Formats
GONG013CD - CD
655035051321GONG013 - LP
655035051314
Details
**REPRESS INCOMING**Michael Hurley is one of the last remaining ramblin' American folk troubadours. Hobo-ing around the country, making music since the days Bob Dylan first set foot in New York City's Gaslight club, Hurley recorded his first album for Moses Ash's legendary Folkways label in 1964 and continued to release albums for both Warner Brothers and Rounder. His mid-'70s Have Moicy album was among the top ten for the decade selected by Rolling Stone magazine. While many of his contemporaries are long past their prime (or deceased), Hurley's muse is still intact. Hurley's songwriting talent hasn't gone unnoticed by a new generation of musicians. In recent years, he was invited to tour with alt-country heroes Son Volt and Lucinda Williams. He's also shared bills with Smog and Palace Brothers, played with the Giant Sand rhythm section, and has of course appeared with (and been covered by) Vetiver and appeared on their records. His songs have also been covered by indie stars Cat Power and Yo La Tengo, among others. So, the matter at hand, a new album of recordings sung and played by Hurley, backed by Ida, appropriately titled Ida Con Snock: Snock himself marvels at this 21st studio album, recorded at Levon Helms' studio in Woodstock, NY. Ida's less-is-more finesse shines on these rich recordings, melding perfectly with Hurley's playing and singing. Many of these songs are already well familiar to Hurley's devotees. There are seven originals and five loving covers of '50s rock 'n' roll, C&W, and vintage folk, each tune capturing Hurley and band at peak performance levels.
Tracks
1. It Must Be Gelatine
2. Wildegeeses
3. Hog of the Forsaken
4. I Stole the Right to Live
5. Valley of Tears
6. Going Steady
7. Hoot Owls
8. The Time Is Right
9. I Can?t Help Myself
10. Loch Lomond / Molly Malone
11. Ragg Mopp
12. Any Ninny Any
Press
?Hurley is a national treasure.? ?Schott Schinder, Time Out New York
?Whether weaving a yarn about a mysterious hog or comparing the human
heart to a mechanic?s toolbox, Mr. Hurley create[s] elaborate vistas in a musical
version of outsider art.? ?Ann Powers, New York Times
?Hurley remains one of the elusive masters of American folk.?
?Chris Morris, Billboard
?A true and deliberate neo-primitive, his inspiration springs from nature, the
rural blues, and the lure of remote hills and woodlands, landscapes that loom
in the backgrounds of his comics like vast parabolic gumdrops.?
?Vernon Tonges
?Undoubtedly one of this country?s greatest folk singers....?
?Chuck Cuminale