AA.VV. - Homeward Bound – 21st Century Troubadours
2011 (Uncut magazine)
alt-folk, songwriter
7
Uncut is a relatively recent British print magazine, launched in 1997, which has always kept a close eye on the new folk and country (or rather, alt-country) scene, and which since 2005 has consistently included a free bonus CD or DVD with its issues.
The March 2011 issue offers a succulent CD featuring a fine roster of no fewer than fifteen artists, with a more than decent average quality. The tracks are all drawn from the respective artists' freshly pressed albums and various compilations, so, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), there are no unreleased cuts.
It kicks off in style with Texan singer-songwriter Josh T. Pearson (formerly of Lift To Experience), who on his brand new album "Last Of the Country Gentlemen", released on Mute, would seem to be following in the footsteps of 16 Horsepower. His track "Woman, When I've Raised" also features the Dirty Three's violinist, Warren Ellis, and that alone should be a guarantee of quality. Josh Ritter, with his "Lantern", leans toward indie-rock stylings, but Eamon McGrath does even better with his airy, rough-hewn country-rock in the vein of the Flying Burrito Brothers ("Cold Alberta Nights", taken from the album "Peace Maker").
A pleasant surprise comes from Paul Simon's son, Harper Simon, who acquits himself more than admirably with a style clearly influenced by his father's legendary duo, Simon & Garfunkel; his "Wishes and Stars" offers strong harmonic and melodic ideas, with arrangements that are anything but predictable.
Notable is the rustic country of Swede Kristian Matsson, who hides behind the moniker The Tallest Man On Earth. His "Troubles Will Be Gone" comes across as nostalgic and modern at once. Also worth a pleasant listen is the old-style country-rock, with vague echoes of the old Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, of Justin Townes Earle ("Harlem River Blues"). "Once In A Great While" by Nathaniel Rateliff is a hushed lullaby for slide guitar and piano. More predictable is the pleasant, melodic rock of Michael McDermott ("The American In Me") and the gentle folk of Villagers ("Home") and Doug Paisley ("What I Saw"), the latter two with fresh albums out on Domino. Israel Nash Grippa brings Buffalo Springfield's exploits back to life on "Baltimore", but perhaps the most original piece on this collection is the closing track, namely "Hello To Nils", a hushed, funereal, candlelit folk piece that is itself the closing track of Peter Broderick's splendid "How They Are".
In short, a compilation well worth getting hold of without delay, if you want a fairly varied overview of the new international country scene. The price (magazine included) should come to around ten euros, no more.
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03/05/2011
This article is an English translation of the original Italian text by OndaRock Staff, published on OndaRock.it. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence, under the editorial responsibility of OndaRock's editor-in-chief, Claudio Fabretti.
Tracklist
- 1. Josh T. Pearson - Woman, When I've Raised Hell
- 2. Josh Ritter - Lantern
- 3. Eamon McGrath - Cold Alberta Nights
- 4. Harper Simon - Wishes and Stars
- 5. The Tallest Man On Earth - Troubles Will Be Gone
- 6. Simone Felice - Union Street
- 7. Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues
- 8. Nathaniel Rateliff - Once In a Great While
- 9. Michael McDermott - The American In Me
- 10. Villagers - Home
- 11. Doug Paisley - What I Saw
- 12. Israel Nash Gripka - Baltimore
- 13. Hiss Golden Messenger - O Nathaniel
- 14. Luke Rathborne - You Let Me In
- 15. Peter Broderick - Hello To Nils
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