CHIP TAYLOR-A SONG I CAN LIVE WITH “SUBLIME ROOTS MAGIC”- CD REVIEW JOHN EMMS

Chip Taylor’s songs have a way of making you feel at home anywhere in the World.

There are not a heck of a lot of songwriters that can pull that off folks.

On his new album A Song I Can Live With Taylor again cuts to the heart of the matter.

The first two songs Crazy Girl and Until it Hurts flesh out a sublime mix that blends J.J. Cale Johnny Cash and Taylor’s genuine spoken word storytelling.

Only Taylor can reference a treadmill, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Eric Anderson and honesty and make it stick in your heart.

That folks is the magic of Chip Taylor aka James Wesley Voight.

The texture that multi-instrumentalist/piano player Goran Grini adds to the songs brings them to a whole new level.

In fact with John Platania (yes one time Van Morrison brilliant guitarist) adding such killer dynamics on tracks such as Save Your Blues And Your Money and Little Angel Wings it’s up to Taylor to infuse any song with genuine warmth and often humour.

The Title track is a heartbreaking number in a Kris Kristofferson vibe that every songwriter would love to have written.

Without question anyone seeking out this album MUST first check out Taylor’s brilliant opus Little Brothers probably one of the best written albums of the last five years.

Make no mistake A Song I Can Live With is not rock n’ roll.

It’s acoustic roots supreme.

John Emms is a veteran music journalist, Sun Media/Post Media contributor, songwriter and blues rock bandleader with THE SHAFTMEN

JOHN IS ON TWITTER

Tweets by emmsreviews

 

STEVE KOZAK BAND, JEREMIAH JOHNSON BAND-CD REVIEWS JOHN EMMS

Dynamic, and passionate if the songs and performances you hear on Jeremiah Johnson Band’s latest album Blues Heart Attack don’t get to you then you better check your pulse.

The sheer grit of Room of Fools, the Marshall Tucker Band feel of Skip That Stone and the jazzy textures of Flat Line where we encounter the lines “Flat Line Baby I had a blues heart attack” are superb.

Besides Johnson’s soulful vocals and guitar work the section of bassist Jeff Girardier and drummer Benet Schaeffer swing. Just check out the tracks Get It In the Middle, Everybody Party and Talk Too Much which also features keyboard man Nathan Hershey and sax man Frank Bauer who make strong contributions to this album.

Other standouts are Southern Drawl and the ballad Here We Go Again.

Exceptional work!!!

You just have to break out and smile when you hear the new album by The Steve Kozak Band It’s Time.

Mixing Chicago and Texas blues styles with great roots music Kozak’s guitar work and vocals shine on the opener Cane Sugar Sweet,  the bar room swing of That’s Cool With Me, and the Georgia-esque chord pattern of Stranger In My Hometown.

Elsewhere the swampy Trouble features the Axe Murderer Matthew Rogers and then watch out their is the very hip cover of Anson Funderburgh’s One Woman I Need.

Tone and feel is everywhere on this album.

Just check out the great taste on the covers of Love, Life and Money, Kiddio and Every Night and Every Day which also guests the Harpoonist Shawn Hall.

You want authentic?

Then check out this album which also features strong chops from Kozak’s band bassist Roger Brant, Dave Webb’s keys and the solid stick work of Chris Nordquist.

Very nice indeed folks.

JOHN EMMS is a veteran music journalist, Post and Sun Media contributor and musician.

JOHN is on Twitter

Tweets by emmsreviews