Reviews (14)

chillin' out with Jolie Holland
Jolie Holland is an interesting character. Her last album delved into haunting old-country territory. "Escondida," however, pulls in elements of several different genres to create a uniquely "Jolie" sound.

To put the album's aura into musical terms, imagine a voice that lies somewhere between Cat Power and Billie Holliday, and a lyrical setting just off the back porch. There are several songs that break out of this description; "Sascha" reminds me of New York, reminiscent of the narrative stylings of a Dean Martin song. "Old-fashioned Morphine" absolutely effuses the back streets of 1920's Chicago, and "Mad Tom Bedlam" is a scat-inspired, interesting interpretation of an old English folk song.

Definitely worth picking up, it's like buying five or six different albums, as Jolie Holland runs up and down the musical spectrum leaving trails of southern charm behind her.

Good enough for Billy Burroughs, good enough for me
Jolie was a founding (now ex-) member of the Be-Good Tanyas, an all-female collective that made old-time country earn the alt. prefix. In her solo work, Jolie fieldtrips the listener even further back into history, slipping well past the Carter Family to conjure up a depressed Billie Holiday baring her soul for a disinterested crowd in a gloomy 1930s dinner club. Jolie's voice is wonderful, warm and emotionally charged, and her songs effortlessly mix subdued jazz with gothic country and folk. The production is so perfectly natural that it places Ms. Holland right smack dab in my living room - by the end of "Old Fashioned Morphine" I almost expect her to bum some smokes. There's other albums from this year that are more hip, more cutting edge, or more experimental - but greatness doesn't always have to be a cannon shot across the bow of tradition. This is the one album I already know I'll still be listening to in ten - or twenty - years time.

Phrases like a young Louis Armstrong...very cool vocalist!
Sure, the comparisons to Billie Holiday are accurate, but if you go back and listen to the Louis Armstrong of the 20's and 30's, you'll hear a musical style so beautifully mined and refined by both Holiday and Holland. I'll be listening to this one again and again.

Gimme that Old Fashioned Holland
This is a terrific CD, definately one of the best that I have bought in a long time. The style is evocative of Billy Holiday, Norah Jones and...dare I say- Ani DiFranco, all rolled into one package. Jolie Holland has her own ideas about music and how it should sound, though those ideas are clearly influenced by old sources...this is not a complaint. As G Love and Special Sauce takes old school jazz/R&B and reprocesses it for a new generation, so too does Jolie Holland. It comes as it should too, natural and easy, something that you can listen to over and over again, with the songs getting stuck in your head in an amiable, smooth way. From the jazzy 'Old Fashioned Morphine' to the more Patsy Cline-ish 'Amen', this CD has something that almost any fan of old-school jazz and blues music will appreciate.

Bottom Line: a must have for jazz/blues lovers.

Old Soul
From the alluringly grainy photograph on the cover (we'll guess that's Ms. Holland in the picture, but we may be way off), one pegs this young artist as an 'old soul'. The music here confirms it. With songs that seem to emanate from another time and place; from New Orleans, from the Mississippi Delta, from Chicago, they, at first, sound vaguely familiar and then they begin to creep up on you and nestle into your consciousness. But it's that voice-that muted trumpet of a voice-delivered with sensuous, scat-like, hypnotic phrasing, which captures the listener and elevates Holland's music to artistry. ... Read more

Reviews (73)

An Excellent Starting Point for the Uninitiated
All excellent songs, 10 of Dylan's best and most famous ever, really. If you are not a big Dylan fan yet, but want to get into his stuff and don't feel like shelling out 20+ dollars for "The Essential Bob Dylan," a great place to start would be this collection.

All of the albums these songs come from are excellent also, especially "Blonde on Blonde" and "Bringing it All Back Home," 2 of the greatest rock albums of all time. For solo acoustic fans, I recommend "The Freewheelin Bob Dylan," the album from which "Blowin in the Wind" is taken.

I am what normal people would call a "Dylanophile;" I now own just about all of his 40+ official releases. From this standpoint, I would say that if I had to choose Dylan's 10 best songs up through 1966, it would look very similar to this. Buy this, and who knows, 2 years later you may become just as obsessed as I am (and thats a good thing!).

Only the tip of the iceberg
For an artist of Bob Dylan's stature, greatest hits packages just don't cut the mustard. This overview of Dylan's early 60s work is completely inadequate as a complete representation of his Bobness' work. Every album the guy did during this period was brilliant from beginning to end. Any serious Dylan fan will yearn to hear "Tombstone Blues" after "Like a Rolling Stone," or "Girl From the North Country" after "Blowin' in the Wind." Forget this disc, stop being a cheapskate, and shell out the money for as many Dylan records from the 60s as you can afford. Then consume his 70s work, maybe half his 80s records, and soak in his renaissance in the 90s. If you insist on buying this, just know you're seriously missing out on the rest of the best body of work rock n roll has ever produced.

bob dylan is awesome
yea...ok. bob dylan is one of the best artists of all time. as with his first greatest hits album, it's great. who was this guy that gave it one star, saying it ain't me babe was sonny and cher? and mr. tambourine man was Captain Kirk? try the Byrds man. this guy has no idea what he was talking about, and anyone that read that should disregard every word and should buy dylan's "regords." and i'm only 18, and i know that dylan is awesome. so people should stop trashing his music because he can't sing. one's voice isn't everything, you superficial people.

AWESOME
Great CD, rarely do I find a CD that I fall in love with everysong, but this is one of the few. If you know someone with a better, cooler voice than Bob Dylan than I'd like to know about it. Everything about this CD is great, the lyrics, the harmonica, the music. I most defenintly recomend it.

Review from a 14-year old folknik
In 1966 I already had every album Dylan made, but "Positively 4th Street" was needed to round out my collection. On the other hand, I wasn't ready to part with $3.57 for just one song, so I suspended principle and placed my order with a classmate who was running a thriving stolen records business. He got it, but somebody broke into his school locker before I took delivery. Serves me right. My cousins eventually bought it for me for Christmas.

