BUTCH WALKER- I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart review

BUTCH WALKER & THE BLACK WIDOWS

I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart

One Haven

 

If you need proof that the music industry has shifted far away from the major label focus that prevailed for decades, look no further than Butch Walker. The Cartersville native has produced and/or co-written hit records for Pink, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry and Weezer in recent years, emerging as one of the hottest names in the recording field. Yet for his fifth solo album, we find the hitmaker signed to upstart indie One Haven Music, started in 2009 by A&R veteran Michael Caplan.

 

Whether by choice or circumstance, the reality underscores the irony that the former Marvelous 3 frontman is making the most accessible music of his career. Over the past two albums he’s all but abandoned the Bowie/Bolan glam fetish of the Let’s Go Out Tonites in favor of a more classic rock sound. The combination of turning 40, witnessing the birth of his first child and losing all his personal possessions and master recordings in the Malibu wildfires appears to have had a profound impact, and I Liked It Better’s mature lyrical themes reflect great personal growth.

 

The string-laden “Pretty Melody” would sound like some long-lost Motown song were it not for Walker’s lyrics, which chronicle a fateful bar meeting between a gorgeous girl and “just another tattooed tragedy,” who promises “I’ll be your open tab, you’ll be my favorite sin.” The pastoral “Don’t You Think Someone Should Take You Home” has a back-porch bluegrass influence, while “She Likes Hair Bands” sounds like a 21^st century Tom Petty and “Be Good ‘Til Then” is achingly pretty folk balladry. It may be too sedate for old school fans, but Butch Walker’s latest is a fantastic rock album made for grown-ups who understand the joy of beginnings, the sadness of endings and the difficult journey that lies between.  –BRET LOVE

(originally appeared in Georgia Music Magazine)

ALICE IN WONDERLAND- Movie Review

ALICE IN WONDERLAND- Watching Tim Burton’s reinvention of Lewis Carroll’s literary masterpiece, it’s impossible not to imagine its dazzling Technicolor imagery as a video game or theme park ride. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends entirely on your viewpoint. 

Burton’s flamboyant gothic humor makes him the perfect match for Carroll’s sly, sadistic fable, and the film wisely updates the classic tale by introducing us to Alice (Mia Wasikowska) as a rebellious 19-year-old resentful of being told what to do or who to marry. Once she falls down the rabbit hole the story seems a bit too familiar, relying on Burton’s brilliant visuals to drive the pacing. 

For the most part he succeeds, providing a hallucinogenic kaleidoscope of colors and gleefully twisted characters voiced by killer thespians (Alan Rickman as the Caterpillar, Stephen Fry as as the Cheshire Cat and Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit). Perfect casting has always been one of Burton’s trademarks and, from Helena Bonham Carter as the huge-headed Red Queen and Crispin Glover as her malevolent henchman to Anne Hathaway as the ridiculously regal White Queen, Wonderland is no exception. The lynchpin (as usual) is Johnny Depp, whose Mad Hatter looks like the bastard offspring of Bozo the Clown and Madonna. Once again hiding his leading man looks behind the bizarre visage of a quirky crackpot one small step from utter insanity, Depp’s tightrope walk along the thin line dividing “just enough” from “over the top” proves the film’s most fascinating element. 

Unfortunately, things go completely off the rails in an action-centered third act that feels entirely unnecessary, almost as if the powers-that-be couldn’t believe that a well-told fable full of colorful characters and spectacular scenery would hold our attention for 90 minutes. Ultimately, it proves a disappointing end for an idea that begins with remarkable promise. (C+) –Bret Love

BACK TO NATURE- Enota Mountain Retreat, North GA's Best-Kept Secret

ENOTA MOUNTAIN RETREAT

1000 Hwy 180

Hiawasseee, GA 30546

Website: www.enota.com

Ph: 1-800-990-8869

 

North Georgia has nearly 25 state parks offering camping and various other outdoor recreation activities, but there’s none quite like Hiawassee’s Enota Mountain Retreat. A privately-owned property tucked away in the Chattahoochee National Forest just minutes from Brasstown Bald and Helen, Enota features over 60 acres of protected land that includes cabins and campgrounds, four waterfalls, two trout ponds, a working organic farm and more, with a focus on environmental conservation and sustainability.

