The Return of Idols

It's easy to elevate musicians, especially those we haven't heard from in while, to an elite status in our musical memory.  As the saying goes, time can make the heart grow fonder, for the time when a songs meaning, or the person who created it, was new, fresh, and important in our life.  And for most of us, those idols retain their personal significance, even as their star fades from the public consciousness.

Here's a couple such elevated icons who have challenged our memories and their legacies by putting out new work in 2011, some for the first time in a while.   

Robbie Robertson - How to Become Clairvoyant (April 2011, 429 Records)
It's been 13 years since the man who became famous as The Band's guitarist and primary songwriter released a solo album. For Clairvoyant, he brings a lot of friends along, including Robert Randolph for "Straight Down the Line" featured below, as well as Tom Morello, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Trent Reznor, Taylor Goldsmith, and Pino Palladino.

Find more Robbie Robertson (Official Myspace Page) songs at Myspace Music

Steve Earle - I'll Never Get Out of this World Alive (April 2011, New West Records)
It was 2007 the last time Earle released new, original material (2009's Townes featured songs by singer songwriter Townes Van Zandt).  His side projects during his gap in releases, however, did yield Justin Townes father some music - "This City" (nominated for a Grammy) was written for and featured as the closing song to Season 1 of HBO's Treme.  Check out his Tiny Desk Concert over at NPR featuring "Waiting on the Sky", "Every Part of Me" and "This City", all off the new album.

Gregg Allman - Low Country Blues (Jan 2011, Rounder Records) 
It's been nine years and one liver since the younger Allman brother released a solo album, but he sounds as strong as ever.  Check out the original version of this song, "Floating Bridge",  by Sleepy John Estes here as well as Eric Clapton's slow blues take here.