***
By Doug Freeman
AUSTIN CHRONICLE
The 15th installment of KGSR's coveted series benefiting the SIMS Foundation veers from the dominant singer-songwriter dynamic that typically characterizes the releases. Instead, a heavy dose of blues and jams provide the backbone of the two discs, led by cover boy Jimmie Vaughan's double offering with the swinging "Extra Jimmies" and exceptional Omar Kent Dykes collaboration "Jimmy Reed Highway." Furthering the blues vibe, John Hammond's harmonica explodes on "You Know That's Cold," Papa Mali lays down a gritty "Johnny Porter" with backing from the Gospel Silvertones, and Ruthie Foster's stunningly soulful voice soars on "Fruits of My Labor." Ian McLagan & the Bump Band are given opening honors with the dark, funky groove of Ronnie Lane's "Spiritual Babe," an impulse that finally erupts with Cyril Neville & Tribe 13's "Talkin' 'Bout New Orleans" and J.J. Grey & Mofro's "War." Patty Griffin, the Greencards, and Alexi Murcoch are among the encores from Vol. 14, though Tony Joe White's return with "Rainy Night in Georgia" is most impressive in its deep, plodding movement that sounds almost like a 45 played at 33 rpm. Guy Clark's "Stuff That Works" is equally compelling, as is Madeleine Peyroux's jazzy swing with "I'm All Right" and Joan Armatrading's intimidating range on "A Woman in Love." Though Gomez and Calexico both supply impressively subdued moments with "See the World" and "Cruel," respectively, and Future Clouds & Radar's stripped down "Build Havana" is gorgeously graceful, there are as many acoustic missteps from indie contributors: Ryan Adam's dreadfully trilling "Two," a poignant but dated "The Blower's Daughter" from Damien Rice, and Spoon's "The Underdog," enthusiastically attempted but begging for the original's energy. Vol. 15's best moment doubles as its most stretching, with Angelique Kidjo's "Salala" melding African, Latin, blues, and jazz influences behind her entrancing and soaring vocals.
***
By Joe Gross
AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN
Yes, kids, it’s that time of year again. The temperatures are cooler, we’re all recovering from a trytophan haze and yet another volume of KGSR’s Broadcast series has hit the shelves.
The series has a couple of functions, all of them vaguely related to one another.
As usual, all proceeds go to the SIMS Foundation — you are doing a good deed by buying the thing for yourself and as a gift. At about $15 for a double CD, it’s a bargain. And a good Austin gift it makes, too. Not only do you get a snapshot of the year in Austin roots rock (for the most part), but you get exactly what KGSR, one of the city’s signature stations, delivers. If you like the CD, you’ll like the station. If you don’t, there absolutely no reason to listen to it. (As a colleague noted, “Wait, these are all live versions of the songs they already play on the radio.”)
Ian McLagan and the Bump Band kick off the first CD with the organ-fueled groover “Spiritual Babe.” Gomez’s “See the World” reminds you that guy sure can sing (and really should do some sort of Joe Cocker tribute album). Tony Joe White sounds almost conscious on “Rainy Night in Georgia.” Cover model Jimmie Vaughan shows up twice, once playing the instrumental “Extra Jimmys” and once with Omar “Kent” Dykes taking the “Jimmy Reed Highway.” Rickie Lee Jones drop by with “Falling Up.” Patty Griffin’s acoustic “Heavenly Day” is a gauzy highlight, and Spoon’s acoustic “The Underdog” is a balm for anyone who doesn’t really like the horns on the studio version. Other out of towners include Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Joan Armatrading, and album closer Los Lobos, who take us down the “Road to Gila Bend.”
Consistency, thy name is “Vol. 15.” And 14. And 13. And so on.
By Michael Corcoran
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
By Melanie Haupt
AUSTIN CHRONICLE
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