Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians CD

Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians album for sale Jack Bruce must have enjoyed his 2005 get-together with Cream so much that, when Clapton and Baker were unwilling to continue the collaboration, he rang up Robin Trower to renew the brief power trio fling they had in the mid-'80s. The Trower-Bruce pairing had released only two albums, B.L.T. and Truce, and was dormant since 1982, so this 2007 reunion was somewhat of a continuation of the project, albeit one separated by a quarter century. The results impressively continue where Truce left off, as Bruce brings his distinctive croon/moan to bluesy, riff-oriented tunes dominated by Trower's silvery guitar runs. Gary Husband fills the drum slot adequately if inconspicuously, but his contributions are mixed so far under Bruce's vocals and Trower's guitar that they are secondary. The previous two releases called in Trower's old Procol Harum lyricist Keith Reid and Bruce collaborator Peter Brown to write the words, but Bruce and Trower pen these 11 songs without outside assistance. Most tunes such as "Lives of Clay," a barely concealed rewrite of Cream's "Politician" lick, revisit familiar territory, and clearly these guys are not out to expand any boundaries. Bruce, who has had serious medical problems since they last recorded, sounds terrific -- strong and vibrant, even if a few tunes such as the minor-key ballad "I'm Home" seem somewhat clunky. This disc's "So Far to Yesterday" recalls Trower's "Twice Removed from Yesterday" both in its title and general mood. The yin/yang pairing keeps Bruce's more oblique jazz influences in check and does the same for Trower's space rock instincts, yielding a throwback that fans of both artists' previous work should enjoy. Trower's patented Hendrix-styled guitar adds a psychedelic edge to songs that generally stick to a midtempo lope and never blast out with Cream's insistent power, which can be somewhat frustrating to anyone who would like to hear these guys let loose. Still, there are enough strong moments on Seven Moons to recommend it, especially to those who enjoyed the duo's previous work 25 years ago. ~ Hal Horowitz Personnel: Robin Trower (vocals, guitar); Jack Bruce (vocals, bass guitar); Gary Husband (drums).

Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians songs WEST, from 2007, was one of Lucinda Williams' most personal and dark albums, a heartbroken meditation, mostly about the recent death of her mother. In years past, Williams likely would have retreated following such a major statement: in the first two decades of her career, spaces of nearly five years between albums weren't unheard of. Instead, the Louisiana-bred singer-songwriter knuckled down and recorded the exuberant LITTLE HONEY, perhaps her sunniest and most gleefully rocking album ever. Kicking off with the stomping, sexy single "Real Love," this is Williams in the rollicking "Passionate Kisses" side of her musical personality. Her lyrics are as sharp as ever, particularly on the wry ballad "If Wishes Were Horses" and the Elvis Costello duet, "Jailhouse Tears." Other guests include Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, whose Buckingham-Nicks harmonies decorate several tunes, adding to the album's sunny and poppy vibe. Arrangers: Eric Liljestrand; Bruce Fowler. Personnel: Lucinda Williams (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Elvis Costello (vocals); Doug Pettibone (acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar, electric 6-string guitar, electric 12-string guitar, electric slide guitar, dobro, background vocals); Chet Lyster (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar, musical saw); David Sutton (guitarron, cello, double bass, electric bass); Butch Norton (bullroarer, chang, drums, congas, cymbals, finger cymbals, maracas, rainsticks, tambourine, bell); Rob Burger (accordion, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ, pump organ, Wurlitzer organ, Mellotron, vibraphone); Albert Wing (tenor saxophone); Walt Fowler (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bruce Fowler (trombone); Jim Lauderdale, Kristin Mooney, Matthew Sweet, Susanna Hoffs, Susan Marshall, Gia Ciambotti, Charlie Louvin (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Eric Liljestrand.

Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians CD music A solid follow-up to 2005's SOLO ACOUSTIC VOLUME 1, this sequel was recorded at various concerts across several continents in the last few years, providing a wide overview of Jackson Browne's career as both a songwriter and a performer. Ranging across the breadth of Browne's lengthy career, from 1972's "Something Fine" to a handful of songs from 2002's THE NAKED RIDE HOME, SOLO ACOUSTIC VOLUME 2 is lighter on the instantly recognizable radio hits, although "Somebody's Baby" and "In the Shape of a Heart" are both accounted for. Even more appealing for longtime fans, over half of the 12 songs feature lengthy, at times rambling but always entertaining introductions about the songs themselves or the circumstances of their writing. Photographer: Frank Ockenfels. Personnel: Jackson Browne (guitar). Audio Mixer: Paul Dieter.

Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians buy CD music Recording information: Catherine North Studios; Home, British Columbia, Canada; Phase One Studios, Toronto, Ontario, British Columbia,; Plyrz Studios, Santa Clarita, CA; Woodshed. Personnel: Kathleen Edwards (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, autoharp, violin, vibraphone, background vocals); Colin Cripps (acoustic 12-string guitar, electric guitar); Jim Bryson (electric guitar, piano, background vocals); Greg Leisz (electric guitar); Anne Lindsay (violin); Johann Lotter (viola); Paul Reddick (harmonica); Bob Packwood (piano, organ); Benmont Tench (piano, keyboards); Jim Scott (omnichord); Don Heffington, Gary Craig (drums, percussion); Justin Rutledge (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Jim Scott .

Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians songs Whether on barroom-style singalongs like "Love Me Tenderly," noir-ish narratives like "Greatest Show on Earth," or achingly lovely snapshots like "Wonderful Life," the Felice Brothers offer a bleary-eyed beauty that recalls Townes Van Zant, Will Oldham, and Bob Dylan's country albums. THE FELICE BROTHERS is contemporary Americana at its most direct and appealing. Americana hounds often search for a brand of authenticity in their bands, a gritty, ragged feel that connects to the tradition's roots. That authenticity hangs around the Felice Brothers like a halo. It doesn't matter that they're a band of brothers from the streets of New York; they might just as easily have grown up on a backwoods road in the deep South, given the dusty, whiskey-infused poetry of their self-titled sophomore release. Personnel: Richard "Dick Trumpet" DeCosta, Dean Jones , Dean Jones, Peter Buettner (horns).

Dark River - Songs of the Civil War Era: Interpretations by Austin's Finest Musicians album for sale Born under the weight of two legendary country names, Justin Townes Earle had to deal with not only comparisons to his father Steve's still active career, but the legendary canon of his namesake, Townes Van Zandt. Wisely, Earle copies neither and delivers a strong, loose sophomore full-length, THE GOOD LIFE, that shores up his credentials as a major talent in his own right. With songs that swing from charming piano-plinked honky-tonk to heartfelt balladry, Earle pits himself squarely in the Texas neo-roadhouse tradition of Joe Ely and Butch Hancock--the kind of music made for and by country fans. Justin Townes Earle: JTE (vocals, guitars, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, harmonica). Personnel: Justin Townes Earle (vocals, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, harmonica); Steve Poulton (electric guitar); Pete Finney (steel guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro); Chris Scruggs (lap steel guitar); Dustin Welch (banjo, background vocals); Cory Younts (mandolin, harmonica, background vocals); Bryn Davies (cello, acoustic bass, background vocals); Stan Wilson (piano, Wurlitzer piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Skylar Wilson (piano, Wurlitzer organ); Brad Jones (electric bass); Keith Brogdon , Bryan Owings (drums); Manfred Jerome (tambourine). Audio Mixers: Adam Bednarik; Richard McLaurin; Steve Poulton. Recording information: Alex The Great Studios, Nashville, TN; House Of David; Room And Board. Photographer: Joshua Black Wilkins.