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LIVE FROM THE RIVER MUSIC HALL VOLUME 3
(ROUNDER)
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MTV’s Unplugged series helped create a cottage industry of, if not totally acoustic music, then at least stripped-down performances by artists capable of stripping down. Live from the River Music Hall, Volume 3 — the latest in a pleasing collection of such performances from the local radio station — offers just the kind of warm, welcoming mix of " unplugged " music that compilations of this sort specialize in. The disc’s 13 diverse artists include Old 97’s, Jeb Loy Nichols, Bob Schneider, Fisher, Kay Hanley, and the Proclaimers. PJ Harvey plays a punchy, spare version of " You Said Something " ; Zero 7 — a British lounge/funk/soul duo — groove to the backing of a full R&B band on " Destiny. " Cracker, the California alterna-rock outfit best known for their stoner hit " Low, " dust off their humorous " Eurotrash Girl " using acoustic guitars. Suzanne Vega’s folk background gives her an edge on " Marlene on the Wall. " John Hiatt turns up the heat with his gravelly vocals and dark slide guitar on " The Tiki Bar Is Open " ; Canadian alterna-country songstress Sarah Harmer pulls back on a subdued version of her " Basement Apartment. " Even former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft — an artist who’s always benefitted from lush musical backdrops — succeeds with a reserved, guitar-driven version of his passionate " Song for Lovers. "
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