Description
This album from award-winning Australian songwriter Bruce Watson was released in 2004. His concern for social justice, reconciliation and the preciousness of relationships come through strongly in this album, interspersed with his satirical genius and sharp eye for the humorous.
Bruce Watson – A Moving Feast
Review by Dieter Bajzek.
Bruce is a major Australian songwriter and performer in the folk tradition, performing around Australia at festivals, clubs and a range of other venues and events.
Bruce is known both as a hilarious humorist, with political parodies a specialty, and as a writer and performer with the power to move audiences to tears. Also available words and music – 101 Songs by Bruce Watson TN523 $25
“This is the 5th CD by Bruce, a very versatile singer/songwriter from Melbourne. It’s hard to say whether Bruce is better at writing funny songs or serious ones? The difficulty for me lies in the fact that they are mixed up throughout this CD, so, if I don’t look ahead in the CD booklet to see what’s coming up, I don’t know whether I should be laughing or get upset and cry. Having said that, there is no doubt that Bruce is a very versatile songwriter, who has a lot to say. But I do think that the CD presentation does create a little problem, which does not seem to occur when you see Bruce live (which I have had the opportunity several times) and he introduces his songs – as singers usually do. Maybe a double CD might have been a possibility (in theory anyway), one funny and one serious disc? However, the recording has some good songs on it, performed with the help of a number of Melbourne musicians, with the serious ones including a reflective parent’s love song for a child (Unfinished Business), a song for a father who’s passed away (Dad’s Clothes), The Sony Song – which has already become popular, and the more accusing song about black deaths in early Australian history (The War without a Name). Some of the funny songs by contrast are the political satire I am the very Model of a modern Foreign Minister (based on Arthur Sullivan’s music) and Landlubber’s Shanty.”
About the artist: A much loved icon of the Australian folk scene, Bruce’s songs are sometimes hilarious, sometimes confronting, sometimes both, but always entertaining and full of surprises. Eric Bogle, Joe Dolce, and Blackwood sing them and he has received a swag of awards. The Bruce Watson Trio joins Bruce’s talents with the musical genius of Lyndal Chambers and Brian Strating, adding richness and punch.
