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The Birth of a CD ... OR How we drug some innocent characters into this mess
1 comment:
Anonymous
said...
“Spooked” Impressions
I’m just loving this CD. In addition to providing a wonderfully entertaining, musical experience with a wide variety of styles, Marley’s Ghost has adhered to what I feel is an obligation of artists to speak to the times. I hope you’ll forgive me if I tend to lean on this latter aspect of the album, but it’s hard for me not to filter most every artistic statement these days through my frustration with the folks running our country. This is not meant to be a rant, but rather an appreciation of some of my favorite music to come along in a good while. Here are some of my impressions.
Sail Away Ladies - Jews harps. Intriguing, catchy way to start off. Comes easy, builds, makes me feel like I’m at a hoedown, goes easy.
Get Off The Track - Even though this sounds a bit like something The Limelighters might have done, and it’s hard to resist singing the line “Old Dan Tucker” in between the lines of the chorus, I really appreciate the positive political sentiments of this song.
“Jump for your lives, politicians From your dangerous, false positions”
The Wicked Messenger - This Dylan classic makes me think of - what else - the Bush administration, and the music has a perfectly queasy kind of feeling to it. The frailing banjo adds the perfect accent.
“With a mind that multiplied the smallest matter” answered by “If ye cannot bring good news, then don’t bring any”
High Walls - Can’t help but think this is about avoiding a corporate job. Mike has the perfect voice for this C&W song and Ed’s peddle steel provides the perfect backing. Love the irony of
“Frank, they’ll never catch us alive Not with my will to survive”
Last Words - “Sucker suit” “Nuff said.
Palms Of Victory - Hope springs eternal. Especially love the instrumental open - like a sunrise or a fresh mountain spring.
Old Time Religion - Until this recording, this is a song I always thought of as a parody of a certain kind of folk, but with the way religion is being used to divide us these days, this is a welcome inclusion. And the way Dan varies the phrasing on the repeated lines, while putting so much feeling into it makes this one of my new favorites.
“Makes me love everybody”
The Girl With the Blue Dress On/Sally in the Garden - Sounds like frolicking in a sun-dappled glade.
Cowboy Lullaby - A wonderful showcase for Dan’s voice and an instant classic for “The Sons of the Pioneers.” Contains my favorite phrase in the whole album:
“And hold her to me gently like the prairie holds the sky”
The Ballad Of Johnny Hallyday - Whimsical French road trip.
Love, Not Reason - There had to have been tears on the sheet music or the keyboard for this one. A real grabber.
“My love for you is stronger than you know”
There's Religion In Rhythm - What a great, old song this is, and what a delightful re-creation of its style. One of my friends feels this is the highlight of the album.
“Come down from your dignity And reason this out with me What can this rhythm be But the good Lord talkin’ to His children”
Seaman's Hymn - A Ghost a capella showcase.
“For the greatest of gifts Is a sweet lasting peace”
Hidden Bonus Track - Hard to tell if Ed’s entertaining those dogs and they’re singing along, or if they’re just being totally annoyed.
1 comment:
“Spooked” Impressions
I’m just loving this CD. In addition to providing a wonderfully entertaining, musical experience with a wide variety of styles, Marley’s Ghost has adhered to what I feel is an obligation of artists to speak to the times. I hope you’ll forgive me if I tend to lean on this latter aspect of the album, but it’s hard for me not to filter most every artistic statement these days through my frustration with the folks running our country. This is not meant to be a rant, but rather an appreciation of some of my favorite music to come along in a good while. Here are some of my impressions.
Sail Away Ladies - Jews harps. Intriguing, catchy way to start off. Comes easy, builds, makes me feel like I’m at a hoedown, goes easy.
Get Off The Track - Even though this sounds a bit like something The Limelighters might have done, and it’s hard to resist singing the line “Old Dan Tucker” in between the lines of the chorus, I really appreciate the positive political sentiments of this song.
“Jump for your lives, politicians
From your dangerous, false positions”
The Wicked Messenger - This Dylan classic makes me think of - what else - the Bush administration, and the music has a perfectly queasy kind of feeling to it. The frailing banjo adds the perfect accent.
“With a mind that multiplied the smallest matter”
answered by
“If ye cannot bring good news, then don’t bring any”
High Walls - Can’t help but think this is about avoiding a corporate job. Mike has the perfect voice for this C&W song and Ed’s peddle steel provides the perfect backing. Love the irony of
“Frank, they’ll never catch us alive
Not with my will to survive”
Last Words - “Sucker suit” “Nuff said.
Palms Of Victory - Hope springs eternal. Especially love the instrumental open - like a sunrise or a fresh mountain spring.
Old Time Religion - Until this recording, this is a song I always thought of as a parody of a certain kind of folk, but with the way religion is being used to divide us these days, this is a welcome inclusion. And the way Dan varies the phrasing on the repeated lines, while putting so much feeling into it makes this one of my new favorites.
“Makes me love everybody”
The Girl With the Blue Dress On/Sally in the Garden - Sounds like frolicking in a sun-dappled glade.
Cowboy Lullaby - A wonderful showcase for Dan’s voice and an instant classic for “The Sons of the Pioneers.” Contains my favorite phrase in the whole album:
“And hold her to me gently
like the prairie holds the sky”
The Ballad Of Johnny Hallyday - Whimsical French road trip.
Love, Not Reason - There had to have been tears on the sheet music or the keyboard for this one. A real grabber.
“My love for you is stronger than you know”
There's Religion In Rhythm - What a great, old song this is, and what a delightful re-creation of its style. One of my friends feels this is the highlight of the album.
“Come down from your dignity
And reason this out with me
What can this rhythm be
But the good Lord talkin’ to His children”
Seaman's Hymn - A Ghost a capella showcase.
“For the greatest of gifts
Is a sweet lasting peace”
Hidden Bonus Track - Hard to tell if Ed’s entertaining those dogs and they’re singing along, or if they’re just being totally annoyed.
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