One of the most captivating musical trends of the year is solo discs by men who either lead or co-lead popular bands.
Two of the best discs of this type also fall under a trend sub-category. Dim Stars, Bright Sky ( iMusic/BMG ) by John Doe ( formerly of X, The Knitters and The John Doe Thing ) and Hitting The Ground ( Instinct ) by Gordon Gano ( formerly of Violent Femmes ) feature several guest vocalists, many of whom perform duets or, in the case of Gano's disc, simply take the lead.
Doe's disc is his best post-X work. Sumptuous and heartbreaking, he's developed into one of his generation's most important songwriters. Anyone who got goose-bumps, like I did, when Doe sang with ex-wife and X-band-mate Exene Cervenkova, will have a similar experience when they hear Doe's duets with Juliana Hatfield on "Closet Of Dreams" and "Still You," Jane Wiedlin on "Forever For You," and Aimee Mann on "This Far." Doe stands respectfully alone on the recommended tracks "Holes," "Far Away ( From The North Country ) ," and "Employee Of The Month."
Gano goes the Stephin Merritt route by having a multitude of guest vocalists perform the songs on his solo debut disc. The title track opens and closes the disc in versions by PJ Harvey ( sounding like Patti Smith covering the Violent Femmes ) and Gano himself. Mary Lou Lord, John Cale, Lou Reed, Frank Black and They Might Be Giants make each of Gano's songs ( "Oh Wonder," "Don't Pretend," "Catch 'Em In The Act," "Run," and "Darlin' Allison," respectively ) their very own. Gano's duet with Martha Wainwright ( Rufus's sister ) , my favorite track on the disc, hits the ground and bounces.
Jason Ringenberg ( formerly of Jason & The Nashville Scorchers ) follows suit with his album of duets and collaborations All Over Creation ( Yep Roc ) . Kristi Rose and Fats Kaplin ( an undeniable presence on queer country duo Y'All's most recent CD ) turn up on "I Dreamed My Baby Came Home" and "Mother Of Earth," while living legend Steve Earle appears on "Bible And A Gun." New traditionalists BR549 and Lambchop strut their stuff on "Don't Come Home A Drinkin' ( With Lovin' On Your Mind ) " and "Erin's Seed," respectively.
There is probably a generation of young music lovers for whom the sound of Roddy Frame's voice, on his latest solo album Surf ( spinART ) , is a new experience. Frame ( formerly of Aztec Camera ) only released one previous solo disc ( 1998's The North Star ) , but for many it was his early-to-mid '80s work with his band that established him in our consciousness. This stunning, stripped-down acoustic effort allows his exquisite vocals to come forth effortlessly. Standout tracks, on which Frame's guitar playing is also highlighted, include the title track, "Tough," "Big Ben," and "Turning The World Around."
David Baerwald ( formerly of David & David ) leaves the gritty sound of his previous solo discs behind for a more country-oriented turn on Here Comes The New Folk Underground ( Lost Highway ) . Baerwald sounds comfortable working in this realm, the twang coming to him naturally on "Why," "The Crash," and "Hellbound Train." Baerwald also gets soulful on "Love #29" and "Nothing's Gonna Bring Me Down," and verges on the Randy Newman-esque on the queer male hustler tune "If ( A Boy Whore in A Man's Jail ) ."
Darius Rucker, former lead singer of frat-rock favorites Hootie & The Blowfish, reinvents himself as an nouveau soul singer with his solo debut disc Back To Then ( Hidden Beach ) , not leaving much to hoot about. His duet with Jill Scott on the song "Sometimes I Wonder" ( which they co-wrote ) is pleasant, but not memorable. The disc's best track, the story song, "Hold On," simply can't hold up under the weight of the lesser material.
Dave Pirner ( formerly of Soul Asylum ) has a voice that is as easily recognizable as Darius Rucker's. Gruff and emotive, Pirner's self-titled solo disc ( Ultimatum Music ) is a surprisingly ambient pop record. Gone is the Minneapolis thrash of his Soul Asylum years, replaced by an unexpectedly lush and warm sensibility. How longtime SA fans react remains to be seen. However, songs such as "Never Recover" ( featuring Billy Preston on keyboards ) , "Faces & Names," "Tea," and the downright dance-able "Someday Love," expose listeners to another side of the "Soul" man.
