It occurred to me, at one point, that I needed more variety. I had plenty of experience with the above music, and though it certainly had it's time and place (still does!), it became too cliche'd, too predictable, too monotonous.
One artist that I admire and have followed for many, many years is Neil Young. I have always loved his music as something that could challenge and propel my imagination. One sign of a terribly written song is the ability of the listener to guess the rhyming word from one line to the next, or the last word of the next line by hearing the last word of the current line. Predictability is death. And opposite that, uniqueness for uniqueness' sake is also death. But being clever and different and real are the the cornerstones of solid songwriting. Those are the enduring (and endearing) things.
Neil's songs can be hard to pin down. He changes dramatically from song to song, album to album, concert tour to concert tour.
But it's always real and true and challenging and enlightening. Take a walk with this guy and one never knows where the path will lead.
Now my musical tastes are geared more towards a larger scope of songwriting and performing. Diversity is key. There's plenty of room for the old stuff but the listening catalog is ever increasing and the new stuff is fascinating.
Susan and I have gone on three music cruises over the last four years. People ask what kind of music is it that attracts us to spend so much money, to go to such great distances, to become so engrossed? And we kinda think about the wide range of artists we've come in contact with through these cruises and we're hard pressed to come up with one central designation. But "Americana" seems to sum it up best.
Here's Darrell Scott on Americana music - "Roots music. I love that Americana is so hard to pin down. As soon as it gets too easy to understand, it may detract from the wonderful music that it is. It's a funny spot between Americana being promoted, talked about and understood, then defined. Once it's defined too specifically, it will get pigeonholed for everyone. I kind of like the hard-to-define place that the music is in. I want the music to be as free as it can be. It can be whatever the hell it wants to be. I mean, there's great Americana being made in Canada and even Ireland, so I don't mean for Americana to imply flag-waving or that it's only from here in the states. I do still think Americana is an alternative form. Bluegrass fits into Americana. Honky-tonk fits into Americana, and Texas Swing does too. I love that Americana's just a big, ol' messy catch-all that no one knows what the hell it really is. I want to keep it as weird as it can be. When it's defined, its power will be gone. Instead of that campaign in Austin to "Keep Austin Weird," I want to keep Americana indefinable."
I couldn't agree more!
Robert Plant turned down his previous bandmates so he could delve into Americana and the results were impressive!
Buddy Miller is an extraordinary talent and can create guitar sounds and effects with awesome results.
John Hiatt is a songwriter's songwriter with a Midwesterner's heart and wit.
Patty Griffin has the voice of an angel.
Emmylou Harris IS an angel.
Brandi Carlile is a powerful, newer talent with the soul of an old timer.
Americana is like gumbo. A blend of unexpected pleasures. One might hesitate in taking the first bite, not knowing what that combination is going to taste like, all messed together in one bowl. But after dipping into it and letting the flavors all run together, the spices sparking, the textures teasing, one can then sit back and enjoy the incredible moment. The "Ahhhh, that was perfect!" moment.