 

Originally the site of a Cherokee village, the land on which Enota lies was taken by the U.S. government during the north Georgia gold rush of the early 1830s, when the surrounding region was producing over 300 ounces a day. The property was eventually sold to a family who homesteaded there for 60 years before selling it to the YMCA in the 1940s, when it was turned into a popular boys’ camp called Camp Pioneer. The land, which has never had any pesticides or chemicals put on it, was put into Trust in 1998, and has been run as a non-profit volunteer organization centered on education and conservation ever since.

 

“We really wanted to preserve the land so it wouldn’t be developed into a gated community and would be kept in its pristine state as a historical site,” says co-founder Swan Freed, who left behind her former life as a chiropractor in Atlanta in order to oversee Enota’s operations.

 

One of the primary differences between Enota and every other campsite in the state is its focus on organic farming, with several acres dedicated to raising livestock and several more devoted to growing various herbs and vegetables. Visitors are given daily opportunities to milk a cow or goat, collect fresh eggs from the henhouse and, depending on the time of year, plant or pick produce. In the summertime, Freed estimates that 80% of the foods served in Enota’s restaurant are harvested on the farm, from the eggs and milk served at breakfast to all the vegetables in their salads. Catch your own fish in their two fully stocked trout ponds and you’ll have farm-to-table freshness at its finest.

 

“For the benefit of humanity in general we need to look at sustainability practices,” Freed insists. “Every human being should know where their food comes from, and Enota allows people to have hands-on experience in organic farming. We’re one of the only fully functioning farms in the state of Georgia where people can come and stay.”

 

As much as adults may enjoy Enota for the natural beauty resulting from its continued environmental conservation efforts, children seem to have even more fun there. From splashing in streams and hiking wildflower-laden paths to waterfalls to petting farm animals and bouncing on in-ground trampolines, their amenities offer something for the kid in everyone. It’s this dichotomous appeal that has made Enota a favorite among campers such as Abbigail Bauer, a 29-year-old mother of two from Dacula who has visited three times since discovering the retreat via a quick Internet search in early 2008.

 

“Enota’s kid-friendly features are numerous,” Bauer says, “and my daughters always love petting the animals and jumping on the trampolines. But I also love the fact that you can separate yourself from the family sites if you go without kids and want some peace and quiet. Enota is hidden, and even though there’s other people around you can always escape, walking for miles without seeing another living soul.”

 

As its name would imply, Enota Mountain Retreat is much more than simply a family-friendly weekend getaway. Their facilities are frequently used for church retreats, work conferences and workshops, with accommodations for more than 200 people including 10 cabins with kitchenettes, 33 rooms, four bunkhouses, 35 full hookup RV sites, 10 water and electric only sites, a newly remodeled bath house, and over 100 tent spaces. Their lodge features a gift shop and small supplies store as well as a full commercial kitchen and dining room, while their expansive pavilion will hold up to 500 people and features its own outdoor kitchen.

 

But while Enota’s amenities may make it a popular retreat for large organizations, perhaps the retreat’s greatest gift is the peacefulness and serenity it provides for those individuals seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of the grueling 9 to 5 life. Whether you prefer tooling around in their garden, holding baby goats and chickens, hiking pastoral trails to the top of the 200-foot-tall Gurley Falls and Big Joel Falls, savoring one of their 90-minute spa services, or participating in Reverend LaKotahasie Frazier’s weekend-long Native American ceremonial gatherings and sweat lodges, Enota’s remote location and emphasis on environmental preservation makes it feel much like a world unto itself. A world in which most cell phones get no reception, laptop computers seem entirely unnecessary, and whatever is on television is nowhere near as compelling as what’s going on right outside your tent, RV or cabin.

