| SoundStage! Music Online Editor's Pick
Archives May/June 2002 Dave Alvin and the Guilty Men - Out in
California Musical Performance  I gain respect for awards like the Grammys when
performers like Dave Alvin win them, in Alvin's case for Public Domain, which we
also named one of the best recordings
of 2000. Co-founder of roots-rock band the Blasters, Alvin made a terrific live album
with his band the Guilty Men in 1996 (titled Interstate Highway). So why make
another? Amidst some distinguished studio releases, Alvin has toured relentlessly,
conceding that "What I do is play live." So here are 13 tunes from
various periods in Alvin's career: as Blaster, fledgling solo performer, and established
act. My favorites are the two written by Alvin and Tom Russell -- the title tune and
"Haley's Comet" -- for their storytelling, but throughout the sets from which
the tracks were gleaned, Alvin and the Guilty Men seize the crowd's attention with a kind
of rough-hewn artistry. There's even some humor -- at the very end, Alvin and band play
"Freebird" essentially on a dare. The sound is a little congealed and peaky, but
it doesn't ruin enjoyment of this disc and its performances, which are choice....Marc
Mickelson
Mark Eitzel - Music for Courage &
Confidence Musical Performance  His time as frontman for American Music Club having
ended five solo albums ago, Mark Eitzel has finally gotten around to a cover album, and
what a fine collection it is. Music for Courage & Confidence retains the
brooding, whispery nature that is Eitzel's style and in the process makes a few of these
songs seem like they were misinterpreted in their original forms. And what a mix of songs
-- everything from Anne Murray to Boy George to Glen Campbell. My favorite redo is
"Ain't No Sunshine," whose title Eitzel seems to use for interpretive
inspiration. The slow, electronic vibe of Music will make it distinctive background
music for your next party, and its sound will not disappoint audiophile sensibilities. But
the more I listen to Music, the more I realize what I like about Mark Eitzel to
begin with: He doesn't attempt to reinvent pop music (whew!), but he still achieves
originality and humor, even with his covers. If you've never heard of Mark Eitzel or
American Music Club, Music of Courage & Confidence will be like a dish whose
ingredients you're familiar with but you've never eaten together. Dig in....Marc
Mickelson
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