Musoscribe's Best of 2011

Best of 2011: DVDs

From my standpoint, this past year has been a good one for music-related DVDs. I reviewed several here, but the most noteworthy among them are these:

Ballad of Mott the Hoople – This loving documentary takes an in-depth look at the ups-and-downs that characterized the band. Featuring the cooperation of all surviving ex-members, it’s great for serious fans as well as those who don’t know much about them beyond “All the Young Dudes” and perhaps “All the Way From Memphis.”

Frank Sinatra Around the World – Even in the late sixties and beyond, Ol’ Blue Eyes still – most nights – had the goods. This three-concert set chronicles shows that are each unique in their own way. Even when the song selection overlaps (as it does a bit) the style, performance and delivery is unique to each show. Well worth watching, if only to prove that performers should not wish to — as Pete Townshend wrote — “die before [they] get old.”

Brian Eno: The Man Who Fell to Earth – I had the opportunity to see Brian Eno give an “Illustrated Talk” this year, and this documentary – covering his creative output in the 1970s – made a good warmup for that. Casual fans may think they know about Eno, but as this fascinating – long but never boring – DVD makes clear, there’s a lot more to know.

Steven Wilson – Insurgentes – Returning readers to this blog probably know that I’m a serious fan of Steven Wilson. Porcupine Tree, his remix/remaster work on popular 70s albums, on and on. His first solo album under his own name also gave rise to this closely-related film (which is not a long-form music video). It’s sort of a meditation on, well, all the things rattling around in Wilson’s mind. Which is to say, some interesting and provocative subject matter. Poignant, unsettling and humorous, occasionally all at once.

Derailroaded - As (bad) luck would have it, Larry “Wild Man” Fischer passed away within a few weeks of my screening and reviewing this modern-day look at his life and, um, career. If you know about Fischer and think of him as a one-dimensional joke that’s not especially funny, this film might change your mind.

Best of 2011: Books

Honestly, when I got into this reviewing gig I had no real plans to review music-related books. I sort of fell into it, and I’m glad I did. A number of titles that might have otherwise gone unnoticed instead landed on my desk. And I jumped at the chance to tell my readers about them.

I only just reviewed Joe Bonomo’s Jerry Lee Lewis: Lost and Found earlier this month. I can’t say enough good things about it. The short version of my rave would be that he’s brought a fresh perspective to an oft-covered subject, managing to be both personal and universal in appeal at once.

Little Willie John is one of those musical artists whose work is in danger of being lost in the mists of time. But former Creem writer Susan Whitall’s Fever: Little Willie John makes sure that doesn’t happen. Her fascinating and well-researched book is co-authored with John’s son.

I Slept With Joey Ramone - There have been several books about The Ramones, but Mickey Leigh’s is by far the best. As the brother of Joey Ramone, he saw things up close and personal, but with enough distance to allow useful perspective. Legs McNeil’s contribution probably helps a lot in making this a must-read.

In The Resurrection of Johnny Cash, Graeme Thomson takes a detailed look at the later part of the Man in Black’s career, contextualizing it and offering up a critical asseesment of the hwole thing. He also makes a couple new points that are so obvious you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of them yourself. But then you didn’t, did you? Me neither.

One of my favorite music journalists, Richie Unterberger has most recently turned his attention toward the early 1970s output of The Who. Though Won’t Get Fooled Again could probably do with a revision in light of the months-later release of the “director’s cut” version of Quadrophenia, Unterberger’s history and analysis are – as always – essential reading.

Best of 2011: Concerts

As usual, I attended quite a few live shows this year. Picking the best was difficult, and in all likelihood it’s a mood-based decision: no doubt if I make this list again a week from now, it will be different. But here goes.

The Church – Despite what I wrote above, this one would remain on any revised list. A semi-acoustic and toned-down musical travelogue backwards through the group’s vast catalog, this was a show that was both intimate and exciting. That I interviewed Steve Kilbey in advance of the show no doubt helped enhance my enjoyment.

Paul Revere and the Raiders – Technically, this was 2010, but I didn’t pen an essay covering it – as well as a number of related pieces – until 2011. Say what you will about the kitsch and whatnot; well into his 70s Revere still knows how to put on a show.

Two of a Perfect Trio (Stick Men and The Adrian Belew Power Trio) – I saw this show at the start of their tour, and interviewed Adrian, Pat Mastelotto and Tony Levin for a big feature designed to run in advance of the tour-ending Moogfest date. The trios’ original material was great, and their double-trio “covering” of King Crimson was a thing to behold.

The Fleshtones – Dubbed “America’s Garage Band,” the Fleshtones carry on the spirit of rock’n'roll with their own brand of “super rock.” I interviewed Peter Zaremba and then got to see them perform in a tiny (I mean tiny) venue that held no more than fifty-sixty people. They dedicated a cover of The Guess Who’s “It’s My Pride” to me(!) and let me play Peter’s Farfisa on one song. In that light, how could this not make the list?

Moogfest 2011 – I attended no less than twenty shows over the Asheville festival’s three-day run. Prog, ambient, rock, soul, electronica…you name it. In general I avoid crowds, but this was worth the trouble. It certainly helped that the venues are all within two miles of my home.

Best of 2011: Reissues and Compilations

I tend to gravitate toward reissues and compilations. It’s not that I want to hear the same material over and over again – I don’t – but I do enjoy the recontextualizing and re-evaluation that reissues invite. And the bonus tracks are often fun. Here are my five top reissues for 2011. Note that many other narrowly missed making the list, and that the Beach Boys‘ landmark SMiLE wasn’t reviewed here (though I have and treasure it).

