garland jeffreys: the king of in between

My review of the documentary Garland Jeffreys: The King of in Between is now up here at Film-Forward.

The film, directed by his partner of over 40 years, Claire Jeffreys, with a few starry talking heads, is a revealing overview of his career and music that should appeal to both longtime fans and the uninitiated.

western stars

Bruce Springsteen has long been emblematic of American yearning. His new solo album, Western Stars, is a wistful, grand collection of songs. The rock edge of his previous work is more understated and spare here, giving way to a gorgeously-produced full orchestra--with remnants of homage to Glen Campbell's string-drenched Jimmy Webb-penned tunes. The gravel of Springsteen's voice adds a nice tension to the lush tracks. In the film Western Stars, directed by Springsteen and Thom Zimny, Bruce and orchestra play for a small, quiet, seated audience in his hundred-year old, worn-down barn, lit atmospherically by strewn lights.

Those expecting raucous arena rock may either be disappointed or intrigued by the deliberately-paced, string and mellow horn-laden tunes. An effective Patti Scialfa performs by his side. Her addition to "Stones" is particularly haunting and reflective and better than the track on the album release. With the exception of a rousing cover of "Rhinestone Cowboy," the film is mostly a play-by-play of the record--no Springsteen chestnut standards emerge. The staid, though vocally and instrumentally impressive, performances are interspersed with slow-mo horses over open landscapes, flitting vintage home movie Americana and some footage of a younger Bruce and Patti. The imagery is not particularly striking, but lovely and pleasing to look at; over it, Bruce ruminates in platitudes on growing old, cars, nature, relationships and the origins of his songs. Overall, Western Stars the film deepened my appreciation of the album and is a nice slice of an artist still delivering beautiful work, even if its wrapped in a sleepy shroud of stars. ***

-Jeffery Berg

i'm on fire

Du Tonc killing it with this ethereal electro cover of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm On Fire."

top 10 singles of 2012

It's that end-list time of year again!

Here are the tunes that helped me endure '12.  What songs did you love?




10.
Alabama Shakes - "Hold On"

Fronted by Brittany Howard's gravelly voice, somehow they made the sentiment of the cliched song title fresh and emotionally resonant.




9.
Breakbot - "1 Out of 2"
A mix of French nu-disco and the Doobie Brothers "What A Fool Believes."




8.
Danny Brown - "Grown Up"
Whistful rap about getting old.




7.
Bruce Springsteen - "We Take Care of Our Own"
Another moving anthem from The Boss that became a memorable campaign song for Obama's reelection.




6.
Solange - "Losing You"
With a lush mix of "Twin Peaks" synths and snappy percussion, Solange proves she's not her sister's beat biter.




5.
M.I.A. - "Bad Girls"
The singer / rapper infuses worldbeat and her savvy lyrics into another relentlessly addictive track.




4.
Jack White - "Love Interruption"
Mixing woodwinds (bass clarinets yo) with an agonized, desperate vocal (Ruby Amanfu did the backups), White created a song that seethes within its minimalist design.




3.
Grizzly Bear - "Yet Again"
A rambling tune of relationship woes and glimmering guitars.






2.

Frank Ocean - "Pyramids" & "Thinkin Bout You"
Ocean's "Pyramids" is a 9 minute epic that mixes story, soul and mesmerizing electro.  "Thinkin Bout You" is definitely the prettiest, most aching single of the year.  When he hits those falsettos... lord.





1.
Twin Shadow - "Five Seconds"
I played this track out: new wavy and relentless.

My Spotify playlist of the best music of 2012.