2011-01-07
You know you've been at it a long time when your own website is www.folkmusic.com -- yes, that's the web home of John McCutcheon, folk troubadour since the early '70s and the country's master of the hammered dulcimer. He sings and constructs songs as Woody and Pete and Bob did back in the day, heavy on the storyline and light on the frills. This is his 34th recording and it could have been put together in the '70s, except that he's very much on top of today's headlines. "One More Day" is about the tragic Massey coal mine disaster in West Virgina in April, 2010 and "End of the World" is a touching tale of a Vietnamese shrimper battling the oil spills off the Louisiana coast. The novelty number is the spoken-word "Ode to a Kripsy Kreme," read by a true doughnut addict. There's a fine cast of musicians here, including Kathy Mattea, Tim O'Brien, Stuart Duncan and Suzy Boggus. 1/11 MJVD F-TraditionalRICKIE LEE JONES
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
Edward Herda
Goodnight Jaybird
Weyes Blood
Front Row Seat To Earth
Natalie Merchant
The House Carpenter's DaughterThe House Carpenter's Daughter
JOAN ARTMATRADING
Starlight
HONOR FINNEGAN
The Tiny Life
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