ENSIFERUM (ABO #404)

ENSIFERUM
VALHALLA

And now, kids, here's a bit of harmless fun by Finnish Viking Metal legends Ensiferum.
Basically, what you're having here is a tasty slice of metal infused with folk influences creating something that is catchy, epic, melodic and, well, a little cheesy too.
Formed in 1995, the band has released his debut album in 2001 which doesn't make 'em one of the precursors of the Viking Metal genre but one of the best nonetheless.
With 4 full-lengths, 1 EP and quite a lot of singles, Ensiferum have established themselves as one among the leaders of a metal scene which isn't scare to go over the top with symphonic and orchestral arrangements while still retaining the aggression and harshness inherited from their Black Metal roots.
I have selected 14 songs to cut this 79 minutes long compilation which should serve as an introduction to a band worth investigating in. Enjoy!

RIYL:
Finntroll, Amon Amarth, Turisas

GEOFFREY ORYEMA (ABO #385)

GEOFFREY ORYEMA
SON OF THE WIND

Geoffrey Oryema (born April 16, 1953) is an internationally renowned Ugandan musician. In 1977, at the age of 24 and at the height of Idi Amin's power, Oryema was smuggled across the Ugandan border in the trunk of a car, after the death of his father, Erinayo Wilson Oryema, who was a cabinet minister, beginning a life in exile. Today his songs keep alive the languages of his youth - Swahili and Acholi and return to the lost country - the 'clear green land' of Uganda.
Oryema earned his international reputation following the release of his second album, Beat the Border. He has collaborated with, amongst others, Peter Gabriel. Gabriel's record label, Real World, helped with the first three of Oryema's albums, until his move to Sony International, a label established in France where Oryema resides since his exile. Besides his two native languagues mentioned earlier, he also sings in English and French.

My GEOFFREY ORYEMA List
1 - Exile (1990)
2 - Beat the Border (1994)
3 - Spirit (2000)
4 - Night to Night (1997)
5 - Words (2004)

RIYL:
Youssou N'Dour, Ismaël Lô, Ayub Ogada

WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE (ABO #378)

WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE
AND THEN THE RAINS CAME

William Elliott Whitmore is a bit of an anomaly. He’s got the slim, tattooed body of a punk rocker and the voice of a 90-year old black bluesman. He’s a musician who has toured with the likes of Murder By Death and opened for the Pogues, but off the road he spends his days as a horse farmer in Iowa.
Reviving the outlaw concept in quality country/folk/acoustic blues, William's may seem a tad depressing and it indeed is, in its own haunted beautiful way and it’s quite addictive that way, don’t say you haven’t been warned.
This compilation is just an introduction to an artist that hopefully has a long career ahead of him at only 32 years old.

RIYL:
Ben Nichols, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Von Till

IRON & WINE (ABO #370)

IRON & WINE
SOUTHERN ANTHEMS

There is no denying that Samuel Beam, a.k.a. Iron & Wine, has been one of the strongest forces of the indie folk scene since his very first release (2002's The Creek Drank the Cradle) and that his hushed-way to sing has influenced many of today's scene.
With 5 albums under his belt (including 2005's In the Reins recorded with Calexico), Samuel has established himself as a great songwriter and performer managing to evolve from the minimalistic basis on which he builds his music to simply become a central character in today’s musical scene.
Baistophe just couldn’t miss introducing those who don’t know yet what an essential artist Samuel Beam/Iron & Wine is, and not just for those who like folk music. Enjoy.

RIYL:
Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, Ray Lamontagne, Elliott Smith

MATHIEU BOOGAERTS (ABO #366)

MATHIEU BOOGAERTS
BONS VOYAGES

Mathieu Boogaerts is an acclaimed French alternative singer/songwriter whose eclectic style draws from Afro-pop and reggae as well as indie electronica and folk music.
He has released 5 albums from 1998's Super to 2008's I Love You developing a quirky and endearing universe made of naivety, humour and tenderness. This compilation features the best tracks from his 5 albums as well as a duet with Vincent Delerm and a cover of Dirk Annegarn released on a tribute album.
I hope you'll enjoy his unique way to mix pop minimalism and african rhythms and folky influences.

