Categories: uncategorized
Date: 15 February 2005 09:39:10
ok so this is going to sound horribly elitist.. And I apologise, but I'm in the midst of a new CD high so here we go...
Each of us has a particular musician that touches us more than others, someone who strikes our own particular chord better than anyone else. Sometimes that'll come down to the time in which we first heard their work, or the words that are spoken or the quality of musicianship... What I'm going to say comes rfom this place of favouritism, so can be taken with a pinch of salt if you so desire.
I love music, listen to it loads and enjoy the work of a great many musicians and bands. From Jools Holland to OneHundredHours, Nick Rogers to Gorillaz, Joss Stone to Alison Moyet to U2 to Steve etc etc my taste is eclectic and wide. There is very little that I don't like (mainly R+B for which I see no point to at all) and lots that I love. Alison Moyet, Gorillaz/Blur, OneHundredHours and Delirious? are all acts that strike the chord pretty well for me, far better than most. One musician strikes that chord perfectly.
Larry Norman is a complete enigma. Many people don't like him, for which I have no explanation. Apparently he is held in disdain in some circles which I again find inexplicable. I've never delved deeply into his history that said, so there may be something there that everyone else is aware of. Me, I'm just going on the music, for which I have a huge amount of love, respect and admiration... A lot of musicians call themselves artists (this is where suggestions of elitism could be levelled) me I think that a musician is a musician. Very few of the acts I listen to transend this role to such an extent that I would call it artistry... Damon Albarn is a fine writer and lyricist.. Alison Moyet has a beautiul voice, Jools Holland plays the piano increibly well etc... Larry Norman, if I had to argue anyones case, is the first one I would choose and feel confidence in. From Stranded in Babylon to Only Visting this Planet, The Belfast Bootlegs to Something New Under the Son, from Tourniquet to So Long Ago every cd has something to say, every song is of huge interest. Occasionally a song just doesn't do it for me, but others hail them as classics so he's an artist of wide range and audience. LNs lyrics are intensley clever, his songs and ideas often ripped off, his songs often covered. But the strength, to me, is that his voice is something friendly, brotherly, instantly likeable (to me of course, some may not like it).
Anyhow, recieved Sessions in the post today. Again was struck by the photos in the cd booklet. God Bless all and always at Solid Rock and again to Larry huge thanks.
Currently listening to: Larry Norman: Sessions. Then onto SNUTS and Tourniquet I think....