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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Seaman, Dave" <seamand@upmc.edu> |
| Subject | jayhawks and stewart |
| Date | Mon, 13 Oct 2003 14:09:16 -0400 |
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On one hand, my timing was bad -- I went down to Baltimore to visit
relatives last weekend, instead of this making the trip next weekend, when
the Fell's Point Oysterfest (featuring pop bands) takes place. On the other
hand, my timing was good -- I didn't think I would, but I made it back to
Pittsburgh just early enough to get down to Rosebud and catch the Jayhawks
last night. The 'hawks were in good form. They don't smile much, or seem
to be having much fun - I think they must've read a page from the Fountains
of Wayne handbook - but the music was spot on. They played a lot from
their recent CD, Rainy Day Music, and their harmonies and musicianship gave
me goosebumps. What great songs! What a great CD! Such beautiful songs,
so beautifully done -- if you like superbly catchy upbeat melodies, strong
meaningful lyrics, and gorgeous 3-part harmonies, you will dig this release.
Warning - not at all power pop - although there is some electric guitar
throughout, it is more acoustic than electric. Sort of alt-country/folk
pop, but definitely pop-oriented, not hick schtick. Maybe a bit CSN or
Byrds. Which don't bother me a bit -- definitely on my top ten list for
'03.
On another note -- again, not a power pop note -- I have been listening to
early Rod Stewart, namely stuff from The RS Album, Gasoline Alley, Every
Picture Tells A Story and Never a Dull Moment. What great stuff! The feel
of this material is just so great - many good and great songs, excellent
interplay of electric and acoustic guitars, mandolins, and other stringed
things, a healthy dose of barrelhouse rock and roll pianos and swelling
organs, active & funky bass work, a drum mix that hits you between the eyes,
and of course that voice. And then, a few albums later, he lost it. I
mean lost it From Maggie May to Do Ya Think I'm Sexy. What a shame. I
will have to find all of the early RS albums on CD. Wish they put them out
on 2fers, they'd fit.
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