David Baerwald Hellbound Train, Hard Times, Reckless Boy (2016-2018)

Hellbound Train/Hard Times/Reckless Boy David Baerwald

Released: 2016-2018 Available on Amazon: March 21, 2021 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): -- Genre: Americana

Tracks (Hellbound Train (2016): Song Title [time] Hellbound Train [3:48] Hi Ho Nobody’s Home [1:52] John Henry [2:38] Wayfaring Stranger [4:10] Omie Wise [3:30] Tracks (Hard Times (2017): Song Title [time] Down in the Willow Garden [3:24] Deep Ellum Blues [2:53] Hard Times [3:49] Banks of the Ohio [3:27] John Hardy [3:05] Long Journey Home [2:44] Pretty Polly [3:42] Drifting Too Far from the Shore [3:55] Tracks (Reckless Boy (2018): Song Title [time] Devil’s Train [2:18] Black Water Blues [3:02] Black Highway Blue [2:18] Time Is a Hunter [3:23] Reckless Boy [3:19] Vile and Blasphemous [3:04] Darkness Night [3:21] I’ll Die That Day [3:44]

About the Albums: After releasing A Fine Mess in 1999, Baerwald went on a long hiatus from releasing a proper album. Here Comes the New Folk Underground dropped in 2002, but was really an abbreviated version of A Fine Mess with three new songs. In 2004, he did release some new material on the Around the Bend soundtrack, but that wasn’t exclusively his work. In 2016, he dropped the surprise EP Hellbound Train through the A-Tone Recordings label. “All of the tracks on this album are traditional compositions with arrangements by David and…Dr. Steven Trip.” DB1 The title cut was previously featured on A Fine Mess and Here Comes the New Folk Underground, but this version is “much slower and atmospheric.” DB1 Another EP followed in 2017. Hard Times “can almost be considered Hellbound Train part 2,” DB2 considering it traverses the same territory with Baerwald dipping his toe quite convincingly into the Americana pool. Reckless Boy, released under the name The Regulators followed, although it was a collection of originals. DB3 Tracks on the latter are credited ot Baerwald, Dr. Steven Trip, and George Doering, who is “a popular session musician and a member of the bluegrass band, the Brombies.” DB3 This gave Baerwald three EPs in three years after a dozen years of studio inactivity. Collectively, the three essentially serve as a new Baerwald album, although there’s no evidence that it will be released as such. Hellbound Train and Reckless Boy are both available on Spotify and Amazon, however. All three of these EPs are available through the Extreme Music website (links below), which is “a clearing house for music available to purchase/license for movies, TV, and the web.” DB1

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for David Baerwald DB1 dbinfosource.com page for Hellbound Train DB2 dbinfosource.com page for Hard Times DB3 dbinfosource.com page for Reckless Boy E1 Extreme Music page for Hellbound Train E2 Extreme Music page for Hard Times E3 Extreme Music page for Reckless Boy Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 8/21/2021.

 

Top 50 Songs of 2017

Dave’s Music Database: Top 50 Songs of 2017

These are the top 50 songs of the year based on their overall performance in Dave’s Music Database, which is determined by combining chart data, sales figures, streaming, video views, and aggregates from year-end lists. Check out “Top Songs and Albums of the Year” lists here. DMDB Top 1%: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber “Despacito” Ed Sheeran with Beyoncé “Perfect” Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” Camila Cabello with Young Thug “Havana” Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar” The Chainsmokers with Coldplay “Something Just Like This” Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line “Meant to Be” Cardi B “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)” Kendrick Lamar “Humble” DMDB Top 2%: Lizzo “Truth Hurts” Portugal.the Man “Feel It Still” Imagine Dragons “Thunder” Imagine Dragons “Believer” DJ Khaled with Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, & Lil Wayne “I’m the One” Sam Hunt “Body Like a Back Road” DMDB Top 5%: Dua Lipa “New Rules” Taylor Swift “Look What You Made Me Do” Charlie Puth “Attention” DJ Khaled with Rihanna & Bryson Tiller “Wild Thoughts” Lil Uzi Vert “XO Tour Llif3” Logic with Alessia Cara & Khalid “1-800-273-8255” Future “Mask Off” Harry Styles “Sign of the Times” Sam Smith “Too Good at Goodbyes” French Montana & Swae Lee “Unforgettable” NF “Let You Down” Ed Sheeran “Castle on the Hill” Taylor Swift “Delicate” Demi Lovato “Sorry Not Sorry” Imagine Dragons “Whatever It Takes” Camila Cabello “Never Be the Same” Zedd with Alessia Cara “Stay” Keala Settle & the Greatest Showman Cast “This Is Me” Julia Michaels “Issues” Måneskin “Beggin’” Brandi Carlile “The Joke” Kendrick Lamar “DNA” Lorde “Green Light” Khalid “Location” Khalid “Young, Dumb & Broke” G-Eazy with Halsey “Him & I” G-Eazy with A$AP Rocky & Cardi B “No Limit” Bazzi “Mine” Niall Horan “Slow Hands” U2 “You’re the Best Thing About Me” Arcade Fire “Everything Now” Beck “Up All Night” Kendrick Lamar with Zacari “Love” Taylor Swift “Ready for It?” Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: Top Songs and Albums by Year lists Dave’s Music Database: Songs of the Year lists First posted 12/26/2021; last updated 1/17/2023.

