So today I listened to a bunch of different albums none of which stood out on first listen but I may find something that I really, really like on the second listen or so. Anyway here’s what I listened to today for what it’s worth!
I started the morning off by listening to Black Prairie and their new album Feast of the Hunter’s Moon. Black Prairie is a side project of three members of The Decemberists. Now I am not a Decemberist fan. The member of the Karn clan that is a Decemberist fan is oldest son Nicholas but what does he know about good music with bands like King Crimson, Procol Harum, Jethro Tull, Bob Dylan and The Byrds in his CD collection! Anyway I was pleasantly surprised by the album. Initially, when I listen to parts of this album I heard some vocals, that while I know they are pleasing to some, they just aren’t what I listen to, but those vocals from Annalisa Tornfelt are few and the instrumentals that dominate the album more than make up for them. Actually, I did enjoy the vocals on a couple of the tracks and I am sure that after a few listens all the vocals will sound ok. The music overall has elements of gypsy music and bluegrass, coupled with a modern indiefolk sound.
As I said Black Prairie is composed of three members of the Decemberists – guitarist Chris Funk on dobro, eissenborn and bazouki, bassist and cellist Nate Query, and Jenny Conlee on accordion, violin is provided by Annalisa Tornfelt and quitar from Jon Neufeld.
This album will get more listens at work because it’s mostly an instrumental album!
The second album that I listened to briefly was from an musician that I saw 
advertised in Living Blues magazine Steve Howell. Rhapsody did not have his most recent release Since I Saw You Last but they did have his other releases. So I listened to his release My Mind Gets Rambin’, His music is in the tradition of acoustic blues musicians like Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Willie McTell, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, Son House, Rev. Gary Davis, Blind Willie Johnson, Blind Blake and a host of other black acoustic guitar players and vocalists. He has obviously studied these guys and learned his lessons well! What I heard I really liked and I know I’ll go back and listen some more!
Next up was a Canadian folk group Madison Violet a duo composed of singer-songwriters Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac . The album that I listened to was No Fool for Trying. The album is full of really nice songs with great harmonies. From their website this is what they say about this album
This new project(No Fool for Trying) has taken them down a road lush with harmonies, banjo, fiddle, mandolin and upright bass. The songs are infused with heartache and loss but the listener will always find an uplifting twang in their sound, one that may invoke the essence of Lucinda Williams or Steve Earle
Like the first two albums this one will get a closer listen throughout the rest of the week. Time for a break maybe after the break another listen to Will Kimbrough’s Wings and an old folkie Doc Watson!
Here’s Madison Violet with “No Fool for Trying”
