R2OK! Forum Index R2OK!
Contact R2OK! admin

Click here for R2OK! Website


 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Bob Harris Saturday Show 07/07/07 - a review by Cherskiy

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    R2OK! Forum Index -> Shows and Music on Radio 2
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:27 pm    Post subject: Bob Harris Saturday Show 07/07/07 - a review by Cherskiy Reply with quote

Texan singer-songwriter Sunny Sweeney provided the live entertainment tonight, three songs in the studio and another from her album “Heartbreakers Hall of Fame” in the middle hour. Elsewhere, there was the usual diverse and rewarding mixture of genres and artists, old and new.

Athlete’s new single “Hurricane” (to be featured on their album “Beyond the Neighbourhood”, due for release in September) started promisingly enough, Joel Pott’s emotive lyrics proving why “Wires” was such a success. Ultimately, however, this particular track didn’t seem to go anywhere afterwards, nor say anything worth hearing. One of fans of the band only?
The front man of New York-based band Interpol, Paul Banks, really should stop trying to sound so much like the Editors’ Tom Smith, as it’s almost hard to know who you’re listening to. “No.1 in Threesome”, from the former’s newly released album “Our Love to Admire”, could easily be one of the latter’s songs, although Banks clearly edges it when it comes to choosing between the two. The music here is slightly more jaunty, more uplifting and positive.
Next up was the Californian outfit Goldspot, who I’d never heard of. An interesting intro on “Friday”, from their recently-released album “Tally of the Yes Men”, led straight into Siddhartha’s (yes, that’s his name) crisp vocals and highly-strung backing. If the rest of the album is anything like this, then it’ll be worth getting.
“Avro No.1” was the rather intriguing title of the twelfth track on Candidate’s newly-released album “Oxengate”. I hadn’t heard of this lot either, despite the fact they’ve made several albums and come up with stuff like this, which I can best describe as ‘sly folk’, Joel Morris possessing such sublime vocals that they virtually creep up on you. Bob reckons he will be playing more from this album in the near future.
If anyone thinks that The Ronettes were only about “Frosty the Snowman”, then listen to “Walking in the Rain”, lifted from “Back to Mono: 1958-1969”, a four-disc compilation of bands and artists who owed their success to producer Phil Spector’s genius. I have the fourth disc – the Christmas Special – already, but am so tempted to get this for the other three anyway.
Celtic folk-rock band Runrig recorded their 13th studio album in a converted stable at Cromarty on the Black Isle. “Year of the Flood” is the first track on “Everything You See” and captures that ‘live’ setting where the band is at their best, even with new front-man Bruce Guthro. Whilst I’ve never really listened to them much in the past despite plenty of opportunities to do so (if my cousin reads this she’ll kill me next time she sees me!), I accept that there’s clearly a load of energy being expended here: it’s actually quite enchanting and engaging, whilst the production definitely gained from the level of local involvement.
It’s been a little while since Bob has featured Hem on his weekend show: “Half Acre” from their “Rabbit Songs” album instantly reminded me why Sally Ellyson’s vocals made the last time this band made an appearance on the Saturday show so memorable. Combined with a rather varied accompaniment – fiddle, flute, mandolin – if you’ve heard The Cowboy Junkies’ Trinity Session album, you’ll probably know what to expect here. A chill out track for those with an acoustic bent.
Hadn’t heard of Soulsavers before so wasn’t sure what to expect from their new single “Kingdom of Rain”, from the forthcoming album “It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land”. Their second album, it contains a wide variety of styles, apparently – this particular track was a trip into the darkness, with an almost spoken set of vocals courtesy of Jimi Goodwin and Mark Lonegan. Not entirely sure about this, would need to hear some of the other tracks first.
Mexican Institute of Sound’s album “Pinata”, got a repeat airing tonight, this time the track being “A Girl Like You”. I mentioned last time that Santana does this sort of thing much better – he does, but this is sort of growing on me, a bit at a time. Latin rhythms and electronic beats – strange but somewhat wonderful, layered, sampled and all looped together.
Terry Reid’s cover of the “5th of July” was almost a staple of Bob’s overnight shows on R2 back in the mid-1990s: part of his 1991 album “The Driver”, it ably demonstrated why he was sometimes nicknamed “The Voice”. Not a household name by any means, his solo career stretches back to the late 1960s, plus he has collaborations with plenty of famous names over the years.
Last week’s surprise hit was Canadian fiddler Kendel Carson’s “I Like Trucks”, the second track on her recently-released debut album “Rearview Mirror Tears”. Due to popular demand, it was played again tonight, and sounded every bit as fresh as it did last weekend. I mentioned elsewhere that I’d ordered the album – and received it on Wednesday. An initial play-through reveals that this is arguably the most ‘radio-friendly’ track on the album, but the rest are definitely worth listening to – and there’s a bonus CD with a couple of tracks that were laid down but that she didn’t think fitted into the album line-up proper. This track – okay, it’s never going to win awards or acclaim for technical or musical prowess, but it’s easy to listen to and when the chorus comes around for a second time, you’re singing along with it…. Bob also played the first track off this album, “Run to the Middle of the Mornin’”, on Thursday night’s programme.

