Album Review: Pops Staples - "Don't Lose This"

If you are familiar with Mavis Staples, then you need to educate yourself on her talented father: Roebuck "Pops" Staples.  Wilco's Jeff Tweedy is making that effort easier by producing Pops Staples' posthumous final album, Don't Lose This - available February 17th. The sessions were initially recorded in 1990, and at his passing in 2000, the tapes fell to daughter Mavis, who handed them off to Tweedy. And why not, with Tweedy's impressive collaborations with Mavis Staples in You Are Not Alone and One True Vine. The album is mostly Pops Staples gravelly vocals and electric guitar while Tweedy provides some bass and guitar and his son Spencer drums. Sisters Mavis, Yvonne and the late Cleotha Staples enrich the recordings with lead and harmony vocals as displayed in "Sweet Home", "Better Home",  and "Love on My Side". Blues enthusiasts will love "No News is Good News" and "Nobody's Fault But Mine". There are also excellent versions of the traditional gospel "Gotta Serve Somebody" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". NPR is currently streaming the album so check it out and then add to your blues and gospel collection on the 17th. Cheers.

David Lowery (Cracker) Responds to NPR

One week ago, David Lowery (Cracker) wrote an essay titled Letter to Emily White at NPR All Songs Considered in response to an NPR blog post I Never Owned Any Music To Begin With in which an NPR intern describes how she never pays for music downloaded online. All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton published a "review" of the discussion, somewhat excusing Ms. White's non-payments as "everyone does it" - but also links to resources that explain "Where To Buy Music To Get More Cents On The Dollar To The Musicians".  I agree more with Lowery's argument - and encourage all readers to take time to digest the entire topic.

NPR All Songs Considered - Tiny Desk Concerts

One of the weekly music podcasts I download is NPR's All Songs Considered, hosted by Bob Boilen. Boilen plays mostly pop songs which helps to expand our musical horizon - and at times he introduces us to artists that we start to follow quite closely. He also has accumulated a broad range of musical knowledge in which he imparts to the listener. They are always entertaining shows. Boilen also provides a video podcast called Tiny Desk Concerts which are filmed out of the NPR Music office. This is an interesting setting, the artists feel like they are playing next to you and the video sometimes contains and occasional outside noise - like an ambulance.

The specific podcast that caught my attention was David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. What an awesome performance; I sat mesmerized watching my tiny ipod. That weekly download also included Brooklyn Rider and The Low Anthem. These forced me to take a look at the archive. What a lineup - if that's what you call it. Sarah Siskind, The Avett Brothers, and one I will never erase, Ralph Stanley. Wow.