Posts Tagged Blues
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April 17, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Squirrel Nut Zippers: Beasts of Burgundy
Squirrel Nut Zippers Beasts of Burgundy Southern Broadcasting Squirrel Nut Zippers – helluva band! Good band! Fun band. Expert across many styles, but always a good-time New Orleans-y swagger and stomp to the fore, and certainly that’s the case here on what is the band’s first studio album in 18 years; it’s not a reunion […]Archive
April 16, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Wynton Marsalis Septet: United We Sing
Wynton Marsalis Septet United We Sing: Best of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Galas Blue Engine Records Comprised of recordings across the years 2003 – 2007 this collection showcases the always-sublime Wynton Marsalis Septet in a range of song settings, from a lurching, soul-drenched blues-makeover of Lenny Kravitz’ Are You Gonna Go My Way (unlikely […]Archive
April 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
I Wrote The Liner Notes For Darren Watson’s New Album – Too Many Millionaires
I’ve been asked a few times to write testimonials – mostly for funding applications, for an artist seeking a residency or some such. Once or twice I’ve been asked to writer liner notes. Most recently Darren Watson asked me if I’d contribute some words to his brand new, upcoming album, Too Many Millionaires. I was […]Archive
April 9, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats: Groovin’ In Greaseland
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats Groovin’ In Greaseland Alligator Records Here’s one of those albums – that will please existing fans of this band/sound/genre and is also the perfect business card, the perfect entry point – if you’ve heard of Rick Estrin & The Nightcats but didn’t know where to start, or if you’re worried there […]Archive
March 3, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 429
The Robert Cray Band, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark (1988) I have fond memories of discovering Robert Cray, all wrapped up with my childhood and moving into my early teen years. My mum bought Bad Influence on what I’m sure was a whim; I don’t reckon any of us knew anything about him until […]Archive
February 20, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Van Morrison: Versatile
Van Morrison Versatile SMG No need to slow down and too late to stop by quite a way, and so here we have Van Morrisson’s second brand new album of 2017, this one arriving right at the end of the year and just a few short months after the also very good Roll With The […]Archive
February 8, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Win A Double Pass to the Eric Clapton Documentary – Life In 12 Bars
To celebrate the New Zealand theatrical release of Life In 12 Bars the new feature-length Eric Clapton documentary Madman NZ has given me five double passes for fans. The film will be screening in New Zealand from February 15-28 at selected theatres. To be in to win it is this simple: Write a comment below […]Archive
January 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
L’Orange: The Ordinary Man
L’Orange The Ordinary Man Mello Music Group If Chilly Gonzalez and DJ DSL collaborated it might come out sounding exactly like the music that Nashville-based producer L’Orange harvests. Chilled beats provide the framework for a dust-off of old jazz and blues samples. It’s a winning formula. One L’Orange knows just how (correctly) to milk, never […]Archive
December 5, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Mavis Staples: If All I Was Was Black
Mavis Staples If All I Was Was Black Anti/Epitaph What a decade it’s been for Mavis Staples – riding on a high note ever since 2007’s We’ll Never Turn Back with a constant victory-lap of touring and this now deep collaboration with Jeff Tweedy’s Wilco. It hasn’t all been amazing, I couldn’t get too excited […]Archive
November 27, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Clapton WAS God: The Last 30 Years…Turgid
In a word. Well, lifeless. Or lazy. Uninspired. Dull. Meaningless. Take your pick I guess. I was an Eric Clapton fan. Was. He was the first international big-name act I saw and it was amazing. On a good day I’m still happy with most of that first decade of work he did – I have a soft spot […]Archive
November 18, 2017 by Simon Sweetman