Left of Self-Centered ( Arista/HiFi ) by Butch Walker ( formerly of Marvelous 3 ) is a CD with a sense of humor and rhythm. Walker lashes out at suburbia and conformity on the album's first single "My Way" and "Suburbia." He's able to laugh at himself ( "Trouble," "Far Away From Close" ) as easily as he laughs at others ( "Alicia Amnesia," "Get Down," "Diary Of A San Fernando Sexx Star" ) which is a good quality to possess.
Most people expected Speech of Arrested Development to be the first one from the group to experience solo success, but it was Dionne Farris who had a hit with her single "I Know," a few years after AD's chart-topping single "Tennessee." Ten years after Arrested Development's major-label debut and subsequent popularity, Speech is releasing his latest solo disc Spiritual People ( iMusic/BMG ) , which could provide solo success. As he did with AD, Speech combines hip-hop and vintage soul to create his distinctive style, and the spirit comes through loud and clear. Railing against those "only doing it for the income" on the anti-commercial sellout opening track "Brought To You By … ( Music & Life ) ," Speech re-ignites the heat of Arrested Development on the bouncy "The Simple Love of Life," while establishing his own identity on "A Traveler," "It's A Challenge For Me," and "Ghetto Fabulous."
A clean and sober Mike Doughty ( a.k.a. M Doughty, formerly of Soul Coughing ) , has a self-released live disc titled Smofe + Smang: Live In Minneapolis ( www. superspecialquestions.com ) , an intimate recording featuring bare-bones acoustic versions of well-known Soul Coughing tunes ( such as "St. Louise Is Listening," "True Dreams of Wichita," and "Circles" ) , as well as new numbers ( including "Sunkeneyed Girl," "Madeleine And Nine," and "Busting Up A Starbux" ) . Doughty sounds grateful to his appreciative audience and during one of the more humorous spoken interludes, Doughty declares "It's Raining Men" as the new "Freebird," making a bargain with the audience to bypass the urge to call out "Freebird," and request "It's Raining Men," in its place.
Peter Wolf ( formerly of J. Geils Band ) always reminded me of an American Mick Jagger, and hearing them sing together on the song "Nothing But The Wheel," on Wolf's new solo disc Sleepless ( Artemis ) , drove the point home. Making the Stones experience a complete one, Keith Richards sings and plays guitar on "Too Close Together.
Ladies' Love Oracle ( Magnetic Field Recordings/Zoe ) is the second solo disc in a year by Grant-Lee Phillips ( formerly of Grant Lee Buffalo ) . "Recorded over the course of three days in October of ninety nine," the 10 songs echo the stylistic variety of the ones on 2001's Mobilize. Phillips comes across as a cross between Van Dyke Parks and Harry Nilsson on tracks such as "Heavenly," "Squint," "Don't Look Down," "Flamin' Shoe," and "Nothin' Is For Sure."
On his latest solo CD, Night Time! ( Festival Five ) , Dan Zanes ( formerly of The Del Fuegos ) , covers a couple of bases reflecting current musical trends. Firstl, more than half of the songs are collaborations, featuring vocals several familiar names. Second, Zanes joins They Might Be Giants and others in releasing a "family" CD ( read: children and their parents ) this year. Previous CD guest vocalists have included Sandra Bernhard and Rosanne Cash, while Night Time features Aimee Mann ( "Night Owl" ) , Dar Williams ( "Wild Mountain Thyme" ) , Lou Reed ( "What A Wonderful World" ) , and the above mentioned John Doe ( "So Long It's Been Good To Know Yuh" ) , to name a few.
Like Dan Zanes, Ralph Covert ( of Ralph Covert & The Bad Examples ) has experienced unexpected commercial and critical success with his "family recordings" under the Ralph's World moniker. The latest Ralph's World disc, Happy Lemons ( Mini Fresh ) is a candy-colored confection that contains several Covert originals and co-compositions, as well as his reinvention of Bacharach/David's Tom Jones classic "What's New, Pussycat?" into genuine family fare, and the traditional "Pony Boy" which uses Bruce Springsteen's arrangement.
Barry Adamson ( formerly of Magazine and the Bad Seeds ) has a prolific solo career that began in the late 1980s. Adamson has done a considerable amount of soundtrack work, and new album The King of Notting Hill ( Mute ) , echoes that, as well as his affinity for dance beats. The first two cuts, "Cinematic Soul" and "Whispering Streets," superbly combine film images and dance rhythms. Adamson conjures another Barry, Barry White, on the sexy wah-wah of "Black Amour," and reminds us of why David Lynch has included his work in his films with the instrumental "The Second Stain."
