The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
Up to the minute notes on the current state of free thinking and free living: Kentucky moonshine - original analysis and reporting from MoreThings, and all round pop culture museum of sight and sound - photo galleries, mp3 and video downloads.
Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
Hostile bearers of unproven and mostly unlikely evil conspiracies tend to come across to me as hateful seekers after cheap self-aggrandizement for the sake of their supposed arcane knowledge rather than actual seekers after truth or the better benefit of the country. Conspiracy mongering doesn't get me hard.
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To explicitly state the obvious, these external links go to interesting and provocative websites, but they speak for themselves. I don't necessarily agree with anything they say - especially that no-goodnik Richard Marcus.
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All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
March 04, 2008
New CD Album Releases, 3-4-2008: Alan Jackson, Carlene Carter, the Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd The main action in this week's new releases comes from the country and the country fried. Alan Jackson's last two albums were a romantic deal (Like Red on a Rose) and a gospel album (Precious Memories). His new album is Good Times, with more of the classic honky tonk sound and song titles such as "I Still Like Bologna." This is the #1 country album in the land, and #7 overall at Amazon currently.
Carlene Carter has apparently her first new album in several years, Stronger. In that time, she's had to deal with the deaths of her famous mother and stepfather, and long time boyfriend Howie Epstein. I can't remember any of her songs, knowing I've listened to her, so I wouldn't expect too much artistically. But I was struck by the album cover, and how much she looks like Mom. It gives me warm fuzzy feelings, even if she isn't as talented as June Carter. I mean, who is?
Moving from country to country-fried, the Black Crowes slap on their Warpaint for their first batch of fresh fried greasy country blues since 2001.
Cooler than anything new, however, is a deluxe 2 CD edition of the last and greatest album by Hall of Fame stalwarts Lynyrd Skynyrd. Besides re-mastering, there's a whole second disc. The original album released three days before their plane crash in 1977 showed the band at the height of their powers and expanding their sound, notably with horns. They had the bright pop of "What's Your Name?" and cast an unearthly deathly pall with "That Smell" that Robert Johnson would have been proud of.
The second disc of this Geffen set has two original songs ultimately entirely left off the original album, "Georgia Peaches" and "Sweet Little Missy." There are five live recordings from one of the very best live American rock bands ever. Also, there are early versions of most of the album songs from discarded sessions produced by Tom Dowd. From the descriptions, I'd be particularly interested in hearing the 7:30 alternate version of "That Smell." Sounds like some seriously charbroiled death.
Like Double Fantasy, the Street Survivors album is popular and well known, but they've both been somewhat artistically underappreciated because people are distracted by the sudden deaths of the creators so unexpected and closely timed. To me, Skynyrd's crash was maybe even a little greater loss than the Buddy Holly crash - but they went out on a hell of a note.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Miss Kittin Batbox Nobody's Bizzne Techno, Neo-Electro, Electro-Techno, Club/Dance
David Russell Air on a G String Telarc Baroque Music for Guitar
Adam Summerhayes Gypsy Strings Chandos Traditional Melodies Arranged for Two Violins & Orchestra
Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands Cody's Dream Bloodshot Americana
Rakim The Archive: Live, Lost & Found Fast Life East Coast Rap, Hip-Hop
The Ruby Suns Sea Lion Sub Pop Indie Pop
The Raymond Scott Quintette Ectoplasm Basta Swing, Third Stream
Ashton Shepherd Sounds So Good MCA Nashville Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Valet Naked Acid Kranky Dream Pop, Indie Rock
Various Artists Cage: The Number Pieces, Vol. 5 Mode Contemporary Music for Two Pianos
Various Artists Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records Philadelphia International/Le Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Philly Soul, Urban, Soul, Disco, Funk
Various Artists Don't Stop: Recording Tap Numero Post-Disco, Club/Dance, Urban, Old-School Rap
Various Artists The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff's Greatest Hits Philadelphia International/Le Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Philly Soul, Urban, Soul, Disco, Funk
The Waco Brothers Waco Express: Live and Kickin' at Schuba's Bloodshot Americana, Alternative Country, Alternative Country-Rock, Indie Rock
What Made Milwaukee Famous What Doesn't Kill Us Barsuk Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Whiskeytown Strangers Almanac [Deluxe Edition] Geffen Americana, Alternative Country-Rock, Roots Rock
Jim White Transnormal Skiperoo Luaka Bop Americana, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Folk
David Wilcox Airstream What Are? Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Mary Lou Williams A Grand Night for Swinging Highnote Standards, Classic Jazz, Stride, Post-Bop, Swing, Bop ******************************** Alan Jackson
The main action in this week's new releases comes from the country and the country fried. Alan Jackson's last two albums were a romantic deal (Like Red on a Rose) and a gospel album (Precious Memories). His new album is Good Times, with more of the classic honky tonk sound and song titles such as "I Still Like Bologna." This is the #1 country album in the land, and #7 overall at Amazon currently.
