It’s only been a couple weeks since I got acquainted with the absurd & joyous music of Nashville’s ramshackle folk collective CHERRY BLOSSOMS, but I’m a convert for life. They’ve been playing around since 1991, with a core of John Allingham and Peggy Snow writing, plucking and hollering around what sounds like a cast of dozens. There’re the jew’s harp guy, the kazoo lady, the ukulele weirdo in the corner, that one girl shouting in the back, an acoustic guitarist tripping on mushrooms, etc. Or who knows, maybe it’s only four or five folks. I’ve only heard one other modern band going for this vibe, whatever it is, and they’re called VALLEY OF ASHES & they’re pretty neat too.THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS decided to put out a proper record in 2007, an LP, and it’s imaginatively called “The Cherry Blossoms”. I can’t find an image scan of the cover to load up for ya so you get a band photo instead. The record is a wild one – songs start up organically, musicians join in, people start shouting, tape hiss fluctuates here and there, and yet it’s not an improv or a weird-America record, really. It’s truly got the feel of long-ago Americana played by worshippers of the pre-WWII form, but who’ll play it their demented way & their way only. It’s a blast! They have a CD-R with our heroine JOSEPHINE FOSTER out now too so they’re really revving up the hype machine this year, hunh?
Play or Download THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS – “Charlie Prim”
Play or Download THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS – “The Mighty Mississippi”
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14 comments:
Such a great record! I'm just now listening to the collaboration with Josephine Foster (like, as we speak) which I'm only 2 songs in to - one good, one fairly formless - so I can't say much about that yet. What I can say is "PLEASE TOUR CHERRY BLOSSOMS!". The LP will definitely sit high on my 2007 top 10 - I don't care if there are 6 months left to go. Also, I defy you to find a photo of John Allingham without a brew in his hand!
-scott
Scott, I'll be honest, I didn't like the CD-R with Josephine Foster one spin through it. I'm shelving it to age for a few weeks & to see if maybe I can get an attitude adjustment between now and then.
WOW!! I wouldn't consider myself a big fan of Americana. I have a certain appreciation for the early stuff that friends have exposed me to, but it's never been something that I would spend much money on. That said, when I saw this listed at S-S I thought, "I'd probably dig this but I think it's safe to skip it." Thirty seconds into "Charlie Prim" and I know that I must own this album. Thanks!
Yes, this is one of my top faves for this year, for sure. Something about this just hits the spot. Love that chick's voice.
Loving this record is another way of saying you have no balls.
i loveee it! i have 2 balls (lAST time i chequed.)
how come not in mempho is wat i wonna know....
gotta agree w/ anonymous on this one...totally nerdy shit. i was really really really let down by this record. does NOT sound like the fugs or any of the comparisons they're getting. more like a bunch of NPR geeks cooped up for a weekend with an "afternoon delight" 45 and some pixie sticks.
live cherry blossoms footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5axMyJ_-Z8
totally nerdy shit
Exactly
I think some record collectors perusing a music blog just called me a nerd.
-scott
And not just any record collectors, but record collectors with bad judgment!! Keep haten', I'll keep horden' and in a few years you'll be buyn'. Daddy needs and new car...
What does that even mean?? Doubtful this shit disc will fetch any cash.
I think I threw around the Fugs comparison in a listing of it. Sure, it doesnt sound head on like the Fugs but it has a similar sound and the same feel, an organic spontaneous immediacy or something like that.
oooh. one of th albums of the decade
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