The music, my friend, is blowing in the wind....

Greetings, music lovers!  I hope you've enjoyed my last few posts!  I'm only going to review 2 albums this time, but to be fair, one of the has 4 discs and 80 songs.......So, on to the first:

ELBOW:  THE SELDOM SEEN KID

First of all, not a band I had ever heard of before.  But, as with much of the music I have been listening to, this was suggested by a friend.  A couple of nights ago, Lee and I were talking about Radiohead; specifically Ok Computer, and how it was a virtually perfect record.  So, he suggested I give this Elbow record a listen.  I tell you already, it gets a 4 out of 5. 

Some of this review will honestly be based on portions of my first impressions of what Lee played me, and how he accurately expressed what I was thinking before I could formulate the words. 

Pretty much, if early Radiohead, Coldplay and Peter Gabriel had a supergroup, this is what it would sound like.  It's a beautiful marriage of ingenuity, melody, fantastic musicianship, intelligent (sometimes TOO much so, which is why I gave it 4 out of 5) lyrics and a great overall vibe and flow.

Standout tracks are:  Starling, Grounds For Divorce, and The Fix.  Starling is just a great way to start the record; it totally sets you up for the feel of the rest of the record.  Grounds For Divorce features a great "stomp-clap" through the entire song, and is a perfect example of the Coldplay-Radiohead-Gabriel love-child aspect of their music.  The Fix features Richard Hawley; kinda a creepy song that sounds as though it was composed by Danny Elfman for a Tim Burton film.  Though I know he doesn't sing on it, it almost sounds like a duet between Peter Gabriel and David Bowie.  Fantastic track. 


CHIMES OF FREEDOM:  THE SONGS OF BOB DYLAN HONORING 50 YEARS OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. 

Let me put it out there in the universe, and I'll not speak of it again.  I am not the biggest Bob Dylan fan.  I think his lyrics are amazingly written, and he is a very important artist; and I DO regard him as a poet.  I will also say that two of my favorite songs of all time, Hurricane, and Boots of Spanish Leather are Dylan songs.  Also, Johnny Cash and Dylan were good friends, and Cash covers 3 of Dylan's songs on Orange Blossom Special.  But, I've just never really been able to get past Dylan's voice. 

That said, this album illustrates the clear artistry of his lyrical and songwriting skills.  And it also shows his far reach into American culture and music.  Not to mention that it benefits a great cause and organization. 

It took me FOREVER to get through.  It is 73 tracks, and the artists on it read like a veritable who's who of commerical and popular music for the last 50 years.  There are some very high points, and some very low points, but overall it's fantastic.  Surprising, even.  First, to tell you just WHO is on it.....

Before you ask, OF COURSE my favorite track is the Johnny Cash/Avett Brother's song, One Too Many Mornings.  It's the original Cash vocals from a duet he did on Dylan's song that has never officially been released.  It was recorded in 1967 I believe, and they went back to the original tapes, stripped the instrumentation and Dylan's vocal track and replaced it with the Avett's.  I mean, it's very clearly fabricated, but it's awesome. 

Again, there are a lot of standout tracks on this record.  The next I will talk about, is certainly one I don't want to admit is good, and surprised the hell out of me.  It's.....Miley Cyrus...  Yes, I said, Miley Cyrus.  She does a great version of You're Going To Make Me Lonesome When I Go.  Her voice on this reminds me of Dolly Parton mixed with a little Coal Miner's Daughter-era Loretta Lynn...if they both smoked 3 packs a day.  Great song. 

Another standout track is the Band Of Skulls version of It Ain't Me Babe.  The original is of course one of my favorite songs, having been recorded by Johnny and June.  But this version keeps the awesome harmonies, but slows it way down and strips all instrumentation but sparse acoustic guitar away.  Stunningly beautiful. 

 There are way too many songs to list, but some other highlights are by Queens Of The Stone Age, Gaslight Anthem, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Perry, Pete Townsend, Sting and Flogging Molly. 

Now for the LOWLIGHTS of the album.....

I love ADELE.  But not on this song.  It's a live version of Make You Feel Love.  I guess it's the way she almost unintelligibly pronounces words that kills me.  It's Dylan.  The lyrics are the most important part.  You're British, not an alien.  Speak words that we understand.  I don't care how "fierce" your belt is, if I don't understand a damn thing you say, I really don't care what your tone quality is like. 

And the worst for last.  Ke$ha.  It pains me to even type a $ sign in the middle of an "artist"'s name.  And, I use the word artist in the purely ironic, completely sarcastic way.  This track is crap.  Like rancid crap.  First of all, she thought it would be a good idea to "cry" through the whole thing.  As though a fake display of emotions will sell anyone on here being a singer.  Which brings me to the main point:  her vocals are terrible.  I'd rather hear Bob sing them NOW, which isn't saying much because he barely has a voice to speak of.  I've never heard any of her other shit...oops...I mean, "music", but since I was avoiding it before, I'm now just completely boycotting her and pretending she doesn't exist. 

So, there in a nutshell are the highs and lows of the Dylan tribute record.  It is a MUST HAVE for anyone who loves Dylan, or anyone who like even two or three artists on it.  Because of the two afformentioned BLECH tracks, I give it a 4 out of 5. 

Next time, I'll be back to reviewing at least 3 regular full-length albums.  Then, I'll tackle some of the full catalogues of artists I mentioned in my first blog.  Happy listening!