Urban Folk music reviews
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Music reviews for "Urban Folk" sorted by average review score:
Trad Arr Jones
Released in Audio CD by Appleseed Records (27 February, 2001)
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Artist: John Wesley Harding
Tracks:
- The Singer's Request
- Little Musgrave
- The Golden Glove
- Annachie Gordon
- The Flandyke Shore
- William And Nancy's Parting
- William Gleen
- The Bonny Bunch Of Roses
- Master Kilby
- Annan Water
- Isle Of France
- Canadee-I-O (bonus track)
- Billy, Don't You Weep for Me (bonus track)
- Edward
- The Humpback Whale
Often compared to Elvis Costello, with whom he shares certain smoky vocal intonations, John Wesley Harding is working along the lines of another of his heroes, Bruce Springsteen. This collection, which puts one in mind of Springsteen's forays into acoustic music, features traditional folk songs recorded by the obscure but respected folksinger Nic Jones. (Jones withdrew from public performing following a 1982 car accident.) With little more than acoustic guitars and occasional accordion, Harding lights into ageless tales of unrequited love in which women are maidens and men are sailors forever lost at sea. Recorded over three days in a Seattle studio, Trad Arr Jones is a deceptively simple, powerfully immediate collection that casts its creator firmly in the troubadour tradition. --Rob O'Connor
Average review score: 
This CD is better in its case than in the playerA total waste of possible talent, this CD is just awful on so many levels. Wes is off-key in many of the songs, and his voice is unconvincing and irregular. In theory this album is a good idea, but the execution is so painful. I've really tried to get into this CD, but in the end, I taped it to the ceiling in my office, so nobody has to listen to it.
Punk sings Childe ballads, seaman songs, and other folkInstant goose bumps. Think Elvis Costello or a young Graham Parker singing Childe ballads, seaman songs, English plainsong, and folk rounds with spare accompaniment (variously guitar, mandolin, accordion). Think punks singing their tattoos away at the end of a night of beery-good fellowship. Think Manchester street toughs finding grace and a way home to a world before machines, struggling wity heightened human feelings of yearning, frailty, heartbreak, and about death. Think a regular guy finding English folk in his blood, but no standard folk way to let it out.
Tracks 12-15 use a full electric band and are characteristic of his other work. But they work well here too. [73:18]
Tracks 12-15 use a full electric band and are characteristic of his other work. But they work well here too. [73:18]
MesmerizingI have been a fan of Wes for years, but this album exceeded my expectations. These songs are incredible, giving credit to Nic Jones, and the interpretations are wonderful as well. Now I want to go get more of the original work of Nic Jones, if it weren't out of print.
Buy this album - you won't regret it.
Trad Arr Jones
Released in Audio CD by Zero Hour (23 February, 1999)
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Artist: John Wesley Harding
Tracks:
- The Singer's Request
- Little Musgrave
- The Golden Glove
- Annachie Gordon
- The Flandyke Shore
- William And Nancy's Parting
- William Gleen
- The Bonny Bunch Of Roses
- Master Kilby
- Annan Water
- Isle Of France
Often compared to Elvis Costello, with whom he shares certain smoky vocal intonations, John Wesley Harding is working along the lines of another of his heroes, Bruce Springsteen. This collection, which puts one in mind of Springsteen's forays into acoustic music, features traditional folk songs recorded by the obscure but respected folksinger Nic Jones. (Jones withdrew from public performing following a 1982 car accident.) With little more than acoustic guitars and occasional accordion, Harding lights into ageless tales of unrequited love in which women are maidens and men are sailors forever lost at sea. Recorded over three days in a Seattle studio, Trad Arr Jones is a deceptively simple, powerfully immediate collection that casts its creator firmly in the troubadour tradition. --Rob O'Connor
Average review score:
This CD is better in its case than in the playerA total waste of possible talent, this CD is just awful on so many levels. Wes is off-key in many of the songs, and his voice is unconvincing and irregular. In theory this album is a good idea, but the execution is so painful. I've really tried to get into this CD, but in the end, I taped it to the ceiling in my office, so nobody has to listen to it.
Punk sings Childe ballads, seaman songs, and other folkInstant goose bumps. Think Elvis Costello or a young Graham Parker singing Childe ballads, seaman songs, English plainsong, and folk rounds with spare accompaniment (variously guitar, mandolin, accordion). Think punks singing their tattoos away at the end of a night of beery-good fellowship. Think Manchester street toughs finding grace and a way home to a world before machines, struggling wity heightened human feelings of yearning, frailty, heartbreak, and about death. Think a regular guy finding English folk in his blood, but no standard folk way to let it out.
