Illinois Entertainer January 2020 | Page 47

Continued from page 24 Furthermore, Nick Mason has played new drum parts in place of drum machines or session musicians Jim Keltner and Carmine Appice. The aim is less about the revisionist history and more about enhancing the bal- ance among the three principal players for a sound that is genuinely Pink Floyd. It seems far more pure, for example, than George Lucas’ endless tweaks to the first Star Wars film. Few fans are likely to be disappointed with more actual Pink Floyd in their Pink Floyd, after all. “Learning to Fly” has more shimmer from Wright’s Hammond organ. The remix also beefs up the song’s lush background vocals and gives more vibe and impact to Gilmour’s lead vocal. Mason’s new drumming gives the meticulously crafted studio effort dur- ing “The Dogs of War,” a more human touch, while Wright’s magnified presence heightens the oppressive atmosphere of impending doom. The sublime “On the Turning Away” is similarly transformed. The song is more organic with increased Gospel organ and vocal presence, and it benefits mainly from the identifiable sound of Mason’s fills. The results do indeed sound more like the band named on the album cover. There is more clarity and tension in the sounds of faded youth and broken promises in the forlorn album- closer “Sorrow.” The Later Years: 1987-2019 is a stunning set offering sensory overload for fans of Pink Floyd’s third act led by David Gilmour, with a wealth of dazzling visuals and intoxicating musicianship. – Jeff Elbel 9 Follow us on Twitter @ie_entertainer VARIOUS ARTISTS Country Music - A Film By Ken Burns The Soundtrack (Legacy) Ken Burns’ eight-episodic documen- tary COUNTRY MUSIC – A Film By Ken Burns has once again left his viewers with wishing there was more. This makes the five-disc/68-page “deluxe box edition” of COUNTRY MUSIC ...(The Soundtrack) the perfect souvenir to a personal stroll along a 100-year-old singularly American cultur- al path—with the essays/photos most likely to elicit the “Gee…” and the selec- tion of 105 songs the “I wish…” responses respectively. That aside, the musical choic- es presented by this collection offer up a none-too-shabby primer to the genre from its earliest roots to the start of the previous decade that even the most avid country fan should respect. But in doing so, there are precious few surprises—the 12-year- old Brenda Lee belting “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” and two previously unre- leased radio broadcasts of Hank Williams classics “I Saw the Light” and "Hey, Good Lookin.'" Multiple recordings from select artists (The Carter Family, Jimmy Rogers, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash) reflect the out- size impact each has had, short shrift is given a number artists, and one glaring omission (e.g., Garth Brooks) in this “soundtrack” who enjoyed more screen time in Burns’ film and have had just as much impact to the country family and industry. Of course, there’s no end to the quibbling, all-sweeping projects such as these engender. And while a lot of the film’s essential and consistent nuances (most importantly the shared roots in both black/white secular/religious music tra- ditions) fall by the wayside, this Soundtrack nevertheless still serves as a safe, assured “instant library” of country essentials in a box. --David C. Eldredge 8 3 W. Streamwood Blvd. Streamwood, IL (630) 837-3733 www.GoodtimeMusicStore.com 35th Anniversary models New 2020 SE models • CORE series • S2 series • SE series • • Mira • Starla • Hollowbody • Hollowbody II • HAPPY NEW YEAR & BLISSFUL NEW TONE! LARGEST SELECTION in Illinois! LARGEST SELECTION in Illinois! Triple Crown, Mark, Rectifier, Express .... Cab Simulators, Pedals, Tubes, Buffers.... ALL NEW MARK FIVE: 25 1x10 COMBO ALL NEW CabClone IR & IR+ IN STOCK! IN STOCK! "The Home of Tone" also, Extension Cabs! 116 N. Broad St. Griffith, IN 46319 (219) 924-7868 www.dynamite-music.com LESSONS • BUY • SELL • TRADE january 2020 illinoisentertainer.com 47