Listed: James Waudby
Photo credit: Matthew Sturgess
James Waudby has been in bands for decades, starting in the late 1990s with Salako, which made three records and a Peel Session and toured with Pavement. Pavement drummer Steve West later tapped Waudby for his Marble Bay project and the musician also sings lead in Horse Guard Parade. On the Ballast Miles, however, resembles none of these projects. It’s a spare, lovely 1960s’ influenced folk classic and one of the best albums of 2023 so far. In his Dusted review, Christian Carey observed, “Waubdy’s guitar-playing, in particular, displays an intricacy that belies its dynamic level. Harmonics, pitch bends, dissonant verticals, and drones create an atmosphere that sits astride blues and folk.”
Here’s a list of some of the albums that I continually return to. I suppose they could be filed under good tunes played in an interesting way.
Royal Trux — Cats and Dogs
I used to listen to John Peel’s late-night Radio One show in the early nineties when one night, as I was dozing off, “Spectre” by Royal Trux came on and it totally changed everything. I realized there were no rules and nothing was off limits. You could write a good tune and play it any way you liked.
Townes Van Zandt — S/T
I listen to Townes Van Zandt, and I believe everything he says. Undiluted, raw song craft. Some of the bleakest songs, but also very beautiful. “Waitin' Around to Die” is the classic, but every song on this record is genius.
Shirley Collins and Davy Graham — Folk Roots New Routes
The arrangements on this album are mind blowing. In some songs they fit together effortlessly and in other songs you marvel at how Davy Graham came up with such inventive arrangements. And throughout, Shirley Collins’ voice serenely sings in her own beautiful style. It must have been amazing to hear this album when it first came out.
Matthew J Rolin — S/T
Matthew J. Rolin by Matthew J. Rolin
There’s so much great instrumental guitar music coming out at the moment and all the players have their own style, but Matthew J Rolin is always so tuneful. I love all his records, but this one just pips the others as my favorite.
Neil Young — On the Beach
If I could only listen to one artist for the rest of my life it would have to be Neil Young. There’s so much depth in his work, especially the first decade period. I could have chosen any album, live record, or bootleg, but the lyrics on this LP are some of his best. Another week I might have chosen After the Gold Rush. It’s all amazing.
Plush — More You Becomes You
It is so hard to make an album sound this simple and convey so much feeling in such a short selection of piano-led song sketches. Just stunning from start to finish.
Karen Dalton — In My Own Time
This album is perfect. Not sure there is anything else I can say about it.
Toby Hay — New Music for the Twelve String Guitar
New Music For The 12 String Guitar by Toby Hay
A brilliant Welsh guitarist who has been producing some great instrumental records on his own and with Jim Geddes. I think this one works the best as a whole piece of work. The recording envelops you and he has a beautiful guitar.
Robert Wyatt — Ruth is Stranger than Richard
This album should be a multi-million seller. I can’t understand why it is never in the top ten lists of all-time best albums. Robert Wyatt’s body of work will stand the test of time, but this record stands out. Playful, great tunes, insightful lyrics — what more could you want?
Bert Jansch — Jack Orion
The best album ever made? I think so. With similar tunings throughout, and the same guitar riffs reappearing, the album feels like a suite of folk music rather than a collection of songs. Tracks like “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and Jansch’s masterpiece, “Blackwater Side,” stand out, but the sequencing of the songs to create an ebb and flow draws you in so you can’t stop listening until every note has finished.
6 notes
·
View notes
hi im hughie, she/her, and this is my side blog where i shitpost and ramble about my ocs <3
my tags:
calypso [dbh] - #calypso alden
caroline [resident evil] - #caroline m. davenport
eden [minecraft] - #edith vanderwall
emery [inside job] - #emery atwell
erin [the boys] - #erin acosta
josie [grimm] - #josephine burkhardt
harper [the boys/gen v] - #harper ward
kree [mortal kombat] - #kree
leia [community] - #leia monreaux
nadia [star trek - aos/kelvin timeline] - #nadia kent
penny [house md] - #penelope dalton
sadie [star trek - aos/kelvin timeline] - #sadie westfield
—
ashley graham and caroline davenport - #dso agent and her graham cracker
leon kennedy and caroline davenport - #dso duo
jeff winger and leia monreaux - #loveless duo
robert chase and penelope dalton - #the chases
jim kirk and sadie westfield - #kirkfield
calypso alden and gavin reed - #caly and gav
leonard mccoy and sadie westfield - #bones and clementine
—
my edits - #hughie's edits
asks - #mail
me talking - #hughie's ramblings
reblogs - #reblogging
doodles/art - #hughie's art (i rarely do art but just in case, yk)
my writing - #hughie's writing
playlist (s) - #hughie's playlists
pinterest - #hughie's pinterest
incorrect quotes - #incorrect quotes
2 notes
·
View notes