An excellent Dylan primer, with Al Kooper hitting his stride with the B3 on "4th Street." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since the breathtaking purity of her debut,Living with Ghosts, Patty Griffin has proven she can luxuriate in glamorous pop,rock like a biker, hold her own on stage with theDixie Chicks, and writehit songs and singer-songwriter classics. What she hadn't done is craft an albumas wholly exquisite and emotional as her talent. With the spare, acoustic1000 Kisses, she has done just that. In the basement of longtimeguitarist Doug Lancio's Nashville home, Griffin takes a suite of intenselypersonal songs (and three covers, including a tingling version ofBruce Springsteen's"Stolen Car") into the close confidence of her airy but twang-shaded voice, anddraws accordion, cello, mandolin, brushed drums, and evenEmmylou Harris into acandid and rare musical space. After a four-year wait, 1000 Kisses ismore than reason to celebrate Griffin's return--it's a guileless, glowingmasterpiece. --Roy Kasten ... Read more

Reviews (83)

True Gem
Patty Griffin's latest offering 1000 KISSES has her moving more towards the subdued and poetic lyrics of her debut LIVING WITH GHOSTS from 1996, the album is also more intimate and acoustic sounding than 1998's FLAMING RED which was more of an uptempo rock album than anything. The album was recorded with her band in her home. The opening "Rain" is a beautiful ballad with poignant lyrics and so much pent up emotion. "Stolen Car" is a remake of the Bruce Springsteen song, like only Patty could do it. Emmylou Harris offers harmony vocals on the beautiful "Nobody's Crying", definately an album highlight. "Making Pies" and "Be Careful" are classic Patty Griffin. Other highlights include "Cheif", "Long Ride Home", and "Tomorrow Night". Overall another stellar album from an underrated artist more of the world should listen to!

Short but sweet...
Like any Patty fan, I was thrilled that she was finally releasing a new album. I loved her first album, "Living with Ghosts" b/c of her amazing voice and emotional lyrics. I was slightly disssapointed in the overdone studio sound to "Flaming Red." Well, she's back to her old self here on "1000 Kisses" and that's a wonderful thing! She's filled w/ emotion and soul. "Rain," "Be Careful," and "Long Ride Home" are my instant favorites. The only complaint is that the CD is too short! ...

If you've liked Patty's earlier works... or are simply thinking about expanding your collection of female folk/rock CD's... this is a must have! Enjoy!

A musical miracle!
How did I survive before I discovered Patty?? She combines folk, country and lyrical depth to forge her own unique musical magic. Listen to "rain" to indulge your melancholic, introspective side, "mil besos" to feel uplifted and care-free or "tomorrow night" if you're just feeling plain nostalgic. My favourite track is "nobody's crying"; the lyrics express the fear and uncertainty experienced when a loved one dies, and the longing for their safe passage: "may you dream you are dreaming in a warm soft bed,/and may the voices inside you that fill you with dread/make the sound of thousands of angels instead". My only initial criticism was that her voice sometimes seemed a little grating and insensitive, but eventually found this added a raw, emotive quality (best exemplified in "Living with Ghosts"). I recommend this album to anyone who has a soul - and then buy "living with ghosts"...that's an order! Let's hope "Impossible dream" lives up to its predecessors....

MONKEYTOT IS A MORON.
I LOVE Patty Griffin. She's amazing and everything she's done is amazing. I'm really just writing this to clear up Monkeytot's (prior reviewer)unbelievable and mistaken belief that Patty Griffin was on the sitcom "Suddenly Susan". I mean, come on, dude! The actress playing the secretary, Vicki, on that show is KATHY Griffin, NOT the singer, PATTY Griffin. I realize this distinction may be hard for some to make as it only takes 2 letters to mispell "Patty" as "Kathy". Anyway, I would hate for either woman or their fans to think that people mistake them for the same person. Monkeytot, you should check your info before you make it public. There's no point in wasting your time writing reviews if you're not credible.

MULTI-TALENTED REDHEAD
I enjoyed Patty Griffin as the sarcastic secretary on the sitcom "Suddenly Susan". Who knew she was also a heart-felt singer with a great set of pipes? ... Read more

Amazon.com

For anyone who suspects that record companies will soon be releasing EvaCassidy's voice mail messages, it's extraordinarily pleasing to note thatImagine is more than just a bottom-of-the-barrel-scraping exercise. Allof these tracks are previously unreleased and most are live recordings, butlisteners who already own Live atBlues Alley know just how refreshing Cassidy's live performances were.Check out her take on SandyDenny's "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" to feel a shiver of delight atanother effortlessly ideal cover, or listen to her laid-back "You've Changed"from the Blues Alley sessions to experience more of her soulful jazz.Elsewhere, the solo acoustic reading ofGordon Lightfoot's "EarlyMorning Rain" shows off her guitar skills, and if "Imagine" doesn't ever scalethe heights of Songbird's"Over the Rainbow" it still demonstrates how she always had something new anduniquely compelling to say when performing a familiar standard. Studiorecordings "Still Not Ready" and "I Can Only Be Me" are, oddly perhaps, theleast successful cuts. Happily, the album concludes with another lovely solostandard, "Danny Boy." The recording quality varies noticeably from track totrack, and there are a few awkward fade-outs--presumably to remove audiencenoise--but still the sparkling music comes across quite vividly. Imaginemay not be the best way to discover Eva Cassidy for the first time, butestablished fans will warmly welcome this new collection. --Mark Walker ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Imagine---A Spiritual Awakening
I knew nothing of Eva Cassidy until I heard the first track to "Imagine" in an antique store. I had chills from head to toe and demanded to know who the singer was. After purchasing the CD, I could not stop listening, and immediately got online to purchase more CD's via Amazon. Eva Cassidy's voice is so riveting, so original, so stellar, that I can think of no one who even comes close to her. She ranges from folk in "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" to traditional in "Danny Boy," and every note in between is a work or wonder. Though her life was brief, there is something of her very present in her CD's. And though some would think her story tragic, it seems to be exactly as she would have had it. The beauty, the spirit, the musical magnificance---is all captured in this CD by this beautiful soul.
I would buy it 1000 times!

Imagine will take you away on the Wings of an Angel
Eva Cassidy is a song stylist.
She made every song she sang her own.
All her songs were originally made popular by famous recording artists such as Judy Garland, Sting, Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, Joni Mitchell, Paul Anka, Sandy Denny, and John Lennon, to name a few.
When she redesigned the song's pacing and melody to suit her own beautiful voice, she topped them all, and made each song her own!
She is a songstress of unmatched quality, and that is why
5 million Eva Cassidy CD's have been sold after she left this world in 1996. This CD is my favorite. It has golden songs, sung by an Angel.
Hear Eva Cassidy sing EVERY song from the samples, and once you're hooked, buy it and play the complete CD, you won't stop playing it! "Danny Boy," may make you cry a little, but that's alright. Just start it over again from the beginning, then later ask everyone you meet, "Do you know the Eva Cassidy story?"
Turn them on to the songs you love the most, and why Eva Cassidy, is the best singer ever.

Imagine Mott
Obviously Mott the Dog does not know how Angels sound like, but he would not be disappointed if Angels sounded like Eva Cassidy. Without doubt, she is the female vocalist of our time.

