Rodrigo and Gabriela, Live: Manchester and Dublin (2004, CD)

Okay this is going really slow... It’s not that I’m not listening to albums, but it’s that I’m not writing anything down (or over analyzing and then avoiding what I do jot down). But here goes...

Rodrigo and Gabriela are a guitar duo that I stumbled across not too long ago and have started collecting all of their live albums. With their energy and intensity, I’m not sure what a studio album would be like nor do I feel the need to try at this point.

This time around I took a deep dive on Live: Manchester and Dublin, which includes tracks from shows recorded in 2003 and 2004. "FOC," the first track, starts out strong with a driving pace. About 4 minutes in, guitar playing gives way to (guitar) drumming which itself is quite dynamic and contributes to the frenetic energy. The intro into the second song, "One/Take Five," provides a hint of an underriding facet to the album: Rodrigo and Gabriela used to play in a hardcore band which is telling in the way they play their acoustic guitars. Very appropriate on this song which is a medley of Metallica’s One and David Brubeck’s Take Five. While one might fear that this combination would end in disaster, R&G make the song their own. Much of the guitar work is reminiscent of the heavy metal genre, yet the length and composition also provide a return to many of the motifs throughout the song, which reminds me more of a jazz construct.

The second set of songs from the Dublin show add violins to the mix, which I find especially interesting on "Paris" and "One" (a reprise of the Metallica song, but different enough from the Manchester medley to be worthwhile). This final track may also be my favorite from the album. 

Overall I think this is a great album, if seemingly a bit short given the limited number of tracks from each show. Technically, I love their guitar playing and their collaboration with the violinists. Taken as a whole, the only criticism that I’ll add is that if one listens obtusely then it can start sounding the same. The individual guitar pyrotechnics give way to a general increase in energy and sometimes tempo throughout the song - the crescendo - ending in a blaze of stringwork. Looked at another way, it’s fun to see how R&G are manipulating energy pulsing in and out, letting it build until a final release. It certainly gets my adrenalin going.

Rating: I’m still not sure which live set by Rodrigo and Gabriela qualifies as my favorite. For now I give this 7.5 nods of the head, knowing that at least one of their albums will be on my top shelf.
Sources: CD

Joan Osborne, Bring It on Home (2012, FLAC)

Honestly, I was not intending to start my reviews with this album but an extended visit by the inlaws (in the bedroom next to my system) forced my late night listening over to my headphones and digital files. So I went for a hi-res digital download of Joan Osborne’s Bring It on Home (44.1/24). My initial hope was to start with her Early Recordings album but alas that will have to wait.

Osborne’s voice first struck me when watching the DVD Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Lots of power like Janis Joplin but combined with a bit more finesse as well as a touch of rasp. Also a voice that lurks in my brain with an association to some cheesy pop song played at weddings – not sure if that’s true but it speaks to a potential to go mainstream pop/R&B vs. something a bit more original and soulful.

For this album, which basically includes covers of various blues/soul songs, the opening tune “I don’t need no doctor” moves, grooves and for me is the strongest of the bunch. “Bring it on home” changes in tempo to a more bluesy style with Osborne’s voice taking on a more sultry tone, accompanied by cool riffs from the harmonica and bass guitar. Lack of liner notes with the digital downloads leaves no room for providing additional context (or information), but does prompt more attentive listening.

Skipping through my notes, I definitely tuned into the backing instruments: again the harmonica as well as piano, a tenor sax and Hammond B3 (??), a nice combo if I’ve identified them correctly. Her cover of Bill Wither’s “The same love that made me want to laugh” would be great if Bill Withers hadn’t already done the song (a tough act to follow, which raises the perpetual question of trying to cover existing excellence). “Shake,” a song which takes on a cowboy, honky-tonk twang was probably my least favorite and even had me itching for the remote, but I persisted. “I’m qualified” would be a good close as it brings back the drive that opened the album, however from thereon, including the appended bonus tracks, it’s increasingly unable to close with a bang. (What is it about bonus tracks these days… it’s not really a space issue... is it a quality/making the grade issue?)

While this isn’t an over the top rave review, the album is still good and has decent sonic merit – not overly lush, maybe a touch dry but accurate recording and reproduction. Where it suffers is from my expectation of wanting something like Early Recordings. Granted Recordings includes live performances, which benefit from a great combination of energy and good tunes that carries through the entire album. Bring It on Home has its gems in a few tracks as well as the backing band, but by comparison doesn’t get it all the way home.

Rating: So I’ll give it 5 nods of the head on my ten point scale.

Source: Digital download (44.1kHz/24bit) [note: does not include liner notes]