Well I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas. I'm just catching my breath after all of the festivities and while everyone else seems to be at the sales, I at last have time to sit and ponder on the best new album releases of 2014.
I have to say, for my money it hasn't been a year of outstanding album releases. For a start there were a few disappointments which included a lacklustre album from Bruce Springsteen with the ironic title 'High Hopes'. Neil Young released not one but two albums but neither quite hit the heights of his best work. 'A Letter Home' featured some fine cover versions but was recorded in such a lo-fi way as to drastically reduce any enjoyment one might have had of listening to it. The other, 'Storytone' did feature Young's original material but sadly fell well short of what we have come to expect from him. The fact that we were presented with two versions of each song, one performed solo and the other performed in front of an orchestra or band, did little to alleviate the disappointment with the material.
Goat were a band I had high hopes for after their 2012 debut 'World Music'. Despite plaudits from a number of critics, I found the follow-up, 'Communion' to be just more of the same. I was also disappointed with '... And Star Power' from Foxygen who had impressed me greatly with last year's 'We Are The 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic'. Shame, but that gets the disappointments out of the way so we can move onto the good stuff.
The early part of the year saw the release of 'English Oceans' by the Drive-By Truckers. As I asked at the time, have they ever released a duff record? OK this may not be quite up there with their finest work but it is good to see Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley equally sharing the songwriting credits again. For some time it looked as though it might make it into my top slot.
The album 'Benji' by Mark Kozelek who operates under the moniker Sun Kil Moon was another early contender. Pitchfork were even daring enough to declare it one of the best albums of the decade so far. Heavy praise indeed! The subject matter of the album tends to be mortality so there are a few deaths to deal with but there is humour in there also. All in all it is a very fine album though fans of Sun Kil Moon don't need me to tell them that.
I was impressed with the return to form of Jack Bruce with his album 'Silver Rails' on which he was supported by several family members and friends. It was almost as if Jack was saying his goodbye and although he sounded strong on the album itself I watched a documentary about the making of the album and I thought he looked vary frail. Of course as we now know, he did not have long left with us which makes this album all the more poignant.
Another elder statesman, Leonard Cohen also returned with another fine album 'Popular Problems'. Full of bluesy themes and witty lyrics, the album carries on from where 'Old Ideas' left off which isn't a bad thing.
Two British bands that are forging quite a reputation in the melodic jazz style are the Neil Cowley Trio and Gogo Penguin, Their respective 2014 albums, 'Touch & Flee' and 'V2.0' were very much on my playlist in a year when I have been absorbing myself in an awful lot of jazz music both old and new. Of course Ginger Baker also produced a very jazz influenced album this year with 'Why'.
I have already commented on the releases from Lucinda Williams, Jack White, Jolie Holland, Royal Blood, Robert Plant, Pere Ubu, Opeth, Ryan Adams and Anais Mitchell. Clicking any of these links will take you to my original thoughts.
They are all very enjoyable albums but you may be surprised to hear that none have made it into my own personal top 3 this year.
To find out what has, I suggest you check back here in the next few days.
Showing posts with label Robert Plant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Plant. Show all posts
Monday, 29 December 2014
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Robert Plant & Sensational Space Shifters at Newcastle Academy
I last saw Robert Plant performing live 12 years ago at Newcastle City Hall but was unable to see him at the Sage in 2005. I made sure therefore that I secured my ticket in plenty of time for his appearance on Tuesday evening at the Newcastle Academy.
It is not my favourite venue to be fair. Originally the New Westgate Picture House (opened in 1927), the building subsequently became the Majestic Ballroom and later a bingo hall. It was eventually converted into a music venue in 2005 but in my experience I have never been entirely satisfied with the sound there, perhaps something to do with the acoustics of the building. Having said that, I could find no fault with the sound on Tuesday. Plant's sound crew seem to have got it spot on though it could have been just a touch louder.
Visually too, the crew did a great job with stage lighting effects. That is what I could see of them. It strikes me that I am either shrinking with age (when I last checked I was 5' 8"" tall) or people are becoming much taller. I suspect in reality it is a bit of both. Anyway the result is that I spent a couple of hours on tip-toes trying to peer between the taller people in front of me. That was when I wasn't moving out of the way to allow people to go backwards and forwards between the bars and the toilets. Such are the joys of standing only venues. Perhaps I should in future confine myself to seated halls or at least some of the many smaller standing venues of which we are blessed with many in this area.
Of course, the problem was also of my own making. Meeting with friends for a pre-show pint or two, we elected to remain in the nearby Bodega pub until just before showtime. Consequently we were unable to fight our way through the 2000 strong crowd to get closer to the stage. Those that had chosen to arrive early and claim prime spots deserved their better view.
At exactly 9.15, Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters took to the stage and launched into 'Friends', the first of six numbers written or covered by Led Zeppelin. That was the first surprise for me as having not bothered to check any of the tour setlists, I was expecting much more from his latest album, 'Lullaby.... and the Ceaseless Roar'. Plant may not be able to attain the higher registers that made him famous, but the older songs are adjusted to suit his range and he makes a terrific job of all of the numbers. Of course he is also ably supported by some excellent musicians. Highlights for me included 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' featuring some great acoustic guitar from Liverpudlian Liam 'Skin' Tyson and the wonderful 'What Is and What Should Never Be'. The Led Zeppelin songs are given a new dimension through the electronic wizardry of keyboards man John Baggott and the ritti of Juldeh Camarah. And of course there is Justin Adams on guitar.
To acknowledge the fact that they were performing in the home town of The Animals, the medley of 'Just Want to Make Love to You / Whole Lotta Love /Mona' was preceded by a snatch of 'House of the Rising Sun'. It was much appreciated by the audience. After an encore of 'Rock and Roll' the band took their bows and left the stage.
Despite my self inflicted limited view, I have to say it was a splendid night.
It is not my favourite venue to be fair. Originally the New Westgate Picture House (opened in 1927), the building subsequently became the Majestic Ballroom and later a bingo hall. It was eventually converted into a music venue in 2005 but in my experience I have never been entirely satisfied with the sound there, perhaps something to do with the acoustics of the building. Having said that, I could find no fault with the sound on Tuesday. Plant's sound crew seem to have got it spot on though it could have been just a touch louder.
Visually too, the crew did a great job with stage lighting effects. That is what I could see of them. It strikes me that I am either shrinking with age (when I last checked I was 5' 8"" tall) or people are becoming much taller. I suspect in reality it is a bit of both. Anyway the result is that I spent a couple of hours on tip-toes trying to peer between the taller people in front of me. That was when I wasn't moving out of the way to allow people to go backwards and forwards between the bars and the toilets. Such are the joys of standing only venues. Perhaps I should in future confine myself to seated halls or at least some of the many smaller standing venues of which we are blessed with many in this area.
Of course, the problem was also of my own making. Meeting with friends for a pre-show pint or two, we elected to remain in the nearby Bodega pub until just before showtime. Consequently we were unable to fight our way through the 2000 strong crowd to get closer to the stage. Those that had chosen to arrive early and claim prime spots deserved their better view.
At exactly 9.15, Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters took to the stage and launched into 'Friends', the first of six numbers written or covered by Led Zeppelin. That was the first surprise for me as having not bothered to check any of the tour setlists, I was expecting much more from his latest album, 'Lullaby.... and the Ceaseless Roar'. Plant may not be able to attain the higher registers that made him famous, but the older songs are adjusted to suit his range and he makes a terrific job of all of the numbers. Of course he is also ably supported by some excellent musicians. Highlights for me included 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' featuring some great acoustic guitar from Liverpudlian Liam 'Skin' Tyson and the wonderful 'What Is and What Should Never Be'. The Led Zeppelin songs are given a new dimension through the electronic wizardry of keyboards man John Baggott and the ritti of Juldeh Camarah. And of course there is Justin Adams on guitar.
To acknowledge the fact that they were performing in the home town of The Animals, the medley of 'Just Want to Make Love to You / Whole Lotta Love /Mona' was preceded by a snatch of 'House of the Rising Sun'. It was much appreciated by the audience. After an encore of 'Rock and Roll' the band took their bows and left the stage.
Despite my self inflicted limited view, I have to say it was a splendid night.
Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Robert Plant - Lullaby...and The Ceaseless Roar
"And if the sun refused to shine".
So sang Robert Plant on 'Thank You' back in 1969 on Led Zeppelin II and here he is again with the same line to begin the hypnotic 'Pocket Full of Golden' on what is his 10th studio album and the first to feature his new touring band, the Sensational Space Shifters. The blues may not be entirely left behind as 'Poor Howard' is a rewrite of Lead Belly's 'Po' Howard' but the remainder of the album mixes up the genres yet generally appears to be firmly rooted in the folks sounds of England, America and thanks to members of his band, of North Africa.
The African sounds and rhythms are apparent from the outset with the traditional 'Little Maggie' despite the song being firmly rooted in the Appalachian culture of America. It was a song Plant attempted during the sessions for 'Raising Sand' with Alison Krauss but here, it takes on a new life as swirling strings (Juldeh Camara on ritti - a one stringed fiddle, perhaps) are joined by futuristic spaced out tape loops from John Baggott.
Plant's liaison with American culture led to a relationship with Patty Griffin but that relationship ended and Plant found himself adrift in the US. On 'Turn It Up' he sings
"I'm lost inside America, I'm turning inside out
I'm turning into someone else I heard so much about"
and one wonders whether these words were influenced by his less happy times there. I guess that people will be searching the album lyrics for other signs that this is a break-up album and it may well be. Plant explained recently that he played the Incredible String Band's 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' to Griffin and she fell about laughing. Definite grounds for separation, I would say.
The musicianship throughout the album is superb with long time associate Justin Adams providing some wonderful guitar solos as on the aforementioned 'Turn It Up'. And the music is wonderfully varied from the softly rocking 'Up On The Hollow Hill' to the beautiful ballad 'A Stolen Kiss'.
A great album that has been added to the ever growing list of contenders for album of the year. I also look forward to seeing this material played live in November.
So sang Robert Plant on 'Thank You' back in 1969 on Led Zeppelin II and here he is again with the same line to begin the hypnotic 'Pocket Full of Golden' on what is his 10th studio album and the first to feature his new touring band, the Sensational Space Shifters. The blues may not be entirely left behind as 'Poor Howard' is a rewrite of Lead Belly's 'Po' Howard' but the remainder of the album mixes up the genres yet generally appears to be firmly rooted in the folks sounds of England, America and thanks to members of his band, of North Africa.
The African sounds and rhythms are apparent from the outset with the traditional 'Little Maggie' despite the song being firmly rooted in the Appalachian culture of America. It was a song Plant attempted during the sessions for 'Raising Sand' with Alison Krauss but here, it takes on a new life as swirling strings (Juldeh Camara on ritti - a one stringed fiddle, perhaps) are joined by futuristic spaced out tape loops from John Baggott. Plant's liaison with American culture led to a relationship with Patty Griffin but that relationship ended and Plant found himself adrift in the US. On 'Turn It Up' he sings
"I'm lost inside America, I'm turning inside out
I'm turning into someone else I heard so much about"
and one wonders whether these words were influenced by his less happy times there. I guess that people will be searching the album lyrics for other signs that this is a break-up album and it may well be. Plant explained recently that he played the Incredible String Band's 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' to Griffin and she fell about laughing. Definite grounds for separation, I would say.
The musicianship throughout the album is superb with long time associate Justin Adams providing some wonderful guitar solos as on the aforementioned 'Turn It Up'. And the music is wonderfully varied from the softly rocking 'Up On The Hollow Hill' to the beautiful ballad 'A Stolen Kiss'.
A great album that has been added to the ever growing list of contenders for album of the year. I also look forward to seeing this material played live in November.
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