The Long Ryders – Native Sons – Many artists have attempted to combine country & western with rock, and while a few have pulled it off amazingly well (The Byrds), for every one of those, there are a dozen Eagles (meh). In the 1980s nobody did it better than these guys.

Ray Charles – Singular Genius – Worth having if only for the previously-unreleased-on-CD tracks and Billy Vera’s essay, this 5CD set is ultimately much more than that. It’s a history of a side of Charles’ music that hasn’t been presented in such a manner before.

Material Issue – International Pop Overthrow – Sadly, pop music’s history is littered with tales of fragile souls who created wonderful music but who (for one reason or another) couldn’t cope with daily life. Material Issue’s Jim Ellison was one of these. But on this album he and his bandmates made some of the best music of their lives, and of the 1990s.

Thin Lizzy – Jailbreak – This is the album that best combines hard rock with troubadour/storytelling imagery. Tough as nails yet deeply emotional, it’s one of the best albums of the entire 1970s. The bonus tracks on this reissue only add to the album’s quality.

Various Artists - Dirty Water – Esteemed British DJ/authorty/collector Kris Needs presents the first volume of his skewed and highly idiosyncratic compendiums. What he considers punk likely won’t match your own definition, but he makes a compelling case for his POV, and backs it up with some fantastic music. Some of it’s quite rare, as well. There’s since been a second volume as well.

Best of 2011: New Music

This was easily the most difficult category for me. So many amazing albums came out that it’s pure folly to limit myself to only five. So I haven’t (but six was still tough).

DC Fontana - La Contessa — For me, this group had the hands-down best album of 2011. The near-perfect La Contessa brings together elements of highly charged Northern Soul, and fronts it with the lovely and lively Karla Milton, a worthy successor to Julie Driscoll’s late-sixties work. To call this music thrilling is no overstatement. If this doesn’t make you move, like the man said, Jack, you’re dead.

Agony Aunts – Greater Miranda – They might or might not even appreciate the nod, since Agony Aunts is but one of many side-projects from the Bay Areas pop cottage industry operating under the Mystery Lawn Music banner. But this effort — with members of the Corner Laughers and The Orange Peels – is consistently endearing and entertaining. And if you dig it, most everything else from this crowd is nearly as splendid.

Dennis Coffey – Dennis Coffey – One of the legendary Funk Brothers, Coffey’s distinctive guitar lines graced many a 70s funk, soul and rock album out of Detroit. After a number of years’ low profile, Coffey roars back with this incendiary set. Dennis Coffey is that rarest of creatures: an album where the guest spots actually make sense.

The Penguin Party – Sex Furniture Warehouse – In film, comedy is much tougher to pull off than drama: while most agree what’s dramatic, opinions differ widely as to what’s humorous. Which isn’t to say that The Penguin Party’s latest is a comedy album: more properly it’s described as as and honest musical look at middle-aged life that happens to be funny as hell.

Blackfield – Welcome to My DNA – That this one made my list surprises even me. While I’m a huge Steven Wilson fan, Wilson’s involvement with this album (he’s a busy guy) is well below the 50% mark. And in general I’m no huge fan of Aviv Geffen’s highly Israeli-accented voice. And — in contrast to earlier Blackfield releases — this is much more a Geffen project than a Wilson one. But the songwriting and playing on Welcome to My DNA are so uniformly amazing that I had to include it. It’s more accessible, in the end, than Wilson’s own 2011 solo release, the also-excellent Grace for Drowning.

Special Bonus Mention: Ben Craven – Great and Terrible Potions – This one falls into the “classic prog” genre. With production, songwriting, playing and arrangement that recall the heydays of progressive rock, Ben Craven’s one-man release is a tour de force.

Best of 2011: Interviews

Jack Casady – It’s funny how this one came about: in summer 2011 I saw that Jorma Kaukonen would be playing a November show at Asheville’s Grey Eagle, so I reached out to his publicist about an interview. “Great! Let’s set it up when the date gets closer,” she said. But in the meantime, did I want to interview Jorma’s Hot Tuna bandmate Jack Casady? Absolutely. One of my favorite interviews ever, as it turns out. (I never was able to schedule an interview with Jorma.)

Bill Wyman – I never expected this interview to materialize, but it did. Wyman was patient with me and willing to spend forty-five minutes talking about the new box set of his Rhythm Kings works. I planned to focus on that as opposed to peppering him with endless Rolling Stones questions. But he served up lots of Stones history nonetheless.

Ray Manzarek, Johnny Winter, Bootsy Collins, Ann Wilson, Carmine Appice – All of these artists were involved to some degree or another with the latest so-called “comeback” album from Sly Stone. I felt a bit like an investigative reporter on this project: Sly himself was nowhere to be found, always one step ahead. One of the strangest projects I’ve ever worked on, but a lot of fun.

Martin Newell – I champion Newell every chance I get. In a just world, the Cleaners From Venus pop singer/songwriter wold be hugely famous. But one gets the feeling Newell likes things the way they are just fine, thank you. A lively interview subject, he’s among the pithiest, wittiest interview subjects I’ve ever encountered.

Van Dyke Parks – No, this interview didn’t in fact have any connection to the late 2011 release of the mythical SMiLE box set. Parks doesn’t like to talk about that. But (a) he had lots of other interesting stuff to say during our in-person sit-down interview and (b) I coaxed him to speak briefly about SMiLE after all.

That wraps up my look at 2011. Thanks – as always – for reading.

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