Basement Discs Recommend...

THE UNTHANKS - 'Diversions Vol.1' (The Songs of Robert Wyatt & Antony & the Johnsons)

Recorded live in December 2010, over 2 sold out nights at the Union Chapel London, these shows rated on several 'Gigs of the Year' lists & are now captured on this remarkable album. The Unthanks are a sublime British folk act & are always an absolute delight in the live context. Exploring two of the most adventurous songbooks of recent times, they were greatly encouraged by Robert Wyatt's support & enthusiasm for this project.

KAREN DALTON - '1966'
Karen was a remote, elusive creature. Only twice was she lured into a studio (to make 1969's 'It's So Hard to Tell' & 1971's 'In My Own Time'), at other times preferring to make music in casual settings, around kitchen tables with friends. On this 45 yr old, carefully exhumed tape, she is found at her most raw & unfiltered, performing traditional songs she uncannily makes totally her own.

RUTHIE FOSTER - 'Let It Burn'

Ruthie's naturally expressive voice has drawn comparisons to greats such as Aretha & Ella...high praise indeed & to experience her live performances is to be wrapped in a cloak of love! This Texas based singer/songwriter mixes a broad palette of American song forms from gospel & blues to jazz, folk & soul. On her latest outing she has once again written several of the songs, along with including fabulous interpretations of songs from artists such as Pete Seeger, John Martyn, Robbie Robertson etc.

'CHIMES OF FREEDOM: The Songs of BOB DYLAN' Honouring 50yrs. of AMNESTY INT'L V/A - 4CD set
	An all-star charity album in aid of Amnesty International, all songs have been donated free of charge by those involved, and Bob has kindly waived all publishing royalties, naturally enough! It (as these projects often do) features a diverse roster of global music stars from Patti Smith, Pete Townshend, Bettye LaVette, Sting, Billy Bragg, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams to
Adele, Mariachi El Bronx, Diana Krall, Angelique Kidjo, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Seal with Jeff Beck....etc.etc. 73 tracks in all, featuring an absolute swag of stunning performances of the maestro's incredible songs....and all for a very good cause...who could ask for anything more?

DOORS - 'L.A. Woman 40th Anniv. Edit'
	These Anniversary Editions just keep on coming! This one however, does includes a new completely unreleased song 'She Smells So Nice' discovered by Bruce Botnick while reviewing the orig. L.A. Session tapes for this commemorative release, along with 8 never before heard versions of songs from the album, alternate takes etc. includ. studio chatter between songs providing fresh insight into much of the inspiration &
evolution of this iconic recording. Such as one of those classic "light bulb moments" when Morrison suggests adding the thunderstorm sound effects to the start of "Riders on the Storm".

DOORS - 'Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman DVD/BLU RAY
This fascinating doco on high-def. video also features live & studio performances as well as rare archival photos, all told through new interviews with Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger & John Densmore as well as Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman, their original manager Bill Siddons, engineer/co-producer Bruce Botnick and others.

FIRST AID KIT - 'The Lion's Roar'
	First Aid Kit's first American-recorded album, 'The Lion's Roar', juxtaposes sadness and beauty in the best traditions of folk and country music. They even cite the Louvin Brothers cheerfully brutal version of the old murder ballad 'Knoxville Girl' as the perfect example of the sweet and sour they adore.
And this carefully constructed collection deftly succeeds in setting references to their home town of Stockholm and long dark Scandinavian winters against an unforced backdrop of country-rock swing.

MARK LANEGAN BAND - 'Blues Funeral'

BLUES FUNERAL is the new MARK LANEGAN BAND record, the first since 2004 Bubblegum and following three acclaimed albums of rough-hewn country(ish) music with Isobel Campbell. Blues Funeral is his 7th solo album. It was recorded in Hollywood, California by Alain Johannes, who has worked with Queens Of The Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell and Eagles of Death Metal. Joining Mark on the album are Johannes and former Red Hot Chilli Peppers/ Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons with appearances from Greg Dulli and Josh Homme.

Download a pdf version of the Basement Discs Best of 2011 list here. (pdf 95kb)