Tracks 12-15 use a full electric band and are characteristic of his other work. But they work well here too. [73:18]
Tracks 12-15 use a full electric band and are characteristic of his other work. But they work well here too. [73:18]
MesmerizingI have been a fan of Wes for years, but this album exceeded my expectations. These songs are incredible, giving credit to Nic Jones, and the interpretations are wonderful as well. Now I want to go get more of the original work of Nic Jones, if it weren't out of print.
Buy this album - you won't regret it.
Bandits
Released in Audio CD by Sony (09 October, 2001)
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Artist: Original Soundtrack
Tracks:
- Gallows Pole - Page/ Plant
- Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum - Bob Dylan
- Holding Out For A Hero - Bonnie Tyler
- Twist In My Sobriety - Tanita Tikaram
- Rudiger - Mark Knopfler
- Just Another - Pete Yorn
- Walk On By - Aretha Franklin
- Superman (It's Not Easy) - Five For Fighting
- Crazy 'Lil Mouse: Just The Two Of Us - Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers
- Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphy
- Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler
- Bandits Suite
Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett play an unlikely trio of bank robbers in Barry Levinson's outlaw comedy, and this eclectic soundtrack reflects the quirky personalities of their characters. Heard quietly under the film's opening credits, Bob Dylan's "Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum" refers to the bickering duo played by Willis and Thornton, while two '80s hits by Bonnie Tyler ("Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart") virtually define the neglected housewife-on-the-run played by Blanchett. You'll have to listen closely to hear some of these songs in the film, and two tracks ("Walk on By" and "Wildfire") are exclusive to this release. And while there's not much connective thread from one song to another, their sequencing has an idiosyncratic appeal, just like the film itself. From the soothing effect of Mark Knopfler's "Rudiger" to Five for Fighting's whimsical hero's lament "Superman (It's Not Easy)," these songs convey the same emotional range explored in Christopher Young's "Bandits Suite," a score sampler that closes the disc with instrumental flare. --Jeff Shannon
Average review score: 
A Great ListenThis was a great buy. I don't buy many Soundtracks...only when the music in the film really hits me...often I don't even notice that there is any!
First thing I said when I saw this film was that I would buy this CD. I actually didn't rate the film that highly, although enjoyable. The CD though, is great.
I love the fantastic final track 'Bandits Suite'.
It's hard to compare it or recommend it based on music tastes, as the make up of the CD is quite varied... from Tanita Tikaram to Bonnie Tyler (Both of Bonnie's songs I must admit, I struggle to listen to due to having heard them both so many times over the years!)
First thing I said when I saw this film was that I would buy this CD. I actually didn't rate the film that highly, although enjoyable. The CD though, is great.
I love the fantastic final track 'Bandits Suite'.
It's hard to compare it or recommend it based on music tastes, as the make up of the CD is quite varied... from Tanita Tikaram to Bonnie Tyler (Both of Bonnie's songs I must admit, I struggle to listen to due to having heard them both so many times over the years!)
Just a really good listen.
But were is MSI!?????Yes, this album is very very incomplete. Aside from the great U2 not being there, where the heck is Mindless self indulgence(my favorite band )??? They were played for like a minute and a half when Bruce willis and that other guy walk in on that young guy and that girl making out. It was a song called kill the rock and its great. So i don't know why they didn't put it there!
A film where the music makes senseThere are many little things that would probably go unnoticed in this movie, were it not for soundtrack. I'm thinking of the scene in which Cate Blanchett loses herself in that meal preparation, only to have her almost unbelievably insensitive husband show up to inform her that he won't be eating any of it. It's the music and the life it creates for her that shows the dichotomy of her world; and so, when she inadvertently escapes, we believe it. Are Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Blanchett superb? Yes. But it's the music that underscores the acting and directing brilliance.
