The Call Up

April 24, 2013 10:00 am

These guys. So serious.

May 11, 2012 8:22 pm

Get real.

April 19, 2012 11:55 pm

Apple Suckling Tree
By: Bob Dylan & The Band
The Basement Tapes [disc 1]
50 plays

Do yourself a favor and listen to the Basement Tapes. Levon’s putting it down on this one.

Though it probably doesn’t come through much in this blog, The Band is one my favorite groups. Ever. They were playing a style of bluegrassy, twangy, countrified rock n roll that just wasn’t all that cool at the time. They couldn’t get people to buy tickets to the Last Waltz until they put all the guest acts on the bill. But they played it hard, they played it well and they played it with heart. And that was largely because of Levon Helm.

Robbie Robertson presented himself as the hairdo frontman, but a group of Canadians could never sell this kind of Americana without an Arkansan at the wheel. All their best tracks sound like something straight out of Appalachia with Levon at the mic.

I’m sorry to say I never got to one of his legendary Midnight Rambles. But damn if he didn’t make his mark.

April 16, 2012 11:09 pm

Heartbreaker
By: Alabama Shakes
Boys & Girls
49 plays

Do you know about these guys? You should.
Choosing a song to post was extremely difficult because they are all just absolutely killer.

April 11, 2012 11:24 pm

Dig

April 9, 2012 11:50 pm

Raw

March 16, 2012 1:09 am

"Jack White has been putting out music for well over a decade, but you could argue that he’s never allowed himself the sound he always should have had. While Meg White’s raw and swinging beat never gets enough credit (restraint is a trait that’s grossly undervalued in drummers), she was definitely limited in her range. And in his work with groups like The Raconteurs, White has often ceded the stage to great but less charismatic talents like Brendan Benson. He’s dedicated much of his time to rejuvenating acts like Loretta Lynn and Wanda Jackson, as a producer, while on The Dead Weather he mostly took a back seat, literally, and played the drums. Sometimes White seems like the one guitar wanker who’s never selfish enough."

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Pretty much.

(Source: Slate)

Comment

January 8, 2012 11:21 am

"Rock is becoming a graveyard of aesthetic innovation and creativity, a lie perpetrated by major labels, radio conglomerates and touring concerns, all of whom need — or feel they need — the continued sustenance of this style of music. The fringes remain interesting, and regenerate constantly, but the center has been left to rot … let’s call it zombified: it moves, it takes up space, it looks powerful from afar — with oodles of bands working hard, and some even making money — and garish up close. It lacks nutrients."

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The article goes on the skewer the Black Keys and just about everyone else.

(Source: The New York Times)