Articles about the Country

I first saw / heard Seasick Steve (Steve Wold) on Jools Holland's 'Later' TV show on the BBC a couple of years ago. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when he appeared on my TV screen. He looked more like a busker than a star in the making, but by the time he had finished his song, I was a fan, along with thousands of others who saw him that night. In short, he blew us all away. He was on the show again recently in order to publicise this new album and guess what, he blew us away again! The star performer.

This album is probably the result of Steve's first appearance on Jools' show and it would seem that Mr Holland has to some degree provided a guiding hand or least support, in it's making...the presence of Ruby Turner (A regular performer with Jools' band) on the track 'Happy Man', being one example.

Any fan of Steve will love the album. It's classic Steve from start to finish and will have you foot stomping and finger tapping as the maestro does what he does best. The slower, more reflective tracks are excellent as well and provide a good contrast with the livelier numbers. All of them come from a man who has clearly lived a full and eventful life, acquiring a collection of tales and some wisdom along the way.

To be honest, I didn't realise just how good Steve was until I listend to this album. In an ocean of musical mediocrity, thank goodness that people like Seasick Steve have deployed the lifeboats and invited the rest of us to come aboard to escape the boring banality of what lurks in the singles charts these days.

Buy the album. Enjoy and treasure it.

I am another who was fortunate enough to see one of his recent live concerts. Of course we were treated to all of his classics, plus a few tracks from this latest new album. These tracks were very pleasant and memorable. Infact, an exceptional set of songs that amount to an exceptional album.

This remakable return to form is acheived with songs written by other artists including John Lennon, U2, Tom Petty and Jackson Brown. Some of these tracks are quite addictive.

So, there it is. Not typical Glen Campbell perhaps, but certainly classical Glan Campbell. If this is your scene, then this album is a must.

Like others, I saw the man on Jools Holland. I suppose the romantic in me loved the idea that this guy had experienced the lowest of the lows but had come through it all and was here playing his 3-string geetar live on the JH show. However, I liked what I heard and his enthusiasm for the blues was infectious. Okay, it's not as polished as the great blues musicians and he's not going to outdo Robert Cray for technical ability but just listen to the stories he tells and you'll be tapping your foot along. We all love to see people do well that have faced grim adversity and Seasick Steve provides a soulful, bizarre and honest approach to his version of the blues. So, stop being so cynical and give it a blast.

Ryan Adams is a rarity - a genuine tortured artist. He writes with heartfelt angst and sometimes, cynically delivers parodies of his favourite styles. I saw him play at the Academy this week, and compared to any other performance of his that I've seen, he was damned near perfect. Off drugs, booze, etc. he and his band sounded great. Cardinology is his first real rock recording - live, it is ear splitting. On record, it is brief, nice on the ears. Live, it is passionate, driving and convincing. The ballads are the best, of course, but Go Easy, Fix it and even the parody of U2 - Magic are dynamic. I like Crossed Out Name, Natural Ghost and Cobwebs. No five stars, I'm afraid - it has few valleys and no real peaks, just the most consistent record out since his last one. Ryan will never be a star - despite his cleaned up act, greatly improved guitar and singing (its all better) - he clearly still hates himself, and performs like he is ashamed to be in front of a crowd. In 2 hours plus, you could not see his face until the last 10 minutes. Remarkable.

I'm not from the US, my family hail from Kashmir and I was born in the UK, grew up listening to punk rock but WOW! The soundtrack literally drips with the era and place it hails from; every time I hear a snippet I swear I can feel the heat and smell the wheat - so amazing!

best of their 4 albums.
their most consistent, it really sounds like they are on fire and inspired.
raw rock at its best a-la 70's ac/dc or credence clearwater revival but not mere copyists, they have their own very unique twist on things.
better than the 1st album as this is more cohesive as the 1st was a mix of an earlier e.p and some new songs and as a result sounds a bit disjointed, i doubt they will ever be this good again as their next 2 albums are lacking in both fire and inspiration.

I agree with Kevan - this is just the first of three box sets, apparently and very fine it is too. It's a bit frustrating knowing that there are 15 CDs worth of programmes out there and only 9 will get an official release.The sound quality is great and has obviously been cleaned up from the original acetates - unfortunately, most of the chat from the shows has been taken out and that's the big loss, for me with this set, because it provides a fascinating insight into the band dynamic of the Driftin' Cowboys.

I'd give it more than 5 out of 5 too, but for the missing bits there'll still be people trawling the dark recesses of the internet...!

At first I was skeptical of the whole Johnny Cash is a great musician/songwriter, and thought it was oldie country music for the oldies to reminisce about, and say how they never make music like they used to; that was until I was given this CD to try after seeing the film based upon his life.

Johnny Cash is without doubt a very clever songwriter/commentator with catchy 2-3min songs that reveal a story with very poignant and/or witty poetry set to music you'll hum along to after very few listens. Clear examples of this can be found in songs such as 'A boy named Sue' and 'San Quentin.'

This album captures the highlights of his music career from the early songs right to the covers of modern artists - which he covers in his 'Cash sound' that I feel are better than the originals.

If you are undecided, like I was, give it a try as you can always sell it on, but I am sure, you will not be disappointed.