Reviews

Review: Otis Gibbs – Joe Hill’s Ashes

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Otis Gibbs: Joe Hill’s Ashes (Wanamaker Recording Company, 2010)

Otis Gibbs is a folk/country/blues songwriter from Wanamaker, Indiana. And mighty good songwriter I might add. He has released several albums, but this new album Joe Hill’s Ashes was the first one that found it’s way to my record shelf. However, there is a real danger that I may need to do some back catalogue shopping, because this is obviously such a fine album that I might need to hear more Otis Gibbs songs in the not so distant future.  It did took me a little while to get used to Otis’ a bit rough voice, but after I got through that obstacle there was nothing that could stop me from enjoying this album. And do note that the vocals are actually really great. It’s just a little different than what one is used to, if he has spent ten years listening to skinny-tied moptops singing la-la-la-I-love-you in three part harmonies.  The thing is that this sounds very convincing and real. When that down-to-earth voice that sounds like it belongs to a man that has seen life and experienced  both fortunes and disastrous events tells you well-written stories in form of beautifully crafted folk songs you just sit back and listen like it was your grandpa telling you a story of how to become a good man.

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Otis Gibbs Website
Otis Gibbs at myspace

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Review: Jason & The Scorchers – Halcyon Times

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Jason & The Scorchers: Halcyon Times (Playground, 2010)

Alt. country and cowpunk legends Jason & The Scorchers makes a welcome return to this ball game with a new album called Halcyon Times. This new baby of theirs is definitely into rock’n’roll. Maybe even a little too much for my personal taste, because I think the album contains three or four “not that special” rockers that I could certainly do without. It’s not a huge problem, because the most of this record is very enjoyable and also those alt.country and cowpunk roots shine through or take control more than on few occasions. It’s still pretty hard to form an opinion about the album as a whole, because for me the best third of this would be worth five hearts and the weakest third would have big trouble getting even three. It’s a must have album though, because the good stuff on it (like Mona Lee, Beat On The Mountain, Days Of Wine and Roses) is just damn brilliant and perfect in every way.

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Jason & The Scorchers Website
Jason & The Scorchers at myspace

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Review: Have Gun, Will Travel – Postcards from The Friendly City

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Have Gun, Will Travel – Postcards From The Friendly City (Self-released, 2009 or 2010)

If you are a bit unsure whether you want to enter as deep to the country territory as I have, I can recommend Postcards From The Friendly City as a good stepping stone where you can sit back and decide whether you are ready for more. It’s not a stepping stone that you can quickly pass through. It’s way too beautifully crafted for that and it also has a lot of stories to tell. The reason why it’s a good place to wonder about the essence of things is that it’s located somewhere between the deep country soil and modern indie field and therefore might turn out to be equally enjoyable and uplifting place for both indie hipsters and old back porch hillbillies. All you need is one praising pitchfork review and all those The Shins and Death Cab For Cutie loving indie boys and girls (I’m one of them) are into country music before they know what hit them.

Have Gun, Will Travel have taken their name from a western television serie and they come from Bradenton, Florida. The album Postcards From The Friendly City pays a homage to their hometown and all the songs and the stories take place in Bradenton. I can’t say what is true and what is purely fictional because I don’t know a thing about the city or its history, but I can say that everything is really enjoyable and part of me wants to go and book a plane ticket in order to see the town that gave birth to these stories.  These well-written stories wrapped into these pop-tinged folk and americana songs is a winning combination and it makes this album work like a beauty. Salad Days and Soles Of Our Shoes are my big favourites, but basicly I like everything on the record.

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Listen to Salad Days:
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Have Gun, Will Travel at myspace

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Review: Danny & The Champions Of The World – Streets Of Our Time

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Danny & The Champions Of The World: Streets Of Our Time (Loose Music, 2010)

I’ve been a long time fan of Danny George Wilson. I love most of those Grand Drive albums and I love that solo album, but I was slightly dissapointed with the first Danny and The Champions of the World album. At first, I was really into this second album Streets of Our Time, but right now I’m thinking that it’s on its way to that same slight dissapointment category. I guess the problem is that while I do love listening to them, there’s nothing that I particularly love about them. Ok, that probably didn’t make any sense at all. The lost point was that it feels good to listen to their mellow and pleasant folk and americana songs, but almost none of it really strikes me as truly memorable. The only song that really stands out from the crowd is the opener Henry The Van. That is a great song and probably the most touching song ever written about a tour van. My other favourite is Streets Of Time, but as a whole this is more like a really good sunday morning record that makes you feel comfortable without demanding complete attention from your tired mind.  Nothing wrong with that I suppose, but some of his earlier works have left a much bigger mark on my heart. High hopes might actually make this little review sound more negative than it should be. Despite everything I said, I know I’m still going to buy the next album as well.

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Danny and The Champions of The World Website
Danny and The Champions of The World at myspace

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