e-culture: Holiday Music Wish List
EXTRA!, December 14, 2001
IN THE CURRENT ISSUE
PAGE ONE
Cultural Advocate of the Year
The Gift of Music
The Gift of Photography
The Festivals of Lights
Afghanistan's Northern Alliance
The Land of Enchantment
The Story Unfolds
PAGE TWO, Coming Soon
Election Guide
Winning and Losing
The Newest Tradition
All We Want for Christmas...
The Traffic Report
Weekend Getaways
Gung Hey Fat Choy
Currently Recommended CDs.
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REGIONAL
MORE REGIONAL - Modern Relatives on the River Road
- Boozoo Chavis, Down Home on Dog Hill, Rounder, 2000
Last recording by the originator of modern recorded zydeco. Chavis was always the best there was and it shows on his recordings throughout his career.- Boozoo Chavis, Johnnie Billy Goat, Rounder, 2000
- Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Back to Bogalusa, Blue Thumb Records, 2001
Continued greatness by Houston bluesman, who draws extensively from diverse Texas and Louisiana influences.- The Creole Connection, The Masked Band, Louisiana Red Hot Records, 2001
Zydeco roots music featuring Keith Frank of the Soileau Band.- Los Lobos, Del Esta de Los Angeles, Hollywood Records, 2000
Traditional side of Mexican-influenced band from East L.A. -- a phenomenal collection of regional music of Mexico.- Jason Ringenberg, A Pocketful of Soul, Courageous Chicken, 2000
Everything you thought Nashville country music was supposed to be -- talented songwriting, honest singing -- with distinct musical styles representing distinct time periods and rural traditions.- Kimberly M'Carver, Cross the Danger Line, Prime CD, 2001
Houston folk/country singer performs excellent version of Townes Van Zandt's "Nile River Blues".- Robert Pete Williams, Robert Pete Williams, Fat Possum Records, 1971, re-released 2001
Historic album by real traditional blues player rarely discovered these days, in re-release.- Balfa Toujours, Live at Whisky River Landing, Rounder, 2000
Live Cajun band with the aural atmosphere of Fred's in Mamou.- Beau Jocque, Give Him Cornbread, Rounder, 2000
Sadly, this phenomenal zydeco performer died earlier this year. Though it can't recreate the experience of attending a Beau Jocque and the Zydeco Hi-Rollers performance, this recording and others can help us realize our tragic loss.- Beau Jocque, I'm Coming Home, Mardi Gras Records, 2000
- Jackie King with Willie Nelson, The Gypsy, Pedernales FreeFalls/Indigo Moon, 2001
Jazz man plays with hardest working man in show business. Laid back standards, like Stardust release.- Willie Nelson and the Offenders, Me and the Drummer, Luck Records, 2001
The best country music, if Willie is country? Recommended for anyone who loved Willie Nelson's 2000 Island release, Milk Cow Blues.- Various Artists, The Devil's Swing: Ballads from the Big Bend Country of the Texas-Mexican Border (Corridos y Tragedias de la Junta de los Rios), Arhoolie, 2000
Traditional Mexican music with Texas swing influence from West Texas borderlands.- Tom Russell, Borderland, Hightone Records, 2001
Regional folk inspired by instruments and topics of Mexican border.- The Campbell Brothers, Sacred Steel for the Holidays, Arhoolie, 2001
"Go Tell it On the Mountain", "The Dreydl Song", "Little Drummer Boy", in tradition of jazz, blues, western swing, and gospel, all accompanied on steel guitars.- Ralph Stanley and Friends (guests, Maria Muldur, Dolly Parton, Iris DeMent, Lucinda Williams, etc.), Clinch Mountain Sweethearts, Rebel Records, 2001
Bluegrass legend, recommended for those who just caught on to the O Brother, Where Art Thou craze.- Marcia Ball, Presumed Innocent, Alligator, 2001
Beer barrel, roadhouse and soul, draws on influences from New Orleans to Austin.- The Spurs, Go Boy Go, Spinout Records, 2000
Rockabilly standouts in a big rockabilly world.- Dr. John, Creole Moon, Blue Note Records, 2001
New Orleans legend returns with his growling Crescent City swamp funk.
