The Album Review Club - Week #192 (page 1292) - 3ft High & Rising - De La Soul

[Mancitydoogle]

I was at a Lucinda Williams concert with Doug Pettibone on guitar and pedal steel on a few songs.
He was brilliant.
The trick is to have only a few tracks with pedal steel.

I saw him play with Ray Lamontagne and also Kevin Montgomery.He’s a fantastic multi instrumentalist.

 

[threespires]

I prefer seeing bands at their own gigs, with their own intended crowds that come specifically to see them. Rather than festivals, as support acts, etc where they are appealing to a broader variety of punter.

That's just a statement of my own stance, for discussion. Nothing more than that.

Think I'm in agreement, with the possible exemption of festivals that have a very specific cohesion like Cropredy and maybe even Cambridge. Even then as you say you typically don't get the benefit of a full gig, so in the case of Sprints it'll be no substitute for seeing them on tour.

The reason Bearded Theory caught my eye was it looked like well over half the acts were ones I'd be keen to see or see again which is unusual for a miserable sod like me.

 

[journolud]

The UK is a good country. The US of A is a bad country. Or so we might like to believe in this age of polarised opinions where you are either one thing or the other with no room for anything in-between. There's no room for shades of grey.

Of course reality is a little more complex than that. We've had our own clown leading the country (what do you mean which one) and god help us if those determined to take our country back were to be given the constitutional right to bear arms. And any country that gives us foggy, Mr black and white blue etc can't be all bad.

Why do I say this? Well the usual padding before getting to a review in the vain hope of making some sort of valid point and matching the word count of Mr Belfry and others. And it's a pretty poor play on words really about country. Country music. It's bad isn't it? Dolly Parton and whoever else isn't very good (but phenomenally successful not to mention philanthropic).

I don't like country and so anything that sort of inhabits that area must be Americana. A much cooler association surely. Not that I know the difference really.

I really should have written my review of this album based on the picture of the guy in the cowboy hat and not listened to the music. Because then I could have stuck to what I thought I new.

But, well you can see where this might be going. But don't worry, I'll not be too effusive in my praise.

Some of it on repeated listens is sort of so so country as I expect it to be. But it's not unlistenable for all that. And there are some tracks I really enjoyed. Someone else made the point about the more upbeat tracks being the best and I agree with that. But there is a trio of great tracks in damned if You Do, Talks to Strangers and Wolf of Saint Elmo.

Vocals I mentioned once already there are shades of Neil Young, bits of Dylan and a smidgen of Israel Nash. Or the other way round, I can't decide which. And probably some others I've never heard of.

The more "standard" tracks honestly wouldn't sound out of place on Harvest era Neil Young. Maybe this is actually one of those lost albums he keeps finding down the back of his recording studios couches released under a different name...

Anyway, surprisingly a hit for me. I'd go and see them if they were playing in a pub near me. But I probably wouldn't if it was a train ride into town away. But I'll listen to this again even when I don't have to and will check out some more of their stuff. It's a 7

 

[Coatigan]

As an aside. I still don't think Americana is a real genre. Nor that anyone really knows what the term is meant to describe.

 

[bennyboy]

The UK is a good country. The US of A is a bad country. Or so we might like to believe in this age of polarised opinions where you are either one thing or the other with no room for anything in-between. There's no room for shades of grey.

Of course reality is a little more complex than that. We've had our own clown leading the country (what do you mean which one) and god help us if those determined to take our country back were to be given the constitutional right to bear arms. And any country that gives us foggy, Mr black and white blue etc can't be all bad.

Why do I say this? Well the usual padding before getting to a review in the vain hope of making some sort of valid point and matching the word count of Mr Belfry and others. And it's a pretty poor play on words really about country. Country music. It's bad isn't it? Dolly Parton and whoever else isn't very good (but phenomenally successful not to mention philanthropic).

I don't like country and so anything that sort of inhabits that area must be Americana. A much cooler association surely. Not that I know the difference really.

I really should have written my review of this album based on the picture of the guy in the cowboy hat and not listened to the music. Because then I could have stuck to what I thought I new.

But, well you can see where this might be going. But don't worry, I'll not be too effusive in my praise.

Some of it on repeated listens is sort of so so country as I expect it to be. But it's not unlistenable for all that. And there are some tracks I really enjoyed. Someone else made the point about the more upbeat tracks being the best and I agree with that. But there is a trio of great tracks in damned if You Do, Talks to Strangers and Wolf of Saint Elmo.

Vocals I mentioned once already there are shades of Neil Young, bits of Dylan and a smidgen of Israel Nash. Or the other way round, I can't decide which. And probably some others I've never heard of.

The more "standard" tracks honestly wouldn't sound out of place on Harvest era Neil Young. Maybe this is actually one of those lost albums he keeps finding down the back of his recording studios couches released under a different name...

