| This Week's Highlights |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
|
@ DVDfever Youtube |
|
|
|
|
May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
|
Fans of the Eagles will instantly recognise the name J.D. Souther. He’s written some of their biggest hits – Best Of My Love, Victim Of Love, Heartache Tonight and New Kid In Town. Their recent single How Long from album Long Road Out Of Eden was written by him way back in 1972. He’s also written for Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt. Souther’s country rock credentials are undisputable, and it’s unfathomable why he never took off like his illustrious stablemates, because he’s written some excellent songs. They go back to the '60s influenced by Roy Orbison, before he teamed up with future Eagle Glenn Frey, and Jackson Brown. Souther and Frey formed short-lived Longbranch Pennywhistle, a folk duo. Later he teamed up with Chris Hillman and Richie Furay for Souther – Hillman – Furay Band recording two albums. A bigger audience came when contributing to the Eagles, who were clearly comfortable with his material, even to this day.
Bordertown shows his individual songwriting skills, with selections from four albums and a couple by SHFB. An R’n’B/Country opening, White Wing shows he wasn’t totally immersed in slick honeyed choruses. This lazy funky gem with deft harmonica splashes shows another side to his country roots, it also highlights his wonderful vocal lilt. It’s easy to see why the Eagles chose How Long as a comeback single, but here it’s a tad earthier and more country than their rendition, and it’s a timeless classic still. It also makes me wonder why his famous chums haven’t picked up on Fast One as it’s perfect Eagles vocal and instrumental territory fusing a neat country swing and commercial edge. Arguably, Jesus In ¾ Time is the jewel in the crown, a very, very stately ballad, again like something from an early Eagles album like On The Border. Going down a deeper country road, pedal steel-drenched Pretty Goodbyes twists and turns accompanied by gloriuous harmonies a la Beach Boys, whereas lightweight rocker title track – Border Town sees Souther up the pace and edge, just a bit, like something from a Doobie Brothers back catalogue.
In a similar mode, Trouble In Paradise, is upbeat and very catchy, combining jazzy interludes – funky bass, flute and Doors-like organ - that juxtapose magnificently to the overall thrust of the thumping drums and wiry gutar solos. A big fan of Roy Orbison, Souther does a marvelous tribute to his hero for You’re Only Lonely (a take on Only The Lonely) becoming one of the collection’s main highlights, sounding more like Orbison than the man himself. With the compilers choosing a stylish end, the haunting All I Want, with its haunting drums and organ, Souther lets us know he can handle a (beautiful) ballad like no other, and that includes Don Henley of, yes you guessed it, the Eagles. File under: Finger-licking good.
Weblink:
myspace.com/jdsouthermusic
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
|
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
