Here's some picks and misses Best albums of 2001 JOHN TRUDELL-BONE DAYS--A new studio album with the Bad Dog band, pointed spoken word/rock by a master wordsmith with alot to say about politics and society. Available from johntrudell.com GARBAGE-BEAUTIFUL GARBAGE--Their 3rd album is not as hard edged or gritty--"Androgny" starts out sounding like Britney- this is kind of like pop parodied, but very listenable. BOB DYLAN-LOVE AND THEFT--a more playful, self produced Dylan, nice balance to the dark & moody Lanois-produced "Time Out of Mind" JIMI HENDRIX-MORNING SYMPHONY IDEAS--okay, it's really c2000, on Hendrix family's Dagger Records, a disc full of demos including 'Room Full of Mirrors' (Joni stuck that title in Don't Interrupt TS). Rough hewn genius. DAN HICKS-ALIVE AND LICKIN'--A loose, bouyant live set with the new Hot Licks band, Surfdog Records PAUL MCCARTNEY-WINGSPAN--2 CD set features remastered classics from Macca's solo carreer, put on the live version of "Coming Up" and crank it up loud. CONCERT FOR NYC-VARIOUS--mixed bag from the cool (Bowie's "America", "Heroes") to the predictable (the Who "Won't Get Fooled Again") to the banal (Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive", McCartney's "Freedom"). Also on DVD. AMERICA: A TRIBUTE TO HEROES--if only for Neil Youngs recreation of "Imagine"...also Stevie Wonder, S. Crow etc..2 CD's for $ 20 GIL&MILTON--Two of Brazil's biggest talents, Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento, team up for some beautiful sounds.
Misses- PAUL MCCARTNEY-DRIVING RAIN--Fresh and inventive on the music side, but dragged down on the lyrical side...I mean, repeating the same inane verse over and over 5 times...write some more verses or get a collaborator fergawdsakes. Paul's voice is incredible..he does not sound 60... Dissappointments- CPR-JUST LIKE GRAVITY--Mediocre to these ears, it pains me to say, being a major David Crosby fan. Dearly Departed: George Harrison John Phillips John Hartford John Lee Hooker (tough year for Johns) Fred Neil Rufus Thomas Chet Atkins Joey Ramone
