Clapton, Stones & Neil Young New Releases

I really dig the new Rolling Stones, it's almost as good as their stuff from the late 70's.

The new Neil Young is awesome! It's very much in the vein of Harvest Moon. Very good stuff.

 

Strangely, Clapton is one of the few artists out there that I have never gotten into. I like the Stones as I have their big 4 of the late 60's and early '70's (Beggars's Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile) plus Some Girls, Between the Buttons, and Tattoo You but I don't see myself getting anything else by them. I just have this feeling that it wouldn't measure up to the material on the albums that I own by them.

Now as for Mr. Neil Young - I'll have to look into getting that. BTW - a band/artist that is far from being classic rock but is one of the best out there, IMO, is Sigur Ros. Their new album, "Takk" is due to be out this Tuesday; I have already pre-ordered mine on-line. I cannot wait for it!

 

I'll give Clapton and the Stones each a good solid B.

Clapton has always been a chameleon, adopting different 'styles' for his music and this CD seems like he is trying on an R&B or Motown sound. The back-up vocals are very lush , almost like a Steely Dan record and his guitar work is very understated (almost non-existent). But the songs are generally very positive and feel good and he does change styles enough to keep it interesting the whole way through. It's not Journeyman but it's worth listening to.

I thought the same thing as the reviewer above about Bigger Bang. The first 3 songs I said " this is OK , sounds like the Stones but just older" but the CD really kicks in on the 4th cut and established it's own identity and from that point on it is pretty damn good. Mick will always tell you what he's thinking and he has his own point of view. He will also tell you what drama is really going on in his life and though his highs and lows are both extreme, it's good to be Mick. This CD will make excellent concert material, I'd rathe hear 8 or 9 songs off this CD than a whole night of oldies.

Haven't heard Neal yet, however I did go see Loggins and Messina in concert last weekend and on a scale of 1-10 it was about an 11. I went a little reluctantly, expecting a Vegas Kenny Loggins show but no, It was a real Loggins and Messina show with Jim Messina singing almost half the vocals and palying all the lead guitars. The harmonies were razor sharp and on the last harmonies of 'Peace Of Mind' all 4,000 people there had a tension release akin to a collective Big O. So that was cool.

I can't recommend enough that that you younger and maybe country fans out there spend some time with the California Country Rock movement of the late 70's. The was such incestuous collection of genius in LA at that time that produced a brand new genre of music with great musicianship and great lyrics. I guess for a lot of people the genre was way too over exposed with the Eagles but there is a whole list outside of the Eagles that you should hear: Loggins and Messina, Poco, Souther Hillman Furray, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Buffalo Springfield, CSN, CSNY, Linda Rondstat etc.

 

I like that song Rough Justice, the first single. I'm surprised you guys didn't mention it. When I first heard it on the radio, I immediately turned it up.

 

Speaking of country rock or I should say, alternative country rock, like in the form of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, I picked up an album that has turned out to be absolutely outstanding:

"Anodyne" by Uncle Tupelo.

I am a huge Wilco fan and I always knew about Uncle Tupelo but I was scared (for some reason) to buy any of their stuff. Well that was a huge mistake on my part; fortunately I have seen the error of my ways! If you like Neil Young and Crazy Horse, I think you will like Uncle Tupelo, especially their last album before they broke up.

 

Check out Son Volt. Trace is a great CD.

 

I got it down as a CD to buy in the future. I didn't think I would care too much for Jay Farrar but I like his songs as much as the Tweedy songs on the UT album.

 

Between old Wilco and Son Volt, I'd pick them both 50 times out of 100.

BTW, you've never really expressed any jealousy at me seeing Jeff Tweedy about 15 feet away from me at Second City Chicago last Christmas.

 

I did not know that but thanks for rubbing it in.

Wilco is one of the very few bands that I would actually withstand the mass of people known as Bonnaroo to see. Too bad that Tweedy had to pull out the year they were going to perform.

BTW - I am going to see Coldplay in Nashville on the 18th of this month. I know it is a longshot but I would love for you and the mrs. to make a road trip out of it. And that goes for any other BBSer, if you have any interest in going to Nashville on the 18th of this month to see Coldplay, email me through the board.

 

Manny,

I wish. After the cruise, wedding, and DMB last week, I'm tapped out.

Back on track, I'm very interested in the new Clapton. Sounds like it's been getting some great reviews.

 

Stones album.....weak.
Glad I didnt shell out the big bucks to see them this week.