Cowboy Junkies-Trinity Revisited
Twenty years ago an album came out that, to this day, is still on my top five all-time favorite recordings. Trinity Sessions was a mind blowing experience for this critic’s developing musical ear, and here we are two decades later and they have done it again. In a celebration of probably one of the greatest recordings released in the 20th century, the Cowboy Junkies, along with soul mates Ryan Adams, Natalie Merchant and Vic Chesnutt, return to The Church of The Holy Trinity not to surpass their original document of musical history, but to experiment and recreate some of the best songs ever laid down on tape—a celebration of a very magical moment.
Of course, modern technology has played a vital role in the recording of Trinity Revisited. Gone is the one microphone that gave The Trinity Sessions its pseudo Velvet Underground eeriness, but no need to fret, the fact that the Cowboy Junkies brought a few more microphones and better recording equipment and techniques does not mar this renaissance of a reunion of some of the best originals and covers compiled in one package. Margo’s seductive vocals are still as sultry as they were in 1987, and the musicianship of Peter, Michael and Alan are just as haunting and sexy as the original. Will this album have the same landmark emphasis as the original? Probably not. But the beauty of this new rendition is the fact that the Cowboy Junkies still are a fantastic band.
The Pipettes-We Are The
Pipettes
This is not a novelty act, despite its sixteen songs
of silly, goofy, funny, giddy sounds. In the end, this is just one
hell of a great time and a blast of a listen. Yes, no new ground
is broken here, but it is refreshing to hear music that is entertaining
and obviously just plain hysterical. This post-retro tribute
to those
Los
Straitjackets-Rock En Espanol, Vol. One
Yes, back with a vengeance, are those crazy masked men of Dick Dale Revivalism, Los Straitjackets. And, along for the ride, they have brought on board none other than the hungre’ hombre of harmony, Big Sandy, to croon in Spanish to their magnificent reworking of classic 50’s and 60’s pop songs. Produced by Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, this trip down Calle Frontera opens with a spectacular version of The Kink’s All Day and All of the Night a.k.a.“De Dia Y De Noche.” From the opening note of this opening song to the final cut, you can’t help but notice and appreciate that this isn’t any ordinary covers album. The exuberance flaunted throughout this recording is otherworldly. Words cannot express the glee and joy that overwhelms the body and soul. If this album doesn’t make you get up and dance and sing, than you better check yourself into the emergency room because you must be close to death.
Like an early summer breeze in the spring blowing through a dusty border town cantina,Rock En Espanol will take you away to that comfort zone of bottomless Tecate beer and vomitless Don Julio tequila. Hallucinating and intoxicating are two virtues that ebb and flow through these energetic fourteen songs of sheer Tex-mex meets surf-twang bliss. Every song is not only a tribute to its original artist, but also homage to music itself. From their inspirational version of Gimme Little Sign (Dame Una Sena)to the closing of the album with a remarkable interpretation of Barbara Lynn’s You’ll Lose a Good Thing (Tu Te Vas), Los Straitjackets have produced a document, proving that music is a cross-cultural phenomenon—a peaceful force that can unite us all.
The Budos Band-The Budos
Band II
As trite as this may sound, I should have known by the scorpion on the cover of this CD that the music contained within would be love at first sting. The poisonous pulses and intoxicating interludes found on this latest release by The Budos Band will get under your skin and into your bloodstream and enliven your body and soul with its serum of silky and sophisticated soundscapes. Sans vocals, the interplay between the thirteen musicians never loses its individuality nor does one instrument dominate another instrument in this musical menagerie.
There is no need to have a fear of the number thirteen, as much as this recording may demand your utmost attention to its fantastic musicianship, it also commands your utmost satisfaction to its fabulous fun. The Budos Band is one ultra-funky concoction of thirteen variables of grooving and moving instrumentalists that synergistically revive multiple musical variances of the seventies funk and soul sound. The Budos Band II is the perfect blend of the soulful Latino elements that made War such a great band and the funky inspirations that made Mandrill such a great band. This cross-section of subgenres pollinates into one beautiful blooming bouquet of beats and pulses, one that can even make the wallflowers of the dance club shuffle their feet.