Anyway, surprisingly a hit for me. I'd go and see them if they were playing in a pub near me. But I probably wouldn't if it was a train ride into town away. But I'll listen to this again even when I don't have to and will check out some more of their stuff. It's a 7

Good to see a good review of an slbum that you thought was not for you but after listening you enjoyed it.
A lesson there for me.

 

[threespires]

The UK is a good country. The US of A is a bad country. Or so we might like to believe in this age of polarised opinions where you are either one thing or the other with no room for anything in-between. There's no room for shades of grey.

Of course reality is a little more complex than that. We've had our own clown leading the country (what do you mean which one) and god help us if those determined to take our country back were to be given the constitutional right to bear arms. And any country that gives us foggy, Mr black and white blue etc can't be all bad.

Why do I say this? Well the usual padding before getting to a review in the vain hope of making some sort of valid point and matching the word count of Mr Belfry and others. And it's a pretty poor play on words really about country. Country music. It's bad isn't it? Dolly Parton and whoever else isn't very good (but phenomenally successful not to mention philanthropic).

I don't like country and so anything that sort of inhabits that area must be Americana. A much cooler association surely. Not that I know the difference really.

I really should have written my review of this album based on the picture of the guy in the cowboy hat and not listened to the music. Because then I could have stuck to what I thought I new.

But, well you can see where this might be going. But don't worry, I'll not be too effusive in my praise.

Some of it on repeated listens is sort of so so country as I expect it to be. But it's not unlistenable for all that. And there are some tracks I really enjoyed. Someone else made the point about the more upbeat tracks being the best and I agree with that. But there is a trio of great tracks in damned if You Do, Talks to Strangers and Wolf of Saint Elmo.

Vocals I mentioned once already there are shades of Neil Young, bits of Dylan and a smidgen of Israel Nash. Or the other way round, I can't decide which. And probably some others I've never heard of.

The more "standard" tracks honestly wouldn't sound out of place on Harvest era Neil Young. Maybe this is actually one of those lost albums he keeps finding down the back of his recording studios couches released under a different name...

Anyway, surprisingly a hit for me. I'd go and see them if they were playing in a pub near me. But I probably wouldn't if it was a train ride into town away. But I'll listen to this again even when I don't have to and will check out some more of their stuff. It's a 7

Careful dissing Dolly or you'll be getting Little Sparrow as a nomination, proof that when she can be arsed she's a solid bluegrass musician/writer. I will accept she can't be arsed that often but that's a different matter.

 

[GornikDaze]

I was at a Lucinda Williams concert with Doug Pettibone on guitar and pedal steel on a few songs.
He was brilliant.
The trick is to have no tracks with pedal steel.

 

[RobMCFC]

As an aside. I still don't think Americana is a real genre. Nor that anyone really knows what the term is meant to describe.

I still think it’s relevant. Anything that developed from the traditional forms of music that originated in the American South - e.g. country, blues, r&b, alt-country.

i.e. all the good stuff that comes from the true source and none of that British indie mumbling :)

 

[mrbelfry]

I still think it’s relevant. Anything that developed from the traditional forms of music that originated in the American South - e.g. country, blues, r&b, alt-country.

i.e. all the good stuff that comes from the true source and none of that British indie mumbling :)

I've always thought of Americana as a broad genre that is talking about an idealised version of America. Particularly when this version is described positively or longingly but sometimes also when it is critiqued. So I would describe something like Illinois by Sufjan Stevens as being Americana. Would that count in your definition ?

 

[Out on blue 6]

I've always thought of Americana as a broad genre that is talking about an idealised version of America. Particularly when this version is described positively or longingly but sometimes also when it is critiqued. So I would describe something like Illinois by Sufjan Stevens as being Americana. Would that count in your definition ?

That's twice I've seen you mention Illinois by Sufjan Stevens.
You putting that up at some point?
I'm also waiting for Rob to make good on his promise to put Sea Change up

 

[mrbelfry]

That's twice I've seen you mention Illinois by Sufjan Stevens.
You putting that up at some point?
I'm also waiting for Rob to make good on his promise to put Sea Change up

It's my go to example of Americana :) it's an album that whenever I listen to it I'm reminded how much I love it although I've possibly overplayed Chicago. For me it's a 10 out of 10 album and I would expect it to score well. However if I was going to nominate a Sufjan album it would have to be Age of Adz because I'm not a nice person. Making people listen to all of Impossible Soul also feels like it should be against the rules just because it's so long

 

[Out on blue 6]

It's my go to example of Americana :) it's an album that whenever I listen to it I'm reminded how much I love it although I've possibly overplayed Chicago. For me it's a 10 out of 10 album and I would expect it to score well. However if I was going to nominate a Sufjan album it would have to be Age of Adz because I'm not a nice person. Making people listen to all of Impossible Soul also feels like it should be against the rules just because it's so long

He's done lots of good work and some left turns as you've mentioned but Illinois is his masterpiece.
I think it has elements of Americana in it but is much more epic in scale in my opinion

 

[mrbelfry]

He's done lots of good work and some left turns as you've mentioned but Illinois is his masterpiece.
I think it has elements of Americana in it but is much more epic in scale in my opinion

My definition may be to broad as I commented to Rob.

