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Roger Knott — Nashville Sessions
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1158, 2023, 2CD / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2024-05-30

Nashville Sessions Cover art

Back in the late 60s and early 70s there was an obscure British psych folk band called Lifeblud, founded by lead vocalist Roger Knott.  Those early albums were pretty decent and the British archival label Seelie Court reissued them in 2021, drawing attention to Roger’s music, which led Think Like a Key to release this two-disc compilation of Roger’s time in Nashville spanning 2005 to 2016. Unfortunately, the 48 songs pale in comparison to Lifeblud. Roger’s nasal voice makes it extremely difficult to appreciate most of the music, with the bulk being mediocre songs. It is not until you get to the tenth song on the first disc, “Here’s to a Free World,” that there is anything to create interest. This is a protest song that shows some Dylan influence. Then there is nothing of interest until track 20, “Easier to Judge,” where he improves a bit. Disc 2 is better, containing more recent recordings. His nasal voice is more subdued with him sounding more like Nashville Skyline era Bob Dylan or Arlo Guthrie, but not as poetic or catchy. It takes a big commitment to make all the way through the two and a half hours, especially when most of the songs are not noteworthy. Exposé readers would be better off exploring Lifeblud’s two albums, Esse Quam Videri and Be Thou My Very Armour — Nashville Sessions is better off left in the can.

Filed under: Archives, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Roger Knott

More info
http://www.thinklikeakey.com/release/406458-roger-knott-nashville-sessions

 

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