 

If you ask Freed, Enota Mountain Retreat is the perfect antidote to the stress of modern living, offering visitors a chance to relax and recharge. “I think people in general are longing to feel connected and get back to the simple things in life,” she says. “People are profoundly interested in having more personal experiences with nature, because it helps them discover things about themselves that they didn’t know when they got here.” –BRET LOVE

 

 

SPEAKING HIS PEACE- My Interview w/Jimmy Carter

 

 

Jimmy Carter- Speaking His Peace

By Bret Love

 

Born and raised in the small town of Plains, where his family has owned land since 1833, Jimmy Carter is arguably among the most accomplished individuals ever to spring from Georgia’s red clay soil. In addition to being the state’s only US president, the former Georgia governor is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, bestselling author and respected lecturer at Atlanta’s prestigious Emory University.

With the Carter Center recently celebrating 25 years of work spreading democracy, negotiating peace and seeking cures for diseases around the globe, Carter has continued to serve as a world leader. We spoke with the former president, who revealed his thoughts on the city of Atlanta, the state of the nation and the obstacles being faced on the road to world peace.

 

When you were growing up in Plains, did you ever imagine you'd one day grow up to be President, or did that aspiration come later in life?

Much later. When I was growing up, my highest ambition was to go to the Naval Academy and get a college education. Nobody in my family had ever been to college before. It was during the Great Depression, and my parents knew the only free universities in the nation were Annapolis and West Point. Going to Annapolis was my ambition the whole time I was growing up.

 

Most U.S. Presidents seem to largely fade from public view after leaving office, yet you seem to have only increased your dedication to furthering the causes of human rights, peace and health worldwide. What is it that drives this passion within you?

I’ve had a wonderful opportunity, challenge and obligation to fulfill the purposes of the Carter Center in Atlanta, which has very specific goals to promote the causes of world peace, democracy, freedom, human rights and the alleviation of suffering. The work of the center has been the avenue through which I’ve continued to maintain my interest and involvement in international affairs.

 

The Carter Center recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and has achieved quite a

lot over the past quarter-century. Is there any particular accomplishment of which you are proudest?

I think the work of the Carter Center demonstrates in the most vivid way the finest ideals that make all Americans proud. We promote the basic concepts of peace, negotiate to prevent and end wars, spread democracy and freedom by monitoring 68 elections on all the major continents, help to control or eradicate six diseases in the world, and promote mental health, and we also have a strong agriculture program through which we’ve taught about eight million families how to grow more food grain.

 

What do you think the rest of humanity can learn from your experiences?

The major thing I’ve learned is the character of the people we try to help. These are the poorest, most isolated, most neglected people in the world. And in dealing with literally millions of them, I’ve learned that they’re just as intelligent and ambitious and hard working as I am, with family values that are just as good as mine.

 

So would you say that the only thing separating us is the level of opportunity?

That’s correct.

 

The Carter Center is located near the heart of Atlanta. What are your feelings on the city's explosive growth over the past 25 years?

I’ve really been pleased and surprised. The state [population] has almost doubled in size since I was governor, and Atlanta has doubled in size, expanding in every direction. So I’m thrilled that Georgia has continued to progress while maintaining a high quality of life.

 

What are the characteristics that, in your eyes, make Atlanta special when compared to the many other major metropolitan cities you have visited over the course of your world travels?

I don’t think there’s any doubt that Atlanta has maintained a high standard of Southern hospitality. The extreme flexibility of the city’s cultural and economic life have made it possible to get involved in almost any profession here. The diversity of life, from the mountains to the Atlantic coast beaches, provide Georgia residents with an opportunity not only to earn a living, but to have a pleasant environment in which to live. Atlanta’s foundation for economic prosperity has almost always been transportation, and the airport, railroad and highway system have made it a natural center for commerce and trade. I hope we can continue to put the preservation of our natural resources at a high priority.

 

A lot of Americans have grown frustrated with our political system in the years since the controversial 2000 election. What would you say to those disillusioned U.S. citizens who feel that their votes don't matter?

Our votes do matter, and it’s a tragedy how few people in America actually vote. We monitor elections in countries where 90% of the people vote, and half the registered voters are in line when the polls open early in the morning. In the US, we often have less than 35% of registered voters going to the polls to choose our leaders.

