Frazey Ford - Obadiah REVIEW

Frazey Ford – Obadiah

"Obadiah"is the début solo album from Canadian singer songwriter Frazey Ford. Once a member of Appalachian styled country song smiths The Be Good Tanyas she's now reinvented her sound to a smoother relaxed soul tinged flavour reminiscent of After The Gold rush/Harvest Era Neil Young (heard especially in the albums opener “Firecracker”) mixed with the best of southern soul.

Where as the Joni Mitchell comparisons are easy to make when describing Fords light vocals (especially when listening to the 3rd track “Bird Of Paradise”) I would personally think of her more as a anti folk Ronnie Spector or even Dolly Parton as her tones and vowels quivers under the arrangements at the end of the phase.

The album is a slow burner that works very well as a whole piece with other stand out tracks including the modern R&B flavoured “Blue Streak Mama” which flows without the typical synths and lazy drum machine beats you would come to expect from the lacklustre hits coming under the “soul” bracket at the moment. “Obadiah” is a mixed collections of styles that stop at each road across the map of American music, from country to soul to rock to folk. “Lost Together” is framed in a Gram Parsons/Emmylou Harris arrangement with the vocals snaking around each other that resolve perfectly on each chorus.

“Hey Little Mama” is another stand-out of the album that points the spotlight on Fords singing with minimal backing including brush played drums used to great effect. Other numbers on the second half of the 13 strong list include “Half In” and the UN-gospelly “The Gospel Song”. “Half In” with its “Time Out Of Mind” atmosphere and double bass anchoring the slow rhythm as the Hammond Organ weaves in and out the vocals with great results.

The obligatory Bob Dylan cover actually fits perfectly as a bookend to the songs included here. Her version of “One More Cup Of Coffee” although faithful to the original doesn't really bring anything new to the table (unlike The White Stripes version) if anything it gives the second half of the album an added boost from a songwriter of Dylan's pedigree.

"Obadiah" ends with “Mimi Song” a slow ballad which speaks of redemption and acceptance of someone leaving something precious behind (a child? A love? Another time?) Like John Martyn's arguably best work “Solid Air” “Obadiah” is a album best heard late at night and when it finishes you almost wake back into reality like a hypnotized stooge after being in another place for the last 60+ mins. A keeper and one to be troubling the best albums list's of this year.

Re-Discovered Classics - October

Re-discovered Classics.

Due to few angry hipsters out there that got their “ironic” Pac-Man underwear in a twist about my “lost classics” post I have re-named it Re-discovered classics now.
For those of you not in “the know” this is where I list some old and in some cases new-ish tracks that might have flown so low under the radar that they were missed altogether or simply just great songs you aren’t ever going to hear on XFM or see on
MTV…

Here’s my October List.

1)Berlin – Lou Reed ; This is the version from his first solo album “Lou Reed” as opposed to the version on the “Berlin” album a few years later. I’ve always preferred this version as it doesn’t sound quite as dark and murky as the re-make.

2)96 Tears – Question Mark and The Mysterians ; This garage rock nugget from the Cameo Parkway label was kept in limbo for years due to the ownership of the label not re-releasing any of the companies songs onto cd so the only way to hear this would have been if you owned it on vinyl or watched some grainy footage on YouTube. Its now available everywhere and is a great frat party classic with its cheap spooky sounding organ and straight 4/4 scratchy guitar riff.

3)Don’t Let Me In - Steely Dan ; This track is only available on a compilation of pre debut album tracks by Donald Fagan and Walter Becker called “Beginnings” while they were struggling songwriters pitching their work in New York. While the seeds of what was to come are evident the overall sound of it is more bluesy and innocent than the later sardonic high brow jazz infused pop classics they were to become famous for.

