The Country, Folk & World Recommendation Thread

[Pet_Sounds]

I've loved Simon and Garfunkel for a while now, so I thought I should start exploring Paul Simon's solo career a bit more. I haven't heard any of his albums in entirety - just hits like "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", "Kodachrome", and others. Where should I begin?

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by misspoptart

Hahahahah I love the kid. That is adorable. Where did you come up with this Lisna!! So cheesy with the Canadian flag and everything too it's like extremely hilarious. But you're right that the melody is lovely. Awesome!

Glad you liked it, misspoptart. Yes, the baby is a real cutie-pie, and of course the excitement really escalates when JH starts twitching his right foot in time. ( I started investigating Newfoundland music after reading somewhere that they have more musicians per capita than anywhere else in the world. Not sure how true that claim is, btw.)

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

I've loved Simon and Garfunkel for a while now, so I thought I should start exploring Paul Simon's solo career a bit more. I haven't heard any of his albums in entirety - just hits like "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover", "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard", "Kodachrome", and others. Where should I begin?

After the classic S and G albums, I was rather disappointed with Paul Simon`s solo efforts; gone are the ethereal harmonies and the lyrics like poetry. To me most of his pre-Graceland solo albums were patchy; a couple of good tracks, a handful of decent lyrics is all you get, so a compilation album may be the way to go. There used to be a really good one covering those albums,called Greatest Hits,etc: issued in 1977, it is unfortunately no longer available.

Graceland, on the other hand is a landmark album worth having in it's entirety. PS is joined by various South African musicians and they did wonders in revitalizing not only Paul`s sound, but also his career, and my waning interest in him as an artist!

I`m no expert on his post-Graceland stuff. Either his material isn`t as good as it used to be, or I`ve become immune to the charm of his music. Either way, I haven`t heard anything particularly noteworthy.

Originally Posted by Felipe21279

I think you guys would like to listen to two great Folklorical bands based in "Maracatu" (a rhythm from North-eastern Brasil):

Chico Science & Nação Zumbi and Mestre Ambrósio.

That`s a lot of music in three clips, Felipe. I`m going to need time to assimilate it !

[Dominic Dez]

Hey,
Any advice on good blends?
Arab samba...?

[lauren825]

THE CAINS TRIO. new group and will sooth your country folk soul

[Pet_Sounds]

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

After the classic S and G albums, I was rather disappointed with Paul Simon`s solo efforts; gone are the ethereal harmonies and the lyrics like poetry. To me most of his pre-Graceland solo albums were patchy; a couple of good tracks, a handful of decent lyrics is all you get, so a compilation album may be the way to go. There used to be a really good one covering those albums,called Greatest Hits,etc: issued in 1977, it is unfortunately no longer available.

Graceland, on the other hand is a landmark album worth having in it's entirety. PS is joined by various South African musicians and they did wonders in revitalizing not only Paul`s sound, but also his career, and my waning interest in him as an artist!

I`m no expert on his post-Graceland stuff. Either his material isn`t as good as it used to be, or I`ve become immune to the charm of his music. Either way, I haven`t heard anything particularly noteworthy.

I was just digging through some old cassettes in the basement, and happened upon a 1977 release of Greatest Hits, Etc. The sound quality is surprisingly good. I'd had my eyes peeled for a copy in various used record stores for the past few weeks. Serendipity.

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

I was just digging through some old cassettes in the basement, and happened upon a 1977 release of Greatest Hits, Etc. The sound quality is surprisingly good. I'd had my eyes peeled for a copy in various used record stores for the past few weeks. Serendipity.

Hey! That´s lucky, Pet Sounds - especially as you still seem to have a cassette player. (My last cassette player died about six months back and I decided against replacing it.) There are some very nice tracks on that compilation. From memory, my faves were the one about the Mayflower, and the one about "my momma loves me." The last is reputedly about the only time that PS mentions his mother in a song, so some reviewers analyse it to bits. IMO it´s just PS enjoying a song; why assume it has some confessional significance?

Anyway, this is a recommendation thread, right? and this clip is also a result of serendipity - I found it while I was looking for the Joi Bangla Banned, but I actually like it more than the genuine search results:-

[Pet_Sounds]

Interesting clip, Lisna, and I agree that it's better than the genuine search results.

I'm going to throw a recommendation at you, Miss P, and anyone else who frequents this thread in the hope that it's new to you:



Their harmonies remind me a bit of CSN(Y).

[Zhanteimi]

Hank Williams III (not really a 3rd, but still Hank Williams grandson)

[Lisnaholic]

Originally Posted by Pet_Sounds

I'm going to throw a recommendation at you, Miss P, and anyone else who frequents this thread in the hope that it's new to you:



Their harmonies remind me a bit of CSN(Y).

^ That´s the first track from Fleet Foxes that I´ve really listened to, so thanks for the rec, PS. Yes, the harmonies -and melody- have a really warm feel to them. Isn´t there also a hint of vintage Beach Boys in there? Either way, I can understand why you´d like it. Any other tracks by them as good as that one?

Originally Posted by mordwyr

Hank Williams III (not really a 3rd, but still Hank Williams grandson)

Hi, mordwyr ! Thanks for joining us in this thread, which lately has been moving slower than a glacier - I hope you don´t get too disheartened.
TBH I´m not a huge fan of country but I like the way that HWIII´s scarred old voice brings an honesty to this song. Any other recs for us?

A total change of style, but here´s a track I came across recently: it´s from a collaborative album made by two big names in world music, one from Mali, one from Israel. It made me think of a piece of old embroidery; rich colours and an intricate display of craftsmanship:

[misspoptart]

Hey Pet_Sounds, thanks for the recommendation I take these kinds of things very seriously, and really appreciate it.

Never heard of the Fleet Foxes and this is the first time I've heard this song, thanks! It's a bit too mellow for me (I do like mellow stuff if it's mysterious/creepy/special to me in a emotional way), but I didn't find anything too memorable or interesting in the song. From this thread I'm always most interested in stuff with lots of different folk instruments, like mandolins, violin, or other traditional stringed stuff.

Nice song, all the same, pleasant to listen to for sure. ^^ Thanks again.