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Greg Graffin, Cold As The Clay
Some fans of Bad Religion might be surprised that front man Greg Graffin is releasing an album consisting entirely of old-time American folk music and original songs inspired by it.
Some might not, though. The influential punk band's erudite lyrics and masterful song structures contain enough clues that a variety of classic strains have informed its music. Now Graffin, one of Bad Religion's principal songwriters (the new CD's producer Brett Gurewitz is the other), has "set out to create a record that would honor the legacy of American music," and he has succeeded.
Though his voice isn't the most artful of instruments, Graffin's love for the music shines through. He is backed on some songs by old-time musicians and on others by a rock band, but all are refreshingly under-rehearsed and heart-on-sleeve. The original songs bear Neil Young, Gram Parsons, and The Band influences, as Graffin himself points out in his liner notes - Stephen Carroll of the Weakerthans contributes a beautifully Youngian sound to "Don't Be Afraid To Run" and "Rebel's Goodbye" - but they also stand on their own. Among the traditionals, "The Highway" and "Talk About Suffering" (with Jolie Holland on harmony vocals) are especially touching.
Apollo 13, Lovebomb
Fusing pop, rock and electronica allows new bands to get away with old-fashioned (e.g. meaningful) songwriting without sounding dated or uncool. All sorts of comparisons come to mind listening to Apollo 13's new CD: Elvis Costello with a dance beat, Power Station, Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, even The Who ("Oh I can see for miles, but I still can't find the end," they croon in "No Sign of Land"). The band's success on college-centric Purevolume.com and at getting video and game placements bears witness to its hipness.
Article comments
1 - jerry
thanks for checking out my review on Bad Religion..I'm gonna have to check out Graffin's solo stuff for sure now.
Thanks.