I think you'll find the Geto Boys and 2 Live Crew had already achieved national success with a Southern sound, and were far more influential on Southern hip-hop as a whole, sonically and thematically, than Arrested Development, who instead kinda feel removed from Southern hip-hop, seeming more like a cross between PM Dawn (though nowhere near as bad) and A Tribe Called Quest or De La Soul (though nowhere near as good). Whilst you could potentially argue that the Goodie Mob's genre-hopping, global experiments were in some way a successor to Arrested Development (though I think it's a bit of a reach), the likes of UGK, Three 6 Mafia, Eightball & MJG, E.S.G., the aforementioned Geto Boys, and slightly later the likes of TRU/Master P or Mannie Fresh were far more important in terms of the evolution of a distinctly Southern hip-hop sound. Arrested Development were fine - impressive, ambitious, conscious rap music that has lots going for it, even if it hews a bit too overtly Christian for my taste - but they were neither one of the earliest nor one of the most influential hip-hop artists to emerge from the South.
I stand corrected. Forgive me...my knowledge of hip hop history is still kinda limited, but I'm trying. Thanks for setting this one straight! _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
I stand corrected. Forgive me...my knowledge of hip hop history is still kinda limited, but I'm trying. Thanks for setting this one straight!
That's cool. It was a nice write-up on a record I'd largely forgotten about, and it had barely even occured to me that they were from the South. _________________ 2021 in full effect. Come drop me some recs. Y'all know what I like.
STEVIE NICKS
BELLA DONNA
1981-MODERN
Produced By JIMMY IOVINE
1. Bella Donna
2. Kind Of Woman
3. Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around
4. Think About It
5. After The Glitter Fades
6. Edge Of Seventeen
7. How Still My Love
8. Leather And Lace
9. Outside The Rain
10. The Highwayman
A very underrated album. Stevie Nicks had spent her career up to 1981 in situations where she was one of the songwriters: as part of the duo Buckingham Nicks, and then with two other writers in Fleetwood Mac. Stevie was, in a way, the George Harrison of Fleetwood Mac to Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham’s Lennon and McCartney. So when the chance for a solo debut came about, Stevie had no shortage of songs at all. The biggest surprise is that she didn’t have a sudden flood of solo albums come out in a short time. But, there is Bella Donna. And, while it was very well received by fans and helped solidify Nicks’ career, it has somehow slipped under the radar of great albums. It’s been written off as good, but nothing special by critics over the years, and her solo career will always be seen as secondary to what she did with Fleetwood Mac. Thus, since the last fadeout of Leather And Lace, Bella Donna has been an almost forgotten classic.
It’s better than you remember. “Edge Of Seventeen” her rocking harder than ever or since. “After The Glitter Fades”, “Kind Of Woman” and the title track show strong growth as a writer. She was also wise enough to surround herself with the strongest of supporting casts: Don Henley is perfect as her duet partner on “Leather And Lace”. Tom Petty and Mike Campbell add their expertise to the album, particularly on “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”, the only song Nicks didn’t write. Members of The Heartbreakers, the E Street Band, and some of the best California session players make this very solid. But the album belongs to Stevie, and Bella Donna is strong all the way through. Listen to it now…it’s much better than you remember it being. By far her best solo effort, and a very strong overall album.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
I like "It is better than you remember". I remember that I was quite disappointed when I bought it. I will listen to it again soon. _________________ When the stewardess is near do not show any fear.
I like "It is better than you remember". I remember that I was quite disappointed when I bought it. I will listen to it again soon.
When it first came out, it was all about the hits. All about Leather And Lace. But as a whole, this albumsurprised me years later. She wrote some pretty terrific songs back in the day. _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
JASON ISBELL & T 400 UNIT
HERE WE REST
2011-LIGHTNING ROD
Produced By JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT
1. Alabama Pines
2. Go It Alone
3. We’ve Met
4. Codeine
5. Stopping By
6. Daisy Mae
7. The Ballad Of Nobeard
8. Never Could Believe
9. Heart On A String
10. Save It For Sunday
11. Tour Of Duty
Alternative country may not be for everyone, but any list of the best current songwriters in music would have to include Jason Isbell. The Alabama native became visible during a six year sting with Drive-By Truckers, during which time he contributed songs to three of the band’s albums. He went solo in 2007, and immediately began touring and releasing albums on a regular basis. Here We Rest is his third album, and the second with his band The 400 Unit (named for a wing at a mental hospital in Alabama). The album’s opener, “Alabama Pines”, is worth the purchase alone. Named as Song Of The Year at the 2012 Americana Music Awards, “Pines” is a fine and beautiful piece of work. Not far behind are “Tour Of Duty”, “Got It Alone” and, well, just about every other track on the disc. Isbell is not only a great writer, but he is also an excellent singer and guitarist, and his band is top notch as well.