It is one of the cruelest tragedies that Eva Cassidy never lived to enjoy her success. In fact, with Cassidy's natural shy personality (yet strong character) that kept her from rocketing to superstardom in her short life, she was never sure of her stage presence. She shunned the spotlight till it was nearly too late, or preferred to sing backup vocals or duets as she did on Chuck Brown's wonderful album 'The Other Side', released in 1995, which although is a Brown album, it is the wonderful voice of Eva Cassidy that grabs your attention. Eva Cassidy refused to limit herself to one style, taking on jazz, funk, blues, rock, pop, and folk, all with that ethereal voice, turning each song into something magical.

Eva Cassidy released only one solo album in her lifetime, the wonderful 'Live at Blues Alley' (1996). It was recorded in Washington's most famous blues club after which it was named, and then it only got a local release.

It was one of the cruelest blows that by the end of that year the dreaded cancer had whisked this beautiful girl with the heavenly voice away from us. Fortunately for those of us left here on our very mortal planet, Eva Cassidy left many recordings behind which are now being released to great critical and commercial acclaim internationally. All of Eva Cassidy's recordings are lovingly managed by the Eva Cassidy estate. So far we had 'Eva By Heart' (1998); 'Songbird' (1998); 'Time After Time' (2000); 'Imagine' (2002); and 'American Tune' (2003). These albums have sold over three million copies worldwide and still counting.

It has to be remembered that Eva Cassidy did not write songs herself, but was able to take other people's great skills and twist them into something even greater. At the moment (although I admit it does vary) 'Imagine' is my favorite Eva Cassidy collection.

The album opens with a solo version of 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' by Paul Anka (who also wrote 'My Way', made famous by Frank Sinatra, Sid Vicious, and then Nigel of the Bastards). This is followed by a version of Little Willie John's 'Fever', not done as Peggy Lee did it in 1958, but as it was originally intended to be, when written in 1956, with Eva's brother joining her, adding violin to Eva's scratch vocal.

You also get a track that has been salvaged from the Blues Alley sessions 'You've Changed', and when you hear this, you realize how high the quality of music was on that particular album. Eva Cassidy's voice sends shivers up and down your spine. She would surely get a nod of approval from the person who first recorded this song, the great Billie Holiday.

Sandy Denny's 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' gets redefined here, giving the song a whole new lease of life. Eva even gets a little bit country with her true to the roots version of Patti Page's hit 'Tennessee Waltz', which in its days in the 1950's was one of the first cross over country/pop hits.

To finish the album is one of those "enough to make a grown man cry" moments as Eva Cassidy breaks into an emotional solo version of 'Danny Boy'. Still, with all these moments of magic, I think the stand-out track is the title track, a tribute to John Lennon in a touching version of his masterpiece 'Imagine'. Play this song in any room and in seconds it will reduce people to silence as they listen to Eva Cassidy's voice caress the air.

(...)

Add some beauty to your life
I first heard Eva's rendition of "Early Morning Rain" at work, listening to a jazz internet station. It absolutely stopped me dead in my tracks. I immediately bought the Imagine album, and I'm very happy I did. It's wonderful.

Eva's voice has a haunting quality that seems to reach into your soul. I'm here at Amazon again buying more Eva Cassidy CDs.

I commend this album to you. It has added some beauty to my life.

Nope
I never heard of Eva Cassidy before, and picked this CD up blind. Ms. Cassidy sings in a smokey, lounge-singer sort of way that works wonders with "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" (the first track). The second track is "Fever", which is a real lounge-classic, and she does it very well but I have heard that song at least 1,000,000 times. After that, the songs seem to alternate between sleepy/forgettable and some sort of country music gone lounge thing.

Worse, some of the songs picked for this album just don't fit in with the lounge-singer style. John Lennon's classic "Imagine" is ***PAINFUL*** to listen to and seems to drag on for 4 hours rather than 4 minutes, and "Danny Boy" brings tears to your eyes as you wish that Danny was buried and long forgotten.

I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but this album is really not a good album. The first song is great, but the album crashes right after that. Skip this one, folks! ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Anti-Christ of Christian Pop
While it be too early to call Sufjan Stevens 'the next Nick Drake', 'Seven Swans', his stripped down follow-up to 2003's excellent 'Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State', makes such a declaration awfully tempting. Of course, there are significant differences between the two. Whereas it's difficult to separate Drake's music from the thought of his eventual suicide, Sufjan Stevens balances his whispered nostalgia with an underlying hopefulness. Billed largely as a collection of b-sides from the Michigan sessions, 'Seven Swans' arrived without much fanfare, aiming to serve as a musical appetitizer to Stevens' next entry into his ambitious '50 States' project. Yet, despite the humility with which it arrived, 'Seven Swans' finds Stevens surpassing his prior work with stronger songwriting and a more intimate, banjo-driven approach. For much of the album, Sufjan Stevens reflects on spirituality and his faith, exploring Christianity with honesty and love. Whereas most Christian pop condescends to its listeners with melodramatic 'shalls' and 'thous', Stevens sings about his faith without preaching. While the 'switch baby with Jesus' strategy of Christian pop is at work here at times, Sufjan pulls this off in a good way, capturing the intimacy of a great love song to integrate into his pious musings. In a sense, it's the Anti-Christ of Christian pop: a thoughtful, delicate album that evokes the quiet joy of the faithful. On 'In The Devil's Territory', Sufjan softly sings 'I'm not afraid to die, to see you... at last' as if he were singing to a lover, leaving out the self-righteousness that characterizes the megalomaniacal zealots of most Christian music. The best tracks, however, are saved for last. 'Seven Swans' is a haunting, metaphorical depiction of the coming of the apocalypse, in which Sufjan gives his only warning to the unfaithful, crying out: 'He will take you. If you run, he will chase you. Because he is the Lord.' The last track, 'The Transfiguration', is probably his best song to date. The perfect fusion of folk, faith, and pop, it brings a flawless conclusion to a truly blessed work.

Another great album from Sufjan!
Wow - I was really happy upon listening to this album - I of course had high expectations after "Michigan" - and though I would not say this album surpasses that one, it is certainly quite good - very good indeed. The instrumentation is lovely - acoustic almost exclusively with banjo and guitar - the songs are great and Sufjan's singing is very hushed and sweet - like he's whispering us secrets - reminding sometimes of Iron and Wine...highlights include "the dress looks nice on you", "to be alone with you" - which a had hoped would be a Dylan cover, but it wasn't - but it was a very well, maybe superior song with the same title...also, "he woke me up again" is excellent. Highly recomended - as well as "Michigan". "A sun came" is good too, but Sufjan has certainly honed his skills and become more consistently good since that debut...sorry for rambling, enjoy!

