Listen up, folks! Getting fresh and folky
Byrd McDaniel
Issue date: 2/5/10 Section: Viva
The folk genre has seen many troubadours come and go. From the penetrating punch of Neil Young to the tickling melodies of Vashti Bunyan, folk music has had a variety of voices in mainstream America. The music, at its core, is an outlet for a simplistic form of expression with minimal music backing that allows the lyrics and vocal expression to take center stage and hit the imagination where it hurts. In a time where auto-tuned rappers and ringtone musicians seem to be the musical gods of our generation, it is good to appreciate the authentic folk voices that elude excessive digital modification and deliver honesty and intentional imperfection. Here's a look at three noteworthy folk musicians who have something to say in their own folksy kind of way.
Levon Helm
After participating in one of the greatest bands of all time and surviving throat cancer, Levon Helm has proven that he's not ready to croak quite yet. Helm, a former member of The Band, now lives in Arkansas and continues to put out traditional folk albums in rapid succession, complete with banjos, mandolins, dobros and guitars. While in The Band, Helm's lyrics tackled a variety of issues that sought to reconcile a Southern man with a maturing America. Although the times have changed, this tension has not, and Helm tackles it head on in his later and folksier years. Helm's two most recent albums, "The Dirt Farmer" and "Electric Dirt," recycle traditional folk ballads and feature Helm singing along with his daughter in harmony. Helm's Southern drawl and raspy voice tackle modern issues such as farming subsidies, coal mining and cold-hearted lovers. The voice that comes out on his most recent albums struggles to stay on pitch and sounds as ancient as the land about which it sings. Helm's soulful delivery, however, remains intact despite his old age, and, when listening, you can almost hear the dirt in his voice as he sings the songs of the land.
Conor Oberst
Delivering anti-theistic and liberal javelins at mainstream America and Republican presidents, Oberst delivers a dark, nihilistic image of his personal world in a trembling tenor voice. After spending his early career in the band Bright Eyes, he produced the album "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning," an angrily angsty encapsulation of a post 9/11 zeitgeist. In addition to the numerous albums with Bright Eyes, Oberst went on to produce two more albums with the Mystic Valley Band: "Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band" and "Outer South." Both albums are more upbeat with numerous lyrically-driven lullabies that dwell in simplistic beauty. Recently, Oberst worked with other artists - M. Ward, Jim James and Mike Mogis - to form the folk super group, Monsters of Folk. The album contains a collage of voices and melodies stemming from the various backgrounds of the group members. Oberst, however, proves to be the group's MVP, providing a firm backbone for the other lesser-known musicians. Oberst, in his own shaky and listless style, promises to follow in the vein of folk musicians whose voices are hard to chew but whose thoughts will warm your insides.
Other artists to look out for: Silver Jews
Formed in 1989, the band consists of front man Steve Berman, Bob Nastanovich and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus. Silver Jews generally make no attempt at melody or sing-along choruses, but rather focus only on idiosyncratic wanderings - achieving an imperfect sound that comes off as honest and relaxed. The Silver Jews left a cherishable folk legacy of six albums that are casual and at times cacophonous. Nonetheless, every now and then, the songs find a happy medium that will tickle your folksy bone right down to the core.
Levon Helm
After participating in one of the greatest bands of all time and surviving throat cancer, Levon Helm has proven that he's not ready to croak quite yet. Helm, a former member of The Band, now lives in Arkansas and continues to put out traditional folk albums in rapid succession, complete with banjos, mandolins, dobros and guitars. While in The Band, Helm's lyrics tackled a variety of issues that sought to reconcile a Southern man with a maturing America. Although the times have changed, this tension has not, and Helm tackles it head on in his later and folksier years. Helm's two most recent albums, "The Dirt Farmer" and "Electric Dirt," recycle traditional folk ballads and feature Helm singing along with his daughter in harmony. Helm's Southern drawl and raspy voice tackle modern issues such as farming subsidies, coal mining and cold-hearted lovers. The voice that comes out on his most recent albums struggles to stay on pitch and sounds as ancient as the land about which it sings. Helm's soulful delivery, however, remains intact despite his old age, and, when listening, you can almost hear the dirt in his voice as he sings the songs of the land.
Conor Oberst
Delivering anti-theistic and liberal javelins at mainstream America and Republican presidents, Oberst delivers a dark, nihilistic image of his personal world in a trembling tenor voice. After spending his early career in the band Bright Eyes, he produced the album "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning," an angrily angsty encapsulation of a post 9/11 zeitgeist. In addition to the numerous albums with Bright Eyes, Oberst went on to produce two more albums with the Mystic Valley Band: "Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band" and "Outer South." Both albums are more upbeat with numerous lyrically-driven lullabies that dwell in simplistic beauty. Recently, Oberst worked with other artists - M. Ward, Jim James and Mike Mogis - to form the folk super group, Monsters of Folk. The album contains a collage of voices and melodies stemming from the various backgrounds of the group members. Oberst, however, proves to be the group's MVP, providing a firm backbone for the other lesser-known musicians. Oberst, in his own shaky and listless style, promises to follow in the vein of folk musicians whose voices are hard to chew but whose thoughts will warm your insides.
Other artists to look out for: Silver Jews
Formed in 1989, the band consists of front man Steve Berman, Bob Nastanovich and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus. Silver Jews generally make no attempt at melody or sing-along choruses, but rather focus only on idiosyncratic wanderings - achieving an imperfect sound that comes off as honest and relaxed. The Silver Jews left a cherishable folk legacy of six albums that are casual and at times cacophonous. Nonetheless, every now and then, the songs find a happy medium that will tickle your folksy bone right down to the core.
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