While not his best album, Here We Rest is still strong enough to stand alongside the rest of his work. Isbell continued his pattern of releasing an album every two years with 2013’s Southeastern. In addition to his four solo albums, he also has two live releases out, with a third having just been recorded at Austin City Limits. His work as a solo artist and as a member of Drive-By Truckers is already impressive, and will hopefully serve as a guiding light for young country artists to follow instead of the trucks and beer and redneck life novelty song hole that the genre has dug itself into over the years. Isbell’s entire discography to date is of top quality, and he deserves to be much better known than he is. But, that isn’t going to happen any time soon. Seek out his music and know that there is still plenty of good, quality talent out there writing great songs for us.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
VARIOUS ARTISTS
CHIMES OF FREEDOM: THE SONGS OF BOB DYLAN HONORING 50 YEARS OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
STARBUCKS EDITION
2012-AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
VARIOUS PRODUCERS
1. Corrina, Corrina (Pete Townshend)
2. Drifter’s Escape (Patti Smith)
3. Boots Of Spanish Leather (The Airborne Toxic Event)
4. With God On Our Side (K’naan)
5. One Too Many Mornings (Johnny Cash feat. The Avett Brothers)
6. Girl From The North Country (Sting)
7. Make You Feel My Love (Live) (Adele)
8. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Redone feat. Nabil Khayat)
9. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Raphael Saadiq)
10. One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) (Mick Hucknall)
11. Blowin’ In The Wind (Ziggy Marley)
12. Like A Rolling Stone (Seal & Jeff Beck)
13. 4th Time Around (Oren Lavie)
14. Seven Curses (Joan Baez)
15. You’re A Big Girl Now (My Morning Jacket)
1. Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Jackson Browne)
2. I Shall Be Released (Maroon 5)
3. Simple Twist Of Fate (Diana Krall)
4. Mama, You Been On My Mind (We Are Augustines)
5. Love Sick (Mariachi El Bronx)
6. Heart Of Mine (Blake Mills feat. Danielle Haim)
7. I Want You (Ximena Sarinana)
8. One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below) (Steve Earle & Lucia Micarelli)
9. Tryin’ To Get To Heaven (Lucinda Williams)
10. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) (Kris Kristofferson)
11. Bob Dylan’s Dream (Bryan Ferry)
12. License To Kill (Elvis Costello)
13. Most Of The Time (Bettye Lavette)
14. Not Dark Yet (Silversun Pickups)
15. Restless Farewell (Mark Knopfler)
16. All Along The Watchtower (Live) (Dave Matthews Band)
As you can see from the tracklist above, this was quite the undertaking by Amnesty International. The reality is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. This is the Starbucks version with 31 tracks. The full album is actually four discs with 73 tracks. A powerful testament to how prolific Bob Dylan has been over the past five plus decades…and to how his music continues to reach out and touch the musicians of today. Even on this shortened version, the performances are amazingly good and the tribute is sincere. You know you’re in for a treat with Pete Townshend opening the album with a fine “Corrina, Corrina”. The real highlights here are provided by Adele (“To Bring You My Love”), Jackson Browne with “Love Minus Zero/No Limit”, and a gritty, down to earth stunner from Kris Kristofferson (“Quinn The Eskimo”). Silversun Pickups, Lucinda Williams and Sting provide additional highlights.
Surprises? How about Maroon 5 bringing a fine version of “I Shall Be Released”? Old friends? Joan Baez is here. Even Johnny Cash makes an appearance from beyond the grave. This shows just how massive Dylan’s influence is. The 4 disc version contains additional tracks by Pete Seeger, Miley Cyrus (!), Billy Bragg, Joe Perry, Cage The Elephant…an amazing list. An amazing album filled with great songs and great performances, and it’s also all for a great cause. This is a truly fine tribute album. It may be long, but hey…it’s Bob Dylan. It should be long. And it should be excellent. It is.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
CAROLE KING & JAMES TAYLOR
LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR
2010-HEAR
Produced By PETER ASHER
1. Blossom
2. So Far Away
3. Machine Gun Kelly
4. Carolina In My Mind
5. It’s Too Late
6. Smackwater Jack
7. Something In The Way She Moves
8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
9. Country Road
10. Fire And Rain
11. Sweet Baby James
12. I Feel The Earth Move
13. You’ve Got A Friend
14. Up On The Roof
15. You Can Close Your Eyes
This live album from singer/songwriter icons Carole King and James Taylor was staged to commemorate a pair of historical dates. It marks the 50th anniversary of The Troubadour, the legendary Los Angeles music venue. It also marks the 40th anniversary of King and Taylor’s first shows at the club. Amazing to hear that 40 years later, the pair are still sounding so good. The original 1970 shows came about when Peter Asher convinced King to come out and perform on Taylor’s tour for the Sweet Baby James album. Actually, the band here is the entire original band from that tour. King began performing some of her own material, and the shared billing began. Taylor ended up with “You’ve Got A Friend”, written by King and in the end Taylor’s biggest hit.
