Denison Witmer has been a long time favorite of mine.  My freshman year of college was somewhat of a shock to me with all the reading and writing required of being a college student.  My goal was to find some decent acoustic based music that I could not only enjoy, but play while writing and studying.

My friend Josh introduced me to Witmer, as well as some other giants in this genre including Rosie Thomas and Damien Jurado.  At that time, Philadelphia Songs had just been released; which is still one of my ‘Go To’ albums.

Since then I have grabbed every album within the first couple weeks of their release.  They all have ups and downs, but nothing compares to Philadelphia Songs or his first album; Safe Away.  In 2008, Witmer released Carry the Weight, and I was honestly disappointed.  It seemed overproduced, which was not characterist of Denison at all.

Then comes The Ones Who Wait.

A breath of fresh air finally hits me with Witmer’s music.  Part of the magic that’s delivered in his albums is that you almost feel he’s playing in your living room. Funny enough, Denison is among a few artists are actually doing tours and playing in living rooms.  Great concept for musicians and for people wanting to enjoy some great music.

I hate to use the words ‘stripped down’ because it denotes that something has been taken away.  The best way to put it in the case of The Ones Who Wait would perhaps be ‘less is more.’ Witmer took a much needed step back from Carry the Weight and has delivered one of the best albums since 2002.

Over the years Witmer’s songwriting has matured, but The Ones Who Wait returns to the magic that has won many people to this man’s music.

This morning while watching some music on Palladia, I saw the video for Bright Lights and was won over immediately.  I have not stopped listening to Gary Clark Jr. all day!

Clark Jr.’s blues roots are evident, but it’s obvious that he is not trying to mimic artists of the past.  Sometimes people inspire me to want to become a better musician, and Clark Jr. does just that.

The first two tracks on this EP are studio recordings with a full band, while the second two tracks are acoustic versions of Things Are Changin’ and When My Train Pulls In.  You would think this would create some flow issues in the album, but that is not the case.

Unfortunately this is only an EP.  If you want a full album experience you will have to hit the repeat button.

WE WANT MORE!

It’s no wonder that Rolling Stone Magazine labeled this album #40 in their Top 50 Albums of 2011.  When I first heard this I was amazed that an EP made the list.  I had to check this out.  After one listen I was sold.

Thank you, Gary Clark Jr. for performing in a way that makes us proud to listen to music.

GEAR: Clark Jr. plays an Epiphone Casino, which is a hallow bodied electric guitar with P-90 pickups. Paul McCartney and Keith Richards are some other notable musicians who have used this same model.

He also uses a blonde Fender Vibro-King amp, which is an all tube amp that features (you guessed it) vibrato.

As far as foot pedals, Clark Jr. uses a Fulltone Octafuzz and an Ibanez Tube Screamer.

WEBSITE: garyclarkjr.com
YOUTUBE: GaryClarkJr
TWITTER:  @garyclarkjr

Amazing.

This band made it big in the 90′s with their hit, ‘Hard to Handle.’  After several more albums, along with most of their band being changed, Before the Frost… has arrived, and it’s hit hard.  They have done a great job at making a dynamic album from their opening track ‘Good Morning Captain,’ to my favorite ‘Kept My Soul.’

Don’t write this band off because they are ‘too popular,’ or because they may have been overplayed in the 90′s.  The Black Crowes have matured as a band, and I believe this is their best album yet.  I look forward to seeing how they follow such a great album.

I hate half marks, so this album is going to receive a 4/5.  But take note, it just barely falls short of a 5.

Rating: 4/5

After doing some research on the band, I can to the conclusion that this album should be my first exposure.  What a great decision!  I not only enjoyed their style, but their lyrics were just great.  That says a lot coming from someone who rarely listens to the lyrics on the first play.

The song that stood out the most was ‘Going Mobile.’  Why?  Because if that song were written today, Al Gore would have a heart-attack.  Check out these lyrics:

I don’t care about pollution
I’m an air-conditioned gypsy
That’s my solution

There goes green peace.  Anyways, I enjoyed this album very much.  It not only lead me to listen to more music by one of the monsters of rock, but spun me off to explore a genre I had know little about.  Even 45 years after their formation, they are still winning fans.  Enjoy this video of one their most famous songs: Baba O’Riley.