'Til We Outnumber 'Em: Woody Guthrie
Released in Audio CD by Righteous Babe (30 May, 2000)
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Artist: Various Artists
Tracks:
- Hard Travellin' Hootenanny - All Severance Hall Cast
- Payback - Peter Glazer
- 1913 Massacre - Ramblin' Jack Elliot
- Regular Fries - Arlo Guthrie
- Against The Law - Billy Bragg
- Riding In My Car - Bruce Springsteen
- Pretty Boy Floyd - David Pirner
- Free In Every Moment - Arlo Guthrie
- Do Re Me - Ani DiFranco
- What A Song Is - Fred Hellerman
- Dust Storm Disaster - Arlo Guthrie
- It Ain't About Bein' Perfect - Craig Werner
- Plane Wreck At Los Gatos (Deportee) - Bruce Springsteen
- Does Music Change The World? - Country Joe McDonald
- Ramblin' 'Round - Indigo Girls
- Change the Moment - Arlo Guthrie
- Born Naked - Tim Robbins
- Talking Dust Bowl - Ramblin' Jack Elliot
- 'Til We Outnumber 'Em (This Land Is Your Land) - Arlo Guthrie
More than 30 years ago, shortly after the death of Woody Guthrie in the fall of 1967, a number of folk heavies like Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger assembled in Carnegie Hall to pay tribute to the folk patriarch. That Tribute to Woody Guthrie serves as something of a precursor to this 2000 record spearheaded by Ani DiFranco, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Guthrie Archives. It is a testimony to the incredible staying power of Guthrie's songs and his legacy that successive generations of musicians continue to be touched by what DiFranco calls his "rail-riding, rambling, story-gathering, political, acoustic-balladeer model." Like the first tribute, this one includes readings of Guthrie's prose along with interpretations of his music, but it also adds personal reflections from Fred Hellerman and Arlo Guthrie, among others. Highlights from this 1996 gathering include a pair of Bruce Springsteen performances (the playful "Riding in My Car" and the solemn "Deportee"), David Pirner's urgent "Pretty Boy Floyd," and "Ramblin' Round," invested with the right amount of weariness by the Indigo Girls with DiFranco. Also of note is DiFranco's dramatic reworking of "Do Re Mi," which highlights the song's often overlooked dark theme, and Billy Bragg's "Against the Law," which reappears on Mermaid Avenue Volume II, a second set of Guthrie lyrics set to Bragg's music. It's telling that Arlo Guthrie and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, two participants from the first tribute, return here, and it's more than likely that many of these artists will appear on the future Guthrie celebrations that surely are to come. --Marc Greilsamer
Average review score:
Disappointing tribute for a Folk IconThere is no bigger Woody Guthrie fan than me and I was greatly excited when I found out that Ani Difranco, another singer/songwriter I greatly admire, had put together a tribute to Woody. It is, however, fairly disappointing.
There are some good bits, here and there. Difranco's version of Do Re Mi is hot and her version (with Indigo Girls) of Ramblin' Round is the best thing on this CD. Billy Bragg is always good. But Springsteen is wasted on a version of Car Car and Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (the latter of which is done much better by Baez on her First 10 Years collection). Ramblin Jack Elliot does a very respectable version of Talkin' Dust Bowl but he also does 1913 Massacre again, which is already on the original Tribute album from the sixties. David Pirner's version of Pretty Boy Floyd does not hold a candle to Dylan's version on the A Vision Shared CD or Guthrie's own version. The whole ablum is interspersed with various people's reflections on Woody which would have been fine if they were in the booklet but only interupt the music on the CD and get rather boring after you've heard them once or twice.
Good Songs, OK PerformancesI found this a bit on the weak side. Only Ani DiFranco's "Do Re Me" is really distinctive, and most of these songs have been covered much better previously. For instance:
"Riding in My Car" -- Bob Dylan; "Deportee" -- Springsteen (in 1981); "Ramblin' Round" -- Odetta; "Pretty Boy Floyd" -- Bob Dylan
And I wish this CD would have included Joe Ely or Jimmie Dale Gilmore, both of whom performed at the show and can be seen in the cover photo.
As another reviewer noted, the '68/'70 "Tribute to Woody Guthrie" CD is far better, with excellent performances from Dylan, The Band, Ry Cooder, Arlo Guthrie, etc. Unfortunately, even that CD cuts out a couple of strong tracks that were on the 2-LP original (Richie Havens' "Vigilante Man" and Judy Collins' "So Long" were two of my favorites).
ENJOYABLEAni DiFranco has done a good job of introducing young America to Folk music, Woody Guthrie and Utah Phillips. Her version of "Do Re Mi" plus the Indigo Girls "Ramblin Round" and a fun singing, not yelling Bruce Springsteen "Riding In My Car" highlight this one night of music. "Til We Outnumber Em' is live and there are some better studio covers of Woody, but it's still enjoyable.
