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The Wood Brothers keep getting better and better. Good stuff!
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, who usually record under the name “Gillian Welch”, make slow, minimalistic, haunting music. On Friday, the American roots duo release their seventh studio album together and their second as “Dave Rawlings Machine,” with David handling front-person and lead-singing duties. One song, “The Weekend,” premieres on Speakeasy.
The new record, “Nashville Obsolete,” is more adventurous than the couple’s past few LPs. At times, it’s chirpy and upbeat; at others, languid, brooding, even experimental. (One of Welch’s favorites, “The Trip,” clocks in at just under 11 minutes.)
On “The Weekend,” the album’s first track, you can hear the duo’s familiar twin guitars and unique vocal harmonizing, but also strings, and, at moments, hints of REO Speedwagon and even the Cure.
“In addition to the kind of 1930s/Depression/Dust Bowl thing we’ve always had going on, there’s a pretty strong 1970s thing going on, too,” Welch says. (She and Rawlings on Wednesday evening received a “Lifetime Achievement” award for songwriting at the annual Americana Honors and Awards show in Nashville, Tennessee; their debut album was 1996?s “Revival.”)
Welch and Rawlings say their new album is much more cohesive than the first “Dave Rawlings Machine” record, 2009’s “A Friend of a Friend.”
“We would be the first to admit ['A Friend of a Friend'] was kind of cobbled together,” Welch says. “There’s an easy way for me to look at this as the first record that we’ve made, really–the first ‘Machine’ record,” Rawlings adds.
Aging and dislocation are among the themes on “Nashville Obsolete.” Rawlings, a guitar virtuoso, lets loose a bit, doing more of the solos that are a staple of “Gillian Welch” albums and the duo’s live shows. The pair are accompanied by Paul Kowert on bass and Willie Watson on guitar.
“This record was made the way we make ‘Gillian Welch’ records,” Welch says. “It has that feeling of being an album.”
“Nashville Obsolete” will be released Sept. 18 on Acony Records.
Songs We Love: John Scofield, 'Mr. Puffy'
thanks
I think I'll pick up that Sofield disc
Riverside-Discard Your Fear
Nice! Love me some Scofield!
White Denim - Ha Ha Ha Ha (Yeah)
Sounds great! I really liked Corsicana Lemonade, hard to believe it's been three years since that disc...
Snarky Puppy feat. David Crosby - "Somebody Home"
Snarky Puppy feat. David Crosby - "Somebody Home"
Interesting tune. I think it needs a bridge however.
Sturgill Simpson - "Sugar Daddy"
Nice song.
Riverside-Discard Your Fear
Sad news from last weekend:
RIVERSIDE guitarist Piotr Grudzinski has died, according to a statement on the Polish progressive rock band's web site. He was 40 years old.
In a short message, the surviving members of the group say: "In our deepest pain and disbelief, we would like to inform you that our dearest friend and brother Piotr Grudzinski has passed away this morning. We kindly ask you to respect the privacy of his family and friends."
At the time of Grudzinski's death, RIVERSIDE was preparing for a Polish tour with support acts LION SHEPHERD and SOUNDS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD. The band was also scheduled to headline this year's RoSFest in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in early May.
Grudzinski attended a show by THE WINERY DOGS in Warsaw last night, according to a tweet by that band's drummer, Mike Portnoy.
Sturgill Simpson - "Brace For Impact (Live A Little)"
