It has been pointed out to me by my readers, all two of them, that I am becoming more negative in my reviews. I deny that I am becoming more negative.

             The problem is that Ed, my editor, has decided to let more of my less-than-positive reviews through and this makes me appear more negative [not true; the truth is that Treadway has been writing fewer and fewer reviews and in order to fill his space, we have to resort to printing his less complimentary stuff; he has always been a cynic but we have been able in the past to edit out most of his rancor –Ed].

             Okay, so now we have an argument, excuse me I mean discussion, about positive/negative amid the same old slurs that I am too cynical. In the first place: I am not cynical, I am realistic. In the second place … um, come to think of it there is no second place. I write poetry for crying out loud! How many cynical poets are there?

             I submit that it is impossible for a poet to be a cynic simply because the very idea that poetry lifts the soul is anathema to cynics. Here is a poem I wrote to illustrate what I mean:

You cannot control our minds you know

A useless endeavor, friends

So why exploit our bodies

For your own rapacious ends

Leave me to my own devices

And I thank you a lot

I would even pay my taxes, Sam

If you let me smoke my pot

         See, nothing cynical there. Put on some music and have a good time. Or go to a festival; we are getting into festival season. Surely no one considers going to festivals a negative or cynical thing.

             Another thing is that I suddenly find myself with four grandkids from 5 years old down to eight months old and as all their parents work, so there is a natural requirement that I do a certain amount of, for lack of a better term, babysitting (which reminds me that traveling along Highway 16 one time I saw a sign outside Greenland that said:

Baby Sitting In Trailer

         Yet I somehow managed to quell my urge to stop and see what was so special about this baby, sitting in a trailer. Now that I have an eight-month-old baby tugging on my beard as I try to listen to music, write reviews, and just generally get on with what is often referred to as my life, I begin to understand.

             Actress / singer Dorothy Provine passed at 75 and former manager of The Sex Pistols Malcolm McLaren died at 64.

             EJN Jazz Sampler sent us a sample. Go to their website at ejnews.com/ejnsampler (at least I think that is the address) for free downloads of some fine music.

             Oh yeah, need I remind you that May is National Pet Month, which means we are free to pet. But be warned: next month is June and you know what that month is known for … right, weddings.

THE BARRY RATLIFF MEMORIAL CD

Barry Ratliff and friends

Indie

             Barry Ratliff passed away a few years ago and this is a fitting memorial, in that it is one of the best road albums you could want: lots of pulsing rhythm, soaring guitar licks, and great vocals. Get a copy of this and put it in your CD player for when you have to drive from say, Conway to Fort Smith, which is where Barry was from, or from Fayetteville to Little Rock, which is where I am from, or from Monticello to Pine Bluff, though why anyone would want to do that escapes me at the moment. Thing is, Ratliff was one hell of a musician and he had a lot of friends and a lot of fans and he died too young. Also featured on this album are the Hoo Doos and Wanda Watson (who has been reviewed previously in these pages). The first eleven tracks on the album were recorded live at Old Town Grain and Feed, a venerable Fort Smith establishment, in December of 1992, with Ricky Dicks on drums, Harley Vinsant on bass, and Grant Pierson joining Ratliff on vocals and guitar. Then there are a final few cuts recorded at KMOD in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is when Wanda Watson joins in and does a Bonnie Raitt song; Danny Watson, Bob Lewis, and Bill Peeler also play on these last tracks. I have never been more serious in my life when I tell you that this is a fantastic album for a long drive: it will keep you entertained and energized (but do your best to observe speed limits). One more thing: he flat made Suzy Q his own.

RUNNING HOME

Running Home

Running Home

             Yes, it is the name of the band, the album, and their label. Elizabeth Butler and Suzanne Comeaux Bucher comprise Running Home. They wrote the songs (either singly or together) and even held a hand in producing this album of sweetly-sung songs of love, longing, and even our Lord. They were recorded in Houston, Texas with a little help from lots of friends. Contact studiobabe@hotmail .com for further facts.

