Brett Hooton's Blog
Posted by Brett Hooton
Ahoy, folk fans. We are slowly making our way towards spring, and as we move along, one thing has become clear: 2007 is shaping up to be a fantastic year for music fans.
A whole slew of highly-anticipated discs have either just dropped or will be out in the coming months.
So, we thought everyone could benefit from a few of our picks. Here we go…
First, we want to expand your folk horizons with an album that is distinctly not folk music. But the new album from indie-rock darlings (and my fellow Montrealers), Arcade Fire hits the streets today.
I know this is a bit outside of my usual domain, but as folkies, we are not close-minded people, are we? I thought not.
The record is called Neon Bible and it’s great. The band deserves your support, so run out there and get yourself a copy. Don’t believe me? Check out what the critics are saying, here and here.
Still in a slightly indie vein, but much more folky, is our friend and yours Bright Eyes. We blogged before about his new EP and full-length discs that are due out in the coming months. Well, the former finds its way onto record store shelves today, and is called Four Winds. Also, be sure to check back, because we’ll be posting our own review soon.
Next is another Folk101 favorite, Ryan Adams. This alt-country, all-around rock star superhero will be unleashing his 9th studio album, Easy, Tiger on June 5. Check out the unfinished track list here.
Also, there are two sexy, singing ladies with new works on the way.
First, there is my lifelong crush, Tori Amos, who will be releasing her American Doll Posse on May 1. It promises to be more beautiful piano, more abstract lyrics and more angst than you can shake a 13-year-old wannabe poet at.
Word has it, however, that this one also sees Tori venturing into a more country-feel on some tracks. Should be good.
Finally, there is Calgary-born, Paris-living Feist. She will be releasing the much-anticipated follow-up to her smash hit, Let It Die on May 1 as well. The record is called The Reminder, and a tour will be accompanying its release.
So that’s the brief round-up. As always, feel free to let me know if there is a record that you are particularly looking forward to hearing this spring. Otherwise, keep strummin’. We’ll shout at you soon.
Posted by Brett Hooton
Elvis Perkins is one of the most exciting young musicians to arrive on the indie-folk scene in recent years.
Raised in New York and Los Angeles, he writes deeply introspective poem-like ballads. The subjects are often immense, but his astute use of details makes questions of life, death and love seem manageable, almost quaint.
What may be the most remarkable aspect of Perkins’ music is its inherent optimism and sense of hope. This is noteworthy simply because his personal story has been marked by such tragedy.
His father was the famous actor, Tony Perkins, who played Norman Bates in Psycho, and his mother was the renown photographer, Berry Berenson. The former died in 1992 from complications related to AIDS, and the latter died when she was on one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Thankfully, Perkins has been able to channel his emotions into producing a brilliant freshman effort called Ash Wednesday, whichhit record store shelves last week.
Listen to a few tracks on Perkins’ MySpace page and see if his upcoming tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah will be coming to your town.
Speaking of his tour, last week’s Folk101 article was on the new Grateful Dead live album. Perkins, like the Dead, permits concert-goers to record his shows and post them on the internet for others to enjoy.
Check out his archive of performances. You have the register, but it’s free and worth the small effort.
Finally, if you would like to hear more from Mr. Perkins, NPR has had him in the studio twice in recent months, where he played a few tunes and chatted about the album. In the second interview, he discusses how the album is in chronological order, reflecting both the order the songs were written and the ideas and events that they recount.
Folk101 is still waiting for our review copy to arrive, so no word yet as to when our review will be posted. Until then, look up Perkins music and let us know what you think.
Posted by Brett Hooton
Like every folky, I spent a good part of my teenage years in tie-dye tee-shirts, paying homage to the Grateful Dead.
I remember that on my first ski trip, I was enamored by (and instantly bought) a blue and purple shirt, featuring a skeleton cutting fresh powder with a rose between his teeth. I sported it around the village all weekend.
The influence of the Dead on folk music is undeniable. While many people think of them primarily as a psychedelic jam band, their influence is also felt in the areas of jazz, R&B, and even bluegrass.
For me, however, it was always the Dead’s folk-oriented albums that stood out. American Beauty and Workingman’s Dead are essential components of any catalog of acoustic music.
