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Jeff Black – B-Sides and Confessions Volume Two
Genre: Roots, Singer-Songwriter,
The first time I heard Jeff Black was on
his first B-Sides and Confessions
album, released in 2003. I instantly became a fan. Since then Black has
regularly released a series of fine albums, including 2011’s Plow Through the Mystic. On his second
installment of B-Sides and Confessions
Black enlists Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Sam Bush on mandolin, and Matraca Berg on
background vocals. Recorded in Jeff Black’s Arcana studio, Mixed by Dave Sinko,
who’s worked with The Punch Brothers and The Bee Eaters, and mastered by Eric
Conn, this disc sounds wonderful. If you want to hear what one of the best
songwriters in the US is up to, pick up a copy of B-Sides and Confessions Vol.
Two. You won’t be disappointed.
Rating (0- 10): Overall – 9, Sonically – 8
A Fragile Tomorrow – be nice be careful
Genre: Pop, Rock,
A Fragile Tomorrow combines a frisky pop
music sound with a post-Beck DIY eclecticism. While the term “family band”
usually implies a certain level of artistic inbreeding, Sean Kelly’s
songwriting displays a wide variety of influences and genres. Joined by his
twin brother, Dominic, younger sibling Brendan, and Shaun Rhodes, this
four-piece band delivers fourteen original songs with vigor. Produced by REM’s
Mitch Easter, with decent but not overbearing sonics, be nice be careful
redefines power pop for the 21st century.
Rating (0- 10): Overall – 8, Sonically – 8
Genre: Assorted
If you’ve been an audiophile for more than
a couple of years you’ve probably heard of OPUS 3. This small Swedish record
label has been releasing outstanding-sounding albums since 1977. If you want to
hear what they do and how they do it, the new 2013 Showcase sampler CD would be
an excellent place to start. The thirteen tracks include selections from Opus’
jazz, blues, and folk releases from the past several years. All are sonically
impressive, and some, such as Eric Bibb’s “Comeback Baby” and B.B. Driftwood’s
“Sweet Elizabeth,” are catchy enough to wind up in many audiophiles’ “often
selected” playlists.
Rating (0- 10): Overall – 8, Sonically – 9
Genre: Bluegrass, Instrumentals
On his fourth independently produced album
mandolinist Chad Fadely delivers eleven new original instrumental tunes. Joined
by Richie Reinholdt on guitar, Larry Chung on banjo, Isaac Callender on fiddle,
Andy Dunnigan on dobro, and Ted Lowe on acoustic bass, Fadely’s tunes have a
traditional feeling without falling into heard-that-before clichés. Some, such
as “Forest Run” draw on traditional fiddle tunes, in this case the B-part of
“Bill Cheatum,” for inspiration. Others, like “For Hailey” have an old timey
Doc Boggs-like feeling. For Chad Fadely album four is a charm.
Rating (0- 10): Overall – 8, Sonically – 8
