International music, Reviews

Quick Review: Earl Pickens & Family – Gathering

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Earl Pickens & Family: Gathering (YAY! Music, 2010)

Earl Pickens & Family previously made an acoustic bluegrass version of U2’s Joshua Tree, but the new album Gathering is full of their own material. A wise decision, because they certainly have some really great songs. For me Gathering is a little bit of hit and miss kind of record. Not that the misses are bad misses. The “misses” are pleasant and good folk songs as well. However, the hits are pretty perfect hits and I love songs like True Too and Noreen, You Live To Lie To Me. They are just delivered with such beauty and warmness that you end up smiling even when the lyrical content is trying to crush you and I kind of love the contrast. A beautiful folk record.

Listen to True Too:
[audio:http://www.onechord.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/06-true-too.mp3]

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Earl Pickens & Family Website
Earl Pickens & Family at myspace

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International music, Reviews

Quick Review: John Meeks – Old Blood

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John Meeks: Old Blood (Loud And Clear, 2010)

I’ve been enjoying this album called Old Blood by San Diego-based country singer-songwriter John Meeks for a couple of months and therefore it’s definitely about time to recommend it. It might not be one of my favourite albums of the year, but it does contain some fantastic songs. For example Oh My Sweet Darlin’ and I See Your Lips has a pretty perfect Gram Parsons like classic country thing going on, while things like I Don’t Want To Think Of You are captivating and melancholic americana in the vein of Neal Casal. Some of Old Blood might be “only good”, but on the other hand some of it is highly impressive and very convincing.

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Listen to Been Down By Love
[audio:http://www.onechord.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/03-been-down-by-love.mp3]

John Meeks Website
John Meeks at myspace

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International music, Reviews

Review: Sjofn – Secret

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Sjofn: Secret (Parallax Sounds, 2010)

Sjofn is a folk singer-songwriter from Alaska and Secret is her debut album. I had some doubts when I first received the album, but sometimes you better hit the play button before starting to form an opinion. Based on the cover I didn’t expect this to be my kind of stuff, but in the end it was definitely my kind of stuff. Minimalistic and simple folk music, but with very thoughtful arrangements and well crafted songs. Sometimes Sjofn’s music reminds me of Rose Melberg’s solo material. Maybe if Rose moved to Alaska and started playing folk songs on her front porch it would sound something like this. 17 songs is way too big one time dose though and Secret would get a higher amount of hearts, if I could cut it down in two and form an imaginary album out of the better half of the songs. Now there’s a danger that the real jewels just gets buried in the crowd.

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Sjofn at myspace
Sjofn website

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International music, Reviews

Review: Caleb Coy – Wild Desert Rose

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Caleb Coy: Wild Desert Rose (Yer Bird, 2010)

Lately I’ve introduced myself to cult country hero Blaze Foley and this brand new album Wild Desert Rose by Caleb Coy fits perfectly to the same category, because it has the same kind of lo-fi beauty and quality. I can understand if these songs sound a little too demo-ish for some, but I love this bare, heartwarming and down-to-earth sound. You’ll never need the London philharmonic orchestra as your backing band, if you can write beautiful songs. Just pick up the guitar and sing your heart out. Caleb Coy does that and has created a great collection of honest and beautiful country songs. The first half of the album is just marvellous and I love songs like One Day Closer To You to bits. The latter half feels slightly less brilliant (but still very good) at the moment, but the reason might be that the first half already procuded more beauty than my heart can process at one time. A lovely and captivating record.

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Listen to I’ll Be Damned:
[audio:http://www.onechord.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/04-ill-be-damned.mp3]

Caleb Coy at myspace

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