The Opening Acts

This Townes Van Zandt tribute album all started when Jenny at ForTheSakeOfTheSong woke up one morning with the idea. She searched bands on the Internet, looking worldwide for artists who were accomplished, yet not well known. The end result was an album consisting of nineteen artists, performing eloquent versions of the late and great troubadour’s finest songs.

As posted in August, I’m a big fan of Townes Van Zandt. After learning of this project, Introducing Townes Van Zandt, Via The Great Unknown quickly became the most anticipated album of the year for me.

It does not disappoint.

Although 2001’s Poet, A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt is a devoted album featuring a virtual who’s who of country music, the album is a little too faithful to Townes’ original songs and seems too rehearsed for my ears. Honestly, it’s just too darn country sounding.

Via The Great Unknown however, captures a younger generation’s take on Van Zandt’s music, complete with that starving artist ambition that’s often (and unfortunately) lost when Grammy status is obtained. Listening to the album, there’s a feeling of consolation knowing that Townes’ music continues to live on, influencing musicians the world over. The artists perform each of their songs as their own, adding slants to the music that would simply make Townes proud.

There’s rumors ForTheSakeOfTheSong wants to compile a sequel to this album, as there’s some songs that didn’t make it onto this great CD.

I can only hope this happens.

Great Lake Swimmers – Our Mother The Mountain
Lessons In Time – At My Window
Loophole & Ciaran Kirby – Lungs

Previous End Of Whateverness:

The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Album Of The Year Post: Carl’s Choice
The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Album Of The Decade Post: Carl’s Choice
The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Album Of The Decade Post: Tyge’s Choice
The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Band Of The Decade Post: Carl’s Choice
The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Band Of The Decade Post: Tyge’s Choice
The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Songs Of The Decade Post: Carl’s Choices
The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Songs Of The Year Post: Part One; Part Two; Part Three

Related posts:

1. The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Album Of The Year Post: Carl’s Choice
2. The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Album Of The Decade Post: Tyge’s Choice
3. The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Songs Of The Year Post: Part Two
4. The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Songs Of The Year Post: Part One
5. The Opening Acts’ Obligatory Songs Of The Year Post: Part Three

Tags: townes van zandt

This entry was posted on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 7:12 pm and is filed under fantastic awesomeness, tyge. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.