Comments on: Roots Watch: Iris DeMent Returns; Crenshaw & BRox Rock

By: g j

g j — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:17:10 +0000

16 years since the release of any new, original material. Lifeline was largely covers of tradition songs and just kept her in the game a bit. At least the Coen Brothers picked up on one sonf from it for True Grit last year!

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:25:44 +0000

Exactly, Arlene, but Rick’s never been a stickler for the facts.

By: nm

nm — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:25:01 +0000

Please, Arlene, let’s not encourage Rick to go on any longer about Iris DeMent. I don’t want to hear his opinions about her body, which is where he always goes after politics, with female artists.

By: Arlene

Arlene — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 15:08:30 +0000

“The fact Iris would not expect a reaction [to "Wasteland of the Free"] proved she had always been surrounded by liberals only and assumed everyone was like that.”

FYI. Iris DeMent, the youngest of 14 children, was born in Pargould, Arkansas and raised as a Pentecostal Christian.

By: Barry Mazor

Barry Mazor — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:11:11 +0000

As usual, Rick treats us to every puny little angry detail of why he doesn’t like and doesn’t want to hear people, mainly political, utterly oblivious to the simple question, “Who exactly do you imagine is dying to hear volunteered details details on what you DON’T want to hear. It’s like a child’s garden of irritation, with crickeys chirping in the night.

When you tell us what music you DO want to hear and why, suh, you can be very interesting. Why don’t you just stick to your long suit..instead of needling people into suggesting you just plain stick it.

By: Jon

Jon — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 01:04:52 +0000

Crikey!

By: Redd Dirt

Redd Dirt — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:36:29 +0000

I’ll bet that Rick smashed all of his Hank Jr. CD’s too after he went political..crikey!

By: Leeann Ward

Leeann Ward — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 00:05:28 +0000

Sounds like you might have a rage issue, Rick?

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 22:48:30 +0000

I purchased the “Infamous Angel” CD when it first came out due to a great article on Iris by Alanna Nash in Stereo Review magazine back in the 1980′s. I was highly disappointed by the recorded sound quality, but the album did contain some stand out tracks. The use of “Our Town” as the closer in the final episode of “Northern Exposure” was perfect.

I love Barry’s comment: “And then she caught a lot of apparently unexpected flak for going political on her 1996 album, The Way I Should.” I picked up a used copy of that CD for cheapsies back around 2004 and after listening through “Wasteland of The Free” I took the CD out of my car player and smashed it to little pieces. The fact Iris would not expect a reaction proved she had always been surrounded by liberals only and assumed everyone was like that.

Also, I remember Iris going on stage at a concert in the early 2000′s right after GW Bush had sent troops into Iraq. Iris was so sickened by this turn of affairs she told the audience she was unable to perform. Its a good thing no tomatoes were available or the conservatives in the crowd might have given her a good pelting!

Speaking of politics, I’ve never been a fan of the Bottle Rockets due to the political correctness of many of their songs. Well that and the lead singer’s crappy voice. On the other hand Marshall Crenshaw was the person who compiled the song list for the excellent “Hillbilly Music, Thank God. Volume 1″ album from Capitol Records. That is one of the best compilation albums I’ve ever acquired, so Marshall earns big brownie points in my book!

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:47:10 +0000

Guitar pull at their family gatherings? That one made me chuckle.