The Soulful Mavis Staples and Loveblock 2013 Pinot Noir

This is the second consecutive vintage of Loveblock Pinot Noir 2013 ($37, 14%) that I've received as a sample and this New Zealand wine captivates me. The grapes are grown in Loveblock's high altitude "Someone’s Darling" Vineyard (Central Otago), which owners Erica and Kim Crawford have had accredited with  Sustainable Winegrowing (SWNZ). The wine is powerful, yet classy; exhibits fresh fruit, yet dusty herbs; and finishes with bright acids, yet smooth tannins.  A very complex wine that's a gem to drink. Another gem is R&B gospel singer Mavis Staples.  With each sip of the Loveblock, Staples's soulful, smooth, yet dusty vocals seemed to emanate from the wine, whether the gospel sound of One True Vine or the soulful R&B of Livin' On A High Note. And when the band breaks out the electric guitar and horns while she's singing gospel, that captivates me as well. And by chance Staples is traveling through New Zealand and Australia this spring. Cheers.

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.

The Grammy Nominations & Categories To Follow

The 2014 Grammy Nominations were just announced and their are several friends of MyJoog.com and artists we've covered in the past nominated.  While viewing the categories we skimmed over some that we were interested in (Rock, Gospel) all the way down until we found #45 Best American Roots Song.  You can forget about the Pop divas and so called Country stars; here are the outstanding artists we care about.And special congratulations to artists we covered this year such as Della Mae, The Greencards, The Boxcars, Jim Lauderdale, Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott. Who's your favorite?

45. Best American Roots Song

• Build Me Up From Bones
• Sarah Jarosz, songwriter (Sarah Jarosz)
• Label: Sugar Hill Records
• Invisible
• Steve Earle, songwriter (Steve Earle & The Dukes (& Duchesses))
• Label: New West Records; Publisher: Exile On Jones St. Music
• Keep Your Dirty Lights On
• Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott, songwriters (Tim O'Brien And Darrell Scott)
• Track from: Memories And Moments
• Label: Full Skies Records
• Love Has Come For You
• Edie Brickell & Steve Martin, songwriters (Steve Martin & Edie Brickell)
• Track from: Love Has Come For You
• Label: Rounder; Publishers: LA Films Music/Brick Elephant Music
• Shrimp Po-Boy, Dressed
• Allen Toussaint, songwriter (Allen Toussaint)
• Track from: Songbook
• Label: Rounder; Publishers: Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc/Marsaint Music, Inc.

46. Best Americana Album

• Old Yellow Moon
• Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell
• Label: Nonesuch Records
• Love Has Come For You
• Edie Brickell & Steve Martin
• Label: Rounder
• Buddy And Jim
• Buddy Miller And Jim Lauderdale
• Label: New West Records
• One True Vine
• Mavis Staples
• Label: Anti Records
• Songbook
• Allen Toussaint
• Label: Rounder

47. Best Bluegrass Album

• It's Just A Road
• The Boxcars
• Label: Mountain Home Music Company
• Brothers Of The Highway
• Dailey & Vincent
• Label: Rounder
• This World Oft Can Be
• Della Mae
• Label: Rounder
• Three Chords And The Truth
• James King
• Label: Rounder
• The Streets Of Baltimore
• Del McCoury Band
• Label: McCoury Music

48. Best Blues Album

• Remembering Little Walter
• Billy Boy Arnold, Charlie Musselwhite, Mark Hummel, Sugar Ray Norcia & James Harman
• Label: Blind Pig Records
• Cotton Mouth Man
• James Cotton
• Label: Alligator
• Get Up!
• Ben Harper With Charlie Musselwhite
• Label: Stax
• Seesaw
• Beth Hart & Joe Bonamassa
• Label: J&R Adventures
• Down In Louisiana
• Bobby Rush
• Label: Deep Rush Records

49. Best Folk Album

• My Favorite Picture Of You
• Guy Clark
• Label: Dualtone
• Sweetheart Of The Sun
• The Greencards
• Label: Darling Street Records
• Build Me Up From Bones
• Sarah Jarosz
• Label: Sugar Hill Records
• The Ash & Clay
• The Milk Carton Kids
• Label: Anti Records
• They All Played For Us: Arhoolie Records 50th Anniversary Celebration
• (Various Artists)
• Chris Strachwitz, producer
• Label: Arhoolie Records