“Thanks for solving Friday’s crossword,
Who knew ‘Ivan’ was a Czar?…”,
“Best Love” – Steve Martin
(2011)
I’m told there are people who don’t like banjo music. I don’t actually
know any of them but it stands to reason, I guess. Among the humble
instrument’s staunchest supporters are Billy Connolly, Kermit The Frog and
Michael Price. (Okay, so that last one is a personal friend). But what about
all those Progressive Bluegrass bands like Old Crow Medicine Show, The Avett
Brothers, Punch Brothers and Crooked Still? Or the new breed of String bands
like The Infamous Stringdusters or Carolina Chocolate Drops? And where would
Marcus Mumford be today if he’d hired a jug blower instead of Winston Marshall
and his banjo? He’d be playing Scout Halls in the Outer Hebrides.
Another great picker of the 5-string is Steve Martin, who’s just
released his 3rd album of banjo driven songs. His collaboration with
Edie Brickell has produced an album rich in stories, a couple which you’ll hear
in this edition, including one about a baby in a suitcase, thrown from a moving
train. (Relax. Nobody dies.)
With Bill away again this week, the JR Radar was working overtime and
pulling in stuff from all around the planet. As a result, we have the new album
from Sweden’s Junip (featuring guitarist, Jose Gonzalez), the stylish
exuberance of Venezuela’s masters of Gozadera (good-time music), Los Amigos
Invisibles, a song from an emerging young New Zealand talent named Lorde and
the icy Electro-Pop of American singer/songwriter John Grant, from his
newly-adopted hometown of Reykjavik, Iceland.
Returning closer to home (Melbourne, to be more precise), there’s a song
from the now imminent new album, ‘Steal The Light’ from The Cat Empire, along
with the latest single from Mia Dyson’s current disc, ‘The Moment’.
Thanks to the newly remastered edition of Albert King’s classic Blues
album, ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ we get a fresh reminder in this edition of just
how closely Eric Clapton was paying attention back in 1967, when he was still a
member of Cream. And, thanks to the recent 6th anniversary of Record
Store Day, a previously unreleased recording by Bob Dylan, from the 1970
sessions for his (oft-maligned) ‘Self Portrait’ album. Despite being vetted in
the final track selection for that record, “Thirsty Boots” has more passion
than some of the songs that did make it.
Another volume in Bob’s ever-expanding ‘Bootleg Series’ is surely, not
far away. (The JR Radar says so.)
John Grant: “Pale Green Ghosts” (from the album ‘Pale Green Ghosts’)
Lorde: “Royals” (from the EP, ‘The Love Club’)
Junip: “Head First" (from the album, ‘Junip’)
Steve Martin & Edie Brickell: “Get Along Stray Dog”/”Sarah Jane And The Iron
Mountain Baby” (from the album, ‘Love Has Come For You’)
Los Amigos Invisibles: “La Que Me Gusta” (from the album, ‘Repeat
After Me’)
Cat Empire: “Wild Animals” (preview from the album, ‘Steal The Light’)
Bob Dylan: “Thirsty Boots" (vinyl ‘Record Store Day’ single)
Mia Dyson: “Fill Yourself" (new single)
Albert King: “Oh Pretty Woman" (from the album, ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’)
Junip: “Line Of Fire" (from the album, ‘Junip’)
Just Released is heard Saturdays at 12pm and Sundays at 4pm (AEDT or
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