FogBlueInSanFran
Well-Known Member
Halfway through so I will reserve judgment til the end but really liked “Poison Girl” a lot. Who is that playing bass (stick?) on the second or third tune?
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The Album Review Club - *** Christmas Break Playlist (next album 7/1/26) ***
- Thread starter RobMCFC
- Start date
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
"Poison Girl" is one of my least favourites (on an album where there are no weak tracks), but Whitley's vocal on that is excellent so it lifts it above the average pop song. That's also the track that your favourite Daniel Lanois plays on :)Halfway through so I will reserve judgment til the end but really liked “Poison Girl” a lot. Who is that playing bass (stick?) on the second or third tune?
The bass player on all the songs is Daryl Johnson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Johnson_(musician)
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OB1
Well-Known Member
Will have to read the review later but I noted the mention of Q and this is another album I bought based on their review, so I have owned it since release and I look forward to listening to the whole thing again as I’ve not played it in awhile; although one track is a playlist favourite.
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
So I was correct - it was you who commented when I mentioned this album a few years ago.Will have to read the review later but I noted the mention of Q and this is another album I bought based on their review, so I have owned it since release and I look forward to listening to the whole thing again as I’ve not played it in awhile; although one track is a playlist favourite.
And IIRC, your playlist favourite would be "Big Sky Country"?
OB1
Well-Known Member
So I was correct - it was you who commented when I mentioned this album a few years ago.
And IIRC, your playlist favourite would be "Big Sky Country"?
You would be right. One of my all-time favourite songs. Remnids me of driving through the American West.
Some great songs,love the guitar parts and a very good voice.
The only beef I have is his vocal style.
All songs seem to have a high falsetto part somewhere in the songs which for some reason I picked up straight away and found it annoying.
So much so that it spoiled a very good recording for me.
Sorry it is a 6/10.
If he did not use it on every song it would have been an 8
The only beef I have is his vocal style.
All songs seem to have a high falsetto part somewhere in the songs which for some reason I picked up straight away and found it annoying.
So much so that it spoiled a very good recording for me.
Sorry it is a 6/10.
If he did not use it on every song it would have been an 8
FogBlueInSanFran
Well-Known Member
Thanks. He's certainly NOT a bluesman as conventionally defined, and I am finding this record very hard to pigeonhole which is a good thing."Poison Girl" is one of my least favourites (on an album where there are no weak tracks), but Whitley's vocal on that is excellent so it lifts it above the average pop song. That's also the track that your favourite Daniel Lanois plays on :)
The bass player on all the songs is Daryl Johnson - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Johnson_(musician)
Thanks. He's certainly NOT a bluesman as conventionally defined, and I am finding this record very hard to pigeonhole which is a good thing.
It is bluegrass-country. I can't see it being anything else.
Sorry Rob, this is just not my thing.
It is not him, it is me. I have never been able to get into Country. The more conventional great american singer-songwriter with less off a southern trawl, sure, or the other end full on bluegrassy like the Dead South or Hayseed Dixie I can also do. Proper blues too, like it. But this type of thing I do struggle with.
I gave it the full 3 listens. Split it up in 2 of them to make sure I wasn't swayed by fatigue of it etc.
The album is everything you say it is. I mean that. I re-read your write-up, and I could see it, or rather hear it on this. It just isn't for me though. He has a great voice. The guitar is excellent. The first 3 songs were the strongest for me, reminded me of bits of the 'dead man walking' soundrack, the background drum, a consistent rhythm, and guitar and vocals doing the lifting. After that, the next couple felt like they would never end. The rest was not in any way unpleasant, but also didn't do anything for me other than maybe the odd time I thought, nice bit of skill there.
In some ways, probably the bits that don't do it for me are the same that didn't do it for me on the Lucinda Williams album, although I find his voice much better and more pleasant.
In other instances where I recognised qualities but just didn't enjoy, I went with a 5. Only fair I do the same here really.
It is not him, it is me. I have never been able to get into Country. The more conventional great american singer-songwriter with less off a southern trawl, sure, or the other end full on bluegrassy like the Dead South or Hayseed Dixie I can also do. Proper blues too, like it. But this type of thing I do struggle with.
I gave it the full 3 listens. Split it up in 2 of them to make sure I wasn't swayed by fatigue of it etc.
