Yonder Mountain String Band – I’d Like Off
Stan Kenton – City of Glass
Country Johnny Mathis – Just Do The Best You Can
The Beatles – Let It Be
The Beatles – Number Ones
Butch Hancock – Own and Own
NOFX – Half Album
Church Of Trees – Transience
Emmylou Harris– Elite Hotel
Mark Heard – Stop the Dominoes
Lovelorn Dolls – Deadtime Stories
Sunday, May 26, is time for some quick reviews and musings about the music I have listened to in the past week. First comment: there has been an unusual load of new music in the last two weeks, and it has taken me more time than usual to plough through my listening and find ones that warrant inclusion on this list.
So, hear we go. Yonder Mountain String Band – I’d Like Off. I listen to bluegrass music enough to have a basic appreciation of the genre, and now and then, a new bluegrass band will warrant a mention here.
Stan Kenton – City of Glass. I doubt I will ever listen to this again, but it was interesting. City of Glass is a fusion of jazz and orchestral music; it was underwhelming, but I listened to it from start to finish.
Country Johnny Mathis – Just Do The Best You Can. This is old-timey Country and Western music—the kind my Dad played and music that I grew up listening to. I endorse this album to fans of C/W, and if you aren’t familiar with the genre, this is an excellent place to start. “Just Do The Best You Can” was recorded in 1968 by Country Johnny Mathis at RCA Studios in Nashville. The song was licensed for a TV Commercial in 2022 and has continued to air on national TV and social media campaigns in 2023. That’s a good run!
The Beatles – Let It Be. This was a bin dive find at my favourite record store. A shout-out to https://www.recordcollectorsparadise.ca. This is the first copy release; you can research history at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(album). I have been listening to the Beatles music forever, and I was surprised that I didn’t have a vinyl copy of this album; I did have it on CD. We went on a road trip midweek, and I popped The Beatles’ Number Ones into the CD player; it is a good sing-along driving down the highway album.
Butch Hancock – Own and Own. I enjoy the West Texas music of The Flatlanders, an American country band from Lubbock, Texas, founded in 1972 by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. The group garnered little success during their brief original incarnation from 1972 to 1973. Still, when the individual members found success in their solo careers, interest in The Flatlanders was rekindled, and the band has reunited several times since. An earlier incarnation of this band was known as The Double Mountain Fork Of The Brazos River Boys. I had a hankering for some music from there. Butch Hancock – Own and Own satisfied that yearning as I dipped my toe into the letter H.
NOFX – Half Album. I don’t know why I listened to this, but it was good. It has the best song about cancer I know of. I confess that I have never put together a mixtape about the topic of cancer or the Tropic of Cancer, either. It is still the best one I have ever heard.
Church Of Trees – Transience: This is an oddity in my listening over the past week or two. When I first heard it, I liked what I heard, and I like supporting local bands. They are from Canada, and so am I, so that counts as local. Then, I listened to them some more and liked them slightly less, and on the third spin, I liked them again. I have no idea where the fourth spin will lead me.
Emmylou Harris– Elite Hotel. After Hancock, we have Harris. That would make a good album, I bet! Hancock and Harris, someone should look into making that happen. Elite Hotel is a smooth country and western album with a great ensemble of musicians backing her smooth-as-silk voice.The album yielded two number-one country singles: “Together Again,” written by Buck Owens, and Harris’ version of the Patsy Cline hit “Sweet Dreams.” The Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere” entered the pop charts at number 65. Harris has many musical tastes and has performed songs on this album by Hank Williams, The Beatles, Gram Parsons, and Buck Owens. Harris’ vocals on the album earned her the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Female.
Mark Heard – Stop the Dominoes is the only Mark Heard album that I have on vinyl. It’s not my favourite; Second Hand on CD gets that nod over coffee.
Lovelorn Dolls – Deadtime Stories. The Belgian alt-rock duo Lovelorn Doll hails from Brussels. Lovelorn Dolls are Kristell Lowagie (lyrics, vocals) and Bernard Daubresse (programming, guitars, synth). They are back in a big way after a 5-year hiatus that saw Kristell transform into the photographer/ visual artist Kristell In Wonderland, exhibiting throughout Europe. With a gothic rock underbelly, their sound resembles a mix of Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil and The Birthday Massacre. On ‘Deadtime Stories,’ the duo embraces a stronger identity – creepy cute ambiance, eerie Tim Burton-esque scenes, guitar-driven sounds, catchy dark melodies, childlike synths, industrial tones, and Kristell’s distinctive voice, all boldly and fully embraced.
I’d like to give a tip of the hat to Shameless Promotion PR for sending me Deadtime Stories to see what I think. I think I’ll make the time to listen to this repeatedly and make a note to myself to listen to their back catalogue. If I may be so bold, I suggest you listen to the Lovelorn Dolls – Deadtime Stories. They make some compelling music.
Diary of Nothing’ https://youtu.be/AIuGnKVYW4c
‘Deadtime Stories’ album order https://store.alfa-matrix-store.com/product-category/lovelorn-dolls
Bandcamp https://lovelorndolls.bandcamp.com/album/deadtime-stories
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/5LRTjy2y6L1hn8JcdpOqVz
The Deadtime Stories album is available on fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered via the label or directly from the artist via Bandcamp.
Weathered Music 