Folk Music Talk

I don’t remember Cat Stevens – err Yusuf Islam – not being famous. I also don’t remember him not being at least vaguely cheese-ball and something of a bummer to listen to. But whatever the cultural baggage is that the guitarist and songwriter has to carry around with him was worth sound-tracking Harold and Maude. There aren’t too many (kinda) mainstream films with such an odd story line and a surprising good set of tunes accompanying it.

My interest in Mr. Islam, though, doesn’t have anything to do with that soundtrack (again, though, hunt it down and take a listen), his political leanings or whatever hits the man might have worked up over the years.

Read more >

With all the unearthed music sprouting up here and there over the last few years, its surprising that more lost finger picked folk music hasn’t come to light. Mark Fosson can’t be the only guitarist from the sixties or seventies whose story is worth retelling. And while it’s worth more time hearing the music than the history, both are amply engaging.

Growing up during a time when country music went through its high point, living in Kentucky, Fosson was dealt a healthful dose of early blues music by his father, who collected old recordings. Coupling those two components as well as the newly constituted primitive guitar style as evidenced by Takoma Records, Fosson started writing songs.

Read more >

A few years ago, picking up any music publication exposed readers to “New Weird America,” alternatively referred to as “Freak Folk.” Devandra Banhart was a fashion plate and James Jackson Toth was releasing dozens of albums. Now, Banhart’s an exhibitionist and Toth plays in a more straight ahead style. The faux-media frenzy that coalesced around all of these artists was capitalized on by some who began re-releasing hard to find folk albums – again occasionally and insipidly called “loner folk.” Tompkins Square isn’t amongst the profiteers. They helped reintroduce Peter Walker to the world and have been steadily releasing albums that touch the past and push the future.

Read more >

Don’t you just love the classics? From nursery rhymes like “Hey Diddle Diddle” to finger plays like “Where is Thumpkin?” they brink us back to our own childhoods, providing a sense of warm memories and familiarity. That said, there are several things that I’ve found objectionable when it comes to the classics, and I think there is always a way around these objections.

Read more >