Good listening music

Twelve Songs
By Enda Kenny

Blues for Thought
By Terry Evans
Larrikin Records

Reviewed by Cathy Lawrence

Twelve Songs is a collection of good listening music in the tradition of folk and blues. Each song has a story to tell and traces some of Australia's rich history: the arrival of migrants, “Child of Prague” and getting rolling drunk on “St Patricks Day”. Songs like “Colours of Australia” describe the images which gave us the colours green and gold -- the sunrises and the bush.

“Sign of the Times” talks about the closing down of a school and the teachers joining the dole queues. The “Language of the Land” describes its beauty and there's a touch of old Ireland which threads its way though. This is a collection of Australiana-type songs which are well sung.

Blues for Thought is billed as a classy mix of soul, blues and gospel. Terry Evans music is upbeat rhythm and blues. I could imagine it being played in LA bars and having a good time. Evans, an Afro American born in Mississippi moved to Los Angeles and teamed up with Bobby King, a singer form Lake Charles, Louisiana. He worked as a writer and backup singer for artists like Boz Scaggs, Ry Cooder and Maria Muldaur. His music and voice has been recorded on a number of other musicians' albums but this is his debut album.

The only song I didn't like much, mainly because of the lyrics, was “Hey, Mama, Keep Your Big Mouth Shut”. I find it annoying to hear lyrics which talk about how good you are in bed followed (over and over again) by “Hey, Mama, keep your big mouth shut”.

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
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