They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. The cover song is possibly the closest it gets in the music business. From time to time an artist may record an entire album’s worth of cover songs. And once in a blue moon an artist may even record an album of covers of only one other artist. A Tribute record. Willie Nelson did it with To Lefty From Willie, his 1977 Lefty Frisell tribute. Matt Houck, better known by his stage name Phosphorescent, has continued the tradition with his album To Willie, a record of some of the Red Headed Stranger’s hits and rarities. I’ve always told people I didn’t like country music, which given today’s definition of country music is true for the most part, but I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Willie. Whether it’s the fragile voice, the perfect songwriting, the hippie braids or the beat-up guitar, there’s just something about him you can’t help but love. I don’t even know if Willie knows about the record Houck has made, but he should be flattered. Matt has managed to not merely cover Willie’s songs, but to put a bit of himself in them. The brokenness in his own voice conveyed in “Can I Sleep In Your Arms” (best track on the album by far) and “To Sick To Pray” coupled with the wry humor/cleverness of “I Gotta Get Drunk” is a dynamite combination. If you’re a fan of Willie, or a fan of Phosphorescent, or a fan of MUSIC, pick up this album.
It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Anyway, I made this list for the .net, but thought I should put it here and expound on it a bit, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll start the new year off with some blogitude and keep it rolling. 2009 was the year I decided to read more and to keep up with it. I read 53 books in all, which averages out to a book a week…you’ll hear more about that in a future post. So 2010? 2010 is going to be the year I blog more. I’ve decided. This is happening. I hope the one or two of you who may find this hold me to that. Anyway, Happy New Year and all that….let’s get on to the music. I’ll post this in alphabetical order by artist, because I didn’t want to rank them. However there is one album that rose above them all…..
It’s been a hard few weeks. My girlfriend of a year and three months broke up with me. I lost my job temporarily (got it back now). I still don’t really know where I’m supposed to be when it comes to work or church…or really anything. But I’m living, and I’m going to keep going. I had a really rough summer last year, and this one had been good until recently. It’s hard when something you love and take for granted goes away. Not surprisingly, music’s helping me get through this. This Avett Brothers song (big surprise) has really helped today. Enjoy.
This week Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and the King of Pop Michael Jackson all passed away.
I’m a little too young to have been greatly affected by any of the three of these celebrities’ work, though I’m not sure there’s a non-Amish soul in America that hasn’t been at least somewhat affected by Michael’s music. I learned of Michael after he had already started to go crazy and turn himself into a white woman, so I feel like my experience with his music has always been a bit tainted. That said, there’s nothing like putting an old jam from Thriller, Bad, or Off the Wall and trying to moonwalk.
The man was crazy. We all know that. I just hope the legacy left is the music and not the insanity.
U2 3D is (according to its Wikipedia article) the first live-action movie to be done exclusively with digital 3-d technology. I was incredibly excited going into the theater, but that may have been about the glasses. I love 3d glasses. There was a part of me that was skeptical, because I thought there was no possible way that any U2 film could top Rattle and Hum, but now, as the dust has settled, I am in love with this movie. I had to miss the first two songs (friggin’ traffic), which sucks since they opened with “Vertigo” and “Beautiful Day.” As I entered the movie theater I heard the familiar (and awesome) bass line to “New Year’s Day,” and my excitement grew. No longer was my excitement only related to the glasses. I was at a U2 show! And everything was so amazingly vivid! I haven’t seen a film in IMAX since middle school, and I had forgotten how incredible the technology is. I sat as close to the front as possible without having to crane my neck, and locked my eyes to the screen. For the next 80 minutes or so (it ended way too soon!) I sat, completely riveted. This one gets five stars from me, and it’s renewed my U2 love…which is not good for my wallet. Here’s the full setlist from the film:
Vertigo
Beautiful Day
New Year’s Day
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own (I was reminded how consistently good Bono’s voice is here)
Love And Peace Or Else (the following stretch of songs was pretty incredible and flowed perfectly)
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In The Name of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
encore
The Fly
With or Without You
credits
Yahweh
And, as I stated in the last post, it seems that these 3-d concert films are going to become new trend (If U2, the Stones, and Scorcese do it, the rest of the world is sure to follow). I surely hope so.