My MATHIEU BOOGAERTS List
1 - Michel (2005)
2 - 2000 (2002)
3 - Super (1996)
4 - I Love You (2008)
5 - J'En Ai Marre d'Etre Deux (1998)

RIYL:
Katerine, Dominique A, Bertrand Betsch, Gérald Genty

HARMONIUM (ABO#359)

HARMONIUM
COMME UN SAGE
(1974-1978)

"How the Hell can such a band be so good!" I could have made the same centenses than with Kula Shaker. Those two bands are however completely different, but their very short and intense discography made me begin their two posts by this same centence.
Harmonium is a three-piece band of acoustic folk. During their history, the three guys became 5 and then 7 with their great last double LP "L'Heptade". With only three albums from their very first eponymous, very acoustic folk songs, to their third and last, an ambitious folk prog conceptual album, this evomution doesn't disturb much as Serge Fiori's singing is widely recognisable and gives Harmonium's music its own identity.
By the end of their Heptade tour, Fiori had become like a hippy guru in his land, Quebec, felt a bit tired and decided to retire. That's how the Harmonium's story ended up.

My HARMONIUM TOP3 :
1- Comme Si On Avait Besoin D'Une Cinquième Saison (1975)
2- L'Heptade (1976)
3- Harmonium (1974)

STEELEYE SPAN (ABO#357)

STEELEYE SPAN

ANTHROPOMORPHISM

(1970-2009)

Funny how our programmation have put Steely Dan and Steeleye Span very close to one another. A very similiar name for completely different sound. Steeleye Span was planned in january but too hard to finish or many other projects that I wanted to do made it only be posted today. As we took awareness of Tim Hart's death, the idea of making Steeleye Span's Baistophe came to an evidence. This essential english folk band has been very prolific and is not really as famous as they deserve it. Their music is truly beautiful, especially when Maddy Prior singing, and very few albums are to forget. This constance in quality and this longevity had to be saluted in our blog.

My Steeleye Span TOP3 :

1. Ten Man Mop (1972)

2. Parcel Of Roghes (1973)

3. Commoner's Crown (1975)

My Steeleye Span BOTTOM3 :

1. Time (1996)

2. Winter (2004)

3. Back In Line (1986)

SPARKLEHORSE (ABO #350)

SPARKLEHORSE
GOODBYES

Though the death of Mark Linkous didn't really took me by surprise, his history of chronic depression was a strong hint as how disastrous his future could be, it really pained me. Mark was a great songwriter and, from what I get, an honest human being. The music of his band, Sparklehorse, basically the vehicle for his genius and obsessions, demonstrated that he could write songs which possessed both meaning and grace. In that, he wasn't far from another singer/songwriter with whom he shared a great sense of melody and, now, the same demise: Elliott Smith.
This compilation was already in the works when news came that Mark had commited suicide leaving us short of a terrific songwriter. You don't find one like him under a horse's hoofs. R.I.P.

RIYL:
The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, Elliott Smith

BOB DYLAN (ABO#343)

BOB DYLAN

AN AMERICAN HISTORY

(1962-2009)

I won't present Bob Dylan as anyone knows him very well. Even his music is quite well known, especially the hits. Making a Baistophe of Bob Dylan could have been a useless work as many other best ofs have already been done officially. his 3 volumed 'Greatest Hits' can then be considered as a good best of. Also his latest 'Dylan' best of is one other of those really great compilations. The fact that making a best of Bob Dylan would have made nothing really different than a Greatest Hits (understand 'his most popular songs') has made our dear contributor Burns consider this work in a different perspective. This Baistophe is then not a real best of. You should consider it like a 'best of his obscur songs'. This Bob Dylan compilation is then a real good complement to any official compilation. So, if you only know his best work and want to discover more from that genius, listen to this. If you only want his hits, I just can advise you to go and look here.

Bob Dylan & The Grateful Dead Highway 61 Revisited

agratefulmule | MySpace Vidéo

Bob Dylan - Sara
envoyé par sadeyes67. - Regardez la dernière sélection musicale.

DROPKICK MURPHYS (ABO #330)

DROPKICK MURPHYS
LOYAL TO NO ONE

Take The Pogues and transpose them in the Boston area, make them grow up listening to Slapshot, the Clash, Stiff Little Fingers and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and you'll have Dropkick Murphys.
Sure, it's not as simple as that but it's basically the recipe for success those lads used on their six studio albums. From them, what I enjoy the most is the celtic/folky punk outbursts of which Shipping Up to Boston is the finest. Do not be surprised, thus, if this compilation displays very few of their pure punk songs. In fact, what I intended to do with "Loyal to No One" is a compilation of the Dropkick Murphys for those who don't enjoy punk music that much and I think I did a pretty good job at it.
So here it is, 25 songs that will make you want to pogo... Celtic style!

My DROPKICK MURPHYS List
1. The Warrior's Code (2005)
2. Blackout (2003)
3. The Meanest of Times (2007)
4. The Gang's All Here (1999)
5. Sing Loud, Sing Proud! (2001)
6. Do or Die (1998)

RIYL:
Flogging Molly, The Pogues, Stiff Little Fingers