At Sixes and Sevens ( Sub Pop ) is the solo debut by Jason Loewenstein of Sebadoh. A true solo project, the CD booklet reads: "The songs, instrument playing, vocals, engineering, production and cover design by Jason Loewenstein." Loewenstein remains true to his indie-credibility throughout on this musical equivalent of a twister, blowing up dust and tearing off roofs on "Codes," "Angle," "Crazy Santana," "H/M," "Funerals," and "Transform."
Bruce Hornsby ( formerly of Bruce Hornsby & The Range ) takes an usual new step on Big Swing Face ( RCA ) . He may look like a suburban dad with a bad hairpiece/combover, but he sounds like a risk taker. Drum programming dominates Big Swing Face, illustrating that this white man can get down as he does on "Cartoons & Candy," "Try Anything Once," "So Out" ( with the telling line, "this is so out but I'm in" ) and "Place Under The Sun." Hornsby's longtime fans can take comfort in "This Too Shall Pass" and "The Good Life."
From his early days in the Irish punk band The Boomtown Rats to his elevation to goodwill ambassador to the world via his work with Live Aid, Bob Geldof has had a very full career. sex, age & death ( Koch/Eagle ) , his first solo disc in a number of years, recalls Leonard Cohen ( "Pale White Girls" ) , Pink Floyd ( "The Original Miss Jesus" ) , R.L. Burnside ( "Mind In Pocket" ) , and David Bowie ( "Scream In Vain" ) , Geldof ultimately remains his own man, battered and bruised, over the course of the dozen tracks.
Up ( Geffen/Real World ) , Peter Gabriel's first studio album of new songs since Us ( 1992 ) , comes shortly after his entire catalog of solo work ( including soundtracks ) was reisssued in remastered editions. On Up, Gabriel ( formerly of Genesis ) has synthesized the musical experimentation that he investigated over the course of twenty five years as a solo artist, and you can hear echoes of everything from his first three solo discs to Security, So and Us on songs such as "Darkness" ( on which he sings "I'm afraid of loving women/and I'm scared of loving men" ) , "Growing Up," "Sky Blue," "The Barry Williams Show," and "More Than This."
Richard Thompson ( formerly of Fairport Convention ) reunited with ex-wife and former band-mate Linda on her recently released CD Fashionably Late. Thompson's critically and commercially acclaimed 1991 album Rumor And Sigh ( Capitol ) , which contains some of his best-known tunes, including "I Feel So Good," "Read About Love," and "I Misunderstood," has just been reissued on DVD Audio and includes the videos for "I Feel So Good" and "I Misunderstood," as well as lyrics that appear on-screen.
Graham Nash is probably the only other artist in this column who goes back, professionally, as far as Richard Thompson. Nash's trademark vocals and harmonies ( provided by David Crosby, naturally ) give the tunes on Songs For Survivors ( Artemis ) a timeless quality. Secrets and lies are the overlying theme on "Dirty Little Secret," "Blizzard Of Lies," and "Liar's Nightmare." Nash also mourns on "Lost Another One," reminisces on "The Chelsea Hotel," and covers Richard and Linda Thompson on the song "Pavanne."
Vernon Reid ( formerly of Living Colour ) and DJ Logic ( formerly of Eye & I ) have teamed up as the Yohimbe Brothers on the percolating and nearly explosive Front End Lifter ( Ropeadope/Atlantic ) . Combining Reid's blazing guitar work with Logic's bruising turntable and sound scavenging skills, most of the 15 songs, including "Tenemental," "Welcome 2 The Freq Show," "Bamalamb," and "Invitation To A Situation," lift the listener higher. Guest appearances by Yuval Gabay, Prince Paul, Slick Rick, and Corey Glover and Doug Wimbish ( also formerly of Living Colour ) , are a brotherly bonus.
2002 is the Year of the Ramones. In February, the late Joey Ramone's solo debut disc was posthumously released. Dee Dee Ramone died in June, shortly after the proto-American punk band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a tribute disc, Ramones Forever, was also released. Legends Bleed ( Thirsty Ear ) by Marky Ramone & The Speedkings, is an energetic and thrashing disc ( with Ramone on drums and percussion and Nick Cooper on lead vocals ) , veering between traditional Ramones-like tracks ( "Saturday Night," "Burning Rubber," "Teenage Rock`n'Roll Suicide" ) and raw punk metal ( "Girls & Gasoline," "Fuck Shit Up!," "Weenie Hair" ) . Four bonus tracks from a live Ramones performance in Germany close the disc.