Wonderfully fragile
The strong presence of Christian imagery on this album shouldn't really surprise anyone familiar with 'Michigan' (close attention to the lyrics of 'Vito's Ordination Song', in particular, reveals an allegorical undercurrent). Stevens' lyrics are more overtly Biblical on this record, but no less affecting, because he never grandstands or resorts to proselytizing. These are simply snapshots of a personal faith. His delivery of lines such as 'Take instead the ram/Until Jesus comes' is wisely low-key where lesser singers would try to imbue them with stilted drama.

Appropriately, since the scale of the subject matter has moved further inward from the Everyman scope of 'Michigan', the music itself has become more sparse and minimal, in terms of both instrumentation and songwriting. The backing vocals on the first track, All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands, repeat the same wordless melody ad nauseum in a way that is reminiscent of Philip Glass. (Incidentally, the title of the song is a reference from Isaiah 55:12 that may be lost on some: 'For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap [their] hands.') The banjo and guitar on 'In The Devil's Territory' repeat polyphonic fragments of melody, slowly shifting and letting the song breathe. In fact, the entire affair has a cool, airy feeling to it, like Stevens is playing in a field on a mild afternoon. He coaxes some gorgeous sounds out of fairly standard folk instruments.

The only flaw this album has is its slightly below-par middle third: it's still gorgeous music, but the material preceding it is so good that the slightly more rote folk songs pale in comparison. This is a minor quibble, though; think of that 5-star rating as a 4 1/2, rounded up.

Breathtaking
I too had high expectations of this anticipated follow-up to "Greetings From Michigan." Seven Swans is softer. It also deals more heavily with Biblical references (ex. Abraham, Transfiguration) but isn't overbearing or preachy. Seven Swans is filled with lush soundscapes and thoughtful lyrics. This one's not to be missed.

Kickass
At one of our power meetings at Free Williamsburg at the beginning of this year we were throwing around names of people who might be good people to interview or review. Sufjan Stevens came up. I had never heard of him let alone spell his name. It is detailed folk music. He is famous for the banjo work. Songs like "In The Devil's Territory" evokes the past and looks to the future. Sufjan worked with Daniel Smith of Danielson Famile to get this multi-layered sound. It's good that someone is obsessed with beauty in music. This record is strong and complex. It is not easy reading. The religious themes are an interesting shade. It is a vision of death and despair. It comes off sounding like something Badly Drawn Boy or Elliot Smith cooked up. Stevens may be the heir to Elliot Smith's legacy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It shouldn't be surprising that Lucy Kaplansky's music is infused with complex emotional detail when you consider that she worked as a clinical psychologist before deciding to pursue music full time. On the six songs she and Richard Litvin, her co-writer and husband, composed for The Red Thread, she never shies away from the conflicting feelings that accompany the profound moments in life. On the title track, for example, she sings movingly about the joy, wariness, and worry she felt when she and Litvin adopted a daughter from China. On "Land of the Living," which was inspired by the tragedy of 9/11, Kaplansky's sharp eye for detail creates a harrowing, but ultimately hopeful vision of that horrible day. Like many good songwriters, Kaplansky has an excellent ear for the right song to cover, and here she has chosen fine ones from Buddy Miller, Bill Morrissey, James McMurtry, and Dave Carter. The sonic territory on The Red Thread is subtle and subdued, with spare, mostly acoustic arrangements that perfectly frame the powerful emotions contained in Kaplansky's songs. --Michael John Simmons ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Lucy is in the Sky with Diamonds
Beautiful! Lucy's latest CD "The Red Thread" is an emotional gem. What a storyteller, Land of the Living, I Had Something, The Red Thread, This is Home, etc. they will make you think, they will make you sing. As any Lucy fan will testify, buy any Lucy CD and you will end up with the collection. Thanks Lucy.

Solid
Lucky me, I was in Pittsburgh the other day and so was LK. At a truly awful, smokey, overcrowded club (to the point of near fistfights breaking out if i didn't walk away from the local troglodites), Lucy managed to promo her new CD and tell gushing new-mom stories. 50% less reverb sure would have been nice.....

Lucy is so charming and so very, very talented. I think this collection, much like the last CD, however, is full of gems and a few ho-hums. Not nearly as consistent as Ten Year Night, but that is probably an unrealistic comparison---I think it will be a career highlight impossible match, let alone improve upon.

Land of the Living is worth the price of the CD, and with Red Thread, outshine the rest. Maybe is a degree of inaccessibility can develop from deeper and deeper exploration of very, very personal issues (adoption/motherhood in this case)...perhaps....

Then again, if she comes back to a GREAT club (MuckyDuck in Houston), I might have a chance to wipe the Pittsburgh show from the hard drive.

A great CD!
This is just a great CD. Her version of Dave Carter's "Cowboy Singer" is worth the price of the CD alone.

What a wonderful woman
having been a fan of lucy for many years, I'm never let down by her new releases and her live shows. and she's a wonderfully nice person to boot.

Wow...stunning!
Arguably the best of what has already been a superb career. Some may say this collection is more commercial and radio-friendly than her folk outings of the past but, to me, it just seems more realized, mature and emotionally satisfying. I immediatly felt at home with almost every track on the cd. If you're new to Lucy's music, start here, then go back and discover her from the beginning. ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the many Nashville-based singer-songwriters whose respected stature among critics and fellow artists stands in stark contrast to his rather meager commercial acclaim, Greg Trooper has quietly built a catalog of superbly crafted albums. On his second release for the Sugar Hill label (his eighth overall), Trooper teams up with legendary songwriter/producer Dan Penn for a collaboration so natural, it's a wonder it hadn't happened before.

