I've never given much thought to whether or not the United States should join up with the United Nations in the whole International Criminal Court system. I've listened to the different sides of the argument and they both seem to make some good points. There are criminal enterprises that operate globally and there are some atrocities too vast for one nation to prosecute them. On the other hand, I'm not sure I want to put the fate of alleged American criminals in the hands of representatives of insert oppressive regime here. The one issue no one ever brings up? Michael Bolton. If the U.N. wants my support, all they have to do is pledge to hold him accountable for the many counts of crimes against humanity he has committed and they have me. He and his label should both be prosecuted for him having a new album and having the audacity to name it One World One Love. This isn't a political issue, friends. This is a human rights issue. After all, I'm not the one that sucks. He is.
Guitar ShortyBare Knuckle
It's time to get down to business and no one gets down to business like Guitar Shorty. Bare Knuckle is the blues legend's first album since his :: wait for it :: Blues Music Award-winning album We The People in 2006. March 2010 is going to be the month when some of the most important blues records of the year are released and this set from the 70-year old Houston, TX native is the first of them.
Peter GabrielScratch My Back
Well, we finally get a new album from Peter Gabriel without electing a member of the Bush family. I can think of a few friends thankful for that. Yes, his royal slowness has a new album but there's a catch: it's a covers album. That's fine with me except- well, hell, if he's not writing a new album why did it take eight years to get him back into a proper studio? I don't know what he does with his time but it doesn't involve Genesis reunion tours and it apparently doesn't involve making new music. Come on, Pete. Neither of us is getting any younger. You're going to have to pick up the pace.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
With Steve Martin, Plant/Krauss, Maddy Peyroux and Bela Fleck, I think that Rounder Records disc should get a mention so I am doing so here.
There's a TV special running on PBS during pledge drives
2 - Josh Hathaway
Yes, I should have touched on that, El Bicho. I did look at the tracklisting on it and it merited a mention. I hope someone reviews that disc, so I'm mentioning that here as well.
3 - El Bicho
you can't get 'em all
4 - Josh Hathaway
No, but I hate to let one go sailing past me. I should have spent less time making my case for the arrest, indictment, and incarceration of Michael Bolton.
5 - Tom Johnson
Steve Martin's album is astoundingly good, in case anyone's curious. Dude has skills. I skip the vocals-tracks, however, but luckily there aren't many of those.
The new Gabriel is so-so. The middle bunch of songs are excellent. The first couple and last couple are not. Ultimately I would have much rather heard PG cover music in typical PG fashion, like the cover of Vampire Weekend he did with Hot Chip as his band not too long ago. This . . . I don't know. As a big PG fan, I find some of it likable enough, but it's not going to get a lot of in-ear time. Too dark, too slow, too just-plain-off.