Roots, Rock, Reggae

For a grey January, three distinctive women’s voices working very different roots, rock, and reggae veins. 

Gillian Welch - Listening to Welch and her partner Dave Rawlings is like tuning in to some ghost broadcast from the Dust Bowl.  Their original songs are steeped in bluegrass and traditional country but informed by the Dead and the Band.  She released a fine album last year, The Harrow and The Harvest, on which you will find this wonderful example of their songcraft, "The Way It Goes".

But the pinnacle of her work for me, is this spare, loving tune about Elvis, "Elvis Presley Blues"  from her Time (the Revelator), from 2001. Wouldn't you love to live next door to her and hear this music coming through the trees on a warm night?  Wouldn't you love it to be a warm night?

Kathleen Edwards – Why haven’t I been paying attention?  With a decade long career behind her, I am just now noticing what a fine voice she has – recalling Suzanne Vega and Neko Case – and an  musical style that sits somewhere between alt country and folk rock. (Er, same thing I guess.) Start with "Empty Threat", from her just released Voyageur.  Then, do not pass "GO", listen to her "Hockey Skates".  She's Canadian, eh?  And keep paying attention.  

Hollie Cook - Dad was the drummer for the Sex Pistols and the Slits.  Her self-titled 2011 debut is all-reggae, all-the-time.  Been away from this music for awhile?  Let this gently remind you of the pleasure of marinating your prefrontal cortex in an album’s worth of 4/4 sunshine.  It belongs on the shelf next to “Natty Dread”.   Two tracks, "Used to Be" and her cover of the Shangri La's "Walking in the Sand" will give you the idea, then you're on your own. 

            -- JFJ