That being said, there is no denying the artistry and craftsmanship of this group of musicians throughout their careers, and all of their talents are on display in a new three-disc live concert album, Grateful Dead: Live at the Cow Palace, New Year’s Eve 1976.
This record, remastered in HDCD, has grown to legendary status in Dead mythology. There is over 180 minutes of music, three-sets (including a countdown to midnight), and the band at the height of its powers playing some of its best songs.
The band's line-up at the time featured Jerry Garcia on guitar and vocals, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann on drums, Phil Lesh on bass, Bob Weir on guitar and vocals, Keith Godchaux on keyboards and backup vocalist Donna Godchaux. It was probably their strongest and tightest manifestation.
The result is a show that spans several distinct periods of the Dead’s music and development.
Stay tuned for Folk101’s review of this record. It will be up by the end of the week, so please check back.
Until then, you can listen to some 24/7 streaming Dead radio or check out the annotated version of the group’s lyrics.
Make sure you visit the band’s official homepage, and especially the Taper’s Section, which is full of great songs to download and information about the fine tradition of amateurs recording and sharing Dead performances.
And, as always, don’t forget to check out our sponsors.
Posted by Brett Hooton
Norah Jones burst onto the music scene in 2002 with her über-successful, Come Away With Me, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide and won 8 Grammy Awards.
She followed these accomplishments with another solid effort, 2004’s Feels Like Home and her side-project, The Little Willies.
The latter represents a welcomed change from Jones’ typical, laid-back, jazzy style as The Willies (apparently named for Jones’ hero, Willie Nelson) play, for the most part, an upbeat, swinging version of old-school country.
After all this success, what could the extraordinary Ms. Jones do next? Well, she decided to ring in 2007 with an important milestone in her career. Her new album, Not Too Late, features songs exclusively written or co-written by the sexy songstress.
Initial critical reaction has been up and down. Here is a collection of reviews that seemed particularly apt from Now Toronto, the LA Times, Coke Machine Glow, and Rolling Stone.
Fear not, faithful readers. Folk101 will help you cut through the media din and let you know if there will be another truck-load of shiny statues on the horizon for Norah, or if this one is destined to be one of the “lesser known” albums in what is sure to be a long and fruitful career.
Until we post our review, you can entertain yourself with some of the recent press onslaught that comes with a big-name release.
Check out the New York Times’ portrait of the singer (It’s worth it just to see their adorable picture of Jones in her Oscar the Grouch tee-shirt). Also, there is NPR’s great feature/review of the record.
Check back. Tell your friends. And remember to pay a visit to our sponsors.
Peace.
Posted by Brett Hooton
Here at Folk101, we know that our readers idolize Ralph Stanley, Bela Fleck and any other musician that can tease the old banjo into makin’ sweet, sweet music.
Well, now is your chance to live out your dream of becoming a bluegrass musician. Well, sorta.
The State of Virginia has created an amazing new website for its Crooked Road, Virginia's Heritage Music Trail. This tiny, scenic stretch of road winds through rural areas of the state, beginning where the Piedmont Plateau meets the Blue Ridge Mountains.
If you listen close enough, you may even hear John Denver singing.
In addition to a great overview of the area and its history, the website gives you a chance to build your very own bluegrass song!
You simply answer a series of questions, such as your recipient’s name, his or her occupation, his or her hobbies, etc. Then, your completed song is played by that group of bluegrass virtuosos, No Speed Limit.
Write one for someone you love, and then have it delivered via email or over the phone.
Guys, listen up. If there is one thing that Folk101 knows, it’s the ladies. And ladies love Old Timey music. Well, maybe not all of them, but this is still pretty cool.
As an added bonus, residents of the lower 48 states can then enter to win a handmade mandolin, or if you are lucky enough, the grand prize of a trip to Virginia and a hand-crafted guitar.
The Crooked Road area has long been considered the heart of traditional American folk music. It has given us the original Carter Family, the Stanley Brothers, and many, many more influential musicians.
As the website says, “Musicians keep the spirit and values of a place better than its historians,” in that they keep these traditions alive, growing and evolving.
Be a part of this music by creating your own song and discovering this fantastic art form.
