Various artists The Music Is You: ATribute to John Denver ATOB-
Even if you’re not a fan of the gentle, sentimental music of John Denver, who died in 1997 at age 53 when the small plane he was piloting crashed, you’ve got to admit he knew how to write catchy lyrics. Just try getting the words of “Leaving on a Jet Plane” out of your head after hearing a snip of it at an airport or in a grocery store.
This new recording, featuring artists such as Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Evan Dando and Old Crow Medicine Show, is a respectful tribute to some of Denver’s biggest hits, such as “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” “Rocky Mountain High” and “Annie’s Song,” along with relatively faithful reproductions of lesser-known material.
Note that there are no Swedish death metal bands in the lineup. In fact, there are hardly any electric guitars on the recording, with the notable exception of a twangy drum-thumping interpretation of “Prisoners” by J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) and Sharon Van Etten.
Two other tracks stand out from the otherwise mild-mannered crowd: Dave Matthews’ dipping-and-soaring vocal styling on “Take Me to Tomorrow” and a pounding anthem-like performance of “Wooden Indian” by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros.
Denver’s environmentalist leanings are being honored, with a portion of the album’s proceeds benefiting The Wilderness Society.
Hot tracks: “Take Me to Tomorrow,” “Prisoners,” “Wooden Indian.” - KAREN MARTIN Roger Knox and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts Stranger in My Land BloodshotB
Uh, country music from Australia? Oh, why not?
The story here is that Australian Aborigine singer Roger Knox and some high-profile alt-country pals - Jon Langford, Charlie Louvin, Dave Alvin, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Kelly Hogan and Sally Timms among others - have collected a gaggle of Aborigine country songs for preservation on this disc.
And why not? Country music, imported by American soldiers, became a cultural force for some Australian Aborigines and a crucial means of expression in a place - their homeland - where they often have been mistreated.
Knox, known also as the Koori King or Black Elvis, has a proud, pleasant voice. The production is as clear and clean as fresh stream water. Stranger in My Land has plenty of eye-opening stories to tell, and it’s country to the core.
Hot tracks: “Blue Gums Calling Me Back Home,” “The Land Where the Crow Flies.” - SEAN CLANCY Tate Stevens Tate Steven sRCAC
Stevens is the 37-year-old winner of The X-Factor, and that fact makes sense when you listen to his decent but generally flat debut. This is a record that Nashville executives have handled by throwing a ton of songwriters at it - at least three names are attached to each tune. There are ballads (“Power of a Love Song”) and novelty songs (“El Camino”) and absolutely nothing that gets you any closer to the idea of who Stevens is or what he really thinks or feels. Fine voice, sure, but that’s about it.
Hot track: “El Camino.” -WERNER TRIESCHMANN Tecla We Are the Lucky OnesMayimba Music/SonyC+
Heavy vocal processing, slithering synths and fizzy, skittering beats mark this energetic Afro-Caribbean/hip-hop/bubblepunk record from pianist, composer, producer, DJ, singer and rapper Tecla (Esposito), who comes across like GraceJones’ sunnier little sister. While there’s nothing here earwormy enough to suggest that she’s indeed the next exploding inevitable, if her songwriting ever catches up to her sonic collage skills she might just earn the comparison to Lauryn Hill she obviously covets.
Hot tracks: “Fake Tears,” “Tragic,” “Mulatto.” - PHILIP MARTINMilk Music Cruise Your IllusionFat PossumB+
In a wake of fuzzed-up guitars and endless (and empty) baggies of marijuana, Olympia, Wash., band Milk Music stomps out swampy, meandering indie rock that calls to mind the mid’80s heyday of bands like Dinosaur Jr. and The Meat Puppets.
Alex Coxen’s plaintive wail penetrates the feedback and buzz with offhanded confidence as he sings of independence, rock ’n’ roll heroes, small-town ennui and getting high on this fabulously underproduced debut.
Yeah, it wanders a bit, but Cruise Your Illusion is worth the ride.
Hot tracks: “No, Nothing,My Shelter,” “Lacey’s Secret,” “Cruising With God.” - SEAN CLANCYJohn Corbett Leaving Nothin’ BehindJunketboy/ConsignmentC
Actor John Corbett can probably be resigned to the fact that fans will forever see him as a star of TV (Northern Exposure) before they recognize he has made some albums as well. This is a decent contribution to his music profile - Corbett’s smooth and soulful country voice is undeniable. His approach falls in line with Nashville’s pop country attitude (though there is a bit more organ fills here than normal) and these are tight and catchy tunes.
The writing only occasionally rises above the cliche and, as a result, Corbett projects a bland persona. He sounds, despite his best efforts, like a TV star stopping in a music studio for a quick project.
Hot track: “Backside of a Backslide.” - WERNER TRIESCHMANN
Style, Pages 34 on 04/23/2013