Fresh produce

• The Low Highway by Steve Earle & The Dukes (and Duchesses): Earle has perfected his special blend of Celtic spiced alt-country with this record. The opening track, Low Highway, is sparse and low-fi akin to Springsteen's Nebraska. The highlight of the fare for me is  Love's Gonna Blow My Way, a very delicate bouquet with bluegrass flavours. Earle never over-eggs the dish. He doesn't have a remarkable voice but it is a believable one- He obviously owes an artistic debt to mentor Guy Clark as he is a convincing storyteller.
• Tooth & Nail by Billy Bragg is a departure from Bragg's famously unorthodox vocals and intensely political lyrics. The album is stripped right back, even more so than in his work with Wilco, and there is a sense of ease and peace here. Bragg has left the baggage behind and this goes down nicely, with assistance from Alt-Country stalwart Joe Henry. Maybe middle age is mellowing him as he laments his domestic failings in Handyman Blues? Whatever it is, he is onto GREAT things. I don't know if this particular machine would be good at killing fascists but it is great comfort food. It is nice to have a break from the ranting, however correct it may be, and just relax with the sauvignon Blanc sounds of a middle-aged Bragg. If you like Guy Clark and Loudon Wainwright III (another Henry collaborator) then you will love Tooth & Nail!

Both Earle and Bragg sound comfortable and this is a great thing!

Image from http://thefalconsnest.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/best-albums-of-2013-billy-bragg-tooth-and-nail/

 

Slow-cooked sounds

Some artists simmer for long periods between records. This results in an overcooked musical misadventure or, conversely,  melt in the mouth texture with well-developed flavours. Some artists just release left-overs from earlier more fertile periods, mopping up every last dreg, resigning from the now and hoping to return to the bumper crops of a bygone time.
The Blue Nile are well-known for large gaps between albums but, like waiting for an olive grove to mature, the end result is always an enduring record, sustaining the listener until the next release. Nobody can forget the haunting emotion of A Walk Across The Rooftops (1984), followed by Hats five years later. It was a mere 7 years until the next release Peace At Last (1996), and a whole EIGHT years until High (2004). None of this matters- the wait was well worth it.
Ryan Adams is often criticised for releasing too much. He is the banquet which just keeps coming out, the lazy susan straining to move under the weight. With so much on offer, how does one choose and, indeed, how does one know what is good? It's a gamble. Personally, I enjoy the variety but find some dishes more appealing than others. Gold (2001) offered the full banquet but lacked the staying power of the one sensational dish that was Cold Roses (2005). The latter was the musical equivalent of country-fresh corn, dripping with hand-churned butter. I can barely recall the many dishes of Gold, they passed by me and blurred into one forgettable feed.
Crowded House reformed in 2007 and, despite Neil Finn's undeniable gift for melody and songwriting, the following two albums lacked the bite of Together Alone. Something was missing and there was a distinct lack of seasoning. Finn's recent Pyjama Club was received well, with favourable reviews, but I am hankering for a piece of his Chocolate Cake!!

high notes and complexity in the early 70s

I've recently discovered Sparks. The high drama and operatic vocals remind me of early Split Enz, Mental Notes (1975) especially. Split Enz were very influenced by Roxy Music and I wonder if they were aware of the Mael brothers, especially 1974's "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us." The similarity also extends to the appearance of Sparks and Split Enz. Both groups wore crazy garb, however, so did Bowie and the general glam rock soup of the era.
Morrissey's tour-buddy Kristeen Young, with her aggressive keyboarding and confronting vocals, recalls the flavours of that era but there is a key ingredient missing. I saw her support Morrissey last year and I found her caterwauling nauseating. It was TOO TOO much. If she just pulled back a little she could be sensational. There is definitely something there but her approach is too rich, she needs to hold back on the punch and focus on the underlying flavour base. It's death by delivery- one bite is enough.

Just like Momma Used to Make: musical dynasties

The musical apple never falls very far from the musical tree.

The most obvious example of this can be found in the Wainwright/McGarrigles. Papa Loudon Wainwright III and mother Kate McGarrigle, important artists of their generation, are parents to Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright. These four artists are very different in flavour but, nonetheless, all accomplished musicians.

Other examples include Justin Townes Earle (son of Steve Earle), Harper Simon (son of Paul Simon), and Liam Finn (son of Neil Finn).

Improving with Age

There are a few artists, in their 60s and 70s, creating the best music of their career right NOW.
You go to gigs and people complain that these artists aren't playing the old hits. The people complaining stopped listening to music when they got married in 1973. They won't allow the artists that once excited them, in their youth, to create new sounds and develop beyond their early years. I hate hearing the 'golden oldies' over and over again. These people need a time machine, and to stop restricting their favourite artists from developing. This is the opposite of inspiration- framing an artist within a particular period is dictatorship and it is patronising.

These artists are creating the BEST work of their career NOW:

Paul Simon ("So Beautiful or So What")
Neil Young & Crazy Horse ("Psychedelic Pill")
Robert Plant
Bruce Springsteen
Kate Bush

Artists in their 60s and 70s are not expired, they can display vibrant fresh flavours and offer a spicy palate. They often bring something new to the table through their slow-cooked talents.

What is low-GI music?

Low-GI music keeps you full and gives off continuous energy. You never tire of it and it forms the foundation of your musical diet. You can season your collection with unique flavours, and conditional condiments, but you are left with little if the pantry is empty of the basics.

Artists I've found to be filling and essential include:

• Joni Mitchell
• Miles Davis
• Neil Young
• Guy Clark
• Morrissey/The Smiths