Bobby Bare
Lullabys, Legends and Lies
(RCA)
Every song on this 1973 record (reissued here with extras) was written or co-written by Shel Silverstein, known to many as the author of such classic children's books as Where the Sidewalk Ends, and as the writer of classic songs like "A Boy Named Sue." Bare, a genuine country hit-maker, sounds something like a cross between Roger Miller and Jerry Jeff Walker. There's a boozy casualness to the delivery, and Silverstein's songs provide the right kid-friendly absurdity. Parents should be warned that there are adult themes: drinking, sex and crime, to name a few.
—John Adamian
*
Betty Davis
They Say I'm Different
(Light in the Attic)
Overshadowed by her marriage to Miles, few people know Betty Davis was an important musician in her own right. Her freaky-feminist funk was too crazy for 1970s audiences unprepared for provocative songs like "Game Is My Middle Name" and "He Was A Big Freak." But since then Betty's music has influenced generations of hip hop performers. You can hear why thanks to new reissues of her self-titled debut and They Say I'm Different. Both mix strutting grooves, rock attitude and screaming guitars with her distinctive, raw-boned growl. Different has a slight edge in the song department, but both releases are essential, tricked out with exceptional essays and eye-popping photos. Such deluxe packaging may seem extravagant in the digital age, but Betty's worth it.
—Jeff Jackson
*
The Donnas
Bitchin'
(Purple Feather)
Wouldn't it be great if the Donnas were better? I mean better musicians, better songwriters, better lyricists, better singers, better feminist role models, better looking, better everything. Because right now they feel like a reality show waiting to happen. They adhere to the Joan Jett/Runaways playbook so strictly they verge on being either a tribute band or a straight-up rip-off—"Don't Wait Up" is about one note away from Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You." They have to spice up the mix, or start lobbying VH-1 for a group-dating thing.
—Adam Bulger
*
Various Artists
Classic African-American Ballads
(Smithsonian Folkways)
In a famed 1963 article, Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka) argued that much of what is labeled "classic" blues was actually black music mediated by white influences. The urtext of black music was "primitive blues," more of an acoustic and country sound than one hears from polished jazz artists. Classic African-American Ballads captures some of what Jones meant, with 22 tracks from Lead Belly, Josh White, Bill Broonzy, John Cephas, Pink Anderson, John Jackson and others. One could take umbrage with the inclusion of white performers Woody Guthrie and Dave Van Ronk, but the raw immediacy and no-frills nature of each performance makes this a must-have release. Lead Belly's rendition of "Gallis Pole" alone justifies the purchase price.
—Rob Weir
