MUSIC NOTES Mark Fisher
Songs of Hope, Honesty, and Healing
in the month prior to their demise; over half of all suicides are committed by men aged 25-65. The wonderful folks at Visionary Concepts have set out to aid the cause of suicide awareness by compiling an album’s worth of poignant, often uplifting songs that reach out to the listener through the instruments and voices of well-known musicians, independent Hope, Volume One Of the many compilation albums that icons, and emerging new artists, includcome out each year, few are important for ing Ken Andrews (Failure), Charlotte any reason other than marketing a record Martin, Joanne and Johnny Cash, Lisa label or a management company’s artists. Loeb, Katy Rose, and Kevin Max (DC Hope, Volume One counts itself among Talk), among others. Unlike many compilations, for the the important. Much like the Take Action! compilation series, Hope,Volume One was most part this one flows like a proper assembled to help raise awareness and album. Both the selection and placement funds for the cause of suicide prevention, of the songs are excellent. Charlotte in this case through Suicide Awareness Martin and Lisa Loeb kick off the album with their always intriguing and intimate, Voices of Education (SAVE.org). According to the press release from slightly-left-of-center sounds. It had been managing label Visionary Concepts years since I’d heard Lisa Loeb’s voice (visionary-concepts.net), “The mission of (fans of the late ’90s girls-with-guitars SAVE is to prevent suicide through public invasion may remember her), and she awareness and education, to reduce stigma, sounds better than ever. “Come Back and to serve as a resource to those touched Home” is a touching song that contrasts by suicide.” Suicide claims the lives of well with Martin’s atmospheric opener, 30,000 Americans each year, affecting all “Crimson Sky.” 5th PROJEKT’s age groups, yet most of us are under- “Resistance” is another highlight with informed about both its victims and its its droning, Starflyer 59 sound and softprevalence. For example, among people spoken female vocals. Other highlights aged 15-24 suicide is the third leading include the Kevin Max anthem “Your cause of death; 75 percent of elderly Beautiful Mind” (a gentle reminder that persons who commit suicide visit a doctor unique is beautiful and that normal simply does not exist), Ken Andrew’s modern rock classic “Up or Down,” and Katy Rose’s simple but fun “Cool Whip.” The most striking moment is when Joanne Cash joins her brother posthumously for a rendition of “Softly & Tenderly” that is so raw it will certainly make your eyes well up. Overall this is a great album with an even greater cause behind it. A must-have album for so many reasons, Hope, Volume One should be near the top of your “to purchase” list.
PRISM 2009
38
Ken Block’s Drift Since the late-’90s, Sister Hazel has been one of the most instantly recognizable (and most consistently overlooked by the media) bands on the music scene. Bursting into the mainstream with their massive hit, “All for You,” in 1997, the band has evolved into far more than simple pop radio fodder, delivering a string of albums that are both musically pristine and lyrically powerful. The short pitch here is that if you haven’t paid attention to this band since their “big hit,” you really should catch up. You won’t regret it, especially since following their groundbreaking path will ultimately lead you to Blockville. You think we’re broken/what if we’re just a little cracked?/I know we’re choking on the little things that seem to come with time… So begins the intimate sound of Drift (Rock Ridge Music, 2008), the debut solo album from Sister Hazel vocalist Ken Block and the key to Blockville.With these simple words, Block lays the foundation for a community of songs that find few peers in today’s music scene.The music ranges from country-tinged alt-rock to folk to simple acoustic pieces that fall away in the wake of the artist’s striking, intimate voice. Drift possesses a gritty, realist attitude throughout that will surely interest many fans of poetic forms of music. Tackling issues of artistry, his own personal demons, and the need to find peace and balance