Showing posts with label Bob Dylan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bob Dylan. Show all posts

Saturday, March 28, 2015

The New Basement Tapes - Lost on the River


2014 – Harvest Records
By Phillip Smith; Mar 28, 2015


There’s something very special about the latest supergroup, New Basement Tapes.  This collective of musicians, consisting of Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), & Marcus Mumford (Mumford & Sons) have joined forces to record fifteen tracks based on uncovered song lyrics which were written by Bob Dylan in 1967 during the original Basement Tape sessions. Dylan credited with co-writer of each song on the album, does not appear on any of the performances.

The somewhat spacy “Down on the Bottom” kicks things off.  This track is co-written by Jim James, who also by the way takes on the electric guitar and organ.  I really like the fuzzy My Morning Jacket guitar licks James dishes out during the bridge.  This is the kind of song that captivates me upon first listen.  James is also at the helm of “Nothing To It”, a poppy song about letting the flip of a coin decide the fate of a thief.  Under the covers, this is ominous and sinister enough to be on Harvey Dent’s playlist.  

I can’t steer away from “Kansas City”, with writing credits given to both Mumford and Goldsmith.  Mumford nails the lead vocals on this ode to torn hearts and letting go.  Johnny Depp even makes an appearance to play guitar on this one.  Goldsmith revisits Kansas City on “Liberty Street”.  This story of hard times is solemnly sung and beautifully played on piano.  Goldsmith delivers again on the rootsy “Card Shark”, a cute little ditty featuring Costello on ukulele.  This song has that feel-good pleasantness to it that lures the listener to sing along. I like this one a lot.

It’s so good to hear Elvis Costello tear it up both vocally and electrically on guitar in “Six Months in Kansas City (Liberty Street)”.  He brings to the table the same enthusiasm and exuberance he had in his early years.

Title track, “Lost on the River #20” beautifully concludes the album, with lovely vocals from Rhiannon flowing alongside stellar acoustic guitar performances from Mumford and Goldsmith.  It’s hard to believe these Dylan songs haven’t been put to tape and released before.  They’re so good.  Lost on the River is nothing short of a masterpiece.    



Saturday, August 31, 2013

Reviews and Articles for Blues Revue Magazine 2011- 2013 .



by Phillip Smith


Paul Thorn - What The Hell is Goin' On?
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/04/paul-thorn-what-the-hell-is-goin-on-4-19-13/#

Craig Erickson - Galactic Roadhouse
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/04/craig-erickson-galactic-roadhouse-4-05-13/#

Josh Smith - Don't Give Up On Me
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/03/josh-smith-dont-give-up-on-me-3-08-13/#

Betty Fox Band - Too Far Gone
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/02/betty-fox-band-too-far-gone-2-22-13/#

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Concert 1/26/13 Review
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/02/blues-beat-kenny-wayne-shepherd-show-review-2-01-13#

Kenny Wayne Shepherd photos from Concert 1/26/13 Riverside, IA
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/02/the-photo-page-kenny-wayne-shepherd-live-2-01-13/#

David Hidalgo / Mato Nanji / Luther Dickinson – 3 Skulls and the Truth
http://bluesrevue.com/2013/01/david-hidalgo-mato-nanji-luther-dickinson-3-skulls-and-the-truth-1-04-13/#

The Mokats - Crossover Blues
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/12/the-mokats-crossover-blues-12-21-12/#

Hamilton Loomis - Live at the Hub, DVD
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/11/hamilton-loomis-band-live-at-the-hub-dvd-11-16-12/#

Simon McBride - Crossing the Line
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/11/simon-mcbride-crossing-the-line-11-09-12/#

Bob Dylan - Tempest
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/11/bob-dylan-tempest-11-02-12/#

Colin Linden - Still Live
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/09/colin-linden-still-live-9-28-12/#

Killing Floor - Rock 'n' Roll Gone Mad
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/09/killing-floor-rock-n-roll-gone-mad-9-14-12/#

Chris Watson Band - Pleasure and Pain
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/08/chris-watson-band-pleasure-and-pain-8-17-12/#

Darren Jay & the Delta Souls - Drink My Wine
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/08/darren-jay-the-delta-souls-drink-my-wine-8-10-12/#

Johnny Rawls - Soul Survivor
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/06/johnny-rawls-soul-survivor-6-22-12/#

Debbie Bond - Hearts Are Wild
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/06/debbie-bond-hearts-are-wild-6-15-12/#

Eddie C Campbell - Spider Eating Preacher
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/05/eddie-c-campbell-spider-eating-preacher-5-25-12/#

Riverside Casino Blues Weekend Review
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/04/blues-beat-blues-weekend-at-riverside-casino-4-20-12/#

Riverside Casino Blues Weekend Photos:
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/04/the-photo-page-riverside-casinos-blues-weekend-4-20-12/#

Stacy Jones Band = No Need To Spell it Out
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/04/stacy-jones-band-no-need-to-spell-it-out-4-20-12/#

Mighty Sam McClain & Knut Reiersrud - One Drop is Plenty
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/04/mighty-sam-mcclain-knut-reiersrud-one-drop-is-plenty-4-13-12/#

Tony Spinner - Down Home Mojo
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/03/tony-spinner-down-home-mojo-3-23-12/#

Roy Trevino - self titled
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/03/roy-trevino-roy-trevino-3-16-12/#

Bryce Janey - Game of Life
 http://bluesrevue.com/2012/02/bryce-janey-game-of-life-2-17-12/#

Mike Zito - Greyhound
 http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/mike-zito-greyhound-1-20-12/

Mississippi Fever - Self Titled
http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/mississippi-fever-mississippi-fever-1-6-12/#

Jay Gordon's Blues Venom - No Cure
 http://bluesrevue.com/2011/12/jay-gordons-blues-venom-no-cure-12-30-11/#

Coyote Kings - Move
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/12/coyote-kings-move-12-16-11/

Marco De Sade Band - Take No Prisoners
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/12/marco-de-sade-band-take-no-prisoners-12-16-11/#

BillyLee Janey - No Saints Ringin' the Bells
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/11/billylee-janey-no-saints-ringin-the-bells-11-04-11/#

David Bromberg - Use Me,
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/07/david-bromberg-use-me-7-8-11/

Levee Town - Pages of Paperwork ,
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/07/levee-town-pages-of-paperwork-7-22-11/

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - Peyton on Patton,
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/07/the-reverend-peytons-big-damn-band-peyton-on-patton-7-29-11/

Levon Helm - Ramble at the Ryman ,
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/09/levon-helm-ramble-at-the-ryman-9-2-11/

Trampled Under Foot - Wrong Side of the Blues,
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/06/trampled-under-foot-wrong-side-of-the-blues-6-10-11/#

Dr. Duke Tumatoe - I Just Want To Be Rich
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/04/dr-duke-tumatoe-i-just-want-to-be-rich-4-22-11/#

Bryce Janey - Blues in My Soul
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/01/bryce-janey-blues-in-my-soul/#

Colin Gilmore - Goodnight Lane
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/01/colin-gilmore-goodnight-lane/#

John Lee Hooker Jr., - Live in Istanbul Turkey
http://bluesrevue.com/2011/01/john-lee-hooker-jr-live-in-istanbul-turkey/#