STACK #168 Oct 2018

MUSIC REVIEWS

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Loretta Lynn Wouldn’t It Be Great

Various Take Me to Town: An Australian Alternative Country Compilation 'Alternative country' is a term used to identify a music that has its heart in country and its cowboy boots standing firmly on the other side of the fence, far removed from the moneymaking mainstream of the music industry. Take Me to Town is a compilation of Australian artists playing it from the heart, showcasing the amazing pool of talent right here on our own back porch. Featuring 47 impressive tracks over three CDs – of which half are exclusive to this release – there’s not a dud amongst them. From slow country comforters to rollicking ragged rock, it’s all here – all country and all Australian. (Stanley Records) Denise Hylands

Loretta Lynn has been shaking the foundations of Nashville for nearly 60 years now with her honest, no BS, straightforward songwriting matched with a voice that makes you stop and listen. At 86, there’s no halting one of the most successful country artists of all time. This, her 41st studio album, was held back from release for 13 months while Lynn recuperated from health issues. Recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee and produced by her daughter Patsy Lynn Russell along with John Carter Cash, Lynn is sounding better than ever doing new songs and revisiting old favourites. They don’t call her the “Queen of

Cat Power Wanderer

A wanderer is one that moves around, resisting the impulse to settle. Then, of course, there’s the wonderer – someone filled with curiosity and awe. Chan Marshall knows them both. Recording as Cat Power, Marshall is acclaimed as a fearless navigator and tireless traveller, with each of her

albums standing as a milestone on a road lined with questions and revelations. After six years away, Cat Power returns with this aptly-titled new record. Her own introductory statement puts it best, “The course my life has taken in this journey – going from town to town with my guitar, telling my tale, with reverence to the people who did this generations before me. Folk singers, blues singers and everything in between – they were all wanderers, and I am lucky to be among them.” And indeed, we’re lucky to have her among us. With its carefully crafted ballads and folk songs, Wanderer is the sound of adventure and the feeling of returning home. (Domino/EMI) SimonWinkler

Country Music” for nothing. (Legacy Recordings/Sony) Denise Hylands

Paul Rodgers Free Spirit At age 68, Paul Rodgers is singing as convincingly as he was when Free, the band he formed 50 years ago, released their first album. After Free’s demise in 1973, Rodgers’ career continued unabated in Bad Company, The Firm (with Jimmy Page), touring and recording with Queen's Brian May and Roger Taylor and fronting his own band. In 2017, Rodgers embarked on a tour to celebrate the music of Free. This CD/DVD release, filmed at London's Royal Albert Hall, consists entirely of songs from the Free catalogue. With a band that somehow taps into the spirit of founding members Paul Kossoff, Andy Fraser and Simon Kirk, Rodgers turns back the clock on All Right Now, Mr. Big, My Brother Jake, Fire and Water, Be My Friend and more. (Mexican Summer/Rocker) Holly Pereira

Richard Thompson 13 Rivers

On his latest release, which was recorded in just 10 days, Richard Thompson does what he does best – creating songs that are accessible, quirky, romantic and intelligent, and that are embodied with unique guitar solos which on this album explore rock, Middle Eastern and Celtic influences. The StormWon't Come is propelled by a Bo Diddley beat, The Rattle Within by TomWaits-like pots, pans and kitchen sink percussion. You Can't Reach Me has a rockabilly beat, Shaking the Gates captures a gospel feel, the sleazy Bones of Gilead reveals Old Testament quotes and Pride rocks out. Thompson's recorded output continues to deliver quality, multi-

Adrianne Lenker abysskiss Adrianne Lenker, known primarily as the vocalist and songwriter of Big Thief, has unveiled a collection of solo songs written over the last two years on the road. An aside from the full band arrangements of Big Thief, the pairing of just her voice, an acoustic guitar and the occasional

piano allow for her haunting delivery to linger. A songwriter since the age of 10, Lenker’s ability to conjure raw and personal experiences is unparalleled, and here on abysskiss she sings of themes as big as death and love with unbridled emotion. A stunning collection of songs, Lenker’s words are to be held close and treasured. (Spunk Records/Saddle Creek) Holly Pereira

faceted performances. (Proper) Billy Pinnell

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OCTOBER 2018

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