|
''Election Special'' is the fifteenth studio album by American recording artist Ry Cooder, released on August 16, 2012, on Perro Verde Records and Nonesuch Records. After his 2011 album ''Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down'', Cooder continued writing topical and storyline-inspired songs. Displeased with the Republican Party and its financial supporters, he also wanted to write an album that would address listeners during the United States presidential election of 2012, which he believed to be a critical event in the country's history. ''Election Special'' was recorded mostly at Drive-By Studios in North Hollywood and produced by Cooder. ''Election Special'' is an American roots and blues rock album of protest songs with music characterized by upbeat melodies, simple instrumentation, and sparse arrangements. Cooder played all of the instruments, including bass, guitar, and mandolin, with the exception of drums by his son Joachim. A deeply political album, it expands on the socio-political musings and current event topics of ''Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down'' with forthright, satirical lyrics and song-form vignettes. Cooder's songwriting exhibits liberal and populist sentiments and draws on older musical sources such as broadside ballads and country blues. ''Election Special'' was intended to be released a week before the 2012 Republican National Convention, and Cooder released two of its songs to political media outlets. He also felt cynical about the commercial aspect of making albums and did not tour for the album, citing disinterest in playing large concert venues. Upon its release, ''Election Special'' received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented its topical protest songs and Cooder's musicianship. It peaked at number 164 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart in the US, but charted significantly higher in other countries. == Background == In 2011, Cooder recorded ''Pull Up Some Dust and Sit Down'' after being inspired by a headline about bankers and other affluent people profiting from bank bailouts and the resulting recession during the late-2000s. Released in August to critical acclaim, it showcased Cooder's return to his early work's musical style and told topical stories about political and social corruption, various economic victims, and an emerging class war.〔〔 With the album finished, Cooder had developed a penchant for writing such songs and wanted to continue writing more storyline-inspired songs.〔 A month after the release of ''Election Special'', Cooder had his first short-story collection, ''Los Angeles Stories'', published by City Lights Bookstore.〔 In June 2012, he joined ''Time'' political columnist Joe Klein on the latter's road trip across the United States, speaking out to people in towns about the state of the nation and its forthcoming presidential election in 2012. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Election Special」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|