her latest, 24 Carat Gold, she proves once again just what a great writer she is - not to mention the fact that her singing voice is beautiful, and one of the most instantly rec- ognizable in all of rock and roll. That being said, there are several tracks on this record - perhaps her best work since Bella Donna (yes, it’s that good) - that could easily cross
over into the current alternative country charts. This is the most exciting thing from Stevie since her knockout performance on American Horror Story: Coven. From the set opener “Starshine,” that rocks with the same ferocity as “Enchanted” or “Edge of Seven- teen,” to the absolutely strange and totally Stevie “Mabel Normand,” a spoken/sung lyric set against a solid beat and some mighty fine ‘70’s style rock guitar, it’s one winner after another. While the entire album is “grade-A,” there are a few tunes that rise to the top, in- cluding the title track, “24 Karat Gold,” a track that would have felt completely warm and loved and at home on the Bella Donna album. I love it. Another great song is the mystical and mesmerizing “If You Were My Love,” and “All The Beautiful Worlds,” an- other “totally ‘80’s” mid-tempo tune featuring some excellent background singers. Back in the ‘80’s when I was a DJ, we always loved long intros on records so we could talk over them, an art rarely practiced anymore, but had this album been around then, I would have loved spinning “Belle Fleur," with it’s extra-long musical introduction, moving into a song filled with twin guitars, slide and a solid rhythm track that may be the most Nashville-esque track on the album. Well, be- sides “Blue Water,” a totally country track. In fact, it is so country that Lady Antebellum
sing background vocals. I like it. I also need to say just how much I like “Cathouse Blues,” a bouncy, 1940’s sounding tune that really caught me off guard. Love the jazzy horns! Over all, I give that album a solid “A.” Maybe even an “A+.” Now if I could only see Stevie on tour. I’m adding that to my goals right be- side seeing Fleetwood Mac now that Christine McVee is back in the fold. Stevie
rocks...Al- though he is no longer with us, Jesse Win- chester has left behind the perfect album as his swan song. A Reasonable Amount of Trouble showcases the extreme talent he had for songwriting, playing and singing. My Lord, what singing. His voice was as clear as mountain rain. From the happy, bouncy “All That We Have is Now,” to the purely 1950’s vibe of “Devil or Angel,” this is pure Jesse at his best. Winchester’s voice affects me the way Roy Orbison’s did, or James Taylor. He was one of the artists that I could just listen to endlessly. “Ghosts” is a favorite track, and his cover of “Rhythm of the Rain” is just beauti- ful. While the ballads are my favorites, I love the up-tempo tunes equally, from “A Little Louisiana” to another ‘50’s inspired track, “Whispering Bells.” It is with “Just So Much” that Jesse knocks it out of the park, singing about the fears and unknowingness of death. Simply stated, it is one of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. A Reasonable Amount of Trouble is an album of great beauty. Highly
recommended...It’s hard to believe that Monty Python is retiring. Of course, we all get older, and these zany Brits have given the world enough laughs to last two lifetimes. The first time I encountered them I was watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus, their old TV show. Not sure how I managed to see that
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