In this installment of Folk101’s insightful and witty blog: The secret profession all folk singers hope to pursue and an album that proves it… Ahoy all folk mates!
Because you are all faithful Folk101 readers, I’ll let you in on a little secret. All folk musicians start playing the music just so they can eventually add a handful of sea shanties to their repertoires. Let’s face it, folk musicians all fantasize about being pirates. And really, who doesn’t?
An interesting new compilation came out about a month ago, and here at the old 101 we knew you would love to be made privy to this information. A new album of “pirate ballads, sea songs, and shanties” was released featuring such talents as Nick Cave, Jolie Holland, Loudon Wainwright III, and even Sting! Shocking, I know, but the material is so inspiring that even Mr. “Fields-of-Gold” himself sounds like a sun-baked, rum-swiggin’ buccaneer.
It is called Rogue’s Gallery and it features forty-three tracks of bawdy, funny, and all-in-all rousing renditions of classic songs born of the high seas. Many of the songs are true to the traditional, stripped-down sound usually associated with this material, while others are given a complete overhaul. Either way, this is not an album for the kiddies, and often it features the colorful language that so deservingly earned the phrase, “Curses like a sailor.”
The album is another unexpected result of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise. (The first unexpected result was making me actually like a Disney movie again). Apparently, during filming of the sequels, Johnny Depp and the film’s director, Gore Verbinski, became fascinated with the lore and music that is associated with those blood-thirsty, yet loveable marauders of the open ocean. They then put together a rowdy crew and put out this album. The result is an interesting, educational and entertaining record.
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