In Concert: Willie Nelson

image from livenation.com

Venue: Starlight Theater in Kansas City, MO

This was a make-up for the show originally scheduled in June. That show saw the first two acts – Robert Earl Keen and Dwight Yoakum – perform before a torrential downfall put the show on ice. Three months later, Nelson returned. The setlist was barely over an hour, although he crammed plenty of songs in that time, including many favorites.

Setlist *

* Note: Usually I’m pretty diligent about getting the setlist down, but I wasn’t this time. I think I got all the songs down, but I won’t stand by the accuracy of the order of them.

1. Whiskey River
2. Still Is Still Moving to Me
3. Beer for My Horses
4. On the Road Again
5. Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys
6. Always on My Mind
7. Funny How Time Slips Away
8. Crazy
9. Night Life
10. Good Hearted Woman
11. It’s All Going to Pot
12. Me and Paul
13. If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time
14. Georgia on My Mind
15. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
16. Move It on Over
17. Hey Good Lookin’
18. Still Not Dead
19. Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die
20. I’ll Fly Away

In Concert: Michael Franti & Spearhead

Michael Franti & Spearhead Grinders at Crossroads; Kansas City, MO July 11, 2017

image from entrepreneur.com Opening Act: Kawehi Review: Wow. Wow. Wow. I posted earlier this week about the dilemma of whether to see Robert Cray or Michael Franti tonight. I chose the latter and, boy, did I choose right. I've seen maybe 40-50 shows in my life - more than some people, a lot less than others. This, however, was a transformative experience. I've never seen a performer more dedicated to making a connection with the audience. He had maybe an 8YO kid up on stage with him about 2 songs in singing and dancing. I figured it would be the highlight of the show. Boy, was I wrong. There was much more to come. He told plenty of stories which evoked both tears and laughter. He wandered out into the audience for about a six-song set and then came back out again several more times during other songs. He often asked the crowd to raise their hands in the air, jump up and down, hug someone, or introduce yourself to a stranger. At one point he pulled nearly a dozen kids on stage to sing and dance with him. Oh, and this was all done as he sang songs with a very distinct "let's all love one another and get along" hippie vibe. After the show, as the crew packed up the stage, Franti hung around talking to fans and taking selfies. When I left he was still at it and I imagine he doesn't leave until anyone who wants to hug him, take a picture, or share a story gets their chance. Sorry all other performers I'll see in the future. Michael Franti has set a new bar which none of you may ever reach. Click here to see other concerts I’ve attended. Set List * 1. Light Up Ya Lighter 5 2. Hey Hey Hey (No Matter How Life is Today) 7 3. Yell Fire! 5 4. Hello Bonjour (w/ I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For) 5. The Sound of Sunshine 7 6. Stay Human (Family Affair) 3 7. I Got Love for You 9 8. Crazy for You 9 9. Good to Be Alive Today 9 10. Summertime Is in Our Hands 9 11. Get Myself to Saturday 9 12. We Are All Earthlings 9 13. Hey World (Don't Give Up Version) 6 14. Enjoy Every Second (new song) 15. Life Is Better With You 8 16. I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) 8 17. 11:59 8 18. I Don’t Belong (new song) 19. Say Hey (I Love You) 6 20. My Lord 9 * Setlist for show at Rose Music Hall in Columbia, Missouri on July 10, 2017. Discography: 1 Home (1994) 2 Chocolate Supa Highway (1997) 3 Stay Human (2001) 4 Everyone Deserves Music (2003) 5 Yell Fire (2006) 6 All Rebel Rockers (2008) 7 The Sound of Sunshine (2010) 8 All People (2013) 9 Soulrocker (2016) Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Michael Franti Setlist.fm (setlist for 7/10/2017 show at Columbia, Missouri’s Rose Music Hall) Last updated 6/14/2022.

