Doug Taylor

Candi StatonHis Hands(EMI)On her first secular recording in 20 years, the 63-year-old Staton’s voice conveys pain and devotion as clearly as ever. By avoiding extremes of tone, she projects believable drama that clicks with country songs, even though the backing has that gritty Muscle Shoals, Alabama, vibe. The title song, written by Will Oldham, moves […]

Ry CooderMy Name is Buddy(Nonesuch)You never know what Cooder will do next. Here, he assumes the identity of a cat in Depression and post-war America. The amiable critter has hung with Hank Williams and striking miners, gone to jail with hobos, made friends with a mouse. It’s the sort of concept Pete Seeger might have […]

VariousThe Kings of Hip-Hop(Outside)The Kings of compilation series scores again. DJ Premier of Gang Starr takes this theme less literally than you’d expect, selecting vintage soul tunes. Some are more essential than rare, like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You.” Others will be a revelation, like “Men Are Getting Scarce,” a lost […]

Loretta LynnVan Lear Rose(Interscope)The wonder here is not just that producer/guitarist Jack White resurrects Loretta Lynn with rock, but that the 69-year-old coal miner’s daughter is ready with a dozen sharp new songs. She is back defending hubby from hussies and liquor with “Family Tree” and “Mrs. Leroy Brown.” A brief autobiography and tale about […]

The Arrogant WormsBeige(Independent)Have we really arrived at songs about irritable bowel syndrome (“IBS”), hernias (“Hernia Belt”) and testicular cancer (“Brian’s Balls”)? If you have the affliction, it is hoped the Worms are laughing with you, not at you. The healthy listener may prefer the manly gadget worship of “Pressure Washer,” a Freudian deconstruction of the […]

The Derek Trucks BandSonglines(Columbia)Trucks was raised in Southern rock, married the blues and is still finding roots. The fluid, multi-ethnic band drops some Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan among his own numbers. Trucks’ dazzling fretwork leaves space for his crew to get subtly seismic. He’s a most agreeable virtuoso.Doug Taylorcategories: Best of […]

Brian Auger’s Oblivion ExpressLooking in the Eye of the World(True North)Auger made his name 35 years ago. One could easily be unaware he is still touring and recording, groundbreaking chops intact. He played keyboards on notable numbers from the Yardbirds’ “For Your Love” to the Absolutely Fabulous theme, “Wheels on Fire.” Daughter Savannah sings now, […]