R2OK!

Cherskiy

Well, a shortened review this week - only the first hour, since events have been conspiring against me to get even this much done. Haven't managed to hear the last two hours of the show - must do better tonight....

Steve Lamacq is deputising for Bob during the latter’s treatment and recuperation period – although Bob’s Thursday programmes will continue as normal as they have been pre-recorded in advance. Tonight’s live session came courtesy of Iron and Wine. Tonight’s show included some of Bob’s choices plus others from Steve – whose accent doesn’t appeal to everyone, I know, but he is someone else who, like Bob, tends to let the music do the talking when it matters.

There was a cracking selection tonight, kicked off with Curtis Mayfield’s classic “Move on Up”, taken here from the “Classic Curtis Mayfield” album. Almost hard to believe this was a Top 20 track from the charts this week in 1971.
Passenger’s new CD single “Walk You Home” was a jaunty song that never failed to deliver from the get-go, Mick Rosenberg’s vocals managing to come across as strong and engaging at the same time. If there’s any justice, then this should be destined for mainstream R2 airplay, but no doubt it will be relegated to the evening and weekend shows instead.
I suspect the inclusion of The Shins’ new CD single “Turn on Me” was Bob’s choice, since he’s a fan of this Oregon-based band that shot to relative fame with albums such as “Chutes Too Narrow” and “Wincing the Night Away”. James Mercer and the lads are on top form again here, uplifting vocals combining with some excellent backing.
Jesse Malin may have been another of Bob’s selections, but it’s almost believable that this New York artist’s new single, “Love Streams”, from “Glitter in the Gutter”, would have picked itself given half a chance. Whilst it doesn’t necessarily have the instant appeal that “Don’t Let Them Take You Down” or “Broken Radio” had the first time I heard them, this one seems like it will grow on me through repeated exposure. All the Jesse Malin trademarks are there – including the hard-edged vocals tinged with a melodic side that doesn’t always get the recognition it should have.
Bob would no doubt have had a say in including Tia McGraff’s almost quirky, definitely bouncy “Day in My Shoes” from her recent album of the same name. Following a cracking live session on this very show a few weeks back, here was another chance to savour her delightful vocals, intuitive lyrics and sublime (but never crowded) arrangements.
Next up was Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Pride and Joy”, taken from “The Essential Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble” album that was released some four years ago. This song just leaps off the CD, it’s so damned good – no wonder Joe Bonamassa included him among his influences last weekend – arguably one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time.
No excuse was therefore needed to cue up Joe Bonamassa to follow that with, “One of Those Days” being included on his newly-released album “Sloe Gin”. Those fortunate to hear this artist’s live session and subsequent conversations with Bob last week surely can’t have failed to warm to him – a genuine and gifted musician. This album should be bought, and bought now – it’s certainly on my list for this month’s purchases.
Talk about bands that promised much and delivered little and The La’s might well feature on such a list, especially when you think about “There She Goes”, from the band’s eponymously-titled (and only) album. This might have had something to do with the fact that this outfit appeared to be perfectionists – the record company reportedly had to break into the studio and steal the tapes in order to actually release the album against the band’s wishes! Lee Mavers seemed to have the knack of writing and subsequently performing a classic three-minute pop song – but he hated the album when it was released out of his control and got so p*ssed off he ‘retired’. This lot should have been up vying with Oasis and Blur for the hearts and minds of the nineties music-buying public - our loss….
The La’s undoubtedly influenced a whole raft of bands with their short-lived sound – one being another Scouse band, The Coral’s if “Who’s Gonna Find Me?” is anything to go by. Taken from the outfit’s newly-released album “Roots and Echoes”, this bears all the hallmarks of a La’s song – a wonderful melody sitting nicely atop the thumping good guitar playing. This song is destined for plenty of R2 airplay.
If anyone subscribes to the Fish Records’ e-mailing list, they’re sure to have heard of (if not actually heard) Christene LeDoux. “Little Lighthouse” is her debut album and features a wonderful selection of acoustic tracks, including the gorgeous “Landslide”. Clear and expressive vocals rise above the beautiful guitar accompaniment here: if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t guess that this was indeed a debut release.
I’d never come across Nancy Elizabeth before (maybe because she recently dropped her surname ‘Cunliffe’ – “Iron Like the Paper” is the opening track on her forthcoming album “Battle and Victory”, which is due for release next month. An acoustic artist from Wigan, I’ve since had a listen to the tracks on her Myspace site and they’re very good, combining her haunting voice with several different types of percussion.
The ‘English Bob Dylan’ was next, Graham Parker’s “I Discovered America” being the opening track on his recently-released album “Don’t Tell Columbus”. It is, of course, autobiographical in verse and not too bad, especially if you like Dylan – but even if you don’t, there’s enough here to stop you changing channels.
Another of the long-time staples on this show is John Hiatt, which, going by “My Old Friend” from his 2001 album “The Tiki Bar is Open”, should come as no great surprise to anyone. His old backing band The Goners return to help out on this track and the others on the album – an absolutely brilliant song.
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Barkingbiker · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2313 Location: Lincolnshire

Hi Cherskiy,
You have managed to listen to more than me as I have been away working in Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk last week, weekend in Anglesey, never got my microlite flight from Mona, weather crap and my friends don't listen to R2 Sad

Still I will try and catch up with Bob's thursday show & the Saturday show when I try & catch up with me ironing tonite Rolling Eyes

PS According to my armourer pal, who I saw in Tescos today, XI Sqdn did a live scramble on Friday to intercept 2 Bears 500 miles north west of Scotland, which they turned away. They were well chuffed to beat 3 (F) Sqdn to the draw as 3 is away apparently. He says it was hard to get the live stores loaded in time, but as usual the armourers came up trumps.

BB Twisted Evil

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Old Bikers Never Die, our leathers just get tighter!

Cherskiy · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject:

Hi BB,

Hopefully I'll do better with this weekend's show. Sorry to hear about you not getting your ride in a microlight. I may have a jolly in a Yak-52 lined up at the end of the month if all goes well.

I've heard of a few attempted incursions into UK airspace by Bears recently - good to see XI back in harness again now that they're strapping on Tiffies. No doubt the Tupolev crews were taking plenty of photographs.

Cherskiy
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Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3417 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land