Sound off

Leonard Cohen

Live at the Isle Of Wight 1970

(Columbia/Legacy)

When Leonard Cohen announced his first tour in 15 years in early 2008, the dates sold out all over the world. Few artists are held in as high regard as Cohen, who transcends the label of folk singer by injecting an undeniable ray of pure beauty into whatever he sings or recites. Nearly 40 years ago, Cohen performed an early morning set at the Isle of Wight Festival off the coast of England. The event, which attracted a crowd estimated to be over 600,000, also featured acts such as The Who, Chicago, and Joan Baez. Due to a large number of nonpaying gatecrashers, tensions were high around the site as organizers fought to keep the ticketless out. Somehow, though, Cohen stepped onto the stage at 4 a.m. and calmed the crowd with a wistful and melancholy set of songs that included "Famous Blue Raincoat," "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy," and what is probably one of the world's most beautiful songs, "Suzanne." Despite the less than favorable conditions, a near perfect audio and video document of the performance was captured, and both are now available in one package. The CD/DVD package is a must for any Cohen fan.

Download These: "Suzanne," "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy," "Famous Blue Raincoat."

Robert Earl Keen

The Rose Hotel

(Lost Highway)

There are some musicians who toil and struggle their entire careers to produce that one perfect song. There are also musicians who seem to be able to write their own perfect tune while brushing their teeth. Then there are folks such as Robert Earl Keen, who fall curiously in between those two extremes. Keen has written some truly great stuff, and he has made it look easy. Still, one gets the feeling that the guy is working toward something, that one perfect song that will be the zenith of his musical career. He hasn't quite hit that all-time high on "The Rose Hotel," but nevertheless there is some great music here. The CD's title track kicks off things nicely, while other tunes such as "Throwin' Rocks" and "Something I Do" will appeal to any longtime Keen fan. The CD's best track, "The Man Behind the Drums," is Keen's love letter to Levon Helm, the former drummer for The Band. "The Rose Hotel" is a good album, but somehow you just know that Keen is just toying with us right now with his songwriting. One of these days the guy is going to write a classic; one even better than "The Road Goes On Forever."

Download These: "The Man Behind the Drums," "Something I Do," "The Rose Hotel."

Frankie McNeill and the Counts

Old Dog, New Tricks

(Banana Tree)

I have personally never really been into the whole beach music scene. Now, there are probably several thousand readers, including my own mother-in-law, who grew up in Myrtle Beach at the height of the shag craze, who are probably collectively shaking their heads sadly. Yeah, I may not like beach music, but between the shag parties at local clubs and beach shacks, and the constant touring by bands such as The Tams, The Embers, and Frankie McNeill and the Counts, I'm likely in the minority here in South Carolina. That last act mentioned, Frankie McNeill and the Counts, has just released a new CD titled "Old Dog, New Tricks," which shows that the band can still bring it to the shaggers who grew up listening to it. The production is a bit sparse, and at times the drum tracks and keyboards make one yearn for the days when bands used real instruments, but tracks such as "Givin' it Up," "Drinkin' Liquor and Tellin' Lies," and "Who's That Girl" are just right for the state dance. My mother-in-law will no doubt be cutting a rug when she gets an earful of this.

Download These: "Givin' it Up," "Drinkin' Liquor and Tellin' Lies," "Who's That Girl."

Lindsay Holler's Western Polaroids

Helltembre

(Independent)

I was a big fan of Lindsay Holler's past CDs, especially "Love Gone Awry," and an even bigger fan of her live show, during which the singer-songwriter pours out her emotions in song. As good as "Love Gone Awry" was, Holler's latest project, Lindsay Holler's Western Polaroids, has released a CD that leaves that disc in the dust. Split between Western Polaroids and Holler's previous band, The Dirty Kids, which share some of the same musicians, the music here is lush and at times heartbreaking. The CD opens with the powerful "Keep Bleeding," which features Holler, Josh Kaler, Mariah Dodson, Ron Wiltrout, Lindsay Windham, Sam Sfirri, and Bill Carson, and has a powerful chorus that has the bunch chanting "I don't know how to tell you." "Junk Gospel #1" is a great rockabilly-flavored number, while the CD's title track benefits from Sam Sfirri's keyboard work.

The final tune, "Bad Reputation," which features just Holler and producer Josh Kaler, is a wonderfully melancholy tale of regret and love denied.

Kudos to Holler for keeping it real and marching to her own, very interesting, drummer.

Download These: "Keep Bleeding," "Onto Me," "Bad Reputation."