New Dylan

Slate likes it.

“Modern Times is a better album than Time Out of Mind and even than the majestic Love and Theft, which by my lights makes it Dylan’s finest since Blood on the Tracks (1975). As usual, it’s verbose. Dylan pours out verse after verse—aphorisms and parables, jokes and laments, valentines and metaphysical musings—over loose-limbed vamps from his excellent touring band.”

Missouri does Dylan

Tonight, the Blue Note in Columbia will offer up a taste of “Million Dollar Bash: Missouri salutes Bob Dylan,” a two-disc set featuring 38 Missouri bands doing Dylan covers. Go here for a story and a few audio clips, including one from my good friend and colleague Schneller and his band, SRE.

Album art

Some time ago, a student of mine did a story how music is being distributed in the digital age. One thing that kept coming up was the limitations of CD covers. The original artwork that bestowed iconic status to so much good music prior to 1987, when the compact disc was introduced, just doesn’t seem possible anymore. For me, it doesn’t have the same impact when it’s reduced to a 5″x5″ piece of plastic, which may be why you don’t see it so much these days.

Here’s an exhibit I’d like to see come a little closer to home.

Dire Straits

As Mark Knopfler burrows even deeper into country music, it’s worth looking back, via C&L’s Late Nite Music Club to his earlier days. This video also gives you a pretty good look at Knopfler’s right-hand technique, which, I believe, accounts for his unique tone.

Magnetic Attractions

The Proprietor has figured out a way to share the pseudo-musical stylings of the Chick Magnets, the little, irony-laden outfit that irregularly performs regularly at Eddie’s Lounge in Columbia, Mo.

Click here for some Lounge ambience, then follow the links for more photos and to hear the Magnets meander through covers of some your favorite tunes, plus an original composition by Eddie “Buddha” Leigh.

 

“Sometimes I wonder what I’m a gonna do”

I’ve always loved Blue Cheer’s version of the great old Eddie Cochran tune, “Summertime Blues.”

Arthur Lee, 1945 – 2006

The frontman, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist of the legendary Los Angeles psychedelic band Love died last week in Memphis. Go here, then scroll down for some video.

Sunday jazz

C&L’s Music Club with Cannonball Adderley

I ride on a mail train, mama

I’ve been listening a lot lately to the “No Direction” version of “It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry.” Here’s Steve Earle’s version, closing a show at a Tennesse prison some years ago.

All too true

Great song, which shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with this guy’s music.