Justin Currie released This Is My Kingdom Now

This Is My Kingdom Now Justin Currie

Released: May 12, 2017 Peak: 54 UK Sales (in millions): -- US, -- UK, -- world (includes US and UK) Genre: adult alternative rock

Tracks: Song Title [time] (date of single release, chart peaks) Click for codes to singles charts. My Name Is God [2:46] Fallen Trees [2:55] This Is My Kingdom Now [4:44] (2/9/2017, --) Sydney Harbour Bridge [4:24] (3/31/2017, --) Crybabies [3:13] (5/14/2017, --) Failing to See [4:31] (4/19/2017, --) The Dead Sea [4:01] Abandoned Sons [2:44] Hey Polly [2:39] I Love the Sea [4:26] I’ll Leave It to You [4:32] Two People [4:07] My Soul Is Stolen [2:32]

Rating: 2.669 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

About the Album: “Justin Currie has ploughed a pretty deep furrow since disbanding Del Amitri,” AU enjoying “a small but very dedicated fanbase which lap up his razor sharp observations couched in melodies that lesser songwriters would dream of imagining.” AU “It’s easy to understand why he continues to garner admiration from legends such as Jimmy Webb – he is the songwriter’s songwriter” BSM and This Is My Kingdom Now, his fourth solo outing, “is more proof that he is songwriting royalty.” BSM The album “fits perfectly” AU alongside his “back catalogue of genuine pop classics laced with his black humour.” AU “He has picked up from where he left off with Lower Reaches by perfecting the balance between the light and dark – not only in individual songs but also through the duration of the album.” BSM This is his “most accessible solo album for a wider audience” BSM “with catchy melodies and tight arrangements.” “The short but sweet My Name Is God…[finds] Currie proclaiming ‘I don’t need anyone.’ The acoustic introspection combined with the thrill of Currie’s enthralling voice is the musical equivalent of the warmth and familiarity of a homecoming.” BSM “Fallen Trees is Currie at his observational best – never failing to relate to other’s inadequacies – while the asynchronous beat and guitar on the first single and title track…create a more unsettled and darker feeling” BSM “with its repeated affirmation just hiding the unspoken contempt in Currie’s polemic.” AU The “wistful Americana of Crybabies” BSM “features a gorgeous hook and heartbreaking lyric.” AU “The lyrics hint of the relationship between Currie and his father – former RSNO chorus master John Currie – although it’s always difficult to determine whether he is being autobiographical. Either way, it’s lyrical perfection.” BSM “Failing to See is one of the more upbeat tracks on the album. Over a funky retro groove, that belongs on the dance floor at the end of a disco, Currie questions ‘Is this what falling in love is aiming to be?’” BSM It features “a glorious 70’s guitar motif, and The Dead Sea sounds as if Pete Bruntnell has been in touch with its spiky guitar, harmonies and driving rhythm.” AU “Hey Polly is another uptempo song – this time a quirkier number with Currie singing in his sharpest vocals ‘get your claws round here today.’” BSM “Sydney Harbour Bridge is fuelled by regret and features a neat shift from singing that there’s ‘nothing I can do’ into a ridiculously catchy chorus of ‘do do do.’ It’s yet another example of Currie’s ability to fuse heartbreak to a cheerier tune.” BSM “Throughout it all Currie’s voice brings such assurance and depth to each lyric. At its best it imbues real heartbreak and melancholy.” AU I’ll Leave It to You sports an “opening riff is reminiscent of The Faces and – like all Currie’s best tracks do – it tugs…heart strings through the deftest combination of melody, lyrics and his incredible voice.” BSM “Two People is equally dramatic, but with a stripped-back drone sound that eerily lurks behind Currie’s echoing vocals. It almost has a choral quality and is beautiful in its starkness.” BSM “The brooding I Love the Sea” BSM “features a growling guitar above the thunderous piano melody.” BSM “The connection with water and bad weather that seems ever-present in Currie’s songwriting” BSM shows through on that song as well as the “the rockier The Dead Sea.” BSM “Swirling keys and guitar brings the warmth into…[My Soul Is Stolen] where Currie seems to reflect on his craft – ‘Look into my throat, whoever’s singing isn’t me. Cos I’m a prisoner of who all you listeners might be.’ It’s a song that ends too quickly and leaves you wanting more – making it a perfect album closer.” BSM

Resources and Related Links: AU American-uk.com review by Keith Hargreaves BSM BackSeatMafia.com review by Rhiannon Law Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 5/14/2021; last updated 8/24/2021.