Left to His Own Devices
Released in Audio CD by Spin Art (24 April, 2001)
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Artist: Vic Chesnutt
Tracks:
- Deadline
- Very Friendly Lighthouses
- Fish
- Twelve Johnnies
- Wounded Prince
- We Should Be So Brave
- Cash
- In Amongst The Millions
- Hermitage
- Caper
- Thought You Were My Friend
- My Last Act
- Distortion
- Squeak
- Look At Me
Vic Chesnut's return to home recording on this release is by no means a step backwards. After working with the likes of Lambchop, Chesnutt returns to what sounds like the most natural of recording situations: doing it himself at home. Left to His Own Devices is a rather stunning lo-fi document. Rather than coming off as underproduced or slapdash, Chesnutt uses recording at home to full advantage. Songs like "Twelve Johnnies" and "Thought You Were My Friend" are fully embellished productions (with keyboards, guitar effects, etc.), while the charming "Wounded Prince" is delivered with just guitar and voice. The murky sound adds to the proceedings by lending an air of timelessness and mystery, or perhaps it's just Mr. Chesnutt's timeless and mysterious songs. While being referred to as the Leonard Cohen of Athens is a bit of a stretch (his style is closer to that of Cat Stevens), Vic Chesnutt has once again shown himself to be a singer-songwriter of uncommon depth. --Mike Johnson
Average review score:
Vic's priceless, but this is not.I like Vic. I like lo-fi. I don't like "Left to His Own Devices." These aren't the mordant, stinging songs of "Drunk" and "Is the Actor Happy?", both amazing records. These songs wander and wobble; Vic's voice is weak, the guitar is murky, and the whole enterprise seems water-soaked. Some great musicians aren't great recording engineers or producers; it's worth your while to look for Vic Chesnutt's better records, though.
A Smattering of Good SongsI'm somewhat disappointed by this album. I, too, like lo-fi, and I like most of Vic's releases.
Too many songs on this CD sound like they were recorded in a shoebox. There are definitely some keepers here and lyrically Vic is in top form, but it's a real chore to listen to this CD from start to finish. My Last Act is a harrowing, disturbing song. Musically, there are a lot of good ideas that aren't fully developed.
In regards to the lyrics this is a five star CD. Musically it rates one star.
If you have never heard any of Vic's music, you do NOT want to start here.
Vic Chesnutt,A Real American Musical Treasure!This is a great home recording!Every song stands out!I've only recently discovered this man and i know without a doubt he is definately the greatest singer, songwriter on this earth!Vic has more insight and heart than any other musician i've heard,I'm 43 years old and i've heard alot of music but nothing as good as Vic Chesnutt!Buy two copies of this cd and all his other cds.His music is hard to find in just any record store, so get it while you can!
The Texas Campfire Tapes
Released in Audio CD by Polygram Records (25 September, 1990)
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Artist: Michelle Shocked
Tracks:
- 5 A.M. In Amsterdam
- The Secret Admirer
- The Incomplete Image
- Who Cares?
- Down On Thomas St.
- Fogtown
- Steppin Out
- The Hep Cat
- Neck Tie
- (Don't You Mess Around With) My Little Sister
- The Ballad Of Patch Eye And Meg
- The Secret To A Long Life (Is Knowing When It's Time To Go)
Average review score:
very poor recording qualityI own several cd's by MS and find her work interesting if somewhat uneven. The sound quality on this cd is very poor I am surprised she allowed it to be released. The only redeeming aspect is a neat little book that is somewhat autobiographical and allowed me to win a bet with a friend MS is not her real name.
Terrific songs by a talented songwriterMichelle Shocked was recorded in 1986 around a campfire in Kerrville, Texas. The occasion was the Kerrville Folk Festival, and the recording device was a Sony Walkman. Despite the lackluster equipment, Shocked's spiky, playful personality comes through in spades here, as does the astonishing assuredness of her singing. Though she sounds girlish here--and looks about fifteen years old on the cover--there is a maturity and depth to the songs and the phrasing that announce the presence of a mature musician.
