Got a tip? Send it our way
Share your music news — big or small — with the Austin360.com team by sending us an e-mail.
Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > November > 25 > Entry
CD review: KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 17
KGSR Broadcasts Vol. 17
Grade: A
Two troubadours — a grinning, shaggy Steve Earle and rising star Hayes Carll — front the cover of KGSR Broadcasts this year (the CD is out Friday, Nov. 27. Check here for retail locations). The contrast between elder statesman of alt-country and beaming, youthful next big thing so adeptly sums up the beauty of the series that one has to wonder if it was specifically chosen as a raison d’etre for Broadcasts as the series enters a period of change.
That ethos of mixing the best of established talent with fresh-faced up-and-comers is particularly pronounced on volume 17, a skillfully curated, two-disc assemblage of 40 live, largely acoustic cuts that offers the single best value in Austin music. Station tastemaker Jody Denberg might be leaving — for now — but he’s gone out with another solid entry of the series that’s become an Austin tradition.
Unsurprisingly, the bread-and-butter artists that serve as the cornerstone of KGSR’s playlist are well-represented. There are recent songs from staple artists, such as an impassioned, rapidly delivered “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)” from Bob Schneider, or a surprisingly funky rendition of Fastball”s “Little White Lies,” with a jumpy bass line that tops the original album version.
But the real treat is the album’s surprising emphasis on collecting some of the station’s most beloved and most played vintage cuts. From Alejandro Escovedo’s “Velvet Guitar” to Todd Snider’s satirical “The Ballad of the Kingsmen,” volume 17 is heavy on energetic new versions of some of the station’s most reliable tunes. Tori Amos’ “Silent All These Years” stings with aching vulnerability, while a naked “Ft. Worth Blues” from Steve Earle makes for a powerful closer.
Lest anyone think newcomers are neglected, though, volume 17 also has plenty to please those looking for something a little more fresh — folk prodigy Sarah Jarosz’s “Song Up In Her Head” is a disc two highlight, and Andrew Bird’s “Fitz and Dizzyspells” showcases the indie rocker at his whistling best. The hipster crowd will appreciate a haunting, spare rendition of Spoon’s “Black Like Me.” Altogether, volume 17 hits a challenging balance between guaranteed crowd-pleasers and the intriguing new material that helps keep the station vibrant.
It’s hard to say how the series — and station — might change in the wake of Denberg’s departure. It’s tempting to say he should have gotten the cover nod. But his pending leave offers a good chance to take stock of everything Broadcasts has accomplished in 17 years: millions raised for the Sims Foundation and dozens of discs with hundreds of hours of the very best in music from artists all over the world. And all of it for only $15 a year.
All in all, not too shabby. Take a bow, Broadcasts.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Reviews
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.