What does it sound like?:
Buffy Sainte-Marie has been a musician and tireless activist for over fifty years now. This new album, the follow up to 2015’s neglected Power In The Blood, is a combination of the old and the new. Kicking off with two new pieces, You Got To Run and The War Racket, the album concentrates on her more political material. This has provided her with the opportunity to update a number of her older songs with new contemporary instrumentation, and in some cases to add some new lyrics to bring them right up to date. Thus we have reworkings of timeless pieces such as My Country ‘Tis Of Thy People You’re Dying, Soldier Blue, No No Keshagesh, Now That The Buffalo’s Gone (unbelievably originally dating back to 1964) and Universal Soldier. These timeless songs, targeting topics such as war, oppression, inequality and climate change, are as stirring, and unfortunately as relevant today – if not even more so – as when they first appeared.
What does it all *mean*?
In the sleeve notes, Buffy says she wanted to put her songs to work – she’s certainly achieved that, using her repertoire to send out a clear, fierce and potent message about social and political injustice, both locally and globally, and the ever present need to inspire change in society.
Goes well with…
Opening your mind. Big issues.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Being informed.
Martin S says
Big fan of Buffy. Saw her live about 10-15 years back, supported by John Trudell. An amazing show.
I wasn’t aware of this new album. Listening to it now. (Think I prefer the original Soldier Blue. What an atmospheric record that was back in the day!)
Thanks for the heads up
SteveT says
I love Buffy too – just wish she was a little more prolific.
Bargepole says
I think music is only one part of her activities these days, along with poetry, painting, sculpting and political campaigning.