February 11th, 2025
Ray Charles’ ‘Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music’: Sorry, Stick With The Original DYNAMIC COMPRESSION DOES NO FAVORS FOR THE GRAMMY HALL OF FAME-WINNING CLASSICBy: Morgan Enos
As a record, Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music holds up just fine. But as an idea? It may be one of the most beautiful we ever had.The story is a familiar one, as far the American musical mythos is concerned: Back in 1962, at the flashpoint of the civil rights movement, Charles recorded 12 standbys originally by Hank Williams (“You Win Again,” “Hey, Good Lookin’,”) Don Gibson (“I Can’t Stop Loving You”), and other luminaries of the tradition.Six... Read More
November 21st, 2024
A Remix Of George Harrison’s Living in the Material World Doesn’t Fix What Isn’t Broken A FLAWED YET LOVELY BEATLES SOLO ALBUM IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH PAUL HICKSBy: Morgan Enos
On 1973’s Living in the Material World, George Harrison’s capacity for subtlety began to elude him in earnest.Six years earlier, he’d released “Within You Without You” on Sgt. Pepper’s — scolding, to be sure, but above all gorgeous, enveloping, and innovative. (Plus, the snickers at the end made it all land.) On the 1968 B-side “The Inner Light,” he channeled the Tao Te Ching with sweet poignancy. On other key songs I don’t need to name, he deftly threaded eros and... Read More
