Bloodshot Records

Somewhere Gone

admin — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:00:00 +0000

More subdued than X, less twang than the Knitters, this album might be what you listen to once glad bags have been replaced by retro shifts as the little black dress of choice—more spirit than spit. Exene Cervenka’s Somewhere Gone demonstrates verse and verve in a dozen new recordings.

Cervenka was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the summer of 2009, but that hasn't slowed her down. In addition to this new release, she continues to tour with X, and encourages support of Sweet Relief, an organization founded by musician Victoria Williams upon her own MS diagnosis in 1992 to assist career musicians in crisis.

Exene Cervenka and John Doe met, legend has it, at a poetry reading. On Somewhere Gone they are joined by Lou Whitney of The Skeletons, who provides bass-stylings and engineering services, and Amy Farris and Cindy Wasserman as the back-up singers. The instrumentation is sturdy, basic, and subdued, and features acoustic guitar, quiet percussion, and strings. “Surface of the Sun” features piano and organ by Dexter Romweber. “The Willow Tree” is a traditional ballad, tear-jerking your heartstrings (if you like it, you'll like “Little Shoes“ by Freakwater). And who among us has not made an “Honest Mistake?" Adding Somewhere Gone to your music collection is far from an error, indeed.

Written by: Erika Mikkalo, December 17th 2009

Just One More: A Musical Tribute to Larry Brown

admin — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:15:00 +0000

By Various Artists

Bloodshot Records

Wow, this musical tribute to Larry Brown keeps your feet tapping and your mind working. These songs, by artists Brown admired, put you in the passenger seat of his little truck as you drive through the small and friendly neighborhood in the South. Spending much of his life as a firefighter, Larry Brown wrote and finally struck gold in 1988 with a collection of stories called Facing the Music. As his writing continued, he became well-known as a Southern writer of literature. His love for music equaled his passion for writing. After Brown suffered a fatal heart attack, producer and pal Tim Lee contacted artists to create this musical tribute to a man considered a friend to most.

Listening to the album, you feel the flowing and engaging wondrous moments of songs that hit the sweet spot – that is what it's all about. With 12 previously unreleased tracks, Just One More contains quality tracks by Brown’s friends including Greg Brown, Caroline Herring, North Mississippi Allstars and Robert Earl Keen. The American Roots strand interweaves the genres of blues, folk and salt of the earth lyrics — seeming much like Brown's characters, who were honest and pained, but eternally real. As a serious music fan, Brown worked with several artists at some point to live out his musical dreams. The final track called "Don't Let the Door" presents both Brown and another southern novelist, Clyde Edgarton combining musical talents.

The underlying feeling of the music offers solace and, after it ended, I listened again. Heartfelt and warm, lyrically pleasing and honest, Larry Brown feels like he could be my buddy too. At the end of the disc, I wanted more music, a beer, a cigarette and a seat on a patio where I could watch people and smile at them.

Written by: Carolyn Espe, June 24th 2007

Animal Crackers

admin — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:54:00 +0000

By Wee Hairy Beasties

Bloodshot Records

In the last few years, so-called 'kid rock' has become big business, boosted by big names, CNN articles, and nationwide tours. Animal Crackers is a folk-rock, alt-country album aimed at children and, presumably, parents driven insane by the thirtieth rendition of "Row, Row, Row your Boat." The singers are Jon Langford, Sally Timms, and Kelly Hogan, backed by Chicago's Devil in a Woodpile.

My experimental sample of one, aged two and a half, liked the first track, "Wee Hairy Beasties," and requested an encore. I enjoyed the rousing chorus, but quickly got tired of the echo effect of the female singers repeating each line. By the third track, my son had enough and asked me to turn it off. For someone who enjoys everything from the Doodlebops to Nine Inch Nails, that said a lot.

The album did not improve on the solo listen. Some of the lyrics are clever, and older kids will appreciate the word play on tracks like "Animal Crackers," if the sparse arrangements can keep them listening long enough. For adults, the animal metaphors may get old fast.

The piece de resistance is "Cyril the Karaoke Squirrel," At 4 minutes and 43 seconds, it is by far the longest of the bunch, and tells the story of a squirrel and his wife, Marjorie, the singing bee. They enter a singing contest. They only know one song, but the performance is so amazing that it makes other performers jealous, and they spread nasty rumors about the couple. The audience chases them through the streets with torches, but all ends well when the pursuers get lost in the woods and eaten by Cyril's friends while Cyril and Marjorie sing happily ever after "far away from humanity." I'm not naive enough to believe that kids should not be exposed to violence, but that was too much.

Toenail Moon" was the most enjoyable track on the album. Sally Timm's voice is excellent and the lyrics are amusing. Although the enhanced CD is advertised to contain a video for the song, my Mac claimed otherwise.

Written by: Vita Foster, February 23rd 2007

Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook, Vol. 1

admin — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:44:00 +0000

By Various Artists

Bloodshot Records

As a native Chicagoan, I was delighted when the Old Town School of Folk Music Songbook, Vol. 1 arrived. The work of nearly 50 years of lessons and learning felt warm and familiar in my hand. The songbook contains 23 classic songs performed by a variety of artistic talents, some nationally known; others are instructors at the school – with decades of performing experience. The Old Town School of Folk Music was established in December 1957 and has been sharing, teaching and incubating music ever since. Now with two locations, the school has grown from the original location at 333 North Avenue with 150 students to expand programs to a much larger Lincoln Avenue facility while maintaining its music education programs in Lincoln Park. The Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park facilities offer workshops, classes in dance and art, seven days a week, 48 weeks a year to 6,000 students per week, nearly half of them children. The school not only offers education and workshops; performances by touring artists are on stage virtually every weekend. Through the ups-and-downs of a 50-year history, growth and decline coming near bankruptcy, what sets the school apart from other programs is the commitment to and philosophy music is for all people, regardless of age, experience, culture or tradition.

The Bloodshot Records recording of the actual school songbook features school faculty and staff, along with renowned friends such as Robbie Fulks, John Stirratt, and Janet Bean. The classics ring out the tradition of pure folk music such as “Amazing Grace,” “Wabash Cannonball” and “Drunken Sailor.” The lyrics of traditional folk music reflect the outdated relationships between men and women, who are “sweet as any honey.” The historical value of that tradition made me cringe on several occasions when the songs reflected the perception of woman’s role in the world is still one to be taken care of by a man.

The musical talent record includes some of the best harmonica, washboard and acoustic work I have ever heard; the foundation of blues and bluegrass stay strong. If only we could rework the lyrics to bring a greater insight to the changing roles of women in today’s world.

Written by: Mary O'Hara, February 18th 2007