Shopping List: The New and the Recommended
A not-bad week for weepers, wailers, and the funniest British comedians ever.
Rickie Lee Jones, Sermon on Exposition Boulevard
The reclusive Los Angeles folknik uses Jesus of Nazareth's literal New Testament words as jumping-off points for some of the most searing yet secular country-rock this side of Lucinda Williams. Jones juggles inward confusion and outward compassion in "Falling Up," "Elvis Cadillac," and other rough and rapturous vehicles. We saw her perform a few of these pieces at a club recently, improvising lyrics halfway between a sermon and a séance.
Patty Griffin, Children Running Through
The sort of record that makes you wonder where you were for Griffin's first six releases. Imagine a one-woman Austin-based sisterhood combining Patsy Cline's country crooning ("You'll Remember"), Aretha Franklin's gospel soul ("Heavenly Day"), and Lucinda Williams's Texas rock ("No Bad News").
Backyard Tire Fire, Vagabonds and Hooligans
The Dexateens, Hardwire Healing
Wild and woolly dirty-South barroom bombast from the musical grandchildren of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Crazy Horse, and Exiles on Main Street -era Rolling Stones as well as such contemporary country-rock stars as Drive-By Truckers, My Morning Jacket, and Wilco. The name and album title tell you pretty much all you need to know about North Carolina's Backyard Tire Fire, while steel-pedal guitar fans should particularly dig Alabama's Dexateens.
Monty Python
Another Monty Python Record
Monty Python's Previous Record
Life of Brian
The Meaning of Life
"Good evening," begins Another Monty Python Record after a false start. "We apologize for the previous apology. This apology was unnecessary and appeared on the record owing to an administrative error. This album is not, as stated in the previous apology, Pleasures of the Dance: A Selection of Norwegian Carpenter Songs, but a new album from the humorous television comedy show, Monty Python's Flying Circus." Cue Norwegian dance music, followed thereafter by the Spanish Inquisition, Spam. Mary Queen of Scots, four bonus tracks, and, in general, some of the most endurably absurd sketch comedy ever etched in vinyl. The other remastered and augmented albums are of course laugh riots too.
Jorge Drexler, 12 Segundos de Obscuridad
The Uruguayan singer is known best for "Al Otro Lado del Río," the 2004 Academy Award-winning song from The Motorcycle Diaries. Drexler alternates between rock, folk, and electronics on 12 Segundos de Obscuridad (Twelve Seconds of Darkness) as he sings about economic globalism and emotional globetrotting.