The Pretenders - Break Up The Concrete

I was seven when The Pretenders released their first album. Of course I grew up knowing who they were, but until ‘Break Up The Concrete’, the bands ninth album, I hadn’t owned any of thier music. And I’m okay with that. There is only so much looking back you can do musically. Like when someone says “I have heaps of music, we should share” and then you never listen to any of it. No reason to. It was like that with me and Chrissy Hynde. And I’m sure she’s okay with that too.

I picked up this album because October seems to be the month of ‘don’t forget us, we used to be great - remember?’ (Acca, Metallica, The Cure, The Verve, Primal Scream, Sugarland and heaps more.) And based on ‘Concrete’, The Pretenders must have been great, because this is a great album. It is a mix of rockabilly, rock ‘n roll and country western, but better than that sounds - I promise.

Album opener ‘Boots of Chinese Plastic’ sets the pace and tone of the album. It opens wih Chrissy counting in a beat that I’m sure came from an Elvis movie. And that’s about the only indication of this bands age. They reference the familiar constantly, but it sounds fresh and contemporary, with lyrics that are dense, acerbic and terse delivered with the Hynde snarl. 

The drumming of Jim Keltner is simply sublime throughout the album, and turns the otherwise ordinary ‘Rosalee’ into a pounding ode to a lost love. ‘Break Up The Concrete’ brings the album full circle with another Elvis moment. All in all I can highly recommend this album to fans and noobs (like me) alike.

THINK: Rockabilly ‘n’ Country Roll
WATCH: Boots of Chinese Plastic
READ: Their Homepage
BUY: Break Up The Concrete on Amazon

Willie Nelson Wynton Marsalis - Two Men With The Blues

Where to begin? You’re computer literate, net savvy groovers so I’ll begin by assuming you know nothing about Willie Nelson. And that’s probably a good thing. See, Willie has probably done a duet with everybody that’s ever cleared their throat.  And with limited success, but forget about all that. In fact, forget everything you though you knew about Willie Nelson.

Two Men With The Blues brings together two of the most important figures in Country and Jazz to share their love of Blues and Jazz. The result is a beautiful and often playful synergy of great musicians playing music they love. When interviewed Willie said:

‘Record labels had to know what to call it before they could sell it, so they called it Blues, Jazz, Bluegrass, Gospel and whatever. But some music incompasses it all. So what do you call it? And that’s pretty much what I like to play.’ 

The album opener is a scene setting loose and jazz infused blues version of Jimmy Reed’s ‘Bright Lights, Big City’. It hints at what’s in store - subtle arrangements that allow the whole band to shine, not just the headliners. Mickey Raphael’s harmonica and Wynton’s horn spar and play through out the album, with bass, guitar, keys and drums getting their moment in the spot light. Hank Williams ‘My bucket’s got a hole in it’ becomes a New Orleans march cum eulogy for beer, and showcases Nelsons picking and wry comedic timing.

Two Men With The Blues is unlike anything I’ve heard this year - a celebration of music. A worthy addition to anyones collection. Go get it!

THINK: The best Jazz / Blues album this year!
WATCH: Willie & Wynton’s clip.
READ: Willie & Wynton’s site.
BUY: Two men witthe blues at amazon