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Jefferson Starship - Jefferson´s Tree of Liberty, Album Rock/Roots (The Lab 302 061 738 2) 2008 |
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Posted: 17-10-2008, 10:28
(post 1, #861033)
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Advanced Group: Members Posts: 331 Warn:0% |
Amazon: The legendary Jefferson Starship is at it again. Moving forward by reaching back, and in doing so, daringly casting a light for a new generation of change-makers riveted by the group's first new studio album in a decade, Jeffersons' Tree Of Liberty. The 18 song CD finds the group harnessing rare gems from the great folk tradition that inspired the rock n' roll hall of fame band more than 4 decades ago. The brainchild of singer/songwriter/band co-founder Paul Kantner (and co-produced by band manager Michael Gaiman, recurring Jefferson Airplane/ Jefferson Starship fixture and Quicksilver Messenger Service founder David Freiberg and Paul Kantner), the album mixes it up with Jefferson's trademark knack for defying fans' expectations as well as their own, introducing a soaring new female voice on many of the songs, Cathy Richardson, and tapping rock icon and original Jefferson treasure Grace Slick to appear on the album's mesmerizing `Easter Egg' bonus track. Amazon review: "Tree of Liberty is everything you've ever loved about Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship (exorcise the memory of the emasculated Starship.) Driven by Paul Kantner's ringing 12 string Rickenbacker, the soaring harmonies, this collecton is a call to arms, to dream, to go to the edge and beyond. Jeffersonians past, present, future, and even retired, are mostly present and accounted for. (Only Jorma is among the missing, and his finger picking acoustic skills would've fit right in. Maybe next time?) Never has America needed to be reminded of righteous anger, and putting that anger into positive motion to change the world, more than it does now. It's an album of rebels and revolutionary anthems - across the times, across the oceans, across the continents. From Ireland, to Nicaragua, to union workers in the fields of California, to 13 upstart colonies declaring their independence from an oppressive monarchy, along the Underground Railroad, to utopian dreams of redemption, brotherhood, and peace, 19 soul rousing and blood pumping songs. Who would've thought the lustiest and loudest collection of songs would be made by (mostly) wooden instruments? Who would've thought the most passionate album to be released this year would come from Jefferson Starship? Lest you think this is a dreary collection of political polemic dirges, think again. This is an album to listen to with people, two big bottles of wine, and to sing along to. After a few listens you won't be able to help yourself. The songs choices range from Woody Guthrie, the Weavers, Phil Ochs, Dylan, Lennon, Marley, and Sandy Denny. And from the greatest of them all, Traditional. It kicks off with a rousing nod to "Volunteers" before it settles into the Weaver's classic "Wasn't That A Time." Cathy Richardson is a welcome addition to the crew. She has the vocal chops and power of, dare I say it? Grace Slick, but with a gritty undertone that can go any way she wants to take the songs. David Laflamme's violin soars above the acoustic guitars and martial drums. "Follow The Drinking Gourd" is from the days of the Civil War, a road map for the Underground Railroad. Look up at the stars to the Big Dipper and imagine following it to freedom. The Weavers unearthed "Santy Anno." Paul can't resist reminding us that in the future it will be space ships, before he leads the crew into a lusty sea shanty, you can practically feel the waves rolling with the banjo and squeezebox. David Frieberg takes a solo turn on Dino Valenti's poignant "Cowboy On The Run," with beautiful pedal steel guitar by Barry Sless and piano by Chris Smith. David's wife, Linda Imerial, and Cathy Richardson provide sympathetic backup. It's pure Nashville. It would take all day to hit all the highlights. But I would be remiss not giving a shout out to longtime Jefferson collaborators Darby Gould on Richard Thompson's "Genesis Hall," Diana Mangano's full throttle support on "The Royal Canal" - beloved to Pogues' fans as "The Auld Triangle." As befitting a guy born on St. Patrick's Day, Paul O'Kantner gruffly sings the prison lament of Irish Rebel Brendan Behan, with a dirty ole man "heh heh" during the part about the women's prison, followed with a storming "Rising Of The Moon". The mash up of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" with John Lennon's "Imagine" somehow works, heartfeltly delivered by Cathy Richardson. If there is one song to pick as a "single" - if things like that are still done - it's this one. Both "In A Crisis" and "On The Threshold of Fire" remind me of the Paul Kantner circa BATE/Sunfighter. "In A Crisis" refrain sticks with you long after the song has stopped playing - "In a crisis we cut away what we don't need anymore. In the good times we fight our way, fight our way back home." The whining guitar riff underneath, played with judicious economy by Slick Aguilar, underscores the haunting melody. "On The Threshold of Fire" could've fit right in the Hijack / Starship Suiteon BATE. Marty Balin contributes "Maybe For You" if anybody needed to reminded of his talent with a love song. I miss his sweet tenor. It's too bad he's not singing on the rest of the songs. Jack Casady makes an appearance on bass with his Armageddon-announcing rumble. Darby Gould's acapella version of Sandy Denny's "Quiet Joys of Brotherhood" sent shivers down my spine. Only one thing could top it, and that's Grace Slick singing "Surprise..." Some of Grace's best work was singing backup and harmony, as she is here. Too bad my CD says "Untitled" and there's no additional information as there are for the other songs. Surprise, indeed. This is one of the best releases of the year. If you love great songs, passionate singing and playing, need reminding that all evil needs to triumph is for good people to do nothing, then Tree of Liberty is for you. Lay your money down." Amazon review: "I'm not one for long reviews or analyzing songs. An album hits you or it doesn't - period. And this one hits you in the gut! From what I read this was an opportunity to dig deep into the Airplane history and revisit the songs and artists that influenced Paul, Marty and the early Airplane. These are great songs you don't hear anymore. Nothing wrong with a little history. It's great to rediscover the genius of Phil Ochs and the Weavers. Regarding Paul's voice as mentioned in another review, it has history and character, if you want something smooth, buy a Barry Manilow disc. I suggest you go to their myspace site and check out the tracks, I've heard them a million times and will probably hear the disc another 2 million times. And by the way Cathy Richardson is great! Enjoy." Tracks: 01. "Wasn't That a Time" (Lee Hays, William Lowenfels, additional lyrics by Paul Kantner) – 2:38 02. "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (Traditional) – 3:04 03. "Santy Anno" (Traditional, arranged by Kantner) – 3:14 04. "Cowboy on the Run" (Dino Valenti) – 4:34 05. "I Ain't Marching Anymore" (Phil Ochs, additional lyrics by Cathy Richardson) – 3:13 06. "Chimes of Freedom" (Bob Dylan) – 3:54 07. "Genesis Hall" (Richard Thompson) – 3:14 08. "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (Paul Campbell, Huddie Ledbetter) – 3:30 09. "Royal Canal (The Auld Triangle)" (Brendan Behan) – 3:17 10. "Rising of the Moon" (J. K. Casey, Turlough O'Carolan) – 2:08 11. "Frenario" (Traditional) – 4:07 12. "In a Crisis" (World Entertainment War) – 4:45 13. "Maybe for You" (Terry Terrell) – 2:51 14. "Commandante Carlos Fonseca" (Carlos Mejia-Godoy, Tomás Borge) – 3:24 15. "Pastures of Plenty" (Woody Guthrie) – 3:22 16. "Imagine Redemption" ("Imagine" by John Lennon and "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley, from an idea by Michael Gaiman) – 3:13 17. "On the Threshold of Fire" (Kantner) – 4:49 18. "The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood" (Traditional, Words by Richard Fariña) – 2:58 19. "Surprise" (Jack Traylor, Grace Slick) (hidden track) – 4:53 This post has been edited by javirunner on 17-10-2008, 10:28 |
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Posted: 17-10-2008, 10:29
(post 2, #861034)
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Advanced Group: Members Posts: 331 Warn:0% |
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Posted: 17-10-2008, 10:55
(post 3, #861043)
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Member Group: Members Posts: 130 Warn:0% |
Nice relese. Got it from US some weeks ago |
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