Musiclectic

"Who Woulda Thunk It" - Greg Brown

I love his gravelly voice.  Who Woulda Thunk It is from his 1992 album, In the Dark With You.*

• Greg Brown's website

* The title song is another favorite of mine.

"Beyond the Blue" - Beth Nielsen Chapman, and a cover version by Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris

I heard this song, years ago, on a folk music program.  Recently, I listened to it again and decided that I need to look for more of her music.  It's from her album, Sand and Water:

• Her website

Another version by Patty Griffin and Emmylou Harris from the soundtrack to Where the Heart Is:

"My Skies" - James Keelaghan

James Keelaghan is a Canadian singer/songwriter.  I love his melodies and the way his voice and guitar blend. Here is My Skies from the album of the same name (song starts at about a minute):

You can listen to the album version on his MySpace page.  My other favorites on that album are I Would I Were, Big Picture, Orion, Abraham, and Tomorrow is Another Day.

More about James Keelaghan:

• Review of his album, Road, in Rambles:  A cultural arts magazine
• Review of his album, House of Cards, in BlogCritics
• Two posts about James Keelaghan from Folkmama's Blog

"Wild Mountain Thyme" - Joan Baez

I've heard a few different versions of this song, but I hadn't heard Joan Baez's until I was wandering around YouTube this evening.  I love her voice - it's so strong and clear. 

It's often thought of as an older folk song, but it was written by Irishman William McPeake who first recorded it in 1957.  It's a variation of an 18th century song, The Braes of Ballquhidder, written by Robert Tannahill. 

This is a live version, recorded in Japan in 1967.  It originally appears on her CD, Farewell Angelina: 

"Made of Steel" - Christine Kane

Asheville-based Christine Kane is one of my favorite singer/songwriters.  Her voice is lovely, her words are thoughtful, and she always gives a new perspective on life.  "Made of Steel" is from her album, Right Outta Nowhere, which I can listen to over and over (although I try to control that when others are in the van with me).  

• Christine Kane's website
• Christine Kane's blog (well worth reading)
• Moomin Light post on the song, "Right Outta Nowhere" (with song video)
• Moomin Light post on Christine Kane at the Festival for the Eno

"Annan Waters" - Kate Rusby

When Kate Rusby was growing up, she would sing and harmonize with her siblings on long car rides as their parents, who played at folk festivals, brought the kids along.  

Kate Rusby, at one point, was a member of the Celtic group, The Poozies, which I mentioned a few posts ago.  Their harmonies are beautiful, but her voice alone, as in this traditional song, is lovely.  "Annan Waters" is from her debut album, Hourglass.

• Kate Rusby's website
• Kate Rusby's MySpace page

"Love on a Farm Boys Wages" - XTC

I first knew this song as sung by the Poozies (a British, all-women, folk group) on their album Chantoozies (I can't post that version because I have it on tape).

I was surprised to find that it was originally written and performed by the British, all-male, New Wave band, XTC, on their album, Mummer (which is referred to as being an album from their "pastoral" period). 

• XTC's website
• Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews: Reviews of XTC's albums

"Homeward Bound" - Alison Brown and the Indigo Girls

I've decided to do the NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) this month (posting every day for a month) with Musiclectic. 

I'll start with a collaboration.  Banjo player, Alison Brown, and the folk/rock duo, The Indigo Girls, singing a "neo-blugrass" version Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound."   This song is from Brown's album, Stolen Moments, which blends bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, and folk.  Brown is joined on other songs by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Sam Bush, and Andrea Zonn.

• Alison Brown's website.
• Review of "Stolen Moments" at PopMatters.
• Review of "Stolen Moments" at Bella Online.

"Riena" by Varttina

Varttina is a Finnish folk (and also somewhat rock-ish) band, one of my favorite musical groups!  "Riena" is from their 2006 album, Miero (which I don't have yet so I was glad to run across this song on YouTube). 

Some of Varttina's most energetic songs can have the most depressing lyrics, and this one is no exception:

I throw off sparks,
I tear from my tongue words as twisted as tree-roots.

I poke the fire of hatred with my words,
I hurl hate back at you.

My mood blackens,
blacker than the mind of any mortal.

My loathing drips blood,
my pain slashes, curses, drenches with pus.

The snakes also curse you, serpents of death –
oh, that hissing will enter your head…

The snakes also curse you, serpents of death –
even the snakes…

I throw off sparks,
I tear from my tongue words as twisted as tree-roots.

You crushed me underfoot, you evil betrayer.
You punish me with rage, you poisoned my mind.

So I heap blame on you, spit words from my mouth.
So I accuse you - pathetic worm that you are.

 

 
Moomin Light posts on Varttina:

• Listen to Laulutytto 
• Varttina's music for the play of Lord of the Rings

"Outbound Plane" - Suzy Bogguss and Nanci Griffith

Unfortunately, country will be one of my smaller categories.  I enjoyed country music in the 90's when it seemed to open up a bit and add some variety.  Since then, it's changed, and now country often seems to be 70's pop with a twang and a hat. 

In the 90's, though, I started listening to some good country singers such as Kathy Mattea, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Suzy Bogguss, Wynonna, and The Tractors.  I still keep up with their music, and I occasionally tune into a country station to see if I find something interesting.

In 1992, Suzy Bogguss had her first top 10 country hit with Nanci Griffith's "Outbound Plane" (from her CD, Aces).

Here's a video (rather long) with Nanci Griffith singing "Ford Econoline," then a discussion between the two of them, and then the two of them singing "Outbound Plane" (skip to 6 min 45 seconds to just hear "Outbound Plane").