![]() Various Artists THE FAITHFUL (A Tribute to Marianne Faithfull).You decide – but it’s my Favourite Song on a very clever and Grown Up set of songs.įollow The Rocking Magpie on Search for: Categories Categories Recent Posts Is it a metaphor for a the last days of a passionate relationship? ![]() Is it more local and his observations on the localised political climate? Is it literally about the Wars that are springing up around the world? Then there is the gritty Don’t Start a War very much a ‘song of our times’, with its doom laden arrangement and Alexander’s voice sounding pained and emotional as he tells a tale that can be deciphered on many levels. The finale This Side of The Glass is an honest and brutally honest harmony driven song about heartbreak and a broken heart in the style of Steve Earle or Neil Young but neither can dredge up the pain and heartbreak these days that Alexander manages with consummate ease. If I’ve done my maths correctly, this is John Alexander’s 8th album since 2004, and it appears he’s served a long and globetrotting apprenticeship, playing to audiences the world over which probably explains the way he naturally paints pictures in the listeners’ head with his words and imagery during the deceptively punchy Fault and Blame as well as the smouldering Living To Stay Alive.Īs these are grown up and mature songs, there’s nothing here commercial enough to trouble the Top 40 chart compilers but in some ways that’s a good thing as the target demographic will want to play this album from start to finish in the way the artist has arranged them but a couple of songs really stand out from the crowd. The key to these songs though is Alexander’s incisive and acutely observed songwriting which really comes to the fore with the smoky Last Man Standing and the title track Face The Wind, which has a neat Juke Joint melody and a kick in the teeth chorus. making it accessible for English speaking audiences the world over. Knowing Alexander comes from Glasgow I can hear hints of his accent in the background rasp during the stunning Blood In The Water and Breathe but generally his voice is deep and emotional with no discernible landmarks in it quite International in fact …. What follows is predominantly Americana to my ears but with a healthy dose of Southern Blues, most notably in the stunning guitar playing, and combining the two gives us some really memorable songs like White Noise and Long Way From Gone too. Opening song Bullets in The Rain is mighty impressive straddling the genre defying music we associate with acts like John Prine, Nanci Griffith, Steve Earle and the young John Martyn too, as Alexander combines gentle Bluesy licks with an Americana tinted story from a charmingly world weary voice aligned to a sharp and edgy female in the background. He was correct of course and here’s my thoughts on the first one, by Glaswegian singer-songwriter John Alexander. Just as I was winding down the reviews section of RMHQ, one of our friends in Scotland, broadcasting legend Mike Ritchie, knowing my tastes in music, got in touch regarding two albums from friends of his that he thought we’d enjoy. We enjoyed ordering our breakfast the evening before so that it was ready at our reserved seating time in your quaint garden.Smouldering Blues Tinged Americana Singer-Songwriter For Grown Ups Our first floor guest room was quite comfortable, and we appreciated having an extra key to come and go through the sidewalk gate. Your customer service throughout our stay was simply exceptional. John the Baptist Basilica, as well as Chippewa Square where Forrest Gump sat on the park bench. We easily walked to the Mercer Williams House (primary filming location of the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil”, to the famous Forsyth Square white fountain, to the most beautiful St. We chose your Inn for our first ever visit to Savannah for its convenient location in the heart of the historic districts and because it’s along Savannah’s most picturesque street. We didn’t see any ghosts, but we did encounter some welcoming spirits like Tess, Deangelis, Sheryl, and Chef Mike.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |