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Post by Bingo on Jan 29, 2011 15:18:17 GMT -8
George Reiff (bass player in the Court Yard Hounds) has produced the new album by the Band of Heathens, due out on March 29th. As the Austin-based Band of Heathens are one one of the hottest talking points in Roots music at present, this is good publicity (nearly all the news sites on the release also mention that George works with Martie and Emily) Although I haven't heard the album yet, I'd guess from discussion that one theme is that Obama has set us free, but that certainly doesn't end our problems. Besides the inevitable comparisons to the Band (the only cover included is a Levon Helm song), the Jayhawks and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are mentioned as influences. Here's a taster of the only advance single released (about the Gulf oil spill). It's not the full song - but I include it not least because of the beautiful Mountain Boogie (by a different group) that finishes the video. (I may be about the only fan here who loves pre-Bluegrass Mountain Music, but I'd take this over chart music any day!)
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Post by Tony on Jan 30, 2011 8:24:46 GMT -8
What a fantastic singing voice he has. I don't know much about them but I recall Bob Harris playing them and possibly having them in session on his show. And the bloke on percussion has a London Underground logo on his T shirt!!
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Post by Kallie on Mar 2, 2011 19:12:20 GMT -8
He kinds looks like Fred...doesnt he?
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Post by artdeco on Jun 28, 2011 11:26:50 GMT -8
Thanks Bingo I really liked that stuff. I will be looking forward to more of that in the future.
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Post by sthdvs2012 on Jun 28, 2011 11:38:24 GMT -8
Lord. I was going to download the album until I found out it was just another liberal soap box. I cannot stand either side spewing their political views in song. The chicks haven't done it yet. I don't consider "Ain't No Son" as a political song. Just a story. Because it could go either way. Pro or Anti... depending on which one you choose.
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Post by Bingo on Jun 28, 2011 12:55:17 GMT -8
No, the Chicks have almost never been political - which is rather ironic, seeing that many people on both sides tend to see them as highly symbolic of the divided political climate.
However, the Roots Country scene has a long history of political and social criticism. Hank III carries Woody Guthrie's "This Machine Kills Fascists" slogan on his guitar case as a reminder of that heritage. Natalie's father is probably more involved with this side of the music, through the bands he produces.
The Mainstream can make a solid case for leaving out political and social references, in the sense that it respects the differing views that are bound to exist in their larger audiences. Nevertheless, I think that it should be remembered that saying nothing actually tends to be a Conservative-leaning position (since it leaves the status quo unchallenged). That's why I'm glad to see Mainstream artists who are wiling to back songs with a social message.
in the Roots sector, the audience tend to expect criticism, and see it as part of a rebel attitude,, even when they don't specifically agree with it. But (as with drug references, parodies of "political correctness", and "profanity"), people averse to political references aren't likely to find much of the Roots sector very appealing.
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