I bought the DVD and have been hooked on Michael Davis Pratt ever since. I was browsing the shop in the British Film Institute in 2011 and they were playing ‘ Searching for The Wrong-Eyed Jesus’. Equally poignant to the state of Scotland at that time.
A youthful innocence exhausted by the loss of community and the American Dream. His sixth album ‘ Nebraska’ (1982) is much darker and sublime americana. Coincidentally, on ‘ Wild Billy’s Circus Story’ the last line is, “ All aboard, Nebraska’s our next stop“. His fascination with carnivals was revisited on his splendid ‘ Tunnel of Love’ album (1987), “ Fat man sitting on a little stool takes the money from my hand While his eyes take a walk all over you.” Nobody tells a story better than Springsteen. ‘ Wild Billy’s Circus Story’ is pure musical poetry. His music even had room for some soulful piano, accordion, tenor saxophone and even Gary Tallent’s tuba. I never found any factory girls promising to unsnap their jeans. His New Jersey world was the promised land for me as a teenager growing up in Dundee. I play it on many a Sunday morning from first track to last. I’ve been waiting 40 years for its equivalent. Springsteen’s experimental ‘ The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle’ (1973) is still my favourite album ever. I’m no longer follow him religiously but it would be churlish of me to omit him from my list. Basically a personal and totally subjective list. Artists I continue to play most (or the best) of their material long after the first thrill is gone. Artists who don’t disappoint live which surely must be a prerequisite. So, not an obscure or legend-filled list but ten artists who have built up a substantial and consistent catalogue of great music. Americana is perhaps a musical lens of Democratic blue rather than Republican red.
I think these songwriters see the world in the same way as me. They trigger our own personal memories and make us take stock of our own lives. Wherever you are the songs manage to involve you emotionally even spiritually. Previous contributors have already cited some big heavyweights of the genre such as Prine, Earle and Clark. I do feel lacking in the evolutionary knowledge required to do this feature justice.
0 kommentar(er)
