Jay’s ballot for musical all-star break

By: Jay Minkin
Date: 10/31/2007
JULY 19, 2007—It’s now the all-star break, so let’s review some of the highlights from the first half of the music season. Here is my ballot for mid-summer classics that include some familiar names worthy of recognition:

At the top of the list is Wilco, who released their seventh album entitled Sky Blue Sky. Prior to recording, Wilco leader Jeff Tweedy had checked himself into rehab to treat an addiction to painkillers. The band’s future seemed in doubt, but the inner and external turmoil has resulted in a newfound stability. The new album flows beautifully from beginning to end and Tweedy’s lyrics are very personal and direct.

The lovely Patty Griffin has received three nominations from the Americana Music Association for Album of the Year (Children Running Through), Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year (“Heavenly Day”) from her latest release. Griffin, whose first release was in 1996, displays her powerful vocals and guitar work accompanied by a sterling assortment of Austin, Nashville and New York players, including longtime Griffin collaborator Doug Lancio on guitar, legendary Faces keyboardist Ian McLagan, and a nine-person string section conducted and arranged by multi-instrumentalist John Mark Painter.

I don’t think Neil Young knew his performance Live at Massey Hall 1971 would finally be released 36 years later on a compact disc. Young decided not to release a live album recorded at the famous Toronto concert hall with new songs that would eventually become Harvest, and shelved the concert tapes. Accompanied by just piano and acoustic guitar, the sound clarity and song arrangements will blow you away and make you salivate for more official “bootleg” performances.

I was turned on to Jimmy LaFave after seeing his 2005 release Blue Nightfall on several critic’s year-end top ten album lists. I took a flyer on it and found a fantastic storyteller with a beautiful and unique voice hailing from the music scene of Austin, Texas. So when I heard LaFave was going to have a new album, I had to pick up Cimarron Manifest the first day of release. I was not disappointed and found an even greater jewel than I had last time. LaFave should once again be getting accolades at year end, but of course you’ll have known all about him by then ;-)

Jay Minkin is an Akron area entrepreneur, music promoter and critic. For more of his thoughts on music, you may e-mail him at blues4bird@aol.com.

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