While the pair may not be viewed as relevant today, this album is very fine. The performances are flawless. All of them. The banter with the crowd is interesting and (in Taylor’s case) funny. Great photos and liner notes are included as well. And, if that weren’t enough, a DVD of the show is also part of the package. King and Taylor swap songs like they are sitting in the living room instead of being on one of the great stages in rock & roll. King tells of writing in the 50;’s with Gerry Goffin, while Taylor details his story of being signed by The Beatles. Songs like “Smackwater Jack” and “I Feel The Earth Move” rock, while “Blossom” and “Sweet Baby James” still hold their beauty years later. This is, very simply, an excellent show in every way. Listen with the DVD for full effect…this is a gem.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
CAROLE KING & JAMES TAYLOR
LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR
2010-HEAR
Produced By PETER ASHER
1. Blossom
2. So Far Away
3. Machine Gun Kelly
4. Carolina In My Mind
5. It’s Too Late
6. Smackwater Jack
7. Something In The Way She Moves
8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
9. Country Road
10. Fire And Rain
11. Sweet Baby James
12. I Feel The Earth Move
13. You’ve Got A Friend
14. Up On The Roof
15. You Can Close Your Eyes
This live album from singer/songwriter icons Carole King and James Taylor was staged to commemorate a pair of historical dates. It marks the 50th anniversary of The Troubadour, the legendary Los Angeles music venue. It also marks the 40th anniversary of King and Taylor’s first shows at the club. Amazing to hear that 40 years later, the pair are still sounding so good. The original 1970 shows came about when Peter Asher convinced King to come out and perform on Taylor’s tour for the Sweet Baby James album. Actually, the band here is the entire original band from that tour. King began performing some of her own material, and the shared billing began. Taylor ended up with “You’ve Got A Friend”, written by King and in the end Taylor’s biggest hit.
While the pair may not be viewed as relevant today, this album is very fine. The performances are flawless. All of them. The banter with the crowd is interesting and (in Taylor’s case) funny. Great photos and liner notes are included as well. And, if that weren’t enough, a DVD of the show is also part of the package. King and Taylor swap songs like they are sitting in the living room instead of being on one of the great stages in rock & roll. King tells of writing in the 50;’s with Gerry Goffin, while Taylor details his story of being signed by The Beatles. Songs like “Smackwater Jack” and “I Feel The Earth Move” rock, while “Blossom” and “Sweet Baby James” still hold their beauty years later. This is, very simply, an excellent show in every way. Listen with the DVD for full effect…this is a gem.
THE J. GEILS BAND
“LIVE” FULL HOUSE
1972-ATLANTIC
Produced By GEOFFREY HASLAM & THE J. GEILS BAND
1. First I Look At The Purse
2. Homework
3. Pack Fair And Square
4. Whammer Jammer
5. Hard Drivin’ Man
6. Serves You Right To Suffer
7. Cruisin’ For A Love
8. Looking For A Love
These days, people seem to forget about The J. Geils Band. When they are remembered, it seems to be for their 1980’s successes with “Centerforld” and “Love Stinks”. But it was the 1970’s that th should be known for, and when they did their best work. Hailing from Boston, this band was also initially very big in Detroit, a hotbead for rock and roll during the decade. Their live shows were legendary, and the Allman Brothers Band named them as their favorite band in 1971. So, it’s not surprise that the first of their three live albums was only their third release overall. “Live” Full House became something of an instant legend at the time of its release. Recorded in Detroit, the album shows how great this band could be, but it also has, like every other J. Geils album before or after, a load of inconsistencies. The biggest one being that the album is painfully short: how can you possibly release a live album that clocks in at only 35 minutes?
Peter Wolf became an icon when he shouted “Take out your false teeth, mama…I wanna suck on your gums!”. Harmonica player Magic Dick made “Whammer Jammer” the ultimate in harmonica tunes. And the energy here is endless…these guys truly were stage animals. But the band still had a long way to go: only one track (“Hard Drivin’ Man”) is an original. Guitarist J. Geils was not particularly great, nor would he ever be. And energy gets the best of them: “Looking For A Love”, an early hit for the band, is played at an almost unrecognizable speed. Still, there is Wolf, who became, for a while, the American version of Mick Jagger. And the stage presence of this band is undeniable. But Full House may have been too early in their career to give a true picture of their live repertoire. Still worth having, though. A highly energetic snapshot of one of America’s most exciting bands of the 70’s.
Link _________________ I'm leaning on the threshold
Of her mystery
And crashing through the walls
Of dying history
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