Let The Mystery Be
Being the Piscean fella that I am, I've always been an, um, "spiritual seeker" after my own fashion. I've dipped my toe into various religions and thoughts, but nothing specific's ever stuck to my soul (if I have one). I guess I've cobbled together a sort of belief that I won't bore you with, but suffice to say, to quote Van Morrison, it has "No guru, no method, no teacher."
I bring this up in the spirit of "Let the Mystery Be," the first song on Iris DeMent's wonderful debut recording from 1992 (on CD) called Infamous Angel. In the course of this song Iris states her religious stance in the midst of various, I would imagine fundamentalist Christian pressures, "To let the mystery be." And I say, "What ho!" to that. Other good, straight from the heart, acoustic, countryish numbers, sung in a uniquely appealing nasally voice. Iris has put out various records since this one, but I don't know that any of them are this uniformly excellent.
Another CD from the nineties('93--a most miserable year for yours truly): De La Soul's Buhloone Mind State. It's their third release. Lost in the shuffle of Gangsta Rap domination I think it's well worth a visit. Not as innocent and fun as their debut 3 Feet High and Rising (and, well, I've never heard their second, De La Soul Is Dead), but a very good mature effort. Nice groove-based jazz samples, as well as some guest blowing from Maceo Parker. I predict that records like this (the non Gangsta Rap Hip Hop of the early '90's) will get finally their due within the next few years.
Over on vinyl it's two Jimmie Dale Gilmore records from the late eighties. Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Fair & Square. Of the two, JDG is slightly better. Great version of Mel Tillis's "Honky Tonk Song." The steel guitar (and other guitars as well) playing of Lloyd Maines on this record really makes it essential for your next Honky Tonk get together.
I bring this up in the spirit of "Let the Mystery Be," the first song on Iris DeMent's wonderful debut recording from 1992 (on CD) called Infamous Angel. In the course of this song Iris states her religious stance in the midst of various, I would imagine fundamentalist Christian pressures, "To let the mystery be." And I say, "What ho!" to that. Other good, straight from the heart, acoustic, countryish numbers, sung in a uniquely appealing nasally voice. Iris has put out various records since this one, but I don't know that any of them are this uniformly excellent.
Another CD from the nineties('93--a most miserable year for yours truly): De La Soul's Buhloone Mind State. It's their third release. Lost in the shuffle of Gangsta Rap domination I think it's well worth a visit. Not as innocent and fun as their debut 3 Feet High and Rising (and, well, I've never heard their second, De La Soul Is Dead), but a very good mature effort. Nice groove-based jazz samples, as well as some guest blowing from Maceo Parker. I predict that records like this (the non Gangsta Rap Hip Hop of the early '90's) will get finally their due within the next few years.
Over on vinyl it's two Jimmie Dale Gilmore records from the late eighties. Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Fair & Square. Of the two, JDG is slightly better. Great version of Mel Tillis's "Honky Tonk Song." The steel guitar (and other guitars as well) playing of Lloyd Maines on this record really makes it essential for your next Honky Tonk get together.
posted by ken at 4:46 PM
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