4)So Alive – Ryan Adams ; This is a prime example of a song that I’d catch hell from some Nike-Air wearing fringe telling me its not “lost” as it’s their favourite track ever, but it’s one that doesn’t get played enough and mentioned in the same breath as other tracks in the Ryan Adams catalogue where I actually would argue that it’s his finest moment and the best track on the “Rock N Roll” album. Great chiming Marr-esque guitars interweaving with each other on a wave of echo with Ryan Adams singing in his best Morrissey tenor, a definite main-stay in my DJ box.

5)You Needed More – The Sleepy Jackson ; The opening track from the 2nd album (no I’m not American and refuse to call it sophomore album!”…their 2nd album “Personality – One Was A Spider, One Was A Bird” . This track is full of the trademarks of front man, songwriter and chief Luke Steele's heroes, Phil Spector, Brian Wilson are all included in the reverb laden drums and shakers and the choral harmonies thickening up the hook and expanding the middle 8 into classic blissed out territories. Definitely don’t file next to your Cramps CDs…

Politics VS Rock n Roll

At the start of the week the world (NME.com) was shocked to see Velvet Underground drummer Maureen (Moe) Tucker being interviewed on TV, and not because the 66 year old mother of 5 confirmed catholic was looking to start a revolution or promote heroin use to the nation mind but simply because of who she had come out to promote and discuss.

She was there to stand with The Tea Party, a conservative right wing political group in the USA. This didn't go down well with the staunch Left wing (bordering on communism manifesto) reading students that run the indie paper who felt she was "voting wrong", after all she'd played drums on some of the most influential records of all time and had been the benchmark for such other bands as The Jesus and Mary Chain, Hatcham Social and right up to any other drummer that stands up and plays primal 2 lick drum beats. "How dare she vote for these right wing idiots!" they gasped, who the hell did this free woman who'd paid into the system without ever really making any profit (The Velvet Underground's biggest record still never actually charted so royalties were pointless)think she was? Which leads me to believe that the underlying message of the left wing parties seems to be "freedom of speech unless you say something I don't like". Below I have listed some other so called "wrong" rock stars that happily vote or voted Conservative or Right Wing parties. Remember just as the Nazis get labelled "right wing"..then Stalin and Chairman Mao must get labeled "left wing" so it's all a big row in the middle of the same hypocrisy.

Freedom of speech and the right to vote are the only way things can ever change and making your own mind up is the last bit of freedom the government have left us to fight over. Personally I like musicians and artists by the work they create call me crazy, Bob Dylan could be a paid up member of Al-Qaeda for all I care "Blonde On Blonde" is still a 5 star banger...

5 RIGHT WING ROCK STARS

1) JOHNNY RAMONE (THE RAMONES) - Staunch Republican supporter even on his induction quoted "God bless President Bush, and God bless America".

2) Ted Nugent - The 70s guitar slinger holds all the republican values very close to his puffed out chest beating heart, basically leave my guns,money and bible the hell alone. If your looking for a hand out then move on down the road.

3) Elvis Presley - The king of rock and roll himself wrote a rambling 6 page letter to Richard Nixon explaining his worries about the drug crazed youth movements and how everyone should be watching out for the hippies,counter culture and black panther movements even going as far as putting himself forward as an agent to infiltrate them (not the panthers though I think!)

4) Ian Curtis (JOY DIVISION) - I can almost hear 1000 emo students fainting at the thought of this one but the Joy Division doe eyed singer/songwriter/ face of a generation was also a supporter of the Conservative party even voting for Margaret Thatcher in 1979 which brought her into power over the Labour Party.

5) 50 CENT - A fan of George W Bush going as far to call him "gangsta" as funny as that sounds and as bad of a president he was 50 (sorry FIDDY) didn't actually get to vote for anyone as his felony conviction upheld by Bush prevented him...I think they call that biting the hand that feeds you George..

