Month: May 2009

Categories
2008 releases artists digital downloads guitar

Juzzie Smith – Travelling

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Juzzie Smith – The One Man Band that will blow you away

Juzzie Smith is one of those happy coincidental discoveries. It just so happened that, while my mother was out in Australia visiting us on holiday, we took her up the Sunshine Coast for the weekend. While up there, we decided to take a trip to the Eumundi Markets, which always has some interesting stalls up.

Of course, it took me all of two minutes to grow tired of shopping, so I went off for a wander around the food stalls, as I am wont to do. (What, I was hungry and the German Kransky Sausages smell was calling to me, ok? Never mind that I’m still nursing a burn on my tongue from the hot, but oh-so-delicious cheese. Ahem… back on track)

So while I was wandering around, nursing an inflamed tongue, I heard the unmistakable sounds of a one-man-band playing. A lap slide guitar, some mean harp… I was instantly pulled towards the sounds. And what I found, when I reached the source, was one-man-band and one-man-smiling-machine, Juzzie Smith.

Juzzie is the quintessential busker. Talking to the crowd, he explained that this was his life: travelling the world with his wife and daughter, performing his music live for whoever will listen to it, and flogging his recordings when he can. Ultimately, Juzzie lives the romantic notion of the travelling musician that others of us only dream of. Not only did Juzzie rekindle that fire in my belly of what music can do with his tales, but his music itself was a sheer primal force.

Needless to say, I bought two of his CDs right there and then.

There is one, slight, downer here though. I have to say that Juzzie live simply does not come across in Juzzie recorded. I’m not sure what it is, maybe that grit that comes from hearing someone perform on the sidewalk is washed away in a steril studio… but while the recordings are great, they don’t quite stand up to Juzzie Smith live.

I’m not sure anything ever will.

That said, here’s a tune from Juzzie’s “happy Daze” release, called… you guessed it, “Travelling”.

Listen. Love. Support.

Listen: Juzzie Smith – Travelling

Categories
artists digital downloads guitar live songs

Joe Pug – How Good You Are (live at Schuba’s Tavern, 2009)

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My love for Joe Pug is no secret. If there is one artist who I have ever featured on this blog that I would like to see succeed, it’s Joe. Joe’s “Nation of Heat” EP was passed around my friends and family and random people I accosted on the street like no other, and it was one of the most promising debuts I have heard to date.

Recently, a live show of Joe Pug performing at Schuba’s Tavern on May 1st was posted to archive.org, and the set has pretty much been spinning non-stop through my headphones since then. A pleasant mixture of solo and full band stuff, the show hints at a great upcoming release. The full show can be downloaded here, but below, I’ve included the highlight of the set for me… that’s the opening tune, “How Good You Are”.

This song has hit me like a stake through the chest. I simply cannot wait for the upcoming full-length. Here’s to more of this from Joe Pug.

Listen. Love. Support.

Listen: Joe Pug – How Good You Are

Categories
2009 releases artists digital downloads guitar music

Malcolm Middleton – Carry Me

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Malcolm Middleton

It’s no secret that Malcolm Middleton is one of my favourite Scottish songwriters. And I don’t use “Scottish” there as a qualification, or an attempt to pigenhole Malcolm. I use it as a badge of honour… I see it as a compliment of the highest order to be seen to lead such a talented group. Which is why it’s such a shame that Malcolm Middleton‘s latest album, “Waxing Gibbous”, is reportedly his last solo work for some years.

It’s a shame, because all indications point towards the album being – quite frankly – sodding brilliant. This track, “Carry Me“, is the perfect example of how Malcolm does… well, what Malcolm does so well. A song that exudes hopelessness… but one that is also tempered with a wry wit. Malcolm recently talked to Stereogum about the song:

I suppose “Carry Me” is really an adult’s reaction to the failed promises of youth, where we turn a point and realize we’ve lost our imagination and innocence. It’s an autobiographical expressive rant. Watching Roxy Music and Duran Duran videos, Cadbury’s Milk Tray adverts on TV … this is the way I thought life would be when I was seven years old! Musically it’s quite circular and descending and I think this creates the nostalgic and familiar mood. Recurring mistakes, leading to positive realizations. It does reek of death and remorse a little bit; our declining society and over-saturated culture. The chorus is the consoling hug thrown in to help things a little.

Listen. Love. Support.

Listen: Malcolm Middleton – Carry Me

Categories
2009 releases artists digital downloads guitar music

Jeremy Enigk – Mind Idea

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Jeremy Enigk (image credit: Mark Swanson)

Jeremy Enigk has always been an artist that has fascinated me. Not only because of his work with the highly touted Sunny Day Real Estate, but also because his solo debut, “The Return of the Frog Queen” from 1996 was an album that challenged my perception of what pop music could be. And, of course, “Don’t Go Racing” still rates as one of my favourite songs of all time.

So it’s fair to say that Jeremy Enigk has a special place in my heart. Which is why he always has a tough time of it when he releases new music. I hold him to a standard that few others are subjected to. It’s not fair, no… but it’s the way it is.

And that is why I was so happy to hear the track, “Mind Idea” from Jeremy’s upcoming album, “OK Bear”. It’s just over 2 and a half minutes of Jeremy at his best: vocals that soar, imagery that captures… and a force that hits you in the chest.

In other words… hooray.

OK Bear is out today.

Listen: Jeremy Enigk – Mind Idea

Categories
2008 releases artists digital downloads guitar music

Donerail – Some Ending

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Donerail (Image Credit: Trask Bedortha)

Donerail (pronounced Dawn-er-rale) are a Portland band that make me smile. Much like a past Burgoblog favourite, High On Stress, Donerail play that kind of Replacements-like rock ‘n roll that never fails to bring a smile to my face.

Donerail’s latest album, “Destiny and Dishonor“, was recorded live over the course of three days, and is where below track, “Some Ending” can be found. There’s something about the album that just sounds… legitimate. I know that’s a strange description, but the fact of the matter is that quite a few bands try to sound like Paul Westerberg/Uncle Tupelo… but they’re trying to emulate them because they think it’s hip. Something sounds different about these guys, Donerail. They aren’t trying to sound like Westerberg or Farrar because it’s “cool”… they play this music because it really is them. I guess what I’m trying to say is… they sound real.

Listening to some of their past material, it sounds to me like the band is still growing; there’s a gigantic leap between Destiny and Dishonor and their past stuff… so I can’t wait to see where this band goes in the future.

Listen. Love. Support.

Listen: Donerail – Some Ending

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A Look Back at Burgo's Blog Thus Far... Uncategorized

Where’s Burgo been?

… I know, I know, it’s been a while since I posted here with any regularity, and for that, I apologise. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure why that is. Part of it, I know, is that work has been ridiculously busy the last few months, and as such my mind hasn’t really been in the right mindset to post all that often.
Another reason could also be the dreaded “twitter bug”. After close on two years using Twitter (follow me here, by the way, if you’re into that sort of thing), it’s become clear to me that it’s having a noticeable effect on my posting habits. For example, where I would have thrown up a quick post in the past discussing a song I’d just come across, nowadays it’s far easier to just twitter about it… which is a problem when you should be blogging.

Anyway, this is just a post to let you know that I’m going to try get the posting back on track. There’s a few bands I’ve meant to mention lately, and over the next week I’ll try to put some short posts up about them. It’s not really fair to the bands that they only get short posts from me, but at this stage I think it’s more important that I get the posts out there before they fade into the background.

Anyway… I’m back.