Dylan Schmylan

Warren Haynes- 4.0
I came this close to seeing Warren Haynes at one of Levon Helm’s midnight rambles earlier this year. I’m really kicking myself for being such an old fart. My son Sean- who went in my place said it was one of the best blues/southern rock shows he’s ever seen. This is a solid cd that incorporates soul, funk, gospel, blues and R&B into a great collection of tunes, all save one, that were penned by Haynes. The guy is not only a great guitarist but a fine songwriter as well.

Thea Gilmore- 2.0
Now why would you want to listen to this instead of the original masterpiece from the man himself? Ok- pay homage to him by putting one or two of your favorite Dylan songs on one of your albums. But to redo the album in it’s entirety. What are you thinking? I did like her treatment on a couple of songs (I Am A Lonesome Hobo and The Drifter’s Escape) thus the 2 rating.

Yo-Yo Ma- 2.5
Ennio Morricone has composed over a hundred film scores, most notably “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” “Once Upon a Time in America,” and “The Untouchables.” And Yo-Yo Ma probably has over a hundred cd’s to his credit. Yes they are both incredibly talented as well as prolific. But, I’m sorry. This music is just not my cup of tea. Although, I did like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

The Mavericks- 4.0
The Mavericks are country kind of the same way Lyle Lovett is country- they don’t really fit that moniker. At least not the “music row”, produced to death, country music we get on the radio. So, there’s a lot of different stuff on this cd. A little Latin in Dance The Night Away. A little Gospel in Save a Prayer. A little melancholy in Fool #1. Jangley 70’s pop in I Don’t Even Know Your Name. A little Roy Orbison in I’ve Got This Feeling. Country? I don’t think so. This is a great pop cd and Raul Malo is a treasure.

Stevie Ray Vaughan- 4.0
There’s no question- the guy was a virtuoso. Only 1 year after the release of the amazing Texas Flood came this gem. With these 2 cd’s SRV gave notice to the world that he was the new blues messiah and he was going to keep playing his heart out. With the energy and virtuosity of these 2 releases could anyone dispute that fact? I think not.

Stiff Records
Way fun. Probably the cd I listened to the most this month. Never heard of some of these guys- good stuff. Wouldn’t have minded some Pogues or maybe a Bongo’s tune. Ah- you can’t please everyone.

Impossible Top 15 from the 70’s:

Moondance- Van Morrison
Benefit- Jethro Tull
Gasoline Alley- Rod Stewart
Rock On- Humble Pie
Europe 72- Grateful Dead
All Day Music- War
Message From The Country- The Move
The Captain And Me- Doobie Brothers
The Wild The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle- Bruce Springsteen
Abandoned Luncheonette- Hall & Oates
Bare Trees- Fleetwood Mac
Led Zeppelin IV- Led Zeppelin
Fireball- Deep Purple
Déjà vu- CSNY
Eat A Peach- Allman Brothers

1970 and stuff...

Thea Gilmore – “John Wesley Harding” = 2 Stars
It has more strengths than weaknesses but still a bit too “adult contemporary” for me to get fully behind it.

Warren Haynes – “Man In Motion” = 2 Stars
Thea Gilmore “review” here. And with not one song clocking in under five minutes, that’s a gift.

The Mavericks – Trampoline = 2 Stars
Over-produced and underwhelming. And that horn section…please stop.

Stevie Ray Vaughan – “Couldn't Stand The Weather” = 5 Stars
Perhaps even better now than it was when it came out. Yes, five stars despite its weak closer.

Yo-Yo Ma – “Plays Ennio Morricone” = 4 Stars
Two great tastes that taste great together.

G’Hits – The Stiff Records Box Set
Great collection.

Topic
15 best records of the ‘70s. Had to go to 15 as the decade was the most prolific in rock history.

The only rule I gave myself is to not repeat any artists.
And I made one last minute changes before posting. Marked *


In no particular order:
The Clash – London Calling
The Who – Who’s Next
John Lennon – Plastic Ono Band
The Cars – The Cars
Iggy Pop – Lust for Life *
Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers
The Kinks – Lola vs Powerman…
Yes – Fragile
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Neil Young – Harvest
Elton John – Honky Chateau
Big Star – Radio City
AC/DC – Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (Australian Version)
Rush – 2112
Joe Jackson – Look Sharp!

Was:
* Iggy & The Stooges – Raw Power

Stiffed on the stiff

Mg 11-07-26

Mavericks

This was the last hurrah for The Mavericks. There was one more cd after this but the guitarist had been replaced and solo projects had started to take a foothold into camp. This is also the Mavericks at their best. Sure they are a country band, but they add a dose of Latin flavor, mix in some beatlesque sensibilities, a great horn section and then put in a bit of the over the top Tom Jones pop sensibility. Together they form a great pop cd. Seeing them live was a testament to their chops. Musicians more worried about the sound rather feeling the need to show off. Even though the parts make a strong whole the true star is Raul Malo’s voice. Never before or since have I been at a concert and nobody moved during a slow song, but that is what happened when he sung Dream River. Not a week song in the bunch but standouts like Dance the Night Away and I’ve Got This Feeling should have made them huge, not wishing they had left us more. 4.0

Stevie Ray Vaughan

A classic. Vaughan and his band probably at his best. Still remember him playing most of this in a thunderstorm not wanting to move because he is just that good. Throughout the cd time and time again he is able to show those classic hooks as well as the pyrotechnics that he was able to deliver through his guitar. But in doing so he did it with different tempos and style changes allowing the songs to stand out individually and not just be a showcase for his next solo. 4.0

Thea Gilmore

Once again proving that the worst parts of Dylan’s songs are his voice. Give them to a talented singer and they are allowed to grow. That being said this cd is just alright. While the song selection is good there is sameness throughout. Only Drifters Escape manages to escape the rest. Maybe it’s because of the electric guitar, maybe it’s because it’s upbeat, either way this cd could have used a few more songs like it. 2.0 (Ps did not know that this was a total remake of a Dylan album, but then why would I)

Warren Hayes

A talented guitarist as he has proven where ever he lands. As a singer his voice is adequate for what is required. But please change the tempo every once in a while. What we get is ten standard blues songs that seem to be written around a solo, that all share the same mid range tempo. No wait that’s wrong, there are a few that are slower. Mr. Hayes should take a listen to Couldn’t Stand the Weather for clues on how a song should build though itself and throughout the album. 2.0

Yo Yo Ma

Tough cd to critic. After all Yo Yo Ma is a brilliant cellist. His interpretation on all types of music has enabled him to standout even though he is a classical musician. Here he chooses soundtrack music. As a rule soundtrack music is there to support the film and be a part of the background. And that’s what we get. Yes the playing is unbelievable but as the cd plays on it just seems to fade in the background. 2.0

I got stiffed on the stiff

The 70’s

I found it interesting as I discovered music as I entered High School, so did most of my choices seem to come from that period.

70’s Top 15

1. Strangers In The Night, Ufo

2. Black Rose, Thin Lizzy

3. Night at the Opera, Queen

4. Destroyer, Kiss

5. Get Your Wings, Aerosmith

6. Who’s Next, The Who

7. Rock N Roll Animal, Lou Reed

8. Unleashed In The East, Judas Priest

9. Ramones, Ramones

10. London Calling, The Clash

11. Highway To Hell, AC/DC

12. Low Budget, The Kinks

13. Animals, Pink Floyd

14. Van Halen

15. Sticky Fingers, Rolling Stones