Loading ...OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: MUSIC REVIEWS & MUSINGS BY MARY LEARY
JOAN ARMATRADING, TALBOT TAGORA, & SOME GREAT BAM-BAMS
Sky Saxon, Richie Hayward, Ringo Starr, Mick Fleetwood
The 2010 Grammy Awards
Talbot Tagora: Lessons in the Woods or a City (Hardly Art)
Joan Armatrading: Steppin’ Out – Greatest Hits Live (Eagle Rock)
So I’m watching the Grammys and noticing that Ringo, while presenting, apparently hasn’t been asked to perform. Even with all the well-produced segments and talent, this strikes me as “off.” I mean, a Beatle is in the house and no one invites him to do “It Don’t Come Easy, ” perhaps with Lifetime Achievement honoree Honeyboy Edwards adding some country blues grit? Hmmm…
Since I’ve been trying to conjure new stuff for a poetry competition, I end up with this take on proceedings: Read more
Off The Beaten Track: Music Reviews & Musings by Mary Leary
Some Old Sounds from Some Old & Young Geezers (& No Frank Zappa)
Frank Zappa Will Not Be Featured In This Column
First, to help ward off disappointed Frank Zappa fans, a spoiler: This installment may end up being a bit of a letdown. Although his name appears here several times, there’s nothing specifically about the art of this influential, prolific prodigy. He did play a part in the formation of one of the bands I’ll be considering. And he’s cited by The OGeeZ, a San Jose-based duo that promises, with some objective charm, “A new sound from some old guys.” Per the band’s promotional proclamations, “Our sound has been compared to Frank Zappa.” They go on to say, “We’re more like Frank Zappa meets Tower of Power, with some blues mixed in for seasoning.”
I want to be able to answer The OGeeZ’s good-humored hopes with big, fat kudos. However, at least where they’re concerned, kudo production is at a standstill at Off The Beaten Track. Can they play? Yes, certainly. Read more
City of Dirty – Bully Blinders Breakfast Review
City of Dirt is exactly how it sounds. It’s an album that is a bit rough around the edges. It’s not very polished – and has a dirty kind of texture to the soul/horn samples and vocals that make up the tracks.
The mixing is not done perfectly (at times it’s even difficult to hear what Emcee Mike Talls is actually saying).
The imagery he uses is dark and grimy. City of Dirt and the BULLY BLINDERS (Talls and producer/bassist Chad Tuthill) create such a memorable music experience. Unpolished and gritty, Talls weaves lively stories together, each with their own feeling and message. Read more
Off The Beaten Track: Music Reviews and Musings by Mary Leary
All I Want for Christmas Is a Bunch of New Media
Several years ago, when I was 16, I was handed my first paycheck. As soon as I’d changed out of my Navy Exchange smock, I made a beeline for the bank, then the record shop. I was like a drunk inhaling that first cocktail: Crisp greenbacks smoking in my pocket; rows of shiny new record covers stretching for aisles and aisles. I think I bought albums by Stevie Wonder, Todd Rundgren, and T. Rex. In any case, it was ON.
Although this may not be the best example for anyone trying to follow a strict budget, music, books, and films have helped me: (1) learn about all kinds of things; (2) find my creative voice, and (3) stay sane/happier. To me it seems a bit different than spending money on other items. But what does this have to do with the holidays, or you? Read more
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: MUSIC REVIEWS & MUSINGS BY MARY LEARY
Out with the New, In with the Old…?
Pantha du Prince
…’cause the idea that everything should be shiny-new as of a year’s turning… is odd to me. Maybe it’s ‘cause I did a lot of Taoist and macrobiotic studies, basically inhaling the idea (over my pots, hour after hour; or in the process of tai chi) that there is no exact end or beginning to anything – what’s here now is made up of what was and of what will be. Further, I’m intrigued by the idea that time is a manmade construct. Yes, the earth revolves around the sun, ergo the idea of clocks. But is this time (the kind we measure by hours and minutes) the only time?
Since I’m already in over my head, without a life preserver, here’s another point of contention: I can’t entirely agree with folks who say they hated 2009. In addition to considerable personal growth, I pretty much skated along for months on the euphoria of last year’s inauguration; its historical and cultural import – pretty big stuff! As far as problems being solved or things changing: change takes time. Which circles us back to the beginning… Read more
