Listen Up! Beck is Back to Mourning – “Morning Phase”

Beck Morning Phase

Beck’s chameleon-like career has rivaled that of the Thin White Duke himself. Like Bowie, Beck has both trailed and established trends so tightly that it’s hard to tell which proceeds or which follows his maneuvers.

Beck has tackled soul, funk and might have started Emo with “Loser.” But the best Beck is the dour-folk Beck.

Said to be a companion to 2002’s heart-crushing “Sea Change” “Morning Phase” has a slightly more comfortable feel. More excepting, fateful. Like Beck seems more at home with being uncomfortable.

“Morning Phase” is Beck’s “Pink Moon.” On “Heart Like A Drum” he sings “The Heart is a Drum / Keeping Time With Everyone.” and “Beat Beat beat / It’s Beating Me Down.”

The whole album has a pop-menace that sound like it sprang from the mind of Brian Wilson.

When Beck strips away he beat-box schtick here’s is genuine talent here. Dare I say genius. Yes, I think I will.

A more complete review will come soon. Just wanted to share this with you.

Nickel Creek Announce New Album, Tour. Hear the New Song “Destination,”

nickelcreekpress

7 years ago neo-bluegrass trio Nickel Creek,Chris Thile (mandolin/vocals), Sara Watkins (fiddle/vocals) and Sean Watkins (guitar/vocals) , went on “indefinite hiatus” and then ventured into separate successful solo careers. Many thought the day the band might reunite had passed

They would be wrong.

Nickel Creek have announced new album in the Spring of 2014 as well as a 7 city tour this Spring.

A limited ticket pre-sale will begin tomorrow, February 4 at 10 a.m. local time at nickelcreek.com. Tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning this Friday, February 7.

Hear “Destination,” a song from the upcoming Nickel Creek album below.

Here’s the latest of Nickel Creek’s tour dates:

April 18 and 19 – Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium
April 29 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
May 1 Boston, MA House of Blues
May 3 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
May 9 Chicago, IL Riviera Theater
May 19 Oakland, CA Fox Theater
June 19-22 Telluride, CO Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Emmylou Harris To Release “Wrecking Ball” Special Package Reissue

Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball

American Songwriter reports that Nonesuch Records will reissue Emmylou Harris’ acclaimed 1995 album Wrecking Ball as a three-disc set. The reissue will contain a remastered version of the original album, which snagged the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album in 1996. There will also be a bonus CD of recently unearthed demos and outtakes.

The reissue will also include a documentary DVD “Building the Wrecking Ball,” featuring studio footage and interviews with Harris and producer Daniel Lanois, as well as album contributors Steve Earle and Kate and Anna McGarrigle, and Neil Young, who wrote the title song.

Last month Harris celebrated her collaboration with Rodney Crowell, “Old Yellow Moon,” by winning the Grammy for Best Americana Album

In October of 2013 Emmylou Harris and Daniel Lanois, joined by Jim Wilson, Brian Blade and Malcolm Burn, performed “Wrecking Ball” in it’s entirety at the Marathon Music Works in Nashville. (see video below)

The Wrecking Ball reissues is slatted for release on April 8

In celebration of the reissue, Harris will hit the road with Lanois this spring. Check out tour dates below.

Disc 1

1. “Where Will I Be?” (Daniel Lanois)
2. “Goodbye” (Steve Earle)
3. “All My Tears” (Julie Miller)
4. “Wrecking Ball” (Neil Young)
5. “Goin’ Back to Harlan” (Anna McGarrigle)
6. “Deeper Well” (David Olney, Lanois, Emmylou Harris)
7. “Every Grain of Sand” (Bob Dylan)
8. “Sweet Old World” (Lucinda Williams)
9. “May This Be Love” (Jimi Hendrix)
10. “Orphan Girl” (Gillian Welch)
11. “Blackhawk” (Daniel Lanois)
12. “Waltz Across Texas Tonight” (Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris)

Disc 2 – Deeper Well: The Wrecking Ball Outtakes

1. Still Water 3:55
2. Where Will I Be (alternate version) 4:14
3. All My Tears 3:21
4. How Will I Ever Be Simple Again 3:36
5. Deeper Well 2:18
6. The Stranger Song 5:21
7. Sweet Old World (alternate version) 5:56
8. Gold 3:16
9. Blackhawk (alternate version) 4:40
10. May This Be Love (acoustic) 2:15
11. Goin’ Back to Harlan 2:35
12. Where Will I Be (alternate version) 2:13
13. Deeper Well 3:06

Emmylou Harris Wrecking Ball Tour Dates:

April 3 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
April 5 San Francisco, CA The Warfield
April 7 Royal Oak, MI The Royal Oak
April 8 Chicago, IL The Vic
April 11 Washington, DC The Lincoln Theatre
April 12 Brooklyn, NY TBA
April 13 Boston, MA The House of Blues
(additional tour dates to be announced)

Watch Out! Neil Young – “Mother Earth” [VIDEO]

NYhonortreaties

Neil Young has released a pump organ view new video for his song “Mother Earth”.
The video begins with footage from Young’s January 19, 2014 show at the Jack Singer Hall in Calgary, Alberta as part of his recent Honor The Treaties run of dates.