 

Given your remarkable success with revamping the voting process and promoting democracy in Third World nations, what fixes might you suggest for the problems with the American electoral system?

After the 2004 election, former Secretary of State James Baker and I made recommendations on how our electoral system can be improved. We don’t have any central system for controlling elections; we essentially have over 400 different electoral systems, with each county having control. We have too much influence of money. In most countries, everyone who qualifies to seek office has guaranteed equal access to the news media, whereas in our country you have to buy TV and radio time, which is extremely expensive. Over the last 20 years or so, an excessive amount of that is negative advertisement, trying to destroy the reputation and character of your opponent. This has caused sharp divisions between Democrats and Republicans after the elections are over, and all that negativity condemning your opponent tends to make people think neither candidate is worthy of trust. Those things didn’t exist when I ran for office.

 

What do you think President Obama needs to do to instill confidence in our citizens, and to smooth the diplomatic bumps in our international relations?

They need to elevate the peaceful resolution of differences that are inevitably going to exist to a top priority, and make sure we communicate with people who disagree with us. We need to comply with international law. We need to protect human rights. We need to honor the agreements that have been reached in the past concerning the control of nuclear weapons. We need to preserve the environment. We need to make sure we have fair systems of justice and taxation so that working-class people get fair treatment… We need to cling to the values that have made this country great over the last 200-plus years.

 

In your eyes, what is the single biggest obstacle on the road to global peace, and what can we as individuals do to conquer it?

I think the most powerful nations on earth, and certainly the United States, need to set the preservation of peace as a very high priority and avoid wars unless our own security is directly threatened. We need to give a higher priority to mediation and negotiation of conflicts that exist between other countries that might lead to military action, and let every nation know that if they have a problem that might lead to a civil war, they can turn to Washington for help in preserving the peace.

 

In the years since you've left public office, as you've watched world events unfold, has there ever been a part of you that longs to be back in the thick of U.S. politics again?

Not really. I think I have a role to play that’s much more gratifying to me, and maybe even much more effective, in the work of the Carter Center. We maintain a very strong and positive presence in over 70 nations around the world, among the poorest and most needy people on earth, and we’re deeply involved in international affairs. So I don’t think that I could possibly find a better opportunity to have an adventurous, gratifying, unpredictable and exciting life.

 

Plus, you don’t have to run every move you make by a few hundred congressmen.

 (Laughs) No, that’s right. We’re pretty much independent, but we’re very careful to comply with political proprieties.

 

You and your wife recently stepped down from active fundraising for the Carter Center. How will that affect your personal efforts on the Center's behalf, and what is your personal dream for the Center's next 25 years?

Rosa and I are still trustees, and ultimately I still make the final decisions about the Carter Center. But the management of the Board of Trustees and the details of the operation of the center, thank goodness, are not mine anymore. I would hope that the center would stay independent, flexible, idealistic and willing to take a chance if a project seemed worthwhile. I hope that we’ll reach out and get as many partners as possible to join us in worthy projects, and continue to be willing to let other people get credit when successes are realized. And I sincerely hope that the basic principles of morality, idealism and human rights will still prevail.

(originally appeared in AirTran's GO Magazine)

DAVID BERKELEY- Strange Light Review

DAVID BERKELEY

Strange Light

Straw Man/Thirty Tigers

 

Equally influenced by Nick Drake and Damien Rice, this promising singer-songwriter’s third album has a an achingly melodic sense of melancholy that should appeal to fans of Elliott Smith, Joshua Radin and their modern folk ilk. Produced by Brian Deck (Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse), with a guest appearance from Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins, the album pays tribute to landmarks from the nomadic Berkeley’s past and present hometowns, from the dynamic build of “Willis Avenue Bridge” (which connects the Bronx and Manhattan) to the sweet, soulful horns that adorn his paean to Atlanta’s “Sweet Auburn.” A Harvard grad who studied literature and philosophy before working as a river rafting guide in Idaho and a writer in Alaska, Berkeley’s led an intriguing life. Though he may be settled with wife and child these days, you can hear the richness of his experiences in every intimate, well-crafted track. – BRET LOVE

(originally appeared in Georgia Music Magazine)

LESSONS LEARNED- My Interview w/Sharon Jones

LESSONS LEARNED

At The Age of 54, Will Sharon Jones FINALLY Become A Star?

by Bret Love

 

Chances are good that you don’t know Sharon Jones yet. But if you love classic soul, funk, or just good-time party music, you definitely should.