Trooper's music already combines strains of R&B, country, and folk, which Penn acknowledges by infusing a subtle yet palpable tenderness into these songs. Sung in a honeyed, gritty voice that combines the tough, yet resigned style of Guy Clark and longtime friend Buddy Miller with the vulnerability of Paul Simon, Trooper's songs straddle the dusty roads between Austin soul and Nashville twang--both of which cities he has called home. The lyrically provocative "When I Think of You My Friends" is one example of a typical Trooper setup where the protagonists are "out of luck, out of work, never out of dreams." Yet he won't settle for weepy sentimentality in either his words or stirring melodies. These twelve tracks flaunt the soul in the singer's emotionally rousing tunes and show him as one of the most talented contemporary acts on the roots scene. Credit also goes to Penn, whose warm, sympathetic production allows Trooper the room he needs to shine. --Hal Horowitz ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

A ghost, a band, a troubadour. Easily the strangest co-op project ever, and easily one of the finest and most evocative albums of the year. British socialist and folkie Billy Bragg was given unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unrecorded lyrics. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco and quoting from more than 50 years of country, folk, and rock music, Billy and company bring Guthrie's politics, poetry, and morality to the end of the century and prove he's as necessary now as ever. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (119)

I'd buy 10 cds to find this one.
I'd buy 10 cds to find this one! Billy Bragg and Wilco have created the feeling that Woody Guthrie is alive and well and enjoying a little rock and roll. Their use of Woody's lyrics with original music is still true to an evolving Woody if there could be one. The music grabs you emotionally, hard and holds you through each cut. It's riveting. The range is amazing from Woody in love with living cuts such as "Walt Whitman's Niece" to serious political tunes like "Eisler on the Go" that focus on the witch hunts of the '40s and '50s in a very human way. And then there's what could have been a children's song--"Hoodoo Voodoo." Who else but Billy Bragg with help from Nora Guthrie could have done this? The album is a real album. It's all there. You can feel Guthrie writing 1000 songs in twenty years and then spending the next twenty years trapped in a deteriorating body in a state hospital. Sadness but not desperation, Guthrie never gives! up. Bragg extends Woody's contribution by pulling music from the lyrics, many of them written after Woody realized he faced a horrifying disease. Whatever else you do, listen to Mermaid Avenue and love it!

Do you know how hard it is to JUST ADD LYRICS to music?
Especially if those lyrics are over 50 years old, practically poetry, and created by a master songwriter? Or put another way, imagine someone handing you the lyrics to a tune from "Nebraska" and saying, "OK, now just sing it real good." JESIS, I don't think so. And if that doesn't put this stellar effort by Bragg and Wilco into perspective, what more can I tell ya? [Eh, keep yer shorts on, there'll be another 3rd Blind Biscuit Korn Hole album out 'terrectly.] So i'm amazed they pulled it off? And with such interesting results -- there really is something here for all kinds of tastes: from the breadth of musical influences displayed [a bit of Dylan, Lennon, Garcia, the Band, it could on and on] to the lyrical content [from the personal to the political].

Essential? You'd have to agree.

Remember; this is not Woody's music.
This cd at least makes me wonder how Woody would've done it. I think the vocals would be edgier, and clearer,easier to understand and remember, even after one listening, as I can when listening to actual Guthrie recordings. Perhaps some of the sappier melodies here might have been a little harder, a little more manly, for lack of a better term. As for the choice of Bragg; I'd sooner have some digitalizing freak collect all of the appropriate Woody syllables, and put them back together into the 'new' material. Second choice, Dylan. Third choice, somebody who's not Billy Bragg.

4.5 Stars.... Masterful Mix of Guthrie Lyrics and New Music
Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, thought it might be fun to have new music set to Woody's "lost songs" (lyrics to which Woody had music set in his head, but he never published the music). Billy Bragg and Wilco may make a curious, or at least not a very obvious, choice for the task, but boy, are they up for it!

"Mermaid Avenue" (15 tracks, 49 min.) is a true collaboration between the artists. Some songs find Wilco's Jeff Tweedy at lead vocal, Bragg on others. Music on some tracks is written by Bragg, others by Tweedy/Bennett, yet others by Bragg/Wilco. While I'm a huge Wilco fan, I must admit that the Bragg-written songs are more coherent within the Guthrie legacy. Check out for example the sparse "Eisler On the Go", and "Another Man's Done Done" (with Tweedy on lead vocal). The best is "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" (with Natalie Merchant on back vocals). Natalie also sings lead on "Birds and Ships". (So you really shouldn't be surprised by Natalie's fab collection of folk tunes "The House Carpenter's Daugther", issued independently last year).

In all, this is a terrific collection, which deservedly received a second volume as well. Recommended for fans of Billy Bragg, Wilco, Woddy Guthrie, and of course Bob Dylan.

I'll try to be brief, for a change
. . . If you are a Wilco fan and you don't have this album (and Vol. II), you should feel very silly, and buy this right now. It is absolutely sublime. ... Read more

Album Description

Damien Rice has quite simply taken the music world by storm.From ecstatic reviews to winning the third annual Shortlist Music Prize honoring the most adventurous and creative albums by emerging artists, Damien offers his new legion of admirers and friends in the States an EP of B-sides previously released outside the U.S. These seven stunning tracks will undoubtedly whet the appetite while fans await his forthcoming record. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Dylan was virtually gushing great songs when this masterpiece arrived in the summer of 1965. From the epochal opening of "Like a Rolling Stone" through the absurdly apocalyptic closer, "Desolation Row," his command of surrealistic language was daring and amazing. As a vocalist, he was rewriting the rules of the game. Jimi Hendrix made note of Mr. Z's technically suspect pitch and decided that he too was a singer. And the backing, though ragged, is precisely right. Is this the essential Dylan album? It's certainly one of them. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (54)

A peak for one of the greatest singers of our time.
If you have any doubts as to the merits of Highway 61, they'll be promptly blown to Hell by the first ten seconds of "Like a Rolling Stone," the album's oppening track. That musical oppening is truly amazing, a gust of wind that blows open your mind. In fact, that whole six-minute epic shows Dylan in full form, with his trademark voice and brilliant lyrical explorations ("Never understood that it ain't no good/ You shouldn't let other people get their kicks for you.") All nine of the album's songs are upbeat electric rockers, mixed in with Bob's typical wild, enthusiastic, attitude. As per usual, the album incorporates blues ("It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"), folk ("Desolation Row") and flat out garage rock ("Tombstone Blues").
All throughout Highway 61 Revisited, Bob's songwriting skills are better than they've ever been. Here he experiments with strange lyrical themes that give the album a surreal feel, as well as brilliant puns ("The sun's not yellow, it's chicken!"). The lyrics range from the profound and meaningful stuff of tracks such as "Desolation Row" and "Like A Rolling Stone" to the downright bizarre, on songs such as "Ballad of a Thin Man," and "Queen Jane Approximately."
Backing Dylan this time are a full-scale garage-rock band. They give the album a sort of speed and rabid intensity that goes excellently with Dylan's fast-paced singing and blistering harmonica. "Tombstone Blues," for example, sounds like the soundtrack to a car chase. There are slower moments, such as the eleven-minute ballad "Desolation Row," which are just as superb as the more hyperactive ones. The afformentioned ballad is beautiful and warm, and so fun to get lost in.
Highway 61 Revisited is by far Dylan's best and most creative work, an album that you will listen to again and again. Absolutely essential.

