This July marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary American folk singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie, and the latest result of the namesake Foundation’s ongoing efforts to invite musicians into Guthrie’s exhaustive lyrical archive to set the words to music is New Multitudes. While past musicians include Ellis Paul, Slaid Cleaves, Janis Ian and even punk rockers Anti-Flag, with the best known body of work stemming from the collaboration of Billy Bragg and Wilco (the “Mermaid Avenue” volumes), now alt-country luminaries Jay Farrar (Son Volt), Anders Parker (Varnaline), Will Johnson (Centro-Matic) and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket) take the stage. Using material written in California during the 1930’s, the quartet focus on lesser known works characterized by their lack of Dust Bowl politics and protest, instead ruminating on the struggles of life and love as Guthrie faced his own declining health and third divorce. The twelve song collection is a masterpiece of both Guthrie’s work and the four artists, and definitely should not be missed. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Billy Bragg, Centro-matic, Woody Guthrie, My Morning Jacket, Son Volt, Varnaline, Wilco