 

Before Amy Winehouse, Duffy or Adele had turned their retro soul fetishes into chart-topping hits, Jones and her band the Dap-Kings had earned critical acclaim for their stunning 2002 debut, which recalled legends such as James Brown, Mavis Staples and Marva Whitney. While the Dap-Kings provided backup for Winehouse on her 2006 breakthrough, their recordings with Jones (including 2005’s Naturally and 2007’s incredible 100 Days, 100 Nights) have never enjoyed mainstream commercial success.

 

Hopefully that will all change with their latest album, I Learned The Hard Way, another impressive collection of classic funky soul that showcases Jones’ emotive, gospel-influenced vocals. We recently caught up with the 54-year-old powerhouse to discuss her influences, her long and winding road to success and why she loves Michael Bublé.

 

 

You were born in Augusta and raised in New York, but you’ve still got that classic Southern soul sound. Was that a big influence on you when you were growing up?

 

I can’t get rid of that! (Laughs) Sometimes when I get to talking real fast my little Southern drawl will come out. I was born in 1956 when all that stuff was happening, before everything turned to pop and hip-hop. When I was a little girl we listened to Stax and Motown R&B, soul singers like James Brown and Otis Redding, even rock stuff like the Beatles and Rolling Stones. But it’s not just me: I may do the singing and bring the story to life, but the band writes the music that reminds you of Aretha Franklin or Mavis Staples.

 

Did you come up singing in the church?

 

Yeah, I always sang in church. We did this Christmas pageant one year where I played an angel and sang “Silent Night,” and I think I knew then and there that I had something going on. I wound up singing in neighborhood bands in high school. But by the time I hit my early twenties, they told me I didn’t have the look: I was too dark, too fat, too short. But I kept thinking that God had given me a gift, and one day people would accept me for my voice rather than the way I look.

 

I’m not sure if this is true, but I read that you worked as a corrections officer and an armored car guard during the years before your music career took off?

 

Oh yeah! I was at Riker’s Island from 1988-1990, and I worked with Wells Fargo for two to three years after that. I was still working security, wearing a gun all the time, when I met the guys who became my band.

 

So when you’re doing all these crazy jobs and nearing your forties, did you still think in the back of your mind, “I’m gonna get my big break someday”?

 

Yeah, I was still singing in weddings bands on and off up until the time when I met the Dap-Kings. But once we started going over to Europe on tour, they had to get somebody to replace me. The Dap-Kings would be touring in Europe, making like $50 a night and coming home with no money, and I’d be turning down $500 a night gigs with the wedding band! But I had to make that move.

 

Then five years later, you guys were the most critically acclaimed funk/soul band in the country. Is that crazy to you?

 

Hearing you say it like that, yeah! But it hasn’t really hit me yet. Everywhere I go there are still so many people that haven’t heard of us. But every time I go out on stage I give it everything I got– like 110%– and it seems like each time we tour we have a few more fans.

 

Talk to me about getting together with the guys behind Daptone Records.

 

When I first met them they weren’t even called Daptone yet: It was Desco Records, and they’d just discovered Lee Fields, who played old soul music. They wanted three female background singers for Lee’s record, but since I was the only one who showed up I sang all the backing parts myself. After that we recorded a [solo track] called “Switchblade,” and the next thing I knew we were heading to Europe to open for Maceo Parker. Gabe (bass), Binky (guitar) and Leon (saxophone) used to play together in Antibalas and the Soul Providers when they were like 16 years old. Now they’re all in their late twenties.

 

You guys obviously got a lot more mainstream recognition when the band played backup on Amy Winehouse’s breakthrough album, Back To Black. Was it exciting to see that sound getting played on the radio?