One Of Dylan's Two Perfect Albums
in 1965 the most amazing thing in all of music took place. bob dylan created the greatest album to ever be recorded up to that point, BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME, and then he created an even greater album in the same year HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED.

HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED is one of dylan's two perfect albums, the other being BLOOD ON THE TRACKS.

"like a rolling stone" is one of those moments in music, that dylan is famous for, that is bigger than music. many consider it dylan's greatest song (5/5).
"tombstone blues" is a, fast paced, surreal social commentary, and dylan brings multiple grand images down to a relative level in a way that only he can (5/5).
"it takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry" slows things down, and the contrast is welcome. the lyrics are folky, and the song comes through (5/5).
"from a buick 6" burns with energy, and though the lyrics are fairly simple, they are executed perfectly (5/5).
"ballad of a thin man" is another one of dylan's greatest songs and probably his most under appreciated song. the band really comes through with a chilling atmosphere to match dylan's dumbfounding message (5/5).
"queen jane approximately" has as beautiful a melody as any that's ever been created, and dylan sounds pefect singing over it (5/5).
"highway 61 revisited" is another song that is filled with energy, and similar to "tombstone blues," dylan's lyrics remain complex against a fast paced backdrop. (5/5).
"just like tom thumb's blues" is another song that is melodiously spectacular. the lyrics are abstract yet easy to relate too (5/5).
"desolation row" is another song that is notorius for being one of dylan's most genius moment and rightfully so. it serves as the perfect ending to the perfect album (5/5).

no musical artist has ever had a year like dylan did in 1965, and no musical artist has ever created an album as brilliant as HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED.

Mike Bloomfield rocks the house
A rock album from our Boy, hmm?

Dylan has guitar flash Mike Bloomfield along for this ride, and he adds jets to this whole shebang. If you want to hear Dylan rock, really rock, then you need this album. Forget all the lyrical tricks, the hidden meanings, and just get it because it is electric, it has guitars, and they go fast.

It also has maybe the best rock song of all time, "Like A Rolling Stone". From the opening rim shot to the last note, it is a classic's classic. "How does it FEEL?" asks Dylan, as he takes a former debutante to the woodshed after her world falls in. Misogynistic? Maybe, but so what? It is an awesome track.

"Desolation Row" features two harmonica solos that rise the hair on your arms. The song gradually builds in its stridency, until Dylan can hardly keep from shouting the words. He solos one time, comes back with the last verse in a voice almost shaking in its intensity, then solos again to put an ending to this great, great album. Woof.

In between these two songs lies a set of perhaps the greatest collection of music ever put onto record. If you are a folkie, and electric music makes you nervous, then I'm sure you prefer an earlier Dylan album, or maybe "Blonde on Blonde". If you are a rock and roll person, this disc is the one.

Nothing else like it.
Some people criticize Highway 61 Revisited for being sloppily produced and too weird. On first listen, most might agree with those claims. However, once Dylan's 1965 masterpiece grows on you, these 2 criticisms just add to its charm. I mean, it would be hard to imagine a well-polished version of Tombstone Blues or From a Buick 6... and who would really want songs like that to sound polished? This album was purposely recorded in a spontaneous fashion. Not only were band members brought in on the fly (improvising through most of it), but even Dylan's lyrics were sometimes written just minutes before the tape was rolling. Knowing this just adds to the brilliance of the finished project. This is Bob Dylan at his peak of genius (and probably the peak of his drug use as well). Some argue Blood on the Tracks to be his crowning achievement... to be honest, the guy's got MANY crowning achievements. Highway 61 Revisited, though, is his greatest.

Highway 61 Revisited (Hybr) [HYBRID SACD] [ORIGINAL RECORDIN
Highway 61 Revisited (Hybr) [HYBRID SACD] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]~ Bob Dylan is an amazing album with stupendous story telling lyrics and with dylan is a great mood. He seems to have a fun time recoding this album and that makes it even better. ... Read more

Reviews (89)

An amazing debut from an amazing talent....
I've heard Patty Griffin say that her debut wasn't exactly her style, that she didn't really want to do an acoustic studio album. However dissatisfied she may be, she has created a masterpiece. Her tremendous voice and poetic lyrics carry the CD beautifully. From the pain of heartbreak in 'Every Little Bit' to the whimsy of 'Mad Mission,' Patty writes songs that tell stories, and then she conveys them with a clear, strong, gorgeously terrific voice.

This album is definitely one of the best I've ever owned. It's hard to imagine that someone can exhibit so much range within a pretty narrow genre, yet Patty manages to do it. Each individual song can stand on its own as vividly and poetically written, beautifully sung and performed; together, they become a seamless, smooth, coherent album, one with enough different pieces to suit whatever mood I'm in. Living With Ghosts is one of the few albums I can listen to over and over and still enjoy the surprises and nuances of every song.

It's become quite common now for other artists to cover Patty's songs, from the Dixie Chicks to Emmylou Harris to Ben Harper (whom I heard sing my all-time favorite Patty song, 'Mary,' which is on her second CD). But no matter how good these other versions - and singers - are, they never quite achieve the power that Patty does. And this is the place to begin getting to know Patty, discovering what others have about the beauty of her music. This CD is innovative yet classic, mellow yet powerful, simple yet complex... it's almost beyond description except to say, again, that it's one of the best I've ever heard or bought and one that everyone should give a try. And after this one, there's the very different treat that is 'Flaming Red,' but that's a whole different story... Just buy this one, settle down, and enjoy the ride of truly great songwriting, singing and music.

First review that I have written...
I just feel compelled to write this. What an incredible CD! I came back to buy two more copies to give to friends. I heard "Not Alone" on LA Radio 103.1 (Sunrise Sunday) and I had to have it. My favorites: "Time Will Do the Talking" for anyone who has tried to connect with someone who wasn't ready for a relationship, this is the perfect "letting go" song...lyrics "I don't believe there is such a thing as saying too much, there are those who like to look and those who aint afraid to touch". The song "Forgiveness" I put on repeat and listened to for days. Incredible! Other favorites: "Mad Mission", "Every Little Bit", "Not Alone", "Let Him Fly"...funny, I am listing them all. They are all masterpieces. Patty Griffin, if you read these reviews, thank you for these songs. Others, buy this CD and go through every emotion in the book. You won't be disapointed. Enjoy!

Kept getting it as a recommendation....
So I finally bought it and found out that on at least one song, she yells! That is not signing. Some of the other songs sound OK, but that yelling song grates on my nerves and is making it hard for me to be objective. Singers shouldn't have to scream.