Pete Lawrence, the man who recorded the songs, gets Shocked to explain some of the inspiration for the songs in between tunes, but for the most part you hear only Shocked, her guitar, and the crickets in the background. The effect is both immediate and intimate. "5:00 AM in Amsterdam" opens with Shocked sounding like an incredibly youthful Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell, but with a wry and boyish twist. On "Who Cares," there are little flashes of Billie Holiday, believe it or not, and a jut-jawed attitude of defiance that comes across loud and clear despite the primitive recording. "Down on Thomas St." is a brisk and frisky tune and "Fogtown" (about San Francisco, of course!) has a melancholy longing to it. Shocked is a master at conveying unspoken longing and mood without spelling everything out for her listeners. She's also got a great gift for getting your attention right off the bat, as she does with the opening lyrics to "Necktie":
Pete Lawrence, the man who recorded the songs, gets Shocked to explain some of the inspiration for the songs in between tunes, but for the most part you hear only Shocked, her guitar, and the crickets in the background. The effect is both immediate and intimate. "5:00 AM in Amsterdam" opens with Shocked sounding like an incredibly youthful Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell, but with a wry and boyish twist. On "Who Cares," there are little flashes of Billie Holiday, believe it or not, and a jut-jawed attitude of defiance that comes across loud and clear despite the primitive recording. "Down on Thomas St." is a brisk and frisky tune and "Fogtown" (about San Francisco, of course!) has a melancholy longing to it. Shocked is a master at conveying unspoken longing and mood without spelling everything out for her listeners. She's also got a great gift for getting your attention right off the bat, as she does with the opening lyrics to "Necktie":
There was a naked man standing in an alley
And he weren't wearing no clothes . . .
Fans of Shocked's later albums will recognize the Elvis-flavored tune "(Don't You Mess Around with) My Little Sister" and "The Secret to a Long Life (is Knowing When It's Time to Go)." Less successful is "The Incomplete Image," a spoken-word piece interspersed with propulsive guitar work. Overall, though, especially given the inauspicious circumstances under which the album was recorded, this is a terrific album hinting at the maturity and brilliance Shocked would display on later albums.
Great FolkThis record is simply a great folk album. It is Michelle Shocked at her most basic, with only a guitar, her voice, and a handful of songs. Despite being captured on a Sony Walkman, this recording captures the sheer power and talent that Shocked possessed even at this early point in her career. The performance is reminiscient of the the 1960s and the folk revival of the time. A listen to this album will give you a great collection of songs. All original and all good, I can say that this has been one of my favorite albums since I first listened to it. If you're a fan of folk or acoustic pop, do whatever you can to find a copy of this recording.
Captain Swing
Released in Audio CD by Polygram Records (03 October, 1989)
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Artist: Michelle Shocked
Tracks:
- God Is A Real Estate Developer
- On The Greener Side
- Silent Ways
- Sleep Keeps Me Awake
- The Cement Lament
- (Don't You Mess Around With) My Little Sister
- Looks Like Mona Lisa
- Too Little Too Late
- Streetcorner Ambassador
- Must Be Luff
- Untitled Track
Average review score:
Just Listen and EnjoyI had heard of Michelle Shocked but had never heard her until I heard a couple of cuts from this CD on the radio while driving through central Arizona. I liked what I heard so when I got home I sought it out at my favorite music store.
It was enjoyed but forgotten until recently when my eye caught the label as I was going through my wall of CDs looking for some stuff I hadn't heard in a while.
Despite it being nearly ten years since I bought the CD, I have still not heard any of her other music so I have no points of comparison it. It doesn't matter to me that she is considered a folk/country/bluegrass musician. I like her fine in her guise as a swingmeister. My favorites here are the opening cut God Is A Real Estate Developer, the sexy, slinky and romantic Silent Ways, the bluesy Sleep Keeps Me Awake, Looks Like Mona Lisa, Too Little Too Late, the horn-driven swinger Must Be Luff and an unnamed/unlisted acoustical bonus piece at the end (possibly entitled Russian Roulette) that features some excellent guitar work.
There is enough musical variety here to make anyone happy. If you are taken aback because Captain Swing does not sound like the Michelle Shocked you are used to, don't be. Just listen to it and enjoy!
It was enjoyed but forgotten until recently when my eye caught the label as I was going through my wall of CDs looking for some stuff I hadn't heard in a while.