Blues and Rock:
Jazz and Funk:
- North Mississippi Allstars, 51 Phantom, Artemis Records, 2001
I actually prefer their 2000 release, Shake Hands with Shorty, and also band members' work on:
- James Mathis and His Knockdown Society, National Antiseptic, Mammouth Records, 2001
- Galactic, We Love Em Tonight (Live at Tipitinas), Volcano Records, 2001
High-energy, super-talented New Orleans ensemble doesn't disappoint live, or on any of these recordings:- Galactic, Crazyhorse Mongoose, Capricorn Records, 1998
- Galactic, Late for the Future, Volcano Records, 2000
- Stanton Moore (Galactic drummer), All Kooked Out, Fog City Records, 1998
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INTERNATIONAL
More highly-recommended international titles can be found on the World Music page:
- Csokolom, Ludo Luda (Fools Fancy), Arhoolie, 2001
Hungarian Gypsy music for the real adventurer and consummate music enthusiast.- Anoushka Shankar, Live at Carnegie Hall, Angel, 2001
Amazing talent on Indian sitar, and the daughter of Ravi Shankar, world-renowned musician who appears on her recordings. This, her third release, is the best yet.- Anoushka Shankar, Anourag, Angel, 2000
Great studio recording with father Ravi Shankar.- Ravi Shankar, Concert for Peace, Moment Records, 1995
The world music legend is our Cultural Advocate(s) of the Year, with friend George Harrison.- Various Artists, River Songs of Bangladesh, ARC, 2001
Excellent field recordings of folk songs from Bangladesh- Los Hombres Calientes: Irvin Mayfield and Bill Summers, Vol. 3 New Congo Square, Basin Street Records, 2001
Excellent exploration of Latin and African Jazz roots- The Aggrovators, Dubbing It Studio 1 Style, Jamaica Recordings, 2001
Early trend-setting dubs featuring Johnny Clarke and Robbie Shakespere on London studio session recordings from the 1970s.- Badar Ali Khan, Lost in Qawwali III, Birdman, 2001
Heir-apparent to Pakistan's spiritual master Ustad Fateh Ali Khan.- Dastan Ensemble, with Sharam Nazeri, Through Eternity, Sounds True, 1999
Persian Rumi poetry in song, performed by phenomenally talented ensemble.- Chava Albertstein, Foreign Letters, Naive/Rounder, 2001
Beloved Israeli singer performs Hebrew, Yiddish and English songs, most somber and dramatic with some lively traditional numbers.- Hakim, The Lion Roars - Live in America, Mondo Melodia, 2001
Middle Eastern pop, with traditional influences, from the "Lion of Egypt".- Simon Shaheen and Qantara, Blue Flame, Ark 21, 2001
Middle Eastern jazz with traditional instrumental work exhibiting one of the finest talents in the world.- Various Artists, From Saigon to Hanoi, Traditional Songs and Music of Vietnam, Milan, 2001
Beautiful collection of traditional regional songs from Vietnam.- Greg Ellis, Kala Rupa, Explorations in Rhythm, Narada World, 2001
World percussionist's demonstrations on frame drums and tablas.- The Gladiators, Something A Gwaan, Ras, 2001
Reggae in the early tradition most recognized in Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.- Ranarim, Till the Light of Day, Northside, 2000
Swedish string ensemble reminiscent of Annborg Lien.- Cubanismo, Mucho Gusto, Hannibal/Ryko, 2001
Pop jazz by touring musical veterans from Cuba.- Various Artists (from Buena Vista, Barrio de la Habana), Soneros de Verdad, Narada World, 2001
Natural progression inspired by the popular Buena Vista Social Club.- The Motet, Play, aNOnym reCOrds, 2000
80s world beat with 70s soul.
http://www.houstonculture.org/world
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HISTORIC AND COLLECTIBLE
- The Radha Krsna Temple (with George Harrison), The Radha Krsna Temple, London, Apple/Capitol, 1971, 1993
- George Harrison, All Things Must Pass, Dark Horse/EMI records, 1970, 2001
Harrison/Shankar duo is our Cultural Advocate(s) of the Year.- Bob Wills, Rare California Airshots, Country Routes/Interstate Music Ltd., 2001
Those who have the Texas western swing legend's Tiffany Transcriptions will want to add this set of 24 1946-47 recordings, ranging widely in audio quality, to their collection.- Mason Proffit, Come and Gone, Line A, 1971, 1990
Pioneering country- and folk-rock not paralleled by any of the bigger names of the day.- John Cale, Vintage Violence. Columbia/Legacy, 2001
Re-release of solo debut by Velvet Underground band member. For one who appreciates Mason Proffit or Bruce Springstein's stark Nebraska. CD version concludes with haunting electric viola played like a Norwegian hardanger fiddle.
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RARE AND UNIQUE
- Yid Vicious, Klez, Kez, Goy Mit Fez, Uvulittle Records, no date
Outstanding klezmer ensemble, with great humor ("Never Mind the Cossacks", "Anarchy in the Ukraine"), formed in '95, Madison, WI.- Four Piece Suit, Ready to Where?, Ocean Music Company, 1996
Unbeatable lounge music in the tradition of The Ventures, Las Vegas and Italian films.- Freetown, Painless, Beatville, no date
Modern English band, simple early ska sound.
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COLLEGE/ALTERNATIVE
- Consolidated, The End of Meaning, Consolidated Music, 2001
Topical, independent thought for the politically motivated. Former Houston guitarist delivers powerful commentaries, like "Tragedy at Neah Bay".
http://www.houstonculture.org/counter/ci.html- The Damned, Grave Disorder, Nitro Records, 2001
Return of legendary British punk band. See the interview
http://www.houstonculture.org/counter/damnedint.html- The Dils, Dils Dils Dils, Dionysus, 2001
Six actual tracks from America's greatest short-lived garage band.- Joe Strummer, Global A Go-Go, Hellcat Records
Ex-Clash rocker has calmed down considerably.- Mr. Quintron, The Unmasked Organ Light-Year of the Infinity Man, Bulb, 2000
A one-man band with a "Drum Buddy" and hammond organ.- LeTigre, From the Desk of Mr. Lady, Mr. Lady, 2000
College pop, rock and punk from ex-Bikini Kill members- Superchic[k], Karaoke Superstars, 2001
Feminist and religious indie product, borderline MTV pop.
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M A R K L A C Y / mark@cultural-crossroads.com
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