Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionDirty Shirt Rock ‘n’ RollMajorDomo Records 11709 The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionNow I Got Worry (reissue)MajorDomo Records 11767 The Jon Spencer Blues ExplosionControversial Negro (reissue)MajorDomo Records 11816 Heavy TrashMidnight Soul SerenadeBig Legal Mess Records 22 slabs from the […]
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Anais MitchellHadestownRighteous Babe Records On her latest release, Vermont-based songwriter and singer Anais Mitchell turns to Greek mythology and in particular, the poet Orpheus, to deliver an ambitious and striking creation called Hadestown. Written by Mitchell, she brings the story up to […]
Compact Capsules for Mar 17, 2010by Dan Ferguson Johnny CashAmerican VI: Ain’t No GraveAmerican Recordings Upon hearing an American VI was coming in the series of recordings the late Johnny Cash made with producer Rick Rubin, the news was greeted with trepidation figuring they must be […]
Compact Capsules for Mar 10, 2010by Dan Ferguson Deadstring BrothersSao PauloBloodshot Records BS159 Recently caught an interview with Detroit R&B legend Andre Williams who said what separates Motor City music from that of other mega-music metropolises is the groove. When it comes to Detroiters the Deadstring […]
Compact Capsules for March 3, 2010by Dan Ferguson Ray Wylie HubbardA. Enlightenment, B. EndarkenmentBordello Records BOR-10-002 Aging gracefully? In the case of the oddly titled A. Enlightenment, B. Endarkenment from singer/songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard, the answer is no. Yet, a listen or two to this new […]
Compact Capsules for February 17, 2010by Dan Ferguson Various ArtistsFace a Frowning World: An E.C. Ball Memorial AlbumTompkins Square Records TSQ2288 He made his living driving a school bus and running a service station, but it was as traditional country artist that Estil “E.C.” Ball is […]
Compact Capsules for February 3, 2010by Dan Ferguson Duke Robillard and Sunny CrownoverTales from the Tiki LoungeBlue Dutchess Records The spirit of Les Paul and Mary Ford, and then some, is all over the grooves of Tales From the Tiki Lounge from local hero Duke Robillard […]
Compact Capsules for January 20, 2010by Dan Ferguson Late 2009 archival/historic collections from Brooklyn-based Norton Records chronicling the early works of Sun Ra and the on-the-fringe antics of Southern California music impresario Kim Fowley along with a highly charged compilation zeroing in on raw and rare […]
Boudin Dan’s Favorites of 2009 Heartless Bastards – The Mountain (Fat Possum)Listen to Erika Wennerstrom sing the songs embodying Heartless Bastards’ The Mountain and it feels like they’re from a place down deep. Spike it with jagged-edged rock, roughshod Appalachian and loping pedal steel and it […]
Compact Capsulesby Dan Ferguson Texas SheiksGeoff Muldaur & the Texas Sheiks Led by folk luminary Geoff Muldaur, the Texas Sheiks are Johnny Nicholas, Suzy Thompson, Cindy Cashdollar, Bruce Hughes, the late Stephen Bruton, and guest Sheik Jim Kweskin. Each noteworthy in his or her own right, […]
