Michelle Shocked's "Threesome"

[Alexander]

These albums were released last Tuesday and I've been listening to them continuously since I got them. The albums are titled "Mexican Standoff," "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and "Got No Strings." All three albums were recorded over a period of three or four weeks in December 2004 and January 2005, which has to be some kind of record. "Mexican Standoff" is Tex-Mex inspired music, some in English and some in Spanish. Standout tracks, so far, include "Match Burns Twice" and "La Cantina el Gato Negro." "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is more of a rock album. "Early Morning Saturday," the lead off track, was written in the 80s and was demoed for the "Captain Swing" album, although not used at the time. "How You Play the Game," "Hardly Gonna Miss Him," and "Used Car Lot" are among the stand outs on this album. "Got No Strings" an absolutely charming Western Swing take on Disney tunes. 'Chelle does fun versions of "To Be a Cat," "Bare Necessities," "Give a Little Whistle" and other songs. Great fun.

The three albums are available separately, or you could do as I did and pick up the three CD set titled "Threesome" which collects all three discs into one package (the cost effective option). Highly recommended stuff! Easily Michelle Shocked's best work since "Short, Sharp, Shocked" and "Arkansas Traveller" (although I have all of her stuff and love it).

[mgraham333]

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

A rock album, full of guitar and guts, produced by Dusty Wakeman (Dwight Yoakam, Anne McCue.) Early comparisons have been drawn to Richard Thompson's Shoot out the Lights with the chromatic eclecticism of an album like Los Lobos' Kiko.

Mexican Standoff

This is 'Border Americana,' Shocked's unique tribute to both her Latin and Texas roots. Grounded in the blues tradition that infuses all of her work, it squares off with the influences of her adapted home, Los Angeles. 'You know more Spanish than you think you do,' is how she accounts for the showdown between the Texas blues on one side and the 'Spanglish' stories she weaves on the other.

Got No Strings

A Western swing twist on Disney songs produced by Nick Forster (Hot Rize, ETown.) For young and old alike, the album was a collaboration with Disney artist David Willardson.

Listen to tracks at CDUniverse

I'm not sure about these yet. Gonna have to play the clips some more. But they are interesting to say the least.