Each month I review a classic oldie from my collection along with a newer release that has caught my attention. Patronize your favorite music store and buy them all!
"Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs" by Derek and the Dominos (released 1970 - 4oth anniversary remaster 2010)
Eric Clapton's musical restlessness had taken him from the purist blues of John Mayall's Bluesbreakers to the heavy rock of Cream into the supergroup Blind Faith and on the road with Delaney & Bonnie where he formed a bond with Bobby Whitlock (keyboard/vocals), Carl Radle (bass) and Jim Gordon (drums) while guesting on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" LP. When Clapton invites Duane Allman to join the sessions for a new group, the fictitious Derek & the Dominos is born. With Whitlock as a writing partner Clapton creates a tormented masterpiece of pain and heartache over his unrequited love for Pattie Boyd Harrison. In the tradition of the best rock and roll bands they recorded live in the studio where the players perform a balancing act of rhythm, melody and chaos while electricity crackles through the air. From the hair-rising slide guitar duel on "Anyday" through the blues jam nirvana of "Key to the Highway" to a soulfully chugging"Tell the Truth" onto the six-string racing "Why Does Love Have to be so Sad?" and the white hot reading of Freddie King's "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" it's as if they are scaling musical peaks of heretofore unknown heights only to be greeted by higher summits and so off they go! Duane's incandescent playing pushes Clapton to the finest performances of his storied career. All this without a mention of the plaintive power fueling the ache of "Bell Bottom Blues" and the beautiful tribute "Little Wing" for the recently departed Jimi Hendrix. Yet all of these remarkable tracks are just the lead-in to the majestic relief of "Layla" featuring the gorgeous coda of Jim Gordon (who also wrote it) on piano and Duane's soaring slide. The 40th Anniversary remaster includes a second disc of outtakes, studio jams and performances from the Johnny Cash show. With passion dripping from every note this has my vote as the greatest guitar album of all-time!
"The Last Place" - Army Navy (released 2011)
Singer/songwriter/guitarist/mastermind Justin Kennedy created Army Navy in Los Angeles following the breakup of Pinwheel which he led with Ben Gibbard (who later went on to form Death Cab for Cutie). "The Last Place" is a sublime slice of Power Pop in the tradition of Teenage Fanclub and the Posies. Assisted by lead guitarist, Louie Schultz and drummer, Doug Randall, Kennedy crafts elegant hooks which allow the songs to bloom amidst layers of guitars and engaging harmonies. Guitars chime and jangle over these eleven tunes as Kennedy's brightly resonant voice carries each rich melody. "Last Legs" begins the record with a charging verse, singalong chorus and a sizzling guitar solo! "Ode to Janice Melt" is a twee pop tune that would be the envy of Belle and Sebastian. Other highlights are the tuneful ballad "Ex-Electric" and the shimmering beauty of "The Hunter". The pounding drums and racing guitars of "I Think it's Gonna Happen" lead into the delicate charm of "Wonderland to Waterloo". "Open Your Eyes" has an alluring tension with a hint of dissonance that fades into the lovely voice and instrumental buildup of "Pastoral". My favorite track is "The Long Goodbye" a dazzling hook-filled masterpiece of ear candy! Justin Kennedy's writing and complex arrangements help Army Navy consistently nail the sweet spot between melancholy and joy where my favorite music lives. This sophomore effort follows their excellent self-titled debut and while it's confounding to find this excellent work remain relatively obscure here's hoping there's much more to come from the brilliant Army Navy!