I agree Illinois is the best he's done without being over familiar with all his output - Im not sure how many Christmas albums he's done. But Age of Adz is so over dramatic and a bit more visceral which I appreciate. Illinois is a bit more cerebral and considered - I might argue both are a little fussy if I was in a bad mood

 

[Coatigan]

I've always thought of Americana as a broad genre that is talking about an idealised version of America. Particularly when this version is described positively or longingly but sometimes also when it is critiqued. So I would describe something like Illinois by Sufjan Stevens as being Americana. Would that count in your definition ?

Not always, but a lot of the time, it is used as a 'hook' term. To give something that has zero character, some apparent supposedly redeeming identity.

At times it has meaning, but most of the time time, it really does not. It is just genetic stuff, that happens to he American, desperately trying to package and promote itself as something more.

Or alternatively it seems to be some attempt at making country-lite more cool and accessible. Or when something longs to be bluesy but isn't, and doesnt have the balls to tey or call itself that, just bang it under a generic umbrella.

Come to think of it, I fucking hate it as a term. Pastiche tripe.

'Punky' is becoming that just now as a term. Broadbrush any old rocky sound as that, to try make it sound cooler and different from thousands of things just like the next.

 

[Coatigan]

I still think it’s relevant. Anything that developed from the traditional forms of music that originated in the American South - e.g. country, blues, r&b, alt-country.

i.e. all the good stuff that comes from the true source and none of that British indie mumbling :)

I would agree, if it was only applied to suc music. But it has been so broadly cast that it has imo lost meaning.

 

[RobMCFC]

I've always thought of Americana as a broad genre that is talking about an idealised version of America. Particularly when this version is described positively or longingly but sometimes also when it is critiqued. So I would describe something like Illinois by Sufjan Stevens as being Americana. Would that count in your definition ?

I think I once heard a Sufjan Stevens song and I think, from seeing his name mentioned and reading a few reviews, its definitely in the Americana camp.

That's twice I've seen you mention Illinois by Sufjan Stevens.
You putting that up at some point?
I'm also waiting for Rob to make good on his promise to put Sea Change up

I’ve not promised to put it up, but I do love that album and I have used it as a reference point on a couple of occasions. I always describe it as my 2nd favourite Beck album, but as the years go by, I’m wondering whether it’s actually my favourite.

 

[Out on blue 6]

I think I once heard a Sufjan Stevens song and I think, from seeing his name mentioned and reading a few reviews, its definitely in the Americana camp.


I’ve not promised to put it up, but I do love that album and I have used it as a reference point on a couple of occasions. I always describe it as my 2nd favourite Beck album, but as the years go by, I’m wondering whether it’s actually my favourite.

Threat was probably a better turn of phrase I should have used.
Be good to see that reviewed one day as most only see Beck as the Loser bloke

 

[RobMCFC]

Threat was probably a better turn of phrase I should have used.
Be good to see that reviewed one day as most only see Beck as the Loser bloke

I’ve got quite a few Beck albums and he’s definitely more than the Loser bloke, but I know what you mean. One of the few modern-sounding artists that I really like ….. when he isn’t putting a load of gimmicks on his songs :)

 

[Coatigan]

I've always thought of Americana as a broad genre that is talking about an idealised version of America. Particularly when this version is described positively or longingly but sometimes also when it is critiqued. So I would describe something like Illinois by Sufjan Stevens as being Americana. Would that count in your definition ?

I consider Sufjan Stevens more Indie than Americana! Probably some fusion of indie-folk pop-rock. Or maybe more generally alt-rock which was another generic hook term, to add 'alt' to something to tell you it is alternative, in case you didnt notice.

Looking at examoles of Americana google spits out, sorry, that's all country disguising itself as something less annoying.

 

[mrbelfry]

I consider Sufjan Stevens more Indie than Americana! Probably some fusion of indie-folk pop-rock. Or maybe more generally alt-rock which was another generic hook term, to add 'alt' to something to tell you it is alternative, in case you didnt notice.

Looking at examoles of Americana google spits out, sorry, that's all country disguising itself as something less annoying.

I was thinking primary of Illinois rather than his whole career which I agree I wouldn't define as Americana. He's probably not the guy you want to use to have clearly defined genre types - your definition would possible exclude his electronic stuff.

Agreeed about alt though