So to the live session from tonight’s show, courtesy of Texan singer-songwriter Sunny Sweeney, who has featured a dozen or so times before on his Thursday show but only once before on the Saturday show. Two of her live tracks came from her debut album “Heartbreakers Hall of Fame”, the first being “Next Big Nothing”, about thirty minutes after finishing a gig at The Luminaire. Jet lag notwithstanding, she launched straight into this song with the help of guitarist Craig Smith (an Orcadian living in Texas) from her backing band. Her slightly nasal-sounding vocals are still quite enjoyable, being upfront, brassy and almost ‘in-your-face’, whilst the track itself meandered nicely in the mid-section before being dragged back to reality. Originally trying her hand at the comedy-improvisation circuit, she found herself liking the songs she was singing in with a comedy troupe so much that she changed careers midstream. Her debut album was self-released and a demo copy found its way to Bob Harris before they were officially on sale – and now she’s on his show. “Lavender Blue” seemed like a traditional song, her hard East Texan twang coming through rather strongly here, assisted by backing vocals from Craig, who was replacing Jim Lauderdale who provides the backing on the album version. The last live track was written for her husband, “Band of Gold” being a much slower-paced song, almost plodding in places, and possibly omitted from the album because it would have interrupted its flow. “16th Avenue” rounded off the collection of Sunny Sweeney tracks, Bob this time playing the album version, itself a cover of an original by Lacy J Dalton. It is one of her favourites – ‘a visual song’, echoing times when people went to Nashville with nothing and turned into stars. Here, her voice resembles that of Kacey Chambers, one of her favourite artists – now that’s someone who Bob needs to get on the show soon…. It’s clear to see from her performance and what she was saying between songs that she’s got a keen sense of self-worth, something that translates well into her music. I’m only kicking myself that I didn’t find out that she was playing The Cluny in Newcastle until the day after the gig!

You might not have heard of John Hiatt before but chances are if you’re reasonably familiar with the country scene, you will have heard something he’s written but covered by another artists (Bonnie Raitt’s “Thing Called Love” springs to mind). His solo career may be worth looking at, especially as a compilation CD – “The Best of John Hiatt” – was released in the late 1990s. Bob played “Perfectly Good Guitar” tonight, a rock-influenced country record if there ever was one – just listen to the mid-section.
Nick Harper seems to have a quiet but dedicated following on the acoustic circuit – “Blue Sky Thinking” is one of the stripped-down tracks featured on his eighth album “Miracles For Beginners”. His pleasant, if slightly anaemic vocals contrast with some furious guitar string bashing, although when the chorus kicks in, the melodies are almost angelic.
There was another outing for Guggenheim Grotto’s album “Waltzing Alone” this week, Bob playing the track called “Koan”. This Irish trio weave folk and traditional melodies into pop-influenced arrangements to great effect – various stringed instruments added to the underlying flavour on this track, another dreamy slow-burner that puts you at peace with the world straight away.
Grand Drive were up next with “Birdsong” from their shortly-to-be-released and self-produced album “Everyone”. Another rather dreamy track, this benefited from some rather good melodies from Danny and Julian Wilson and was otherwise notable for not being too notable – very pleasant in a fairly undemanding fashion.
The opening song from Christine Ledoux’s debut album “Little Lighthouse”, “The Entertainer”, was rather interesting. I know that Fish Records have plugged this release on their website but I never really followed up on it. Now I know better – she possesses an extremely pleasant singing voice and with the usual minimum accompaniment that all good acoustic tracks are blessed with, this track is very enjoyable, but maybe marred slightly by some erratic vocals at the start of the choruses. Still, there’s enough here for me to give the album another look.
Angus and Julia Stone were another couple of new names, although from the get-go it was clear I was going to like “Private Lawns”, taken from their double EP “Heart Full of Wine/Chocolates and Cigarettes”. This Australian couple may have come up with the surprise hit of the summer, given the rate that Amazon are flogging this double EP at the moment. It’s hard to describe what’s good about it, since it shouldn’t really work at all – try mixing acoustic guitar with trumpet solos and Julia’s girlish vocals - but then unusual concoctions tend to do the trick, don’t they?
Seasick Steve and the Level Devils enjoyed more airplay tonight, “Last Po’ Man” being taken from the “It’s All Good” CD single out at the moment. Bob has kept faith with this lot over the past month, and it’s not too difficult to work out why – the beat drags you in straight away and then the vocals ramp up, beating you over the head into submission. Great stuff.
Mark Germino and the Sluggers 1987 album “Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves” yielded the track “Rex Bob Lowenstein”. Another new name to end the show with – the vocals and lyrics echoing Bruce Springsteen in terms of emotion and content at times, book-ended with simple and gentle, yet effective backing. How haven’t I come across this lot beforehand?
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Barkingbiker



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 2313
Location: Lincolnshire

PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great review Cherskiy, have not listened to last Saturday's show yet as youngest grandosn stayed last Saturday night and he sleeps in my computer/entertainments room, on the bed settee, so I will catch the show later, before tonite's show. I am currently listening to Bob's country show, you are right that Kendel Carson track is very good, thought fitted well with the Ron Block track with one of my favourites, Alison Kraus on fiddle, that followed it. So maybe 6 hours of Bob Harris tonite, or even more with the country show, good eh?

BB Twisted Evil
_________________
Old Bikers Never Die, our leathers just get tighter!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Cherskiy



Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 3701
Location: near Amble, Northumberland

PostPosted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can't be bad, BB! Very Happy
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    R2OK! Forum Index -> Shows and Music on Radio 2 All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com