featuring the very best of americana, alt.country and roots music
February 5, 2023
Scott Foley, purveyor of dust
Search "Amazing Venice Beach Homeless Girl On Guitar" on YouTube and you'll find a video of a very young Black woman slumped against a wooden wall, playing some Nashville blues that (she) wrote. Recorded more than a decade ago, that unhoused woman would face some tough times ahead: Addiction, continued homelessness, imprisonment, rehab, and busking. That inarguable talent would see her into a role as half of the terrifically-monikered folk-punk duo Anus Kings, then onto solo stages and setting her own songs to tape. You'll find videos online of these moments as well, recordings of this woman continuing to grow into her remarkable guitar skills and an increasingly original blend of folk, punk and blues. Fast forward several years, and Sunny War has just released one of the most eagerly anticipated records of 2023.
Produced by the superb Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray or the Riff Raff, Benjamin Booker), Anarchist Gospel arrives like a project whose time has come, a game-changing volley from an artist who will take our kind of music to new places. Sunny War's seventh collection reaches new ears in part because of the New West label's support, and in part because it's crowded with contributors like David Rawlings, Allison Russell and Jim James. Anarchist Gospel mostly succeeds, however, because of the talent and originality of Sunny War.
You'll hear that entrancing acoustic guitar on "No Reason", driven by a nimble-fingered bumblebee line showcasing the artist's technique that borrows from clawhammer banjo, from Elizabeth Cotten's early country-blues, and reportedly from the Beatles' "Blackbird". The upbeat and hooky tune also introduces the doo-wop style backing vocals from the Greek chorus-like singers Maureen Murphy, Nickie Conley, and Kyshona Armstrong. Sunny War sings to the duality within us all, a common theme to her music: You're an angel / You're a demon. Her guitar is featured almost on its own on the beautiful acoustic "New Day": You stole the light / Right from my eyes / Jarred it up / Like fireflies. One of the album's more folky moments is enhanced by Billy Contreras' yearning fiddle.
Sunny War is portrayed on the record jacket and in certain publicity photos dressed as a Cuban revolutionary, and her past record as a gutter punk might lead listeners to expect a more militant political approach. Songs don't shy away from concerns like global warming and social justice, but War is more likely to write of the politics of relationships. Your mouth is a gun, she sings on "Love's Death Bed": Got bodies dropping every time that you speak. The gospel-blues number adds Allison Russell to the chorus, along with harmonica from Chris Pierce, her partner under the War & Pierce band name. Atop an underlying guitar squall, "I Got No Fight" is a moment of vulnerability and surrender in the wake of a breakup that drove Sunny War from Los Angeles back to her native Nashville prior to the recording of Anarchist Gospel. Accompanied by David Rawlings on the overcast "Higher", she reaches for an earlier confidence: Somewhere in my memories / I held my head much higher.
Another frequent collaborator, Micah Nelson joins her and Jim James on "Earth", one of the songs addressing our climate catastrophe. With a minor key jazz lilt, she mourns: Cry for man today / He'll have no place to stay. The upbeat "Shelter and Storm" boasts Rawling's banjo alongside Jo Schornikow's keys for a deep groove. Sunny War gives voice to Mother Earth on the spoken outro: When the humans are away ...
War has spoken in interviews to her fondness for more contemporary upbeat music, admitting that she listens to very little punk or americana. But it's her tendency to draw from that deep well of influences that adds to her appeal, much like Alynda Segarra, Brittany Howard or Valerie June. "His Love" adds pedal steel to a country shuffle, and one of two covers, "Hopeless" is a soulful track with more satisfying guitarwork. The second cover is an unexpectedly faithful take on Ween's "Baby Bitch", a waltz-time send-off that finds War accompanied by what sounds like a profane children's choir (but is actually a bit of studio trickery): I'm better now / Please fuck off.
Sunny War traces her own influences back to Skip James and Nina Simone, but is also quick to claim AC/DC's Angus Young and punk forefathers Crass as among her inspirations. A very recent Facebook post she celebrated the recent purchase of LPs from Tribe Called Quest, the Damned, and Otis Redding with Carla Thomas. She's described the sessions for Anarchist Gospel as tantrums and outsider music, capable of alternately soothing and firing up listeners. During her journey from the boardwalks of Venice to the forefront of roots music, she's remained admirably true to her initial vision, even as she's continued to hone her tools as a singer and a guitarist. Early money should be placed on this amazing girl on guitar to make some noise on year-end lists for 2023 and for years to come.
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ROUTES-cast February 5, 2023
- Tallest Man on Earth, "Every Little Heart" Henry St (Anti, Apr 14) D
- Scott McMicken & THE EVER EXPANDING, "What About Now" Shabang (Anti, Mar 31) D
- Rural Alberta Advantage, "Plague Dogs" single (Saddle Creek, 23) D
- Ben de la Cour, "Appalachian Book of the Dead" Sweet Anhedonia (Jullian, Apr 14)
- Kevin Morby, "Like a Flower" Music From Montana Story (Dead Oceans, 23)
- boygenius, "$20" the record (Interscope, Mar 31)
- Wild Child, "End of the World" End of the World (Reba's Ranch, Mar 31) D
- SYML, "Better Part of Me (ft Sara Watkins)" Day My Father Died (Nettwerk, 23) D
- Jeff Tweedy, "Union Maid" single (A24, 23) D
- King Tuff, "Tell Me" Smalltown Stardust (Sub Pop, 23)
- Rose City Band, "Chasing Rainbows" Garden Party (Thrill Jockey, Apr 21) D
- Iris Dement, "Sacred Now" Workin' On a World (FlariElla, Feb 24)
- William Prince, "Tanqueray" Stand In the Joy (Six Shooter, Apr 14) D
- JD Clayton, "Goldmine" Long Way From Home (Mulberry, 23)
- James Steinle, "Gathering Crowd" single (Steinle, 23) D
- El Dorodo, "Tell Me Why" Unincorporated (Hickman Holler, 23) D
- Panhandlers, "Valentine For Valentines Day (ft Kaitlin Butts)" Tough Country (Panhandlers, Mar 3) D
- Mike Stinson & Johnny Irion, "Ponderosa Pine" Working My Way Down (Blackwing, Mar 24)
- Brit Taylor, "Anything But You" Kentucky Blue (Cut A Shine, 23)
- Channing Wilson, "Getting Outta My Mind" Dead Man (Ol' Dog, Feb 24) D
- Jonathan Peyton, "Denial" single (Peyton, 23) D
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, "good 4 u" Spotify Singles (Nonesuch, 23) D
- Nude Party, "Hard Times (All Around)" Rides On (New West, Mar 10)
^ Sunny War, "Whole" Anarchist Gospel (New West, 23)
- Bonny Light Horseman, "Once On Another Day (Bonus Track)" Rolling Golden Holy (37d03d, 23)
- Aoife O'Donovan, "Love Song To a Stranger" Apathy Sessions (Yep Roc, 23)
- HC McEntire, "Gospel of a Certain Kind" Every Acre (Merge, 23)
- Jobi Riccio, "For Me It's You" single (Yep Roc, 23) D
- Shana Cleveland, "A Ghost" Manzanita (Hardly Art, Mar 10) D
- Ellie Turner, "One More Day" When the Trouble's All Done (Muhly Grass, Mar 24) D
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