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GO MEDIA
TERJE LIE/Traveler: What can you say about a Norwegian that felt like a New Yorker in his soul but dug the southern California vibe much better than the Big Apple cold who has been playing since he was a kid? You can say he finally made the debut album he’s been waiting his whole life to make and that he knows it’s important to make a good first impression because you don’t get another chance. This is a fine introduction to a non-stop gig machine that will play anything anywhere but is a pretty dandy sax man that add s something to smooth jazz via his outsiders perspective. A nicely driving set that gives jazzbos a new player to celebrate.
1 (TCat)
MARK PUCCI MEDIA
JAY BOY ADAMS/Shoe Box: A well loved Texas music figure that flew close to the sun but never made it because New York record label execs didn’t think he fit the format walked away as he got older and has now walked back now that he is older. Fusing Texas with heartland rock, this is an hombre looking back and looking forward making contemporary rock for his contemporaries. Not knuckling under to make a set that would fit the format for Starbucks, this is a dandy set for the weekend warrior that rocked his way through the 70s and still doesn’t feel like getting put out to pasture swilling lattes and smooth jazz. Powered by an uncompromising rocker’s soul able to accept the present, this should find receptive ears will all who would have dug him the first time around.
7057 (RHR/Smith)
SUGAR HILL
GUY CLARK/Americana Masters Series: There just ain’t no such thing as a bad Guy Clark record so this collection pulled from his two tours of duty at Sugar Hill is a treasure. With Clark operating in full back porch mode at Sugar Hill, he came with alive greatest hits and three sets of originals that were done with the pressure off and Clark having the chance to be himself all the way. A classic case of pop songs as novellas, Clark’s slow simmering pen is shown to full advantage. As the taste for Americana widens and deepens, this is the kind of collection that will turn a whole new set of ears on to Clark even this late in the game.
JAMES McMURTRY/Americana Masters Series: when you grow up having breakfast with Larry McMurtry every morning, you learn a few things about story telling. On his three sets for Sugar Hill, McMurtry was able to do what Columbia couldn’t figure out. While radio had moved away from story songs, and too many long winded wannabes are able to find their way to a mic, McMurtry found himself shoved away from the table unable to do what he does best, tell stories. Fans of meaty songwriting in plain English that cuts to the chase know this cat is loaded with diamonds that aren’t in the rough. Because it’s not about catch sippy cup songs, it make take a pass or two to realize what’s going on here, but fans of the oral tradition will find traction right away. One of the heartland’s songwriting best.
JERRY DOUGLAS/Americana Masters Series: One of the architects of NAC, Douglas was part of that crew of pickers that was making great music in the early 80s that no one what to do with or what to call, even if all of them went on to set the new standards. Culled from his five sets for Sugar Hill, this is a look at a master picker doing his thing, pushing boundaries and topping himself because he can. Deceptively down home, this is world class picking that won’t do anything less than blow the dust off your ears. He can play anything from his resophonic guitar and simply does and does it all great. Hot stuff.
Volume 30/Number 171
April 20, 2007
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
(c)2007 Midwest Record
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