The album is everything you say it is. I mean that. I re-read your write-up, and I could see it, or rather hear it on this. It just isn't for me though. He has a great voice. The guitar is excellent. The first 3 songs were the strongest for me, reminded me of bits of the 'dead man walking' soundrack, the background drum, a consistent rhythm, and guitar and vocals doing the lifting. After that, the next couple felt like they would never end. The rest was not in any way unpleasant, but also didn't do anything for me other than maybe the odd time I thought, nice bit of skill there.
In some ways, probably the bits that don't do it for me are the same that didn't do it for me on the Lucinda Williams album, although I find his voice much better and more pleasant.
In other instances where I recognised qualities but just didn't enjoy, I went with a 5. Only fair I do the same here really.
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
It’s definitely not bluegrass.It is bluegrass-country. I can't see it being anything else.
Bluegrass does involve acoustic stringed instruments, but typically you’d have a banjo playing the melody, then that would be picked up by the fiddle etc.
I think the music here definitely has elements of country, but blues IS the closest thing to what is played on this album. CW typically played with open/weird tunings, which is a delta blues thing (I think).
But then you listen to those interesting chord changes on “Make the dirt stick” and it’s more like jazz.
Anyway, CW said it wasn’t blues but then couldn’t say what it actually was, so what do I know !
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
No problem, I can’t argue with that. We all have genres that we don’t enjoy for whatever reason.Sorry Rob, this is just not my thing.
It is not him, it is me. I have never been able to get into Country. The more conventional great american singer-songwriter with less off a southern trawl, sure, or the other end full on bluegrassy like the Dead South or Hayseed Dixie I can also do. Proper blues too, like it. But this type of thing I do struggle with.
I gave it the full 3 listens. Split it up in 2 of them to make sure I wasn't swayed by fatigue of it etc.
The album is everything you say it is. I mean that. I re-read your write-up, and I could see it, or rather hear it on this. It just isn't for me though. He has a great voice. The guitar is excellent. The first 3 songs were the strongest for me, reminded me of bits of the 'dead man walking' soundrack, the background drum, a consistent rhythm, and guitar and vocals doing the lifting. After that, the next couple felt like they would never end. The rest was not in any way unpleasant, but also didn't do anything for me other than maybe the odd time I thought, nice bit of skill there.
In some ways, probably the bits that don't do it for me are the same that didn't do it for me on the Lucinda Williams album, although I find his voice much better and more pleasant.
In other instances where I recognised qualities but just didn't enjoy, I went with a 5. Only fair I do the same here really.
It’s definitely not bluegrass.
Bluegrass does involve acoustic stringed instruments, but typically you’d have a banjo playing the melody, then that would be picked up by the fiddle etc.
I think the music here definitely has elements of country, but blues IS the closest thing to what is played on this album. CW typically played with open/weird tunings, which is a delta blues thing (I think).
But then you listen to those interesting chord changes on “Make the dirt stick” and it’s more like jazz.
Anyway, CW said it wasn’t blues but then couldn’t say what it actually was, so what do I know !
That's why I said bluegrassy-country.
Blues and jazz is least of what it is.
No problem, I can’t argue with that. We all have genres that we don’t enjoy for whatever reason.
For what it is worth, I totally get your predispositions on genres like punk, rap, etc. And how try as you might, it sometimes just doesn't click.
Doesn't mean they aren't 'proper' musicians or you arent a real music lover etc.
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Yes, of course. When you think about it, it's a real challenge to find something that all of us are going to like.For what it is worth, I totally get your predispositions on genres like punk, rap, etc. And how try as you might, it sometimes just doesn't click.
Doesn't mean they aren't 'proper' musicians or you arent a real music lover etc.
There might only be 17 or 18 regulars, and although there are various groups where you know some sets of people will probably be aligned with you, there's always going to be some that won't.
FWIW, I already know what my next pick will be and it's something that's fairly accessible to everybody, so the results for that one should be interesting. I nearly did a last minute change and picked it as I've been ;listening to the artists in question a lot over the last few weeks, but Living With The Law has been a favourite for so long that I just had to get that one out of the way!
Yes, of course. When you think about it, it's a real challenge to find something that all of us are going to like.
There might only be 17 or 18 regulars, and although there are various groups where you know some sets of people will probably be aligned with you, there's always going to be some that won't.
FWIW, I already know what my next pick will be and it's something that's fairly accessible to everybody, so the results for that one should be interesting. I nearly did a last minute change and picked it as I've been ;listening to the artists in question a lot over the last few weeks, but Living With The Law has been a favourite for so long that I just had to get that one out of the way!