Despite it being nearly ten years since I bought the CD, I have still not heard any of her other music so I have no points of comparison it. It doesn't matter to me that she is considered a folk/country/bluegrass musician. I like her fine in her guise as a swingmeister. My favorites here are the opening cut God Is A Real Estate Developer, the sexy, slinky and romantic Silent Ways, the bluesy Sleep Keeps Me Awake, Looks Like Mona Lisa, Too Little Too Late, the horn-driven swinger Must Be Luff and an unnamed/unlisted acoustical bonus piece at the end (possibly entitled Russian Roulette) that features some excellent guitar work.
There is enough musical variety here to make anyone happy. If you are taken aback because Captain Swing does not sound like the Michelle Shocked you are used to, don't be. Just listen to it and enjoy!
Hey, she's unpredictable!Michelle Shocked,(a.k.a. Karen Johnston) has been marching to the beat of her own drummer right from the start, so it's no surprise that this disc is completely different in style. Let's see here, she WAS folk/country/roots rock?, not here she isn't. This one is jazz/rock/swing/blues fusion that somehow works! She's a pro, no doubt about it. 3� stars
Not your usual Michelle Shocked approach, but good!Michelle Shocked certainly shocked a lot of fans with this tribute to swing music. While some think her vocal style doesn't fit swing, it's a testament to her voice that she sounds just great here--even if you prefer her on country/folky stuff more than on swing, you have to admit that she sounds wonderful and her joy in the music comes across amply.
"God is a Real Estate Developer" is a weirdly titled swing tune that opens the album, and things get even stranger with "On the Greener Side," a samba-influenced tune that somehow reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel's "Cecilia" with its lickety-split beat and hummability. Strange, yes, but this is still great stuff! On "Silent Ways" Shocked harkens back to her bluegrassy roots with a sly, witty song about sex--"loving in a silent way" as opposed to the words her lover pleads for. Shocked manages to convey a smile at her lyrics almost better than any other singer out there today:
"When you asked me,
'Michelle, do you love me?'
I didn't know what to say
So I just laid down beside you and
I loved you in a silent way.
And when you asked me to forgive you
For all your cheating days
I just laid down beside you and
Forgave you in a silent way.
Silence is golden
Words are made of lead
And in the alchemy of love
Some things are better left unsaid."
"Streetcorner Ambassador" ROCKS with a propulsive beat and Shocked's incisive portrait of what goes on in the streets near her apartment. "Too Little Too Late" provides an aural impression of Shocked lolling atop an upright piano in the middle of a saloon, flicking her feather boa back and forth lazily as she sings.
Once again, Shocked includes the lyrics for only some of the songs, not all of them--odd, but what the heck, if you don't mind that, this is a wonderfully strong album and a departure for Shocked. Good for her for having the strength of her convictions to try something a little offbeat.
Merriment
Released in Audio CD by Backburner Records (27 June, 2000)
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Artist: Vic Chesnutt & Mr. and Mrs. Keneipp
Tracks:
- Merriment
- Fissle
- Feather
- Sunny Pasture
- Preponderance
- Haiku
- Mighty Monkey
- DNA
- Deeper Currents
- Merriment Reprise
Average review score:
Vic's WorstI would consider myself a huge Vic chesnutt fan, and I must say that this album is a huge disappointment. Drenched in Daniel Lanois-esque reverb, the texture and production is blaaaaaa. But, the blame may not lay solely on Vic's shoulders. I think the Keneipp's are responsible for some of this mess.
The lyrics are muddled and embarrassing, the tunes are rambling (it pains me to write this, I love ALL of his previous albums).
The album is not without its highlights--"Fissle" is great, and "Sunny Pasture" and "Haiku" are classic Vic ...
... but avoid this album. If you are looking to discover the wonders of Mr. Chesnutt, check out "West of Rome" or "The Salesman and Bernadette." There is absolutely great great Vic Chesnutt out there. This just doesn't happen to be it.
Unusual.This little CD, just over 30 minutes in length, is one of the stangest Vic Chesnutt albums I've ever heard. Not to say it isn't good. Each track, with the possibility of the didactic DNA hits you in the gut. Merriment packs a wallop, with Vic singing his [bottom]off. But it lacks the magic of his 'solo' albums.
Vic puts down the guitar and uses his pipes.The image of Vic Chesnutt emblazoned on the cover of his album 'About to Choke' gives us the Vic Chesnutt in the minds of his fans. A lone man in a wheelchair holding a guitar and pushing his broken voice to the limits. He seemed to be an emblem of pre-packaged vulnerability. Yet his words and his music tended to portray a man who loved to be distant.