I give this album the top rating without any question.

Rating: 5/5

]]> http://micksplaylist.com/2010/01/18/the-who-whos-next/feed/ 3 Who Next mickmarvel http://micksplaylist.com/2009/12/20/neil-young-after-the-gold-rush/ http://micksplaylist.com/2009/12/20/neil-young-after-the-gold-rush/#comments Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:10:05 +0000 Mick http://micksplaylist.com/?p=91 Continue reading »]]> Let’s face it, Neil Young has one of the most annoying voices on the planet.  His high tones remind of what a eunuch would sound like if they were to sing.  But Neil Young has a gift for songwriting and makes that ridiculously high voice work to his advantage.  It just goes to show that you don’t need to have the most beautiful voice in the world to be a successful musician; which brings hope to people like me.

If I could describe this album with one word, it would be ‘raw.’  Some of Young’s later works sound over-produced and too blocky.  While listening though the album you’ll hear Young playing guitar, piano, and harmonica, all of which add a singer/songwriter feel to his music.  This album is one Young’s best by a long shot.

After the Gold Rush was originally released in 1970, just a few months after Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s album Deja Vu.  This album went gold only two months after its’ release, and then in 1986 it went double platinum.  Though Harvest is helped make Young known to the world, Gold Rush may be considered his crown jewel.

Rating 5/5

10. Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales (2001)

9. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002)

8. Once: Music from the Motion Picture (2007)

7. Sigur Ros – Takk… (2005)

6. Iron & Wine – The Creek Drank the Cradle (2002)

5. Denison Witmer: Philadelphia Songs (2002)

4. Elvis Perkins – Ash Wednesday (2007)

3. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)

2. Damien Rice – O (2003)

1. Iron & Wine – Our Endless Numbered Days (2004)

Recorded with a portable studio, O is possibly one of the best albums I have encountered.  Everything from beautiful harmonies from Lisa Hannigan to the soft cello on tracks like “Volcano,” you will not feel like this album short hands you in any way.

As beautiful as the music may be, most of the lyrics are quite depressing.  While seeing the band in concert down in Louisville, KY, Damien introduced one song as possibly the only positive song he has ever written.  This was of coarse prior to his release of his latest album: 9.

Ireland based, Damien has not been doing much touring or recording as of recent, so this jewel is only one of two of this artists work.  If you have not heard this album, I suggest you get on that.  Grab a cup of coffee and take an adventure through one of the best albums of the 21st Century.

Rating: 5/5

After listening to Exhile on Main St., I have a new found respect for the music of the Rolling Stones.  This album was acutally their tenth, being released in 1972.  Even though it’s #10 in release, this album is considered by many to be the bands best work.  In fact, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked this album seventh in a list of the top 500 greatest albums of all time.

The dynamics from song to song keep you engaged and looking for more.  When all is said and done, this album get’s the top rating this site can give.  Well done Rolling Stones (the band, not the magazine… or the Bob Dylan song).

Rating: 5/5

Album Cover

Someone once told me that an accordion has no place in modern music.  This may true in the sense that polka is not longer as popular as it once was (thankfully), Annie Lynch and other artists have really done a good job at reintroducing the instrument as a vital part to modern folk.

Their style is reminiscent of Nickelcreek, which is a pretty high standard to meet.  If you are a fan of the Folk/Bluegrass genre, definitely add this to your playlist.

Eventually I could see this album receiving 5 points, as I’m sure I will continue to listen and enjoy, but for now I can only give it a 4 star rating.

Beautiful in every way imaginable.  Takk is Sigur Rós’ crowning achievement.  Coming from Iceland, this band has done wonders for ambient musicians around the world.

Do not expect to understand the lyrics in this album, for Jónsi Birgisson uses his own language called Hopelandic.  With his falsetto voice and a very dynamic accompaniment, Sigur Rós has a style of their own.  As I mentioned below I expect ambient music to take me on an adventure

Takk shows that music is not only something that is enjoyable to listen to, but an art form that can be explored over and over again.

Rating: 5/5