The Last Pale Light in the West – Ben Nichols
“Webster regarded him [the Judge] with one eye asquint and he said: Well you’ve been a draftsman somewhere and them pictures is like enough the things themselves. But no man can put all the world in a book. No more than everything drawed in a book or so.”
- Blood Meridian, Cormac McCarthy
Someone who knows nothing of Lucero might listen to Ben Nichols’ solo project Last Pale Light in the West and say in a similar manner: You’ve been a singer somewhere and them songs is like enough the things themselves. But no man can put all the world in an album. No more than everything singed in an album or so.
Ben Nichols, the front man of one of the nation’s hardest-working, ever-touring bands Lucero, mostly provides a soundtrack to any activity that is also best accompanied by the drinking of PBR or whisky, but Last Pale Light in the West is a soundtrack to Mr. Cormac McCarthy’s epic Blood Meridian (which should, by the way, be read while drinking PBR or whisky). In the record, Nichols managed to achieve what the Oscar-winning Cohen brothers could not: transfer McCarthy’s work successfully into another median. Simply stated, if you haven’t read No Country For Old Men don’t try to understand the film adaptation because it doesn’t work, but if you haven’t read Blood Meridian feel free to listen to and enjoy Last Pale Light in the West.
The only downside of the album is that its just shy of a half-hour, but then again no man can put all the world, or an entire book, in an album. Six of the seven songs are named for the ringleaders of the book’s murderous band while the title track could be an extended metaphor for Nichols exploits on the road with Lucero as much as it is homage to Blood Meridian. The final track, an instrumental piece called “The Judge” sounds like an outtake from Lucero’s That Much Further West, but it works well when considering the Homeric dimension of the mythical and primordial Judge; it was wise to leave the words to McCarthy on that one.
This is not Nichols first stab at providing a musical companion to his bookshelf. The song “The Bikeriders” from the Lucero album, Nobody’s Darling, came from his reading of Danny Lyon’s book by the same title. One of my favorite Lucero songs, Noon as Dark as Midnight, also from Nobody’s Darlings always seemed like it came from the Civil War novel, The Fathers by Allen Tate, but that’s just my wishful thinking. And as long as I’m dreaming (in America), here’s for hoping that any other McCarthy works that are turned into movies are done so by adding a soundtrack voiced by Ben Nichols, David Eugene Edwards, William Elliot Whitmore, and accompanied by Calexico a time or two.
Stevie Ray Vaughan – Texas Flood
What a classic and I can’t believe I’ve missed out. I remember playing Pride and Joy on Guitar Hero III until I broke my guitar controller (not kidding), but this is some great music. Nice and simple guitar blues/rock. Perfect for driving with the windows down.
Best Song: “Pride and Joy”, clearly. But there are a lot of songs that are just 5 minute long blues riff sessions. I bet it was fun to make this record.
Links: Amazon.com, Official Site, Last.fm
Recycle
Haven’t listened to much new music recently, but I have been caught up in some favorites from years past. Here’s what I’m listening to these days:
Jason Mraz – Waiting for My Rocket To Come (2002)
Amazon.com | Official Site | Last.fm
Josh Rouse – 1972 (2003)
Amazon.com | Official Site | Last.fm
Collective Soul – Disciplined Breakdown (1997)
The Black Keys – Attack and Release
I first heard about this album last summer, but never really sat down to listen to it until recently. For the last 2 weeks, it’s really all I’ve listened to during my morning commute.
The Black Keys are just a drummer and a vocalist/guitar player, but it’s still a very full sound. It’s very bluesy, lots of soul, a full bore effects pedal, and they incorporate more instrumentation that just guitar and drums. I swear I heard some banjo and Wurlitzer in there too. Just like their other albums that I’ve listened through, Attack and Release feels like a complete album, not just a collection of songs. I think I read somewhere that the producer on this album primary produced rap and he worked with Gnarls Barkley previously. There’s some of that here too, but The Black Keys don’t need any help being a credible Rhythm & Blues band.
Best Song: “Strange Times” & “Remember When (Side B)”
Links: Amazon.com, Official Site, Last.fm
Sean’s 2008 Picks
I wanted to go with five albums for the year 2008 and I had my five, but then due to unforeseen events I was introduced to several albums late in the year and three of them deserved mention right up there with the other five.
The three late-comers (to me) in alphabetical order:
Blitzen Trapper (Furr) – I heard about this album due to some of the end of the year broadcasts on music from the folks at NPR and my only question was: “Why is this the first time I’ve heard these guys?” Quite simply some of the best alt-country I’ve heard in a long time. If I were to narrow down my list of top five (turned top eight) to include just three, Furr would make the list.
Fleet Foxes (self-titled) – This was already a popular pick with so many, but I came to it late, and I came to enjoy it along with the many. If you haven’t joined the many then I would have to guess you’re just another late-comer who hasn’t jumped on this band’s wagon.
Welcome Wagon (Welcome to the Welcome Wagon) - Speaking of wagons… The husband and wife team who make up the Welcome Wagon sound like they belong to Sufjan Steven’s Illinoise-makers ensemble. And they do belong to the Sufjan crowd, even to the point of being the subject of the Michigan song, “Vito’s Ordination Song.” Whether Sufjan was in front pulling or in back pushing to get the wheels turning on this album, we owe him our gratitude for bringing them into his fold and our ear-buds.
My Original Top Five (in no particular order):
Dr. Dog (Fate) – I think part of the reason I love this album so much is because if I had musical abilities I would want to be in this band. You can tell they enjoy making music together. Great hooks, great sound, great fun!
The Raconteurs (Consolers of the Lonely) – The lyrics and musical styles present in this album are too diverse for me to name. Considering the different genres present it holds together better than most monolithic albums being churned out these days. In “Carolina Drama,” the last and longest track, Jack White plays the role of troubadour and he proves to be among the best America has ever produced.
Bon Iver (For Emma, Forever Ago) - Given my affinity for cold weather and good winters this album is destined to be a perennial favourite of mine. My only complaint is that it is under 45 minutes, which in my estimation is a bit short for full-length album status. Justin Vernon released an EP earlier this week and I haven’t listened yet, but I won’t be upset if it’s more of the same Bon Iver.
Bonny “Prince” Billy (Lie Down in the Light) – If I took music with me on camping trips instead of letting the creation sing, this cd would be in my backpack (okay I admit, I would carry it on my iPod – but you get the point). Not since the first time I heard the Grateful Dead’s American Beauty has an album sounded so close to the earth.
Shearwater (Rook) – I’m going to cop-out at this point and say “take a look at what I wrote earlier about this album.”
