Although the newly revised Anthology has some rather inspired moments from contemporary artists like Beck, Petra Haden, and the McGarrigles, it's not likely to inspire the same level of adoration of American roots music as the original.
Disc One of Anthology of American Folk Music
Disc One is a great place to start, and the anthology quickly takes off on an extraordinary journey, headed by David Johansen's incredible rendition of "Old Dog Blue." Johansen's bright beginning is followed by the indelible Steve Earle tackling "Prison Cell Blues," and Wilco's "James Alley Blues."With the first three songs enticing listeners through modernized versions of classic folk- and country-blues songs, the fact that the quality of performances becomes erratic from that point on feels a little disappointing.
Artists who do a great job at their own work, like Beth Orton, Nick Cave, and Roswell Rudd with Sonic Youth, just don't do these old dusty traditionals all that well. Meanwhile, other rockers like Beck and Elvis Costello can absolutely shake listeners with their versions of folk-blues tunes by Robert Johnson and Buell Kazee, respectively.
Dave Thomas' rambuctious "Way Down the Old Plank Road" is also unforgettable, as is Richard Thompson's wonderful "Coo Coo Bird."
Disc Two of Anthology of American Folk Music
The second disc in the four-disc boxed set continues along the same erratic path as the first. For sure, there are jewels here, including "Sail Away Lady" (Van Dyke Parks, etc.), "I Wish I Was a Mole in the Ground" by Bob Neuwirth and Eliza Carthy, and Petra Haden's cover of the Carter Family Classic "Single Girl, Married Girl."An incredible trio of the McGarrigles and Elvis Costello brings "Ommie Wise, Pt. 1 & 2" vigorously back to life. David Johansen also returns on this disc with another great tune – "James Alley Blues," while most of the other songs on the disc were better served on the original anthology.
Disc Three of Anthology of American Folk Music
The third disc in the set feels a little redundant, especially if you tackle it the way I did: after listning to both music CDs and watching the documentary on Disc Four. Indeed, Disc Three mostly shows select performance highlights from the five concerts that inspired this revised anthology.Organized by Harry Willmer, the concerts took place over the course of 1999-2000, and brought together artists that ranged from the older traditionalists to younger, contemporary folk and rock artists.
As Willmer announces at the beginning of this disc, "I'm sure you'll love some of it. I'm sure you'll hate some of it; but you'll be a different person when it's over."
Disc Four of Anthology of American Folk Music
In fact, you may be best served by watching performances you're interested in on Disc Three and hurrying on to the most poignant part of this collection: Disc Four – The Old Weird America. This documentary follows Smith through the formation of the original Anthology. Not only is this informative and entertaining, intersplicing documentary film with coverage of Willmer's concerts, but it's essential viewing for anyone wishing to learn more about the journey of American folk music.Disc Four's coverage includes incredible shots of Harry Smith, interviews with Allen Ginsberg, Elvis Costello, Bob Neuwirth, David Johansen, and Greil Marcus. On American folk music, Marcus says, "Its old, it's weird. It's American ... the weirdness means it is something people will always be trying to figure out. It'll never be done."
One can only hope that, at the very least, this documentary and its accompanying audio discs will incite someone somwhere to keep the weirdness alive ... or at least to discover the inspiration and brilliance of Harry Smith's original anthology.