'Merriment, while more directly analytical than his previous work, is a display of the way that his sometimes off-putting humor can also be intensely touching and unironic.
The album is short, to be sure, but the songs are all miniature epics. There are stories being told in these songs, but they are all about ideas. From the nature of humor to notions of justice, the material is not 'light,'but Chesnutt's wit and intelligence keep the songs from being murky and leaden.
The highlights of the album are the title track, Mighty Monkey, Feather, and DNA. But all of the songs (featuring music by Kelly and Nikki Keneipp), contain a musical perfection and lyrical precision (that Vic Chesnutt fans may find over-produced)that make them part of one of the best albums of the year. Unfortunately most writers have already written their top-ten lists, so most people may never find out.
Kind Hearted Woman
Released in Audio CD by Private Music (15 October, 1996)
Amazon base price: $
List price: $16.98 (that's NaN% off!)
Used price: $3.19
Collectible price: $86.99
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List price: $16.98 (that's NaN% off!)
Used price: $3.19
Collectible price: $86.99
Buy one from zShops for: $9.10
Artist: Michelle Shocked
Tracks:
- Stillborn
- Homestead
- Winter Wheat
- Cold Comfort
- Eddie
- A Child Like Grace
- Fever Breaks
- Silver Spoon
- The Hard Way
- No Sign Of Rain
Average review score:
not her best, but goodIt took me a couple of times listening to this album to really be able to enjoy it. The sound is different from both Deep Natural and Short Sharp Shocked. This isn't to say that the sound is bad, but it was different enough to require several spins on my cd player. The more I listen to this album, though, the more I like it. I'm not quite sure how to describe the music, even compared to her other work, but Michelle Shocked is one of the best musicians I've heard. The only track that I can't really listen to is the first one, "Stillborn". The wailing is too much for me. I haven't gotten into the story behind the song, but this may be a song that'll grow on me in a few years (much like "Professional Widow" by Tori Amos did). The rest of the album is quite solid and includes the gem "A Child Like Grace".
Desert Island MaterialI've been a Michelle Shocked fan for years. Her CDs always cover a wide range of styles and the music has just become a part of my life. I laugh or cry or just feel good hearing her voice. Kind Hearted Woman was something of a departure in that it was way more intense than her previous works which can include very intense songs mixed with more upbeat stuff. This CD is just plain intense on the emotional scale. One reviewer referred to the "wailing" on the first track as being too much, but I disagree. On first listen, maybe, but it's an essential part of the album and helps set the theme for the album. And if you live in Texas, or any place where the crickets and cicadas really cut loose on a hot summer's day, then it makes more sense.
This is one of those works that is worth far more than the sum of the parts. I would be severely depressed if I had to go to a desert island with only ONE of her CDs, but this would be the one I'd take. And while it's so serious with some depressing themes, she managed to throw in the obligatory references to hobos and railroads. I smile, even though it's not a cheerful song.
If you like upbeat music, go with something like Captain Swing or Short Sharp Shocked. But if you don't mind going into a musical dark crevice, then you can't beat this gem!
This is one of those works that is worth far more than the sum of the parts. I would be severely depressed if I had to go to a desert island with only ONE of her CDs, but this would be the one I'd take. And while it's so serious with some depressing themes, she managed to throw in the obligatory references to hobos and railroads. I smile, even though it's not a cheerful song.
If you like upbeat music, go with something like Captain Swing or Short Sharp Shocked. But if you don't mind going into a musical dark crevice, then you can't beat this gem!
Kind Hearted Woman - An incomparable work..... These are tales of folk, some hard, some some humorous, some broken and some wistful. I am very fussy about what I listen to and I consider Michelle as one of the very few truly gifted songwriters/lyricists in popular music.
There are a lot of great and enigmatic writers but she writes with a clarity and poignancy that places her well above the pack. I must admit, I found this album difficult at first. The anguished, heart rending wail on 'Stillborn' is confronting but very much realises the immediate pain of the mothers' loss. My entry point into this album was 'A Child like Grace' which has a sweet melody that carries the song gently while the lyrics once again describe the difficult and sad memory of the death of a child. My favourite song, (because it's so catchy and listenable -and because I can identify so much with it's content)is 'The Hard Way'. That song should have made waves because it is such a ...fine pop song but that's not how radio playlists get chosen! I listened to this CD again, a couple of years down the track, and that's when I really came to appreciate it. The Production/engineering by Bones Howe is marvellous. Sparse but beautiful and richly rendered. I can't imagine anyone being able to do a better job with this, it's just aural perfection (I wonder what Michelle thinks?). It's probably out of print, but if MS releases it again, now that she's free of all that legal trouble, give it a try. IMHO it is a definite classic!
