Trax
By Bliss 09/09/2010
MAVIS STAPLES, You Are Not Alone (Anti): (4.5 stars out of 5)
The gospel/soul icon follows 2008’s Grammy-nominated “Live: Hope at the Hideout” with this musically satisfying, uplifting set produced by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy. Recorded in Chicago with Staples’ ace LA band (guitarist Rick Holmstrom, bassist Jeff Turmes, drummer Stephen Hodges), it complements Staples’ expansive warmth and conviction with minimal production fuss and top-drawer material, including Tweedy’s prayerful title track and politically themed rocker “Only the Lord Knows.” Mavisstaples.com
CLARE BURSON, Silver and Ash (Rounder): (3.5 stars out of 5)
Elegantly arranged and genuinely affecting, Brooklynite Burson’s song cycle imagines her grandmother’s life in and escape from Nazi Germany, in violin- and guitar-dominated settings ably fleshed out by a combo featuring Son Volt guitarist Mark Spencer and Ollabelle drummer Tony Leone. Amidst a melodic, gently ear-pleasing set, tracks like “The World Turns on a Dime,” “Everything’s Gone” and “Magpies” vividly invoke confusion, loss and psychic costs of survival — and celebrate the value of memories shared. At Hotel Cafe Monday. clareburson.wordpress.com
ROBERT PLANT, Band of Joy (Rounder): (4 stars out of 5)
The ex-Led Zeppelin frontman’s in commanding voice, but more impressive is how his eclectic tastes (blues, rock, Celtic folk, West African drones) merge and flow through richly textured settings rendered by co-producer/guitarist Buddy Miller, multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott, vocalist Patty Griffin, bassist Byron House and drummer Marco Giovino. Sonically beautiful like Plant’s “Raising Sand” collaboration with Alison Krauss but more rhythmically exciting, they sound freest layering Appalachian harmonies and instrumentation over deep grooves. robertplant.com
DEAD CONFEDERATE, Sugar (TAO): (3.5 stars out of 5)
Sounding like psychedelic offspring of Drive-By Truckers and Nirvana, the Athens, Ga. 0quintet’s sonic template’s brightened since 2008’s acclaimed “Wrecking Ball.” Working with Hold Steady/Sonic Youth producer John Agnello, frontman Hardy Morris and bassist Brantley Senn’s songs strike hopeful notes via folky melodies and chiming guitars in “Run From the Gun” and “Giving It All Away” (featuring Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis), though angst cascades through the riffs and sludgy bass rocking “In the Dark” and hooky standout “By Design.” At the Troubadour in West Hollywood Saturday. deadconfederate.com
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