Elly Roberts reviews
The Little Willies: The Little Willies
Distributed by
Milking Bull Records
- Cat.no: 3506712
- Released: March 2006
- Rating: 10/10
The Little Willies are gonna be big.
This excellent CD is the most
fascinating release so far this year. Unknown in the UK, until this, it
features the surprising inclusion of Norah Jones and songwriting
collaborator Lee Alexander. In effect, it's Norah's side project.
Already receiving some airplay in the UK, Norah and her chums have assembled from
far-flung corners of the USA in a bid to expose the music they've been
playing in bars - a strange setting for the now famous Ms. Jones. Anyway,
formed for practical reasons apparently, the CD's agenda was to
studio-capture their live sets in a relaxed, and in many ways ambient
atmosphere - bars still seem to bring out a smoky feel to the music for some
reason.
Having booked a stint at The Living Room in New York, on the pretext
of having some fun, thoughts soon began to filter of an album, possibly a
live one. Instead, as Jones' and Alexander's home studio was completed, they
christened it with this recording.
The result seems them tackling an array of covers and originals. Having
similar past classic music interests - Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Kris
Kristofferson et al, they pull off a little home-grown gem. Together for a
couple of years, they set out initially as a covers only band, then things
expanded as they ventured towards originals, four of which appear here -
tracks 4, 7, 10, 13.
Jaunty western swing opens, on Roly Poly with Jim Campilongo's guitar
leading the quintet, with Jones' inimitable vocals and piano adding the
rootsy touch. More pacey exploits happen on All Possible Worlds with
Campilongo's wiry licks taking it to another level. Country twists bring the
best out of Jones' country inflections as she throws herself headlong into
the rip-roaring Nelson swinger Gotta Get Drunk - Campilongo gets to let rip
with some showboating. In the same vein, Richard Julian, taking the lead
vocal, he makes a real fist of things on chugger Streets Of Baltimore. In a
more sedate way, they get laid back on drifters Nightlife and Love Me.
Harmony highlight is the low-fi Easy As The Rain, arguably the best song of
the 13.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.