There are a lot of great and enigmatic writers but she writes with a clarity and poignancy that places her well above the pack. I must admit, I found this album difficult at first. The anguished, heart rending wail on 'Stillborn' is confronting but very much realises the immediate pain of the mothers' loss. My entry point into this album was 'A Child like Grace' which has a sweet melody that carries the song gently while the lyrics once again describe the difficult and sad memory of the death of a child. My favourite song, (because it's so catchy and listenable -and because I can identify so much with it's content)is 'The Hard Way'. That song should have made waves because it is such a ...fine pop song but that's not how radio playlists get chosen! I listened to this CD again, a couple of years down the track, and that's when I really came to appreciate it. The Production/engineering by Bones Howe is marvellous. Sparse but beautiful and richly rendered. I can't imagine anyone being able to do a better job with this, it's just aural perfection (I wonder what Michelle thinks?). It's probably out of print, but if MS releases it again, now that she's free of all that legal trouble, give it a try. IMHO it is a definite classic!
Platinum Hits 2000
Released in Audio CD by Sony (05 September, 2000)
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Artist: Various Artists
Tracks:
- Say My Name (Maurice's Bass 2000 Mix) - Destiny's Child
- Maria (Spanglish Radio Edit) - Ricky Martin
- Doo Wop (That Thing) (Radio Edit) - Lauryn Hill
- Freakin' It - Will Smith
- You Sang To Me (Radio Edit) - Marc Anthony
- Fortunate (The Naked Uncut Remix) - Maxwell
- I Wanna Love You Forever (Soul Solution Remix Radio Edit) - Jessica Simpson
- Crash And Burn (Radio Edit) - Savage Garden
- Bring It All To Me (Main Version) - Blaque
- Bounce With Me - Lil Bow Wow
- Let's Get Married - Jagged Edge
- Shackles (Praise You) - Mary Mary
- Don't Call Me Baby (Original Mix 7in) - Madison Avenue
- A Puro Dolor (Version Balada) - Son By 4
- Lullaby - Shawn Mullins
- I Think God Can Explain (Radio Version) - Splender
- Don't Give Up (Original Radio Edit) - Chicane
Average review score:
Not the right hits at the right time.PLATINUM HITS 2000, is an OK album. But some of the songs that are on this CD aren't these artists' most recent hits. And some of them haven't even been played on the radio at all. Like Ricky Martin's song, Maria. That song was never played on the radio...so it can't really be one of his biggest hits. Of course, some of the songs have been major hits. Destiney Child's most recent hit right now is Independent Women, but I guess that hit didn't come out in time for the making and release of this CD. But they did have another hit after Say My Name and before the release of this CD, which is Jumpin'Jumpin. Personally, I think Independent Women is Destiney Child's best song...better than Say My Name and Jumpin' Jumpin'. One group I did not see on this CD (and one of my all-time favorites) is the Backstreet Boys. They've had many #1 hits and I think they should've been on this CD. Some of these bands and artists on this CD were artists and bands I've never even heard of before...especially toward the end of the CD. I'll admit though, some of the songs on this CD were songs that I liked. But most of them, I could do without. So if you really like most of the songs on this CD, then I recommend this to you. Otherwise, don't even bother.
Good Collection of music from the yearGiven the music is a little outdated and most of you don't like remixes but i do and a lot of people do too. The music is tight, good upbeat as opposed to the usual slow original songs. If you want the original songs get the actual cd, otherwise stop complaining, the cd shows what songs it includes and it said if they're remixed so why you expecting different. Besides most people still listen to music from the 90s so who cares if it's older music. Say my name is an old jam from Destiny's Child and so are a lot of other songs on the cd. Besides you have no reason to complain, you can always return the cd if you don't like it.
Platinum Hits 2000 reviewThis CD is tight. almost every song on here is cool. I mean, almost anybody could enjoy it. Its got Will Smith Blaque and tons of other stars of today. I saw the commercial on tv and I called them up and ordered it for me and three of my friends. They enjoyed it so much they sent me thank you notes and actually a flower!!! If i could pick any CD to buy this fall.. this would be it!