Anna Calvi@Madam JoJo's 05/10/10

Anna Calvi LIVE @ Madam Jo Jo's -Soho,London

This was the second time I'd see Anna Calvi and her band and I can honestly say she has upped her game and polished off her performance to the next level. While some might argue that by doing this she has lost some of the spontaneity and rawness she originally had I would disagree and say she's simply channeled it back to the audience. Her individual playing was much more focused and during particular "musical" moments she was playing runs and notes that sounded like she was exorcising her deepest rock and roll heroes (especially during the outro of the last song "Love Won't Be Leaving"...BUT wait a minute I'm getting a head of myself here.. She started off with a building and tense guitar intro that sounded like something from a Robert Rodriguez film before dropping into "No More Words"...her band supporting her voice and guitar on drums and a multitude of instruments (I counted another 5 just from one other multi instrumentalist band member) "Blackout" followed in the set which got the crowd moving and earned the drummer his pay. After a quick bit of promo for the new single (out Monday 11Th no less) "Jezebel" her cover of the Edith Piaf track. Anna Calvi is out on the road now with Nick Cave's new band Grinderman and I can see why he chose her as she can do slow and sexy blues with the best of them, sometimes during almost haunting Jeff Buckley-esque moments she brings the volume down so low you could hear a pin drop or mouse fart (or which ever euphemism you want to choose!)before exploding the band into another fuzz guitar workout firing incendiary licks from her already battered telecaster. Other tracks included in her short set were "I'll Be Your Man", "Moulinette", "Desire" (another standout and contender for next single). She was supported by Düd who with there math rock alt noise 1 trick pony lick of Negative Creep played in 6/8 time didn't really blow the cobwebs off any ones trilby....


http://www.myspace.com/annacalvi

Hallelujah brothers and sisters!!

On the day that another brainwashed religious fanatical idiot was sent down for life in NYC for his crazy beliefs about martyrs,gods and virgins I thought as a nice change of pace to throw in the TOP 10 best GOD songs!!!!

praise be!
and remember he's NOT the messiah, he's very naughty boy!

10)Godwhacker - Steely Dan - cool 70s jazz rock mixed with William Burroughs-esqe lyrics and Woody Allen views of the world.

09) Our Prayer - Brian Wilson - A chorus wave of vocals orchestrated by Brother Brian sung in a wordless interweaving of notes and chords, inspiring.

08) A Love Supreme - John Coltrane - The Whole Album is broken up into 4 parts "Acknowledgement","Resolution","Pursuance","Psalm", his album after his drug addiction that he praises the almighty from freeing him from the chains of heroin.

07) Forever Loving Jah! - Bob Marley - a vague connection? Possibly...whether jah is god or just his dealer Bob Marley sings like a man who knows something we don't.

06) A Change Is Gonna Come - Sam Cooke - I know purists will argue its more of a civil rights song but Sam Cooke's gospel infused vocals and worries about what's waiting for him "beyond the sky" gives a true reading into the challenges of "faith"..

05) Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum - 60s swampy pop song..great melody from the deep south.

04) Awaiting on You All - George Harrison - this 1970 track from "All Things Must Pass" is a screaming,hollering,fainting in the isle's gospel track with shakers and tambourines a plenty with the Phil Spector production..Krishna-krishna George!

03) Every Grain Of Sand - Bob Dylan ; from just after his new born christian period comes this work of poetic genius that almost pushes me over to the burning bush...but not quite.

02) GOD SAID - Todd Rundgren - A late entry from one of his newest albums "Liars"..a conversation from the view point of a man and then god replying that like everyone else in history this guy has got it wrong and missed the point as well...

01) GOD - JOHN LENNON "I don't believe in Jesus, kings, yoga,Zimmerman, Beatles"..who does he believe in?..."me...Yoko and me...that's reality"

New Album Reviews

Magnetic Man – Magnetic Man album review

Magnetic Man is the new monika of 3 of dubsteps most respected producers/artists consisting of DJ’s Benga, Skream and Artwork. From this albums first single “I Need Air” (released this summer) on Columbia they were already pushing the envelope in the genre and gaining more fans in high places both sides of the Atlantic with both their music and impressive live show with along with their triple threat mix of drums, bass and loops/samples combined with light show have brought their brand to the masses.