THE FIGHT IS ON

Popa Chubby

Blind Pig

             Popa Chubby did not waste much time becoming my favorite Blind Pig artist. He came out swinging and just keeps on knocking out great music, from thoughtful and sometimes funny lyrics to scorching guitar licks. This is typical Popa Chubby except for one thing: he includes a Burgeresque ballad (and I doubt that he even ever heard Burger). I cannot say that it is his best album, but it ranks right up there with all of his other albums and I have yet to hear a bad one.

DIANAANAID

Diana Anaid

Forola

             I tell you, she reminds me of Ani diFranco; same sense of self-awareness and putting all of herself into her music. According to the liner notes, this is her fourth album, but it is the first I have heard, so she is quite new to me. She has a myspace page if you want to know more about her.

COZUMEL MOON

Alternate Route

Pineypoint

             I imagine one does have to take an alternate route to Piney Point, if not to Cozumel. This is a laid-back piece of play, celebrating the life of dive bums in the cool Caribbean waters, but that does not preclude catchy tunes or clever lyrics. The band is composed of Steve Thrower, David Roork, Stan Davidson (each of whom wrote songs for the album, sharing vocals and guitar work) and percussionist / producer Caylan Daughrity. Reminds me a lot of Doc Archie, both in style and subject matter.

RAIN ON FIRE

Jill King

Foundher

             Jill King has a versatile voice, sometimes a bit breathy and then with all the oomph of, oh, say a Dolly Parton (not that Jill does country, but that what she does is good and strong and tasteful yet saucy). I truly do not know if that statement makes any sense, but it is what ran through what is left of my mind. She wrote or co-wrote all the songs on this album, which was recorded at Congress House Studios in Austin, Texas. Lots of folks contributed to this really fine collection. Go to booking@jillking.com or to contact@jillking.com for further information.

THE BLUES MASTERS

FEATURING MICKEY THOMAS

DMD

             The Bluesmasters are: Mickey Thomas, vocals; Tim Tucker, guitars; Doug Lynn, harp; Ric Ulsky, B3; Danny Miranda, bass; Ainsley Dunbar, drums. Mickey tries a little too hard, pushes her voice just a bit too far beyond the comfort level on the first couple of cuts, then relaxes into a simpler groove on an Elvin Bishop number, then goes right back to blowing out her vocal cords. Magic Slim helps on a couple cuts.

THE STIMULUS PACKAGE

Epic Sonn

Strugglin Entertainment

             Hey I am the first to admit I do not know rap from hip hop, hip hop from crunk, but I enjoyed this CD. There are some clever lines, including a slant rhyme: water / harder, and one cut has a girl chorus, which is the best one on the disc for me. Like I said, I turn 68 this month and I doubt many 68-year-old men, white or black, listen to much hip hop. But if you do, you want to get in touch with Graig Shaffer, CEO of Strugglin Entertainment (888-262-7047).

MORNING GLORY

Edgar Lotter

Northern Light

             This is really nice. Lotter wrote the songs and sings over guitar accompaniment by Atle Hanson. I like the music, which is quite calming. Always good to listen to something peaceful after something loud.

DAUNTLESS

Greymarket

Indie

    Exuberant as it can be (especially the drum), this is an uneven album. There is some interesting interplay between the vocalists, but it gets boringly whiny at times. Then again what do I know? Look to Big Fat Cat for publicity stuff.

PARANOID ANDROID

Lachi

Indie

             You know, I hate it when I get music with no information whatsoever about the musician(s). This disc contains some incredibly diverse sounds, from a sort of doo-wop to piano-backed musical drama.  

THE VOIDIST

Imaad Wasif

On line

           I got an e-mail with music and video and a list of appearances. The closest he would be coming to us was Austin, Texas for SXSW. David Reich and I often exchange music via e-mail, so I forwarded him a few of the tunes and here is what he had to say: