I love it when an older artist re-discovers their roots and releases new music that doesn’t pander to current tastes or trends. With apologies to our music stations, I’m not a big fan of what get’s played on the radio these days. To my ears it’s formulaic and lyrically challenged. But when an artist, who knows what they want to write and record is not going to get played anyway, they are free to follow their hearts and souls. Such is the case with the new record from Mary Chapin Carpenter. Like Rosanne Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan and others before them, Carpenter has released a superb new LP called “Between The Dirt and The Stars” that doesn’t pander. It explores themes and ideas from all over the place including the “new normal” we find ourselves in. Her track record speaks for itself. She is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame…she has sold millions of albums and won numerous awards…. and now is writing music that speaks to her and also to us. And it sounds great. The band is tight…the production from Ethan Johns is clean and crisp. If you’re tired of auto-tuned pretenders try this. I bet you’ll feel better about our situation when you’re done.
Here are a couple of tracks
Speaking of Dylan…you may have seen one of his lyrics making the rounds of social media yesterday. “The Post Office has been stolen, and the mailbox is locked” comes from a great song called “Stuck Inside Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again”. It comes from his 1966 magnum opus “Blonde on Blonde”. I cant tell you how many times I’ve listened to this trying to unlock it’s secrets. As usual for Mr. Zimmerman, the imagery is stunning, if a bit mystic. If you haven’t ever heard it…prepare to dive in…..
Some more “new” music. YES front-man Jon Anderson has released an LP called “1000 Hands”. It’s not really new since much of it was recorded years ago with a star studded lineup . Wikipedia explains the origins…
The album originates from sessions for a project to have been called Uzlot (a northern English pronunciation of “us lot”) that Anderson had been recording in Big Bear, California, with Brian Chatton in around 1990. Chatton wrote most of the music, played keyboards and also sang. Anderson asked his then Yes bandmates Chris Squire and Alan White to play on the project too. At the time, Yes were preparing for a tour and Anderson put the master tapes in his garage and, as he has recounted, gave them very little thought for many years. In 2016, producer Michael Franklin contacted Anderson about using the tapes and finishing an album. Further recordings followed at Solar Studios in Orlando, Florida. Along with some newly written material, the final result is 1000 Hands.[2][3][4]
As the album title suggests, the album was created with a number of guest performers, including Jethro Tull‘s Ian Anderson, Brian Chatton, Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain, Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice, Rick Derringer, the Tower of Power horn section, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty and pianist Chick Corea.
The LP was originally released last year…but was re-released on a new label this summer. I missed this the first time around but Yes fans should dig it.
Here are a couple of tracks…
Some quarantine music from some familiar faces….I’m still pissed that Mason had to cancel his Grand Theater show a few years ago…
Covers Of The Day (from Ms Carpenter)
Mary Chapin Carpenter covers Ian & Sylvia
Mary Chapin Carpenter covers Bruce Springsteen
This is the consequence of believing what you read on the internet or hear on right-wing squawk radio as opposed to listening to trained professionals. Read it here
Quotes Of The Day
“There were a lot of powerful speeches tonight, but the most devastating line was from Kristin Urquiza. “My dad was a healthy 65-year-old,” she said. “His only preexisting condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that, he paid with his life.”-Ezra Klein
Trump wants to drill in Alaska because of course he does. Once again…everything he touches turns to sh*t
“The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of our country’s greatest natural treasures. We cannot let Donald Trump, @SecBernhardt , and their Big Oil buddies auction off these protected lands and waters to the highest bidder.”-Elizabeth Warren
Bernie Sanders: “He has tried to prevent people from voting, undermined the U.S. Postal Service, … threatened to delay the election and suggested that he will not leave office if he loses. This is not normal, and we must never treat it like it is.”
“The house is on fire. We need to put it out before we redecorate it.”-Bradley Whitford
“Stop children, what’s that sound”
“Donald Trump’s “Medal of Freedom” award recipient Rush Limbaugh just called Kamala Harris a “Ho.” Will every Republican stand up and call for his medal to be taken away or will they continue to be cowards and racists? Unfortunately we all know the answer.”-Mrs. Krassenstein
“As predicted, Trump and Powell will try to crash the economy the moment Biden is announced the winner. And now they have the means to do it.”-Thom Hartman
This……
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