1001 Albums Summary

The roots of alt country. Several Neil Young classics. Tasteful harmonies and great raw guitar arrangements. As a collection of songs it’s up there with his best.

A classic album from arguably the founders of Americana as we have come to know it. The album is a dense, deceptively complex production. Skilled musicians melding multiple genres. The voices of the (four) vocalists - slightly strange but at once familiar, weaving sinuous harmonies against acoustic and electric textures. Garth Hudson’s organ adornments integrate with country guitar, mandolin and assorted folk instruments. The live feel of the songs’ elastic time signatures always locked-in to a groove. Their influence can be heard on many an alt-country artist record (Wilco springs to mind) and other works, notably George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. Song arrangements manage to be both epic and intimate - Soulful vocals over rich, organic instrumental parts. Stand out tracks for me - obvious one ‘The Weight’ but also ‘Ghost Fever’.

I’m very familiar with Michael Kiwanuka’s work. Timeless production evoking 60’s soul with a 21st century Indy aesthetic and beautifully crafted songs not to mention great delivery by a musical all-rounder. Standouts are : Black man in a white world, Hero, You ain’t the problem. He’s also a great ive performer. Check out his other albums