Shopping List: The New and the Notable
Christopher Denny, Age Old Hunger (00:02:59)
Arkansas singer-songwriter Christopher Denny sounds like a cross between Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Little Jimmy Scott on this unadorned slice of evergreen Americana. Kris Kristofferson's "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" and Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" sound like templates for Denny originals such as "Westbound Train" and "Gypsy Carpenter" when sung by this remarkable romantic loner.
Lori McKenna, Unglamorous (Warner Bros.)
One of commercial country's best lyricists, Lori McKenna spins Raymond Carver-esque tales of small-town life on her fifth album. "D. H. Lawrence would be your favorite poet, if you thought poetry was cool," she sings around haunting pedal-steel guitar lyrics in the autobiographical "I Know You." And the fed-up wife in "Sick of That Lie" can only smirk, "Baby, we're gonna take that vacation/ Once you get that new job." Yikes.
Les Paul: Chasing Sound! (Koch DVD)
Solid-body guitar inventor Les Paul remains a charmer at ninety-two. And this jaunty video is a testament to the solid work ethic, impish charm, and inventive spirit that marked his transition from road-hungry country artist to best-selling pop jazzbo. Along the way he created multi-track recording, overdubbing, and the Gibson Les Paul, guitar of the gods. Bonus footage includes Paul playing with Tony Bennett, Keith Richards, and Merle Haggard at his ninetieth birthday bash as well as fifties footage with longtime partner Mary Ford.
Linda Thompson, Versatile Heart (Rounder)
Linda Thompson was sidelined after her seventies heyday alongside former husband Richard Thompson by a rare vocal disorder (spasmodic dysphonia) right out of an Oliver Sacks case study. Her second solo album since then consists of low-key country, folk, and rockabilly tunes sung with beautiful gravity. The live highlight, "Day After Tomorrow," is a timeless tale of a young man's regretful trek off to a war he doesn't believe in.
Zap Mama, Supermoon (Heads Up)
Multiply tracked Marie Dauine is the big, versatile voice behind this long-running fusion of Western pop fusion, African rhythms, and pygmy songs. Dauine's group has evolved over fifteen years. The latest version of Zap Mama is full of bright, busy arrangements and optimistic songs often rooted in the traditional music of Gabon, the Congo, and other West Africa hot spots.
Comments
Jim Dandy says:
This is a much needed addition to the AARP roster. Thank you. As much as I like much of the 50's, 60's, 70's & 80's music, I want to live in the here and now. That means that I appreciate a lot of, but absolutely not all of, the current "new music" and new music by artists of our genre. That's why I started Jim's dot com (it's found at the URL above). While I can't compete with the staff at AARP, I certainly can add to the intent of this AARP music site. Please take a few minutes to check out my personal blog... especially if you like to cook and can appreciate my "famous" stories.
http://www.jimsdotcom.blogspot.com
08/15/07 04:29 PM