Review: Mike Seeger - Early Southern Guitar Sounds

Label: Smithsonian-Folkays Recordings

Released: 2007

New Lost City Rambler Mike Seeger (half-brother of Pete) serves up 28 traditional songs, some with vocals, some without. These are old songs, songs that have been around awhile, songs that Seeger probably learned from old scratchy 78s. Seeger approaches these songs with love, appreciation and authenticity. Some of the guitars he used are as old as the songs themselves, but Seeger does have a technological advantage over the past: recordings today are much better. On Early Southern Guitar Sounds, he doesn't rehash old recordings, he relives old performances, the way people heard them live decades ago, but could only be sufficiently recorded today.

These are the kind of recordings that a serious guitar player can appreciate. At times, Seeger sounds like more than one player. The liner notes include information about history, but also tunings and hardware. This is a guitarists' album. But it's not just a guitarists' album. For the rest of us, it's just beautiful, timeless music.

Ratings
Satriani: 10/10
Zappa: 6/10
Dylan: 10/10
Aretha: 10/10
Overall: 10/10

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