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CD Review
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Post-Gazette, CD Review >>
-by Bob Morello
'Sidewalk Saints' for blues sinners
It's hard to admit that BlueNotes might be a little bit behind the curve, but I just got a CD titled "Sidewalk Saints - Roots Gospel Guitar" (Talking Taco Music) from a kind publicist (is there any other kind?) at a company called Rock Paper Scissors, and decided it was worth a few lines to note what some of you may already know.
It's not especially new, or traditionally blue, but it's certainly worth a listen.
It's an all-acoustic, all instrumental album by Texan Ben Bowen King, playing his resonator guitar with it's built-in "speakers" in the manner of Southern street musicians prior to World War II.
It's musical history, which is always enjoyable, but it's also good music, which is even more enjoyable.
The album tries to duplicate the soul of this unusual style, which was basically the resonator guitar and a variety of homemade percussion devices, from old suitcases to bottles.
Covita Moroney provides vocals in the sense that they exist: a mournful, spiritual moaning on several tracks.
The idea seems to have been that this music used unusual guitar techniques to turn gospel music (basically spiritual blues) into a passionate music for the street-corner musician.
I've been playing it a lot since I got it, and its elegance and passion have a cumulative effect. It's soothing and stimulating. Not exactly background music, since you find yourself listening intently to catch the intricate guitar work, but still almost hypnotic. Most of the songs -- like "Amazing Grace" (listen to an audio clip) and "In the Sweet By and By" -- aren't necessarily immediately recognizable, their familiar melodies hidden in unfamiliar musical layers.
If you're ahead of me and have already heard this, you know what I mean. If you haven't, give it a try. You can follow some of the links above and enjoy the history lesson. And you can enjoy the music as well. 04/03/07 >> go there
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