A 3-PACK FOR THE READER FOLK

MIKE, BLACK MOUNTAIN AND LEVON



MIKE DOUGHTY - GOLDEN DELICIOUS

I was really looking forward to this album coming out. I liked HAUGHTY MELODIC so much I had high expectations for GOLDEN DELICIOUS only to be let down.

There are 3 very good tunes on this record, "Ft. Hood", "27 Jennifers" and "Nectarine (Pt. 1)", but the rest of the album is either mediocre or sounds like lost tracks from a never released Soul Coughing album.

"Ft. Hood" kicks the thing off leading you to believe this is going to be another good album from Mike. When I saw "27 Jennifers" was on the CD I was quite happy, it is one of his best tracks from his earlier self recorded albums and it definately delivers here. "Nectarine" comes along on the record at a time when you start to lose interest, and draws you back in to finish listening to the whole album.

This record is just so-so, nothing overly exciting, but it doesn't suck. It plays nice in the background, but is nothing you are gonna' put on and listen to over and over again.


BLACK MOUNTAIN - IN THE FUTURE

Sweet jesus this is a good record. Here is where my brother being 8 years younger than me comes in handy. I had never listened to Black Mountain, then read his blog and checked them out. Damn I was missing out. They take classic rock mix it with todays sounds and put out a kick ass sound that is all their own.

With the start of the first track, "Stormy High". IN THE FUTURE punches you right in the ear drums...in a good way. Opening with a nice melodic guitar then BAM here come the drums and a slammin' guitar crunches it's way into your ears.....damn that's a good song. They do a good job of mixing the rocking tunes with the mellow ones, creating a very even record from start to finish.

Stephen McBean at times sounds like Neil Young, and several tracks, "Stormy High", "Evil Ways", "Angels" and a small part of the 16 min 41 sec opus "Bright Lights" have a Black Oak Arkansas sound to them.

While they definately have a classic rock sound to them, they add in plenty of their own sound to make it original. Holy crap this is a good record.


LEVON HELM - DIRT FARMER

When The Band called it quits, Levon Helm became a solo artist, and released some very mediocre songs. They were OK, but in no way comparable to his work with The Band. Now, 25 years later he has released a record that re-captures the southern roots music The Band were so good at.

DIRT FARMER is a good ol' down home trip back to Levon's southern roots in Arkansas. If you didn't know better you would think it was an older album recorded in the Ozarks many a moons ago while sippin' on some shine.

"Fake Hearted Lover Blues" and "Poor Old Dirt Farmer" are two of the better tracks, but "Got Me A Woman" is the best tune of this record of good songs. He sings about how great his woman is, (...she shave's my beard/keeps my tractor clean...), how can you not dig this song, much less a chick that keeps your tractor clean?

Check this record out, you will not be dissappointed.