I'm all for being challenged. And I'm not fussed about accessible, really. Something might surprise me, or might be a step towards learning to like it gradually. Glad you picked it, glad I listened to it.
FogBlueInSanFran
Well-Known Member
Not BG for sure, but there are jazz movements, country, rock, blues . . . and then these bits of guitar feedback which add an edge around the fringes. I almost feel like these songs are paintings, and the sylistic production alterations (as well as the additional instruments) are colo(u)rs. As I am on record as being no fan of poetry set to music I am not yet sure how I feel about all the paintings yet. I am literally standing in the museum/gallery contemplating them still and I need more time with this -- but I definitely do not dislike it. I'm trying to decide how much to respect it.It’s definitely not bluegrass.
Bluegrass does involve acoustic stringed instruments, but typically you’d have a banjo playing the melody, then that would be picked up by the fiddle etc.
I think the music here definitely has elements of country, but blues IS the closest thing to what is played on this album. CW typically played with open/weird tunings, which is a delta blues thing (I think).
But then you listen to those interesting chord changes on “Make the dirt stick” and it’s more like jazz.
Anyway, CW said it wasn’t blues but then couldn’t say what it actually was, so what do I know !
But some records I know what I think right away, and it hits me where I live or doesn't. But this is like that Fatima Mansions record where I had to listen many, many times to know what I thought. That's, again, a mark of distinction.
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RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
As you've finished this week's "work" early, here's a little bit of optional homework.I'm all for being challenged. And I'm not fussed about accessible, really. Something might surprise me, or might be a step towards learning to like it gradually. Glad you picked it, glad I listened to it.
This is not to try to convert you or for you to come back and tell me how great it is, but just part of my crusade to get more people to listen to Chris Whitley's music. Listen to these three songs from three different albums - it demonstrates the versiaility and explains why his record company never knew how to market him!
"Oh God My Heart is Ready" - from Din of Ecstacy (1995)
"Clear Blue Sky" - from Terra Incognita (1997)
"Say Goodbye" - from "Rocket House" (2001)
12 minutes of your time (or anybody's) time to demonstrate where he went after Living With The Law.
RobMCFC
Well-Known Member
Well it''s interesting you used the analogy of paintings because I think that this is a very artistic and "visual" album (if that makes sense).Not BG for sure, but there are jazz movements, country, rock, blues . . . and then these bits of guitar feedback which add an edge around the fringes. I almost feel like these songs are paintings, and the sylistic production alterations (as well as the additional instruments) are colo(u)rs. As I am on record as being no fan of poetry set to music I am not yet sure how I feel about all the paintings yet. I am literally standing in the museum/gallery contemplating them still and I need more time with this -- but I definitely do not dislike it. I'm trying to decide how much to respect it.
But some records I know what I think right away, and it hits me where I live or doesn't. But this is like that Fatima Mansions record where I had to listen many, many times to know what I thought. That's, again, a mark of distinction.
Not BG for sure, but there are jazz movements, country, rock, blues . . . and then these bits of guitar feedback which add an edge around the fringes. I almost feel like these songs are paintings, and the sylistic production alterations (as well as the additional instruments) are colo(u)rs. As I am on record as being no fan of poetry set to music I am not yet sure how I feel about all the paintings yet. I am literally standing in the museum/gallery contemplating them still and I need more time with this -- but I definitely do not dislike it. I'm trying to decide how much to respect it.
But some records I know what I think right away, and it hits me where I live or doesn't. But this is like that Fatima Mansions record where I had to listen many, many times to know what I thought. That's, again, a mark of distinction.
Yes, and then maybe a you will notice the obvious bluegrass undertones. The off beat, the stringed melody unwinds, the tempo, borrowing from folk etc.
I will investigate other albums.As you've finished this week's "work" early, here's a little bit of optional homework.
This is not to try to convert you or for you to come back and tell me how great it is, but just part of my crusade to get more people to listen to Chris Whitley's music. Listen to these three songs from three different albums - it demonstrates the versiaility and explains why his record company never knew how to market him!
"Oh God My Heart is Ready" - from Din of Ecstacy (1995)
"Clear Blue Sky" - from Terra Incognita (1997)
"Say Goodbye" - from "Rocket House" (2001)
12 minutes of your time (or anybody's) time to demonstrate where he went after Living With The Law.
Does he have the same style in vocals in his other recordings.