltered for the highly anticipated HBO series, Treme. With the premier only days away, Reuters claims that the show will “put New Orleans back on map”. CBC News credits the show for its unusual spontaneity as it lacks a structured plot line or narrative arc. However, just like the city, Treme is so [...]
Allen Toussaint, The Bright Mississippi (Nonesuch)
May 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
The River in Reverse succeeded not just because it was a timely and human response to Katrina or because it mined one of the richest songbooks in American popular music. On the album, producer Joe Henry treated Toussaint’s music not as something from the past that had to be presented with reverence, but as the [...]
Guyland Leday and Friends Zydeco Band, Welcome to My World (Shrimpo)
April 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
As promised, bassist Robbie Robertson continues to document the progress of 11-year-old Guyland Leday. The zydeco phenom’s third overall disc and second under his own name finds him to be a steadier, smoother accordionist, one that’s still honing his signature with stronger lead lines. Leday has grown in other areas as well, such as vocals [...]
Clint Maedgen + 9, Open Restraints (Independent)
April 1, 2009 – 12:01 am
Clint Maedgen can play sax, clarinet, piano and sing. He has conceived of numerous intelligent, provocative musical acts including (but not limited to) the New Orleans Bingo! Show. On Open Restraints, he presents his least conceptual project—Clint Maedgen, rock ‘n’ roll guy. The strength of it: Maedgen’s enough of a songwriter to write six good [...]
