Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
In a message dated 3/14/99 4:05:10 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Oh..memories of Al Green... Alright! A kindred soul in the cult of Reverend Al. When I was home at Xmas my family was watching the "100 greatest artists.." on VH1. My grumpy Dad was complaining about almost every one, and when I commented that Al Green was my favorite singer in the world he almost fell out of the chair. Memory: A beautiful Spring night in Piedmont Park in Atlanta - the Staple Singers and Al Green doing a free concert in the early '90s. That was heaven on earth. Slim
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Btw, Jon, I must confess I'm hearing more and more mainstream Nashville cuts that strike me as good, respectable stuff these days. Maybe there *is* a trend Yesterday , for ex., I heard that Trisha song, "Powerful Thing" (or whatever the title is) and thought it was an entirely enjoyable sort of pop-twang number, nice fiddle line, etc. Better than a lot of what I've heard in recent times Don't really care for that Trisha song, but have you heard the new Loveless? "Can't Get Enough" even sports a similarity to Twain's "If You're Not In It For Love(I'm Outta Here)" with that break in the chorus. The video is a bit more suggestive than anything Loveless has put out to date. Tera
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Nashville cuts that strike me as good, respectable stuff these days. Maybe there *is* a trend Yesterday , for ex., I heard that Trisha song, "Powerful Thing" (or whatever the title is) and thought it was an entirely enjoyable sort of pop-twang number, nice fiddle line, etc Thankfully, people like Al Anderson (ex-NRBQ) have a lot to do with that new sound. Tapping into songwriters like him give us hope for the future. Also, Kim Richey, Kostas, Jim Lauderdale and many other talented songwriters are getting their goods to the hitmakers. K.
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
In a message dated 3/12/99 5:25:51 AM !!!First Boot!!!, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Which leads me to the (rhetorical?) question: Can anyone top Steve Earle for artist of the decade?? Dave Alvin (can I get an "Amen" from Miss Marie, there?) Mitch Matthews Gravel Train/Sunken Road
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Jim writes: Which leads me to the (rhetorical?) question: Can anyone top Steve Earle for artist of the decade?? When you put: Train a'comin' Feel Alright El Corazon the Mountain back to back, etc. I'd agree with that, if we're talking about alternative country, big tent or small. But stepping away from it a bit, and using a freaking carnival tent, I'd make Earle share his pedestal with Richard Thompson (though I guess I'd make Thompson's decade end in the mid-90s). The point is that for me these two artists are very similar -- masterful songwriters and arrangers, killer vocals and guitar, and every song makes a point. Even though critics and fans have huge expectations for these two, they seldom issue a clunker, and their albums hang together as single works of art. Two of the greatest records of the past dozen years -- Thompson's "Rumor and Sigh" and Earle's "Train a Comin'." -- Terry Smith
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
I haven't seen much to make me change my mind as far as AOTD honors go, and a fair amount, starting with The Key, to make me stick to my choice; if the Scruggs-Gill-Skaggs-Stuart-Krauss-? album actually gets out this year, that ought to just about nail it down, at least for me. ...can any single artist offer this combination of talent, songwriting, bandleading, producing, and far reaching commercial appeal?? I'll give Earle the edge on production, though Gill has now started to produce (Patty Loveless' version of "Wine, Women and Song" on the Tribute To Tradition album, and he's doing Sonya Isaacs' forthcoming solo album), but on the other hand, Gill is one of the best guitarists around and IMO is a good sight better on the mandolin. As for far reaching commercial appeal...g. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, Terry A. Smith wrote: guess I'd make Thompson's decade end in the mid-90s). The point is that for me these two artists are very similar -- masterful songwriters and arrangers, killer vocals and guitar, and every song makes a point. Even though critics and fans have huge expectations for these two, they seldom issue a clunker, and their albums hang together as single works of art. Two of the greatest records of the past dozen years -- Thompson's "Rumor and Sigh" and Earle's "Train a Comin'." -- Terry Smith well, I'd agree with this (re: rumour and sigh) and I gotta say that RT is one of my absolute heroes. Best show I ever saw was RT live (solo) at the Majestic Theater in Detroit in like 1992. Damn . . . But with the exception of Rumour and Sigh I don't think his records hold up as well as his songs. ANd I blame the production more than anything. I would still agree with Terry, if he had done anything that I liked in the last 5 years . . . but INdustry and a bunch of live bootlegs with Danny Thompson has left me a little wanting. Intriguing offering though, Terry. -jim
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
At 07:52 AM 3/12/99 -0500, you wrote: if the Scruggs-Gill-Skaggs-Stuart-Krauss-? album actually gets out this year, that ought to just about nail it down, at least for me. When the Scruggs-Gill-Skaggs-Stuart-Krauss album comes out, it will be a sad, sad, day for music. How can you ever top a bill like that? maybe Scruggs-Gill-Skaggs-Stuart-Krauss-Sparks? or Scruggs-Gill-Skaggs-Stuart-Krauss-Martin? Once the fellers release it you will see a backlash of mythical proportions in Nashville. We'll have everyone doing straight Bluegrass records. Diamond Rio, Blackhawk, Garth, Brooks Dunn, John Anderson, Garth 'punkinhead' Brooks, Dolly, Emmylou, etc. It will be the true Uncloudy Day. Dogs and Cats will get along, Democrats and Republicans, Vanderbilt fans and Tennessee fans. The wolf will lie down with the sheep. Mr Jesus will come back down on his hot rod of holiness. Because after this disc, what can God do to top himself? Jeff Wall http://www.twangzine.com The Webs least sucky music magazine 3421 Daisy Crescent - Va Beach, Va - 23456
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Jeff: Because after this disc, what can God do to top himself? Well, if it's the righteous arm of Old-Testament-destruction Yahweh, he might start off by ridding the world of Diamond Rio and Blackhawk. The rest can be saved on the Ark of Twang g. --junior
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Well, if it's the righteous arm of Old-Testament-destruction Yahweh, he might start off by ridding the world of Diamond Rio and Blackhawk. Blackhawk is utterly unmeritorious, but by God, if you want to get to Diamond Rio, you're going to have to get past me and Louise Kyme - and buddy, let me tell you, she is tough. Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Jeff: Because after this disc, what can God do to top himself? Well, if it's the righteous arm of Old-Testament-destruction Yahweh, he might start off by ridding the world of Diamond Rio and Blackhawk. The rest can be saved on the Ark of Twang g. --junior Oo, oo, oo, let him get Restless Heart too. Please?
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Jon: Blackhawk is utterly unmeritorious, but by God, if you want to get to Diamond Rio, you're going to have to get past me and Louise Kyme - and buddy, let me tell you, she is tough. Hoowee, "utterly unmeritorious" is the nicest thing one can say g. Guess I'll just leave the Rio boys to Louise... Btw, Jon, I must confess I'm hearing more and more mainstream Nashville cuts that strike me as good, respectable stuff these days. Maybe there *is* a trend Yesterday , for ex., I heard that Trisha song, "Powerful Thing" (or whatever the title is) and thought it was an entirely enjoyable sort of pop-twang number, nice fiddle line, etc. Better than a lot of what I've heard in recent times --junior
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, Ph. Barnard wrote: Btw, Jon, I must confess I'm hearing more and more mainstream Nashville cuts that strike me as good, respectable stuff these days. This must be make-nice week or something. First, we're kissing and making up with all of the Tupelo fans, and now we're going to play kissy-face with Jon. Is this so that everyone will get along at SXSW? Will Miner Denver, CO
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Jeff Wall writes: They put on a good live show. Yes they are popish, but I love Henry's voice. I think they have suffered a lot from production. I would like to see them do a straight Bluegrass album. I think you might be suprised. I'm with Jeff here. Normally I find them insufferable, but their semi-bluegrass cover of "Wild Horses" was one of a mere *three* songs that I liked on that godawful "Stone Country" album that came out last year (the other two were Possum doing "Time Is On My Side" and Nanci Griffith doing "No Expectations"). I think they have a good bluegrass album in them somewhere if they have the guts to follow through with it. --Jon Johnson [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wollaston, Massachusetts
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, Ph. Barnard wrote: So Will, are you gonna be in Austin for the kissy-face convention?? Nah, I dont do that summer of love kinda stuff. I'm staying home for the kickboxing tournament. Will Miner Denver, CO
Re: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 12-Mar-99 RE: dreaded artist of the d.. by "Ph. Barnard"@eagle.cc.u Actually, I've just been wondering to myself lately what's happening when I prefer new Trisha Yearwood cuts, for ex., to new Waco cuts, for ex. I don't think it's me that's changed, either! The Waco record, so far at least, seems pretty weak to me. I like "Corrupted" but too much of it is run of the mill bar rock. Carl Z.
RE: dreaded artist of the decade (plus Rushmore)
I'm not going to be at SXSW - I reckon I'll make it one of these years, if only as the guy who holds Mark Wyatt's capes - so no kissy-face, I'm afraid. Interesting comments on Blackhawk, etc. Seems like a lot of people have their own exceptions to the general distaste for mainstream country acts Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