Buy this CD!!!!
Spectacular debut album from an incredible talent. I had the privilege of seeing Patty on the Concert for a Landmine-Free World tour. Despite being on stage with stars like Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Bruce Cockburn, and Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty stole the show. I was completely unfamilair with her before the show, but I came away with 2 reasons to believe I had just heard something special --1) Earle had to follow her in the rotation, and at one point simply reacted to her song with a "yikes" and 2) my ex-wife hated her.

I am in awe of every little bit of Patty Griffin ...
and that's also my favorite of her songs. I bought the CD after hearing a track on headphones at a music store. It turns out this was not the CD I had heard, so I was shocked by the raw, edgy solo performance, wasn't sure I liked it. Now I LOVE this CD. The lyrics are intelligent, poignant, and insightful and the melodies, the voice intonation, and the guitar licks match them perfectly. She is masterful. Sometimes it seems she can take my deepest, most hidden emotion and then yank it out and place it in front of me. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Must everything have a point? That's the question posed by Harry Nilsson's 1971 pop parable of a well-rounded young boy named Oblio, from the Land of Point, who's cast apart from the community by those who resent his pointlessness. Conceived when the gifted singer-songwriter was on an acid trip, The Point! is a product of its time, what with its central theme (the hollowness of conformity) and ornate Beatles-era pop. But the message--presented in song and narration--and music are delivered with a grace and gentleness that elevates The Point far above most socially conscious '60s art. Produced as a made-for-TV movie in 1971, this audio version of the modest masterpiece will appeal to adult fans of the late singer. More to the point, however, it'll capture the fancy of thoughtful youngsters who'll empathize with the little boy who finds points where he's told there are none, and concludes, "If everything has a point, well then I must have one, too." --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Charming Pop Fable for Adults and Children
It's hard to understand today how an album like "The Point" was produced. The album is very experimental in that it is a narrated fable, with musical transitions from one portion of the story to another. Note that this story album predates "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" by Rick Wakeman and Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds" by a number of years.

The tale is of one Oblio and his faithful Arrow. The two live in the land of points (everyone had a pointy head). For a time the two do quite well, but after a jealous child, son of a count, complained that Oblio had no point, there was a game to see whether Oblio had the ability to compete. Oblio defeated the count's child 2 out of 3. The count was outraged and went to the king to complain that the law was that all things in the land of point must have a point. A tribunal reviewed the case and banished Oblio and Arrow to the pointless forest.

Once in the forest Oblio and Arrow discover that the forest had many points. While making this discovery, Oblio and Arrow have a number of adventures. Eventually the pair come across an egg, with no apparent point. The egg soon opens to reveal a bird with a pointed head. The bird flies off and the two soon fall asleep.

The next day the two find a rock that looks like a pointed hand with the word destination on it. They went in the direction the hand pointed and came to, the pointed land. The count was quite angry, but the people were happy to see them because no one had ever been to the pointless forest. Oblio described the forest, and explained that there were many points in the forest, and reasoned that if the pointless forest had a point, then he must too. Someone shouts out "He has a point there", and the story ends very satisfactorily.

It's easy to see this story being in the same vein as "Gulliver's Travels". Both were written to challenge and make fun of prejudices, as well as noting that underneath everyone is essentially the same. On another level, Oblio and Arrow undertook a journey of discovery, which is the same journey that we all take in life. The journey revealed truths, and the truths ultimately made everyone happier.

This album is a great fairy tale and will enchant adults and children. The music is blended well with the story, seamlessly. The song "Me and My Arrow" received a lot of air play in the early 70s, and became a hit. Other songs are pretty and may remind you of songs by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and the Monkees. One of the best examples is "Are You Sleeping". The music is all pop, mellow, but perfect for the intent of the story and the audience.

The inspiration for "The Point" was chemical, but regardless of how Nilsson arrived, the result is wonderful and charming. 5 stars for a multitude of positives. Pop music with an easy to follow story for children and adults. Make that GOOD pop music. Excellent blending of story and song. Having one or morals to the story to create a fable. Buy this for your children so that you have an excuse to own it.

Nilsson high point...
One-of-a-kind offering from the true "Fifth Beatle" (with apologies to Klaus Voorman, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton) mixing narrative and music. Unlike subsequent concept "story" albums like Jeff Wayne's "War Of The Worlds" or Godley + Creme's "Consequences", you won't feel compelled to skip the spoken word parts (after one or two listens) to get to the music; the blend is perfectly symbiotic here. The story, concerning little round-headed Oglio trying to fit into his pointy-head-centric world has the same mixture of charm and winking subtext that made the late Shel Silverstein's clever fables so appealing to kids and adults alike. The music is quirky but beautifully crafted pop, similar to what Brian Wilson was creating during his "Smiley Smile" period (same source of er, "inspiration", from what I understand!). Most listeners will probably recognize the McCartney-esque "Me And My Arrow", which was one of Nilsson's first radio hits. The reissue is nicely packaged and well-mastered. Even the crankiest grown-ups should find this one a guaranteed mood elevator!

The Point - Still the Best
I fell in love with this story and songs when I was a kid when my parents got it for me. I think I wore it out and probably drove them crazy listening to it constantly. I was driving at lunch and heard about the re-release on public radio. They played snippets from the album and 25 years later, I still know all the words. Needless to say, I came back to work and ordered it immediately, a copy for me and one for my 1 1/2 year old neice who I hope, when she is old enough will enjoy it as much as I still do. A tragic end for Nilssen but a brilliant record.

Rediscovering "The Point!"
I remember this music from my childhood (thanks Mom!) and now more than 34 years later I ordered and received "The Point!" to share with my daughter. Her reaction to "Me and my arrow" was a big smile. Hearing it again put a smile on my face and that of my wife. I am looking forward to sharing more of this great story with my family.

