When I first heard that Bruce Springsteen was releasing a Pete Seeger tribute, I was intrigued. Not for anything Springsteen - whom I’ve never managed to get, he’s just too earnest for my ears – but for Seeger, whom I adore.
Upon the continual praise lauded upon this new disk from Sirs Saleski and DJRadiohead I finally went out and bought the disk. Sweet jeebus! Holy mother of folk! What a great freaking record.
If I was an explorer and I came across some lonely tribe in the deepest, darkest African jungles that didn’t know what music was – had never heard a note - I would play this disk for them. I would introduce music into their world with these songs.
It’s that good.
If the big one dropped tonight, destroying this sad world we’ve created; years later when the few survivors crawled out of their holes, I would play them the Seeger Sessions to remind them that this world can still hold beauty.
It’s that amazing.
Years ago, when I was but a lad, I attended a Christmas celebration at my grandmother’s Southern Baptist Church. It was a spirited, holy-roller affair. There was shouting, and praising, and the raising of hands, the talking in tongues, undulating palpations and laying on upon hands. My little eyes didn’t know what to think.
My uncle was there. He is an old school man. He is big and tough and sometimes mean. He doesn’t cry. He doesn’t feel. He can rib a man to death with venomous jokes. He’s a good man, but made from a mold of man they just don’t make anymore. He was at this church. He was on the stage. He was crying, shouting out for Lord Jesus, weeping in that emotion.
Article comments
1 - Rebecca
I just might have to buy this one. I was ambivalent after his last release, Devils and Dust. I thought it was just terrible. Your review has intrigued me about his interpatations of Seeger's music.
2 - Mat Brewster
I haven't heard a note of Devils and Dust. I'm not a springsteen fan, so I come to this disk a lot differently than probably most.
But its a great freaking record. It's a back yard disk, where it sounds like a whole bunch of musicians getting together in somebodys house, plaing music they love for the heck of it.
3 - Mary K. Williams
Oh, Sir Mat -
This was fantastic. You really should be proud of this.
4 - Lisa McKay
So you link to the Roundtable piece and I don't even get a shout-out? ;-)
Seriously, I'm glad you enjoyed the album, Mat -- if there's to be another leg to the tour and the opportunity presents itself, I strongly recommend catching a show. If you like the album, you'll be totally blown away by the live performance.
5 - DJRadiohead
Sir Brewster, well done. Sir Saleski and I shouted, "AMEN!" after reading this last night.
I'm glad to hear you dug the album and that The Roundtable could loan an assist. Truly some inspired and excellent moments to behold.
6 - Aaron Fleming
An excellent and passionate review here, your enthusiasm shines up over each word like a rising sun. I'm not really into Seeger or Springsteen, but don't I now have the urge to listen to this record!
7 - Mark Saleski
i passed the following along to lisa and the dj yesterday. it's from singer Marc Anthony Thompson (also known as Chocolate Genius), who is in the Seeger Sessions live band.
it's his take on the shows:
The shows have been transcendent. Like your first trip to the circus, or a Baptist church where Ikea used to be, or like when you open your dad's closet door and out pops a snake charmer, or sort of like when you go to the barn for a smoke and find Shangri La and the girl that got away, or it's like finding 400 dollars in an old suit after you pay the rent, or like kissing the fisherman's wife because he asked you to, or riding 3rd point without having to paddle out, like magic without mirrors, like sex and sweat and sugar and smiles and sirens and sunshine and spit, like...well, like messy balls out love with everyone you've ever known.
Well, that's the first ten minutes anyway.
8 - Mat Brewster
Thanks one and all.
Lisa, I am very sorry I didn't give you a shout. Twas a wonderful piece and you certainly played a large part in. When I wrote the piece I could have sworn DJ wrote a seperate review himself. Then when I got to looking for a link all I could find was the roundtable, and thus I just linked there. So consider yourself shouted, Lisa.
I just checked and the band isn't coming anywhere near me.
Sir Fleming I'd give it a listen. I believe the Duke has a copy so just bum it off of him.