Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's CD

Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's album for sale Recording information: Brighter Shade Studio, Atlanta, GA; Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas; The Sound Station Nashville, TN; Wedgewood Sound. Photographer: C. Taylor Crothers. Personnel: Brent Mason (electric ...

Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's songs The long hair and beard, the distinctive black Fender Telecaster, the 1970s-style logo--it all looks so familiar, almost like a Waylon Jennings record. Many listeners may have this sense of deja vu when first presented with PUT THE O BACK IN COUNTRY. This is understandable, of course, since Shooter Jennings is indeed the son of the Outlaw country hero. Despite the striking visual resemblance, however, those searching for a straight-up HONKY TONK HEROES redux may want to look elsewhere. Sure, the album is as rough and ready as the elder Jennings's '70s work, and features a guest appearance from George Jones. However, the aesthetic here often has more to do with the punky No Depression sound of Uncle Tupelo and Slobberbone than with the 1970s Outlaw scene. Raging rock guitars and pounding John Bonham-esque drums are often the order of the day ("4th Of July," "Steady at the Wheel," "Daddy's Farm"), though the Charlie Daniels-style violin and sliding steel guitar ("Solid Country Gold") serve to occasionally remind the listener of Shooter's pedigree. A little bit country, a lot more rock & roll, and filled to the brim with Waylon-like attitude, PUT THE O BACK IN COUNTRY shows that while Shooter Jennings may inhabit a different orchard than his father, the apple still doesn't fall far from the tree. Recording information: Hollywood Sound, Hollywood, CA; Paramount Recording. Photographer: James Minchin. Arrangers: Shooter Jennings; Leroy Powell; Ted Russell Kamp. Personnel: Shooter Jennings (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, grand piano, Wurlitzer organ, background vocals); Shooter Jennings (vocals, dobro); Faith Evans, Jessi Colter (vocals, background vocals); CeCe White (vocals); Eric Heywood, Chris Lawrence (pedal steel guitar); Travis Parker (fiddle); Ted Russell Kamp (piano, bass instrument, background vocals); George Jones, Hank Williams, Jr. (background vocals); Leroy Powell (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, slide guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, banjo, strings, harmonica, background vocals); Bryan Keeling (drums). Audio Mixers: Mark Rains; David Cobb.

Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's CD music On his second studio outing, Shooter Jennings offers up another assured set of no-frills country-rock, staying true to the spirit of his legendary father, Waylon Jennings, even when heading into more amped-up territory. Although the fierce opening title track and the soulful "Gone to Carolina" make it seem like ELECTRIC RODEO is firmly entrenched in Lynyrd Skynyrd turf, Jennings reveals his knack for classic country on the wistful, world-weary tunes "Some Rowdy Women" and "The Song Is Still Slipping Away." While PUT THE O BACK IN COUNTRY featured a guest appearance by George Jones, this record finds bayou bard Tony Joe White joining Jennings on the swampy number "Alligator Chomp," rounding out a charming album that's sure to further Jennings's growing reputation. Recording information: Los Angeles, CA (01/13/2005-10/15/2005); Nashville, TN (01/13/2005-10/15/2005). Photographer: James Minchin. Personnel: Shooter Jennings (vocals, guitar); Bonnie Bramlett (vocals, background vocals); Robby Turner (pedal steel guitar); Leroy Powell, Ted Russell Kamp, Bryan Keeling. Audio Mixer: Mark Rains.

Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's buy CD music Shooter Jennings is the son of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter, but his brand of outlaw country has more in common with Kid Rock:his third album, THE WOLF, is barrel-chested country rock for the Big 'N' Rich generation. A revved-up take on Dire Straits' "Walk of Life" is the album's one cover, while Jennings's originals range from the epic story song, "A Matter of Time," to the wry "Time Management 101," a stomping country-rocker out of the Hank Williams Jr. stylebook. Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Greg Gordon . Recording information: Hollywood Sound, Studio B, Hollywood, CA; Ruby Rose, Hollywood, CA. Photographers: Drea DeMatteo; Frank Ockenfels; Natalie Moore; James Minchin. Personnel: Shooter Jennings (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, sound effects); Shooter Jennings (loops); Leroy Powell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, slide guitar, steel guitar, harmonica, background vocals); Kevin Sciou (electric guitar); Gary Murray (banjo, fiddle); Doug Kershaw (fiddle); Jim Horn, Charles Rose, Steven Herrman (horns); Ted Russell Kamp (keyboards, bass guitar, background vocals); Shirley Settles, Duane Allen, Norah Lee Allen, Sara Settles, Todd Suttles, Joe Bonsall, Paul Martin, William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban, Calvin Settles, Odessa Settles (background vocals); Bryan Keeling (drums, castanets, percussion). Additional personnel: Teresa Wilson, Joe Bosnall, Todd Settles, The Oak Ridge Boys (background vocals); Shirley Settles, Settles Connection, Doug Kershaw, Duane Allen, Norah Lee Allen, Sara Settles, Gary Murray, Jim Horn, Paul Martin, William Lee Golden, Charles Rose, Richard Sterban, Kevin Sciou, Steven Herrman, Calvin Settles, Odessa Settles.

Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's CD music Though he was already a musical icon of inarguable standing, Willie Nelson became something of an officially acknowledged national treasure after his 70th birthday in 2003. This is exemplified by the live album OUTLAWS & ANGELS, documenting a concert where some of the biggest stars from all walks of the musical world joined Willie to pay tribute to his work and his enduring influence. Some of the artists included won't raise any eyebrows; for instance, fellow country legend Merle Haggard is on hand for several tunes, including his own classic "Mama Tried" and the Townes Van Zandt-penned story-song "Pancho & Lefty." Less predictable are appearances by reggae pioneer Toots Hibbert (on the Toots & the Maytals signature song "Pressure Drop" and the latter-day Nelson composition "Still Is Still Moving to Me," which adapts surprisingly well to a reggae feel), Kid Rock, and Carole King. A particularly notable moment is blues band the Holmes Brothers' take on Willie's old heartbreak anthem "Opportunity to Cry," which adds an extra dash of soul. While hardcore Willie fans might be just as happy to hear the man all by himself, the stellar guest list of OUTLAWS & ANGELS merely confirms what those fans have known all along--that Willie Nelson is one of America's most accomplished singer/songwriters, bar none. Live USA Network Special W/Los Lonely Boys,K.Richards,T.Keith Willie Nelson: Willie Nelson (vocals); Merle Haggard (acoustic guitar); Ben Harper (electric slide guitar); Jerry Lee Lewis (piano); Joe Walsh , Keith Richards, Kid Rock, Al Green , Lee Ann Womack, Los Lonely Boys, Lucinda Williams, Rickie Lee Jones, Shelby Lynne, The Holmes Brothers, Toby Keith, Toots Hibbert, Carole King. Personnel: Willie Nelson (acoustic guitar); Keith Richards (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Al Green , Toby Keith, Toots Hibbert (vocals, acoustic guitar); Joe Walsh , Kid Rock, Merle Haggard (vocals, electric guitar); Ben Harper (vocals, slide guitar); Jerry Lee Lewis (vocals, grand piano); Lee Ann Womack, Lucinda Williams, Rickie Lee Jones, Shelby Lynne, The Holmes Brothers, Carole King (vocals); Biff Watson (guitar, acoustic guitar); Jody Payne (guitar, background vocals); Kenny Lovelace, Nils Lofgren, Henry Garza (guitar); Jimmy Ripp (electric guitar); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); David Woodford (saxophone); Bill Churchville (trumpet); Garrett Adkins (trombone); Ivan Neville, Bobbie Nelson (piano); Jim Cox (keyboards); James "Hutch" Hutchinson (upright bass); Willie "Popsy" Dixon, Jim Keltner, Paul English, Ringo Garza (drums); Billy Gene English (percussion); Stacie Michelle, Julia Tillman Waters, Lonely Boys, Maxine Willard Waters, Bernard Fowler (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Ed Seay. Recording information: The Wiltern LG (05/05/2004). Photographers: Michael Caulfield; Lester Cohen.

Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the 357's buy CD music Shooter Jennings' final album for Universal South, 2007's The Wolf, flirted more with neo-traditional country than any of his previous records did; it was almost schizophrenic, trying to balance his rock & roll side with his pedigree. After leaving the label, he formed Hierophant, a post-psych, near metal outfit which recorded the conceptual Black Ribbons, released independently to marginal acclaim. But Jennings' country roots ran too deep to remain there; it was a question of time before he returned in earnest. Ironically, after working so hard to establish himself as a hard-rocking, hell-raising outlaw worthy of his dad's pedigree, it's the country music on Family Man that really gives listeners a deep, wide, appreciation of who Jennings is as an artist. He moved to New York and it appears to have cleared his vision. He and pianist Erik Deutsch formed Triple Crown, the absolutely killer backing band on Family Man. They cut this album in a Soho studio; the end result is Jennings' most bona fide "country" record to date, though it contains many surprises. As evidenced by the radio and video success of the album's first single, "The Deed & the Dollar," a love song, it has commercial viability without the production excesses of contemporary country. Everything -- guitars, mandolins, pedal steel, fiddle, drums, piano, vocals -- sounds natural and uncompressed. The songwriting on Family Man is tighter than anything Jennings has offered us previously; it too is organic. "The Long Road Ahead" (with guitar help from Tom Morello, and mandolin and backing vocals from bandmember Eleanor Whitmore) is modern neo-trad country at its best. "The Southern Family Anthem," a hard rocking, rebellious, anthemic stomper (and a dead cross between Neil Young and Crazy Horse at their loudest and Lynyrd Skynyrd), is the album's exception, but it works better as rock & roll than anything his peers -- Kid Rock, Hank III, etc. -- have on offer. "Daddy's Hands" moves back the other way: it's a tender, bittersweet reminiscence of family that almost anybody can relate to. "The Black Dog" is Southern Gothic storytelling at its best, inspired by a short story set during the Civil War. Album-closer "Born Again" marries a sophisticated story line to an equally savvy melody. Whitmore's backing harmony vocal and fiddle playing add drama and texture. On Family Man, Shooter Jennings can assert his pedigree musically without having to mention it. It's obvious he's grown and matured as both a songwriter and a producer, and this is the finest moment in his catalog thus far. ~ Thom Jurek Liner Note Author: Dennis Cook . Recording information: The Magic Shop, Soho, NY. Illustrator: Keith Nelter. Photographers: Bill Penny; Brian Steege; Jon Graboff. Personnel: Shooter Jennings (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Jon Graboff (acoustic guitar, mandolin, background vocals); Chris Masterson (electric guitar, baritone guitar, background vocals); Eleanor Whitmore (tenor guitar, mandolin, fiddle, background vocals); Mickey Raphael (harmonica); Erik Deutsch (piano, keyboards, background vocals); Tony Leone (drums, percussion); Jeff Hill (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Brandon Mason.