more albums reviewed

It's mid-February and I'll share a bit about some new albums I've been enjoying:

Cruel Sister by Pentangle offers more of their improvised (they don't like to call it jazzy) take on trad-folk. I still haven't decided if I prefer it to Basket of Light. Perhaps it's best to note that both are truly stunning records with slightly different moods. Lyrically speaking, Cruel Sister is the more omnious of the two.

After reading the Untterberger's engaging entry on the Chocolate Watchband in his engaging Unknown Legends of Rock and Roll: Psychedelic Unknowns, Mad Geniuses, Punk Pioneers, Lo-Fi Mavericks, and More, I couldn't resist picking up their newish anthology. I'd say the Watchband edge out both Donovan and the Kinks and win the award for most complicated record label/reissue activity.

Battle of the Field by the Albion Country Band (which does not denote country music) is another strong trad-rock platter offered by astute bandleader Ashley Hutchings.

Much was written of the simultaneous multi-album releases of Guns and Roses and Bruce Springsteen in the early 90s. How could a musician release two albums on the same day? Dear lord, how is this possible? (It's easy silly rabbit, all you have to do is record a double album and package it as two seperate releases). In September 1991, four years after the release of their monster hit Appetite for Destruction, Guns and Roses put out Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II on the same day. The band self-destructed not long after a mixed-bag release of covers two years later. On March 31st 1992 Bruce Springsteen released Human Touch and Lucky Town, commonly recognized as two of his poorest studio albums. Back in November 68 the Incredible String Band released Wee Tam and The Big Huge as both a double album, and as two seperate works. 18 very unique and wacky tracks, which won't be leaving my iPod for a very long time.