|
| |
 Alive
and Picking CD Review
This dizzying, dazzling display of
country-flavoured, almost funky, folk music is a superb live recording of
well-chosen tracks from his debut and follow-up CDs, Back to the Dirt and
Psychedelic Pholk Psongs - I'd forgotten how wonderfully Canadian his music
is!
Along with stellar recording artists
Tony Quarrington and
Maureen Brown, Mr. Gladstone
(the aptly nicknamed Asphalt Cowboy) has upped his profile again with the
addition of long-time North American musical icon
Allan Soberman, featured on
tastefully subtle bass. Brian's sweet-voiced sister, Bonnie, has
progressively acquired a large measure of self-confidence in her harmonies,
which is no small feat, keeping up with Brian's own unique rapid-fire vocal
patois.
I'm sure there will be people who feel the 8-song EP/CD was just too short
to cover the best of the 34 songs Brian has previously recorded. In the
meantime, though, they can console themselves with the studio versions on
Back to the Dirt and Psychedelic Pholk Psongs while anxiously awaiting the
upcoming CD of new material!
Hopefully he will be showcasing some of it at his second annual Toronto
Winter Folkfest, of which he is the director and founder.
Robert Digioia
(Maestro Fresh Wes, Chocolate Bunnies from Hell, Kim Mitchell, etc.), who
also produced Back to the Dirt and Psychedelic Pholk Psongs for Brian,
handled the final mix of Alive & Picking, recorded by
Reels on Wheels.
Reviewed by Diane Wells ("Rockin' the Blues from Canada")
|
|
