So today has been a busy I went to a cardiologist because a little blip on this year’s EKG was larger than it was last year. The Cardiologist has no problem with my EKG the only problem is my blood pressure may be a little too high and there was a slight heart murmur. At this point he just wants to get a sonagram to look at the heart because that may give him an idea of the length of time my blood pressure has been high. Anyway as a result of the visit music listening was cut short!
But yesterday and today I have been giving an album that I listened to last week Ben Bedford’s Land of the Shadows a more complete listen and boy am I glad I did! What a great collection of story songs! The album is currently number 9 on the Euro Americana Chart and tied for 21 on the FAR Chart. Released in January of 2009 Land of the Shadows is the second album for Bedford following his 2008 debut album Lincoln’s Man. Here are what some people are saying about Ben’s music”
“Anyone wondering what in the world happened to folk music would do well to listen to Ben Bedford. He looks like a young Townes Van Zandt, and his sound is rooted in things good and real. I believe he means every word he sings.”
–Peter Cooper, singer/songwriter, journalist
“Land of the Shadows is one great album from start to finish, chock-full
of stunning songs and fine performances. The opening song – Twenty One – was selected as one of our favourite tracks of 2009. A powerful anti-war anthem. We await Ben’s British visit with keen anticipation.” -Iain Anderson and Stewart Cruickshank, BBC Radio-Scotland
I wholeheartedly agree with that last quote~ “Twenty One” the opening track is a song about a 21 year old Union soldier during the siege of Vicksburg and is one of my favorite tracks on the album. Other stand out tracks include: “The Cherry Mine” and “Mother Jones On the Line” both deal with life and death in the mines and anyone who uses Mother Jones in a song is okay by me! “The Sagamon” is a moving song about a man confronting the death of his wife. “Amelia” is a great song about Amelia Earhart and “Fisher’s Hill” is another Civil War song.
From top to bottom this is a great album, great songwriting, good vocals and pickin’! So check it out! Here’s Ben performing “Fisher’s Hill”