This album on paper seems like it might be a case of “too many cooks spoil the broth” but in fact everyone contributes their individual areas as part of a well oiled machine. It seems like ego’s were checked at the door and everyone was pulling together for the bigger picture.

Guests on the album include the comeback kid Ms Dynamite on the track “Fire” (with her best dancehall licks), Katy B who is climbing the greasy pole and making her mark with 2 contributions here both definite highlights to the whole, including “Crossover” with its deep reverb laden bass line and almost early Massive Attack chill out production and “Perfect Stranger” definitely a bench mark of this collection of songs, harking back to a more jungle-orientated anthem mixed with a old skool almost New Order era drum loop for the chorus probably orchestrated by Benga (a live drive aficionado) as opposed to the more drum machine/sample choices of Skream. “Boiling Water” features Sam Frank in this breaks heavy and autotuned (arrrrgh!) track.

Worthwhile but a little bordering on filler with some of the other tracks including “Ping Pong” with its cascading arpeggio keys motif but fails to really go anyway where as “Box Of Ghosts” with its very minimal simplistic production show that sometimes less isn’t always more.

Strings and orchestration have played an important part on this LP and this is one of the avenues the collective (I refuse to use the term supergroup) have explored. “Karma Crazy”, “Flying Into Tokyo” both are lifted by the dramatically overblown string arrangement mixed with the growling bassline giving us an almost dubstep Bond theme.

The album finishes off with another guest appearance but unlike artists in the rock and pop field each selection here have been chosen by what contribution the artist can make rather than trading off their name to sell a few more units and John Legend on the closed “Getting Nowhere” is no exception. His smooth vocals give the track a shine and professionalism that will definitely get this group and record the recognition that they deserve and finish the song cycle in style.

scream thy last scream....

Yoko Ono, wife, mother,collaborator,dragon lady, Beatles destroyer, easy scape goat,artist. As we approach what would have been John Lennon's 70Th birthday Yoko Ono is readying the reissue of all his solo output and undertaking a load of interviews and publicity where no doubt she'll have to juggle the same questions from the same hack reporters. I think she gets a hard time of it all, this may sound trite considering she is sitting on about £500 million of Lennon's estate but her character is definitely finalised as far as many people are concerned. I think a drastic overview is needed with this after all she was the person that inspired songs such as Julia (for his mother as well but "ocean child" from the lyrics is the translation of Yoko in Japanese) she also inspired "Jealous Guy", "Imagine" (her book "Grapefruit" has "imagine...." as a concept on each page) there are others too but mainly she unleashed Lennon's inner freak that was dying to get out from day one rather than just simply being his girlfriend. Every rock and roll star wants "his Yoko" someone that challenges them as an artist and understands them, for a genius that bordered on insanity it must have felt like a warm comfort blanket rather than having to "explain" himself to a blank expression Liverpool sheltered ex-wife.

As a Beatles and Lennon fan I always hated having to share him with her like on albums where she got equal billing for songs...personally I'd rather have 10 songs by him rather than 5 a piece from either but that's not to say she never contributed any good songs because she did and they stand up. Here are my top 5 Yoko songs for you to dig out, listen to or dis-regard as the ravings of a mad man with a Friday morning hangover.

Yoko Ono

1.Winter Song - great slow atmospheric song with lovely production from "Approximately Infinite Universe" album

2.Born In A Prison - first song I gave any notice to, full Phil Spector production and Lennon on backing vocals, one of the high lights from the dismal "Sometime In New York City" album.

3.Walking On Thin Ice - Great track from "Double Fantasy" sessions.

4.Listen, The Snow Is Falling - a great track with session ace Nicky Hopkins playing electric piano, an alternative white Xmas track for the hipsters..

5.Don't Worry,Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For Her Hand In The Snow) - rock and roll jam with avant-garde vocals typical of Yoko Ono in this period, but it does rock, not for everyone and not on my ipod daily list but for when you need to clean out the cobwebs and fly your freak flag a little then crank it.