The video also features majestic footage from Peter Mettler’s documentary Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands. At a press conference ahead of the first Honor The Treaties date, Young launched a blistering attack on Canada’s federal government and Alberta’s oilsands development, accusing officials of “killing” First Nations through their exploitation of the Alberta tar sands. [Uncut]

“Mother Earth” first appeared on Young’s 1990 album, Ragged Glory.

Watch Out! Melody Williamson – “No Country Here” [VIDEO]

Melody Williamson There's No Country Here

The Music Row protest song is nothing new. Working a narrative within a form that shows reverence for legacy while tweaking the nose of current business practices is tricky. Doing it well without seeming petty is even trickier.

Waylon Jennings’ #1 single “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way” and George Strait’s “Murder on Music Row” as well as newcomer’s Jason Eady’s “AM Country Heaven” and Sturgill Simpson’s “You Can Have The Crown” are all sterling examples.

15-year-old songwriter and performer Melody Williamson, from the Nashville based string band Williamson Branch, has penned an original composition that I believe fits right in with the above. “There’s No Country Here” paves the way fro her to join the ranks of the current female cadre of Outlaws, Musgraves, Monroe, Clark and Lambert.

Music Row would be wide to give a listen,

hat tip to Saving Country Music and Country Music Nation for the tip.

Tribute “Bob Dylan In The 80s” Out March 25

Bob Dylan 80s

Okay, this is cool. A tribute album from preeminent indy-roots artists focusing on Dylan’s under appreciated 80’s era.

ATO Records will release Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One on March 25. The brainchild of producers Jesse Lauter (Elvis Perkins, The Low Anthem) and Sean O’Brien (Dawes, PAPA), the mission of Bob Dylan In The 80s: Volume One is to shed new light on a large cache of Bob Dylan songs that have long gone ignored, covering the period starting with 1980’s Saved and ending with 1990’s Under The Red Sky (including unreleased material — the “80s Basement Tapes” — and The Traveling Wilburys).

Album contributors include: Built To Spill, Aaron Freeman of Ween & Slash, Glen Hansard, Reggie Watts, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Lucius, Langhorne Slim, Craig Finn Of The Hold Steady, Deer Tick, Dawn Landes, Blitzen Trapper, Carl Broemel Of My Morning Jacket, Elvis Perkins and more. The album is available for pre-order now.

Hear the first track from the record, Jokerman by Built to Spill, below.

“80s Dylan is by no means a celebrated period in his career,” says co-producer Lauter. “It was, in fact, the lowest point of his commercial success even though he released eight studio albums.” He continues, “Our goal was to showcase one of the greatest artists of our time during an off-rhythm period and bring a stronger sense of harmony to the material at hand. Sean and I did everything we could to make this album flow together sonically as if you were listening to a concept album.”

Portions of proceeds from album sales will go to the charity, Pencils of Promise. Pencils of Promise is a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases educational opportunities in the developing world. The charity has built more than 150 schools in Asia, Africa and Latin America. For more information on Pencils of Promise, visit www.pencilsofpromise.org.

COMPLETE TRACK LISTING:

1. Langhorne Slim & The Law – “Got My Mind Made Up”(from Knocked Out Loaded, 1986)
2. Built To Spill – “Jokerman” (from Infidels, 1983)
3. Reggie Watts – “Brownsville Girl (Reprise)” (from Knocked Out Loaded, 1986)
4. Craig Finn (The Hold Steady) – “Sweetheart Like You” (from Infidels, 1983)
5. Ivan & Alyosha – “You Changed My Life” (from Shot Of Love outtakes, 1981)
6. Deer Tick – “Night After Night” (from Hearts of Fire Soundtrack, 1987)
7. Dawn Landes & Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “Dark Eyes” (from Empire Burlesque, 1985)
8. Tea Leaf Green – “Waiting To Get Beat” (from Empire Burlesque outtakes, 1985)
9. Aaron Freeman of Ween & Slash – “Wiggle Wiggle (from Under The Red Sky, 1990)
10. Elvis Perkins – “Congratulations” (from Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, 1988)
11. Hannah Cohen – “Covenant Woman” (from Saved, 1980)
12. Marco Benevento – “Every Grain Of Sand” (from Shot Of Love, 1981)
13. Yellowbirds – “Series Of Dreams” (from Oh Mercy outtakes, 1989)
14. Blitzen Trapper – “Unbelievable” (from Under The Red Sky, 1990)
15. Lucius – “When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky” (from Empire Burlesque, 1985)
16. Glen Hansard – “Pressing On” (from Saved, 1980)
17. Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket) – “Death Is Not The End” (from Down In The Groove, 1988)

In addition, there will be seven bonus tracks available exclusively via iTunes as a Deluxe Edition and will also be included on the digital download card that accompanies the vinyl. The seven bonus tracks are listen below:

1. Spirit Family Reunion – “Man Of Peace” (from Infidels, 1983)
2. Widespread Panic – “Solid Rock” (from Saved, 1980)
3. Grayson Capps – “Silvio” (from Down In The Groove, 1988)
4. Neal Casal – “Property Of Jesus” (from Shot Of Love, 1981)
5. The Low Anthem – “Lenny Bruce” (from Shot Of Love, 1981)
6. Jesse Elliott (These United States) – “Handy Dandy” (from Under The Red Sky, 1990)
7. Chastity Brown – “Saving Grace” (from Saved, 1980)

Ken Burns’ Country Music Documentary Coming to PBS in 2018

Ken Burns

I’ve been hearing about Ken Burns’ new project focusing on Country Music for over a ear. Now PBS has made it a realty b announcing that the anticipated documentary, succinctly called called “Country Music,” will air in 2018.

That will be about 5 years worth of work on the one series. Sure that’s a long time
but it helpes to keep in mind that it’s a year less than he spent on his ten-episode miniseries detailing jazz. And given Burn’s attention to detail ranging from The Civil War and the history of baseball it’s satisfying to see that there is care being applied ot a genre we all love.

The origins and fundamentals of roots, folk and country music are vast . deep at least as deep and vast as many of the topics Burns has tackled before. I have faith that this is going to be a fascinating (and lengthy) series.

From the release “The country series explores the question, “what is country music.” It will track the careers of the Carter family, Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and others.”

“For over a century, country music has been a pivotal force in American culture, expressing the hopes, joys, fears and hardships of everyday people in songs lyrical, poignant and honest,” said PBS President Paula A. Kerger. “It is fitting that we have two of America’s master storytellers, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, tell the story on film of an art form that for generations has told America’s story in song.”

The documentary will follow the rise of bluegrass music with Bill Monroe and note how one of country music’s offspring – rockabilly – mutated into rock and roll in Memphis. It will show how Nashville slowly became not just the mecca of country music, but “Music City USA.” All the while, it will highlight the constant tug of war between the desire to make country music as mainstream as possible and the periodic reflexes to take it back to its roots.

That;s the part that will be interesting to me, how Burns handles the splinter threads of the genre. The aforementioned Bluegrass The Outlaws, Bakersfield and, as Steve Earle helped shepherd and deemed, “Great Credibility Scare of the Mid-1980s.”

Listen Up! Hear New Beck Song, “Blue Moon”

Beck Morning Phase

The L.A.-based singer and songwriter on Friday posted a clip on his website depicted “Morning Phase” being rendered in the petroleum by-product so popular with the kids these days, vinyl.

“Morning Phase” set for release on Feb. 25 through Capitol Records, his first studio disc since “Modern Guilt” in 2008. Backed by players including Smokey Hormel, Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Joey Waronker.

Beck is a master at revamping music style – soul, funk, folk. His upcoming release “Morning Phase” is reported continue the gauzy forlorn-folk theme so brilliantly captured in 2002’s “Sea Change.”

In the current issue of Uncut magazie, Beck said: “I set out to make a gritty king of record, along the lines of those early ’70s singer-songwriter records. But the songs ended up having another quality to them. There are harmonies there: Simon & Garfunkel, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Everly Brothers, The Stanley Brothers. The Mamas & The Papas, even.”

Judging by the the clip below it appears that that is a correct assessment of style.

Really looking forward this one.

“The Morning Phase” tracklist:
‘Morning’
‘Heart Is A Drum’
‘Say Goodbye’
‘Waking Light’
‘Unforgiven’
‘Wave’
‘Don’t Let It Go’
‘Blackbird Chain’
‘Evil Things’
‘Blue Moon’
‘Turn Away’
‘Country Down’

Americana Music Association Presents Everly Brothers Tribute

 Everly Brothers Tribute J

One event I’m most looking forward to while covering the GRAMMYs this year is one that is not an official GRAMMY event.

The Franklin TN -based Americana Music Association is presenting “a tribute to the Everly Brothers during a celebration of American Roots Music.”

Now who will be performing and how a Everly Brothers tribute will be worked into a larger salute to roots music at the sold-out event is not detailed, but I’m excited to find out!

The event will take place at the legendary Los Angeles venue, the Troubadour, Saturday, January 25.

Phil Everly was a friend of the AMA. In 20019 he wrote down the lyrics of “When Will I Be Loved” on parchment paper and donated the work for auction which raised money for the non-profit organization.

WATCH OUT! Shovels & Rope – Full Acoustic Performance on KEXP

Shovels & Rope

Last fall Charleston, South Carolina roots-rock duo Shovels & Rope – husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst – played an intimate acoustic session at The Triple Door in Seattle to support the local legendary public radio station KEXP.

The band shows why they are a shining light in the Americana scene as they bend genres between country and folk, to gut-bucket blues and garage rock.

Revel in the music.

Songs:
Birmingham
O’ Be Joyful
Boxcar
Keeper
All Those Words
Kitchen Hallway
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe / Elvis Costello cover)