Shot Of Rhythm

[ Thursday, July 15, 2004 ]

 

Soul is a hamhock in your cornflakes

As a major fan, and sometime student, of the Southern soul music of the 1960s and 1970s, the emergence of Ricky Fante in the past few months - first with an E.P. and now with his full-length debut, REWIND - is an absolute thrill. His sound, from voice to songwriting, sounds like it was dropped fully-formed from a Memphis/Muscle Shoals time-warp, a gift from the Gods of 1967. Although some may say it's derivative (which it is...no question), I can't get over the fact that there's a brand-new artist, in his early twenties, who fits with no sense of awkwardness or disjunction in between an Al Green record and, say, Sam and Dave or Aretha Franklin. As good as those pioneers? No. Riding the same path, with the same sweet results? Absolutely. Between Fante, Angie Stone, and the continued Al Green reissues, it's been a good couple weeks for soul. What is soul, you ask? Well, if you ask George Clinton, it's a hamhock in your cornflakes. And I ain't one to argue with Dr. Funkenstein.

Post-All Star Break baseball starts again today. Watch those Brewers; they're comers. As for the Pirates, my other team, well...they probably won't totally suck. Put me in, coach...

On the box right now: Ricky Fante, REWIND.

Peace...

Dove With Claws [8:54 AM]

[ Monday, July 12, 2004 ]

 

Something that truly scares me

Read this. Although it seems both unbelievable and improbable, the very fact that such a discussion is taking place is enough for me to shake in my boots a little bit. If this plan goes beyond the supposition stage, we really need to be in the streets.

On the box right now: Al Green, CALL ME. His best album? Maybe...

Peace...

Dove With Claws [12:29 PM]

[ Sunday, July 11, 2004 ]

 

Back from Oz

Back from Michigan. More later.

On the box right now: Petey Pablo, STILL WRITING IN MY DIARY finishing up, to be followed by OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, O.C.M.S.

Peace...

Dove With Claws [1:19 PM]