SECTIONS
SITE INFO
Kimya Dawson with Angelo Spencer - Ethical Society (Philadelphia, PA) - Saturday, January 19, 2008
30 January 2008Even with all of her recent success, she is still determined to do things on her own merits, even if that means playing in out of the way venues.
Vashti Bunyan – Some Things Just Stick in Your Mind (DiCristina)
8 December 2007The delicacy of her music in this period is of a piece with her famous 1970 LP, and her voice is even more angelic.
Bert Jansch with P.G. Six - The Museum of Fine Arts (Boston) - Wednesday, June 6, 2007
13 August 2007Folk-Blues acoustic master still commands attention.
The Trees Community - The Christ Tree (Dark Holler/Hand Eye)
28 July 2007One of the stranger albums to reemerge in the freak-folk revival of psychedelic artifacts.
James Blackshaw - The Cloud of Unknowing (Tompkins Square)
9 June 2007On the four lengthy tracks, the effect is both hypnotic and transcendent. For variety, halfway through there’s the brief “Clouds Collapse,” a sparely constructed array of plucks and plinks that achieves a Zen-like intense focus on pure sound, the perfect palate cleanser.
Meg Baird – Dear Companion (Drag City)
25 May 2007Meg Baird of Espers has made a solo acoustic album in the vein of the traditional English folk that has been such a major ingredient in the sound of her band.
Open Letter to Boots Riley of The Coup
4 October 2006I’ve been performing my version of your song “Ride The Fence” to very enthusiastic mostly white ‘indie rock’ and/or primarily apolitical folky audiences on both sides of the bay, and I’d like to record it for an upcoming album. I need to get your permission and/or blessing to do this.
Adem with Benji - Joe's Pub (New York) - Monday, August 28, 2006
4 September 2006Talk about intimate! Joe’s Pub’s cozy environment and Adem’s stripped down, acoustic set made for one enjoyably mellow evening.
Maybe the Words Don't Matter Half as Much as the Tune [Part II]
20 June 2006But even if the words don’t matter as much as the tune, the tune may not matter as much as a good singer. “The singer not the song” dichotomy definitely complicates the words/tune dichotomy…
Various Artists - Classic Labor Songs from Smithsonian Folkways (Smithsonian Folkways)
25 May 2006This 78-minute, 27-track compilation opens aptly with the classic “Joe Hill,” proclaiming that the Industrial Workers of the World leader’s spirit lives on, despite his execution.
Jack Rabid’s Top 10
Week of August 17
-
Billy Bragg – Mr. Love & Justice (Anti)
-
Bad Religion – New Maps of Hell (deluxe edition) (Epitaph)
-
Ray Davies – Working Man’s Cafe (New West)
-
Ron Sexsmith – Exit Strategy of the Soul (Yep Roc)
-
Billie Holiday – Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs (Columbia/Legacy/SonyBMG)
-
Everest – Ghost Notes (Vapor)
-
Rob Dickinson – Fresh Wine for the Horses (double CD) (Fontana/UNI)
-
Secret Shine – All of the Stars (Clairecords/Tonevendor)
-
The Effigies – Reside (Criminal IQ)
-
For Against – Shade Side, Sunny Side (Words on Music)