 

Actually, no, because it wasn’t OUR stuff. Even though the Dap-Kings played on it, it was Amy and Mark Ronson’s music. It was good exposure for Daptone as a record label, but Amy never gave props to me or the Dap-Kings. But I knew we had inspired her, because when we started going over to England there wasn’t but one other label trying to do what we were doing. The next thing you know, you’ve got people like Duffy and Adele following in her footsteps, but we were the first and we stayed true to what we were doing.

 

It’s kind of like the way Elvis had to get popular before people went back and discovered the black artists who had influenced him. Fortunately it’s come back around to bless you with opportunities, like working with Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters.

 

It was great! While they were out there doing Amy, I was doing Denzel! (Laughs) Right before that I was playing with Lou Reed, and after that I played with Booker T & the MGs. Last year I did a show with Phish on Halloween because they wanted some background singers, but it seemd like a got a lot of new fans out of it. Then Michael Bublé asked me to be on Saturday Night Live with him. What I love about Michael is that he reminds me of that swinging ‘60s vibe, so we’re influenced by the same era of music. It was great exposure for me; it was like when Frank Sinatra teamed up with Dinah Washington. I don’t know what the future holds, but I hope it will bring more great stuff like that. I just want to share the gift that God gave me, and show people that you shouldn’t give up after 40. You’ve got to keep going!

 

You’ve worked with all these other great artists. What is it about the chemistry between you and the Dap-Kings that makes it special?

 

It’s the music! Those guys write the greatest songs, and sometimes I just sit back and watch them. They amaze me. We recorded our new album months ago and I had copies of the rough mixes, but when I got the final version last week I listened to it for the first time from top to bottom while driving on my way to a photo shoot. I was like, “Wow!” I got so into it, I had to stop myself before I got a big head! (Laughs)

 

So what’s next for you guys once the album comes out?

 

We have so many great things lined up, some of which they told me I can’t even talk about yet. We’re gonna be playing on all these different talk shows, and we’re playing the Apollo Theatre on April 30 and 31. I’ve been doing all these interviews and photo shoots, and the other day I did over 100 radio drops. I guess it’s good; it means people love us! (Laughs)

 

OLD WORLD OTP- Vingenzo's Pasta & Pizzeria Review

Vingenzo’s Pasta & Pizzeria

105 East Main St, Woodstock

770-924-9133

www.vingenzos.com

 

Ask anyone who lives outside the perimeter and they’ll tell you that finding a great new culinary haven in the land of strip malls and chain restaurants is like the Holy Grail for foodies. So it was with much anticipation that we visited this charming little restaurant in downtown Woodstock on the strength of a friend’s recommendation, and with great pleasure that we discovered it was every bit as good as we’d been told.

 

Co-owned by Chef Michael Bologna (who teaches aspiring chefs at a local college by day), Vingenzo’s is the New York native’s tribute to the sort of old-world Neapolitan cuisine he grew up on, featuring recipes handed down through generations. The atmosphere is a welcoming blend of classy and casual, appealing to romantic couples and feasting families alike. Bologna prides himself on making everything from scratch, from three different kinds of mozzarella to pizza dough and pasta, and uses locally grown ingredients whenever possible (including heirloom tomatoes, which were delivered by a farmer as we dined).

 

Vingenzo’s menu may not seem exciting on the surface; anyone who’s ever had Italian food will recognize traditional dishes such as Margharita pizza and Frutti Di Mare. But what separates Bologna’s food from other Italian restaurants is his dedication to freshness and craftsmanship. Pizzas such as the Sopressata and the Bianca Con Prosciutto e Fontina, baked according to Neapolitan tradition in a wood-burning oven at 900º, offer a robust commingling of textures and flavors. Pastas such as Gnocchi al Gorgonzola and Campagnola offer a perfect balance of ingredients, from the spinach and Gorgonzola of the former to the artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms of the latter. His desserts, including Pistachio gelato and Torta di Ricotta (ricotta cheesecake), are equally impressive.

 

In short, Vingenzo’s is the sort of surprising discovery that makes being a food critic so rewarding. Not only do I get to share a rare gem of a restaurant, but now I also have a local favorite for my own family. –BRET LOVE