OMG- The memories - I LOVE IT!!!
I first got this album when it came out ... I was 10. We also watched the cartoon/movie. It was so great. I still have the album and the story and it is amazing how many people don't know about this great story and music. If you have children .... buy it!! I love his music and the story was well, too cool. What is sad though is that our 70s/80s radio station didn't even know who Harry Nilsson is. Sad. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Blessed with a soulful and expressive voice and an innate grasp of the melodies and themes of traditional country music, Gillian Welch has made three beautiful, often brilliant, albums. Yet, one can make the case that she's still searching for her own true artistic voice. Soul Journey brings her ever closer to that elusive goal. After 2001's austere, solemn, at times inscrutable Time (The Revelator), this follow-up finds Welch showing more warmth, ease, and openness as both singer and songwriter. As the title portends, the concept of travel (physical and emotional) is a prevailing thread throughout these 10 tracks; she sings of rolling stones "on the road to sin," travelers on "black highways," girls "running around with the ragtop down" and "at the station rolling slow." These characters, perhaps autobiographical, are simultaneously searching for and running away from their pasts, while soft drums, fiddles, organs, and Dobros add a welcome bit of lightness. With the trusty David Rawlings again at Welch's side, the songwriting and production till the earth between their old-time heroes and more modern troubadours like Townes Van Zandt and Neil Young (both the bucolic strummer and, on the closing "Wrecking Ball," the ragged electric wanderer). For Welch and for us, Soul Journey is yet another fascinating rest stop on the never-ending road to self-discovery. --Marc Greilsamer ... Read more

Reviews (43)

Wanted more from a "Soul Journey"
Gillian Welch is one of our most interesting songwriters and artists, whose career arc, so far, has been just about right (reminicent, in a way, of Bob Dylan's early career -- from solid roots imitation to something more personal, expanded and potentially exciting). But Welch's latest album, "Soul Journey," seems to be a minor detour, and not an entirely satisfying one.
True, her singing continues to be soulful and beautifully clear. And some of the songs are little gems, with the subtle progression in perspective and sensibility that gives her songwriting depth and accuracy. But, she takes few chances here and doesn't even attempt the lyric exploration that seemed to make her last album a harbinger of wonderful things to come. And almost as disheartening is the fact that the riveting and jazz-like instrumental (acoustic) interplay from "Time the Revelator" is almost entirely absent here. Maybe this is just a career rest stop. That's fine. But, please, next time -- more David Rawlings and more Gillian Welch.

The fourth stop on Welch's musical Journey!
There's something about Gillian Welch's music that is enough to make any listener believe that she is a walking anachronism. Her low, haunting vocals, combined with acoustic, traditionally styled songs create music that sounds as if it came right out of the era when the recordings of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family gave birth to country music over seventy years ago. In short, from her lyrics to instrumentation to appearance, Welch seems decidedly out of place in a culture where the very mention of country music conjures up images of Faith Hill and a skankily clad Shania Twain. Despite the fact that she is one of the most underrated musicians in the music world, Welch, along with her musical partner David Rawlings, is apt at producing music that consistently wow her fan base.

Thus, it is no surprise that Soul Journey, Welch's fourth album, is no exception to this rule. The follow up to 2001's critically acclaimed Time (The Revelator), Welch once again delivers a collection of beautiful original songs sure to impress any listener of great folk music. While it fails to match the diversity and overall quality of Revelator, Soul Journey makes for a stunning album and excellent continuation of the style she has established over the last several years. Tracks such as the bluesy "Look At Miss Ohio" and "I Had A Real Good Mother and Father," with its soaring vocals as the prominent focus of the song, seem to echo the finest moments of Revival, Welch's debut album, while "One Little Song" and "Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor" conjure up thoughts of "Dear Someone" and "Everything Is Free" from her preceding release. While the album includes far more production (namely, the frequent use of drums) than her previous records, it does not overtake or drastically alter the sound, and in fact adds a folk/rock flavor to tracks such as "Wrecking Ball" (not to be confused with the title track of Emmylou Harris's 1995 album-this one is a Welch/Rawlings original).

While the entire album, from lyrics to arrangements to music, is the product of Welch and Rawlings' own creativity, the echoes of Welch's greatest musical influences cannot be hidden. Tracks such as "Lowlands" are reminiscent of songs by Neil Young and other musical geniuses of the early to mid-'70s and "Wayside" could easily be covered by Nanci Griffith with little differences between the two recordings. Most obviously, "No One Knows My Name" is strikingly Carter-esque, the tune even being an exact copy to the note of "Motherless Children," one of country music's first family's classic songs.

Whether one is a fan of traditional country, contemporary folk music, or beautifully crafted lyrics and songs, Soul Journey is a must for any CD collection. In the album's first track, Welch sings, "Oh, me oh my-oh-look at Miss Ohio." Look at Gillian Welch. This album, just like her previous three, is going to go far.

Definitely could have been a couple of songs shorter...
There's some great stuff on this CD. "Look at Miss Ohio," Wayside/Back in Time," "One Little Song," "Wrecking Ball" and "One Monkey" being among my favourites. There's a couple of songs, though, that just don't rise to Welch and Rawlings usual genius and you wish they'd held back until they came up with better ones. "I Had a Real Good Mother and Father" and "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor" particularly just don't do anything for me. They're not bad, but they just don't go anywhere and ultimately detract from what could have been a really great CD. It's frustrating to listen to therefore as I find myself skipping past the ones I don't like.

My favourite Gillian Welch album yet
Simple, direct, beautiful songs, sound and production. I've always admired Gillian's music but this is the first album I've loved all the way through. Less melancholic than her others, it reminds me of when another melancholic artist, Townes van Zandt made what I think is his best album in the similarly direct and simple "At My Window". More please

Real talent keeps on changing
It's probably the sincerist, hippest tribute that Welch is now criticized by some of her duller (if definitely sincere) admirers for the crime having surprised them - it's *so* Bobbie Dylan in 1964...

In the meantime, Soul Journey sees Welch bring her trademark combination of angelic voice and hellish insight to an album that includes (oh the horror!) songs that sound like they were written after World War 2. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In an age when the old-timey soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? sells 5 million copies, it's hard to imagine how revolutionary Will the Circle Be Unbroken seemed upon its release 30 years ago. The triple album (now rereleased as a two-CD set) paired many of Nashville's venerable country and bluegrass performers (Roy Acuff, Mother Maybelle Carter, Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Jimmy Martin, Vassar Clements) with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, or as Acuff called them, "a bunch of long-haired West Coast boys." The idea seemed nearly as foreign as Martians setting down in Tennessee, but the Dirt Band were Colorado hippies steeped in the genre, so there was no disputing the authenticity of the music, or its earthy appeal. Aside from the sheer joy of the performances (listen to Jimmy Martin's "whoop" on "Sunny Side of the Mountain"), there's great fun in hearing Roy Acuff give the boys a lesson in doing a song right the first time (and using the word hell before launching into a religious number). And Mother Maybelle wafts through like a benevolent ghost, or at least a patron saint. One caveat: The boast of four previously unreleased tracks is balderdash, since three are really between-track conversations and rehearsals, and only "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" qualifies as a real song. But that's nitpicking. Buy it. Love it. Wallow in it. O brother, that's country music! --Alanna Nash ... Read more

Reviews (27)

you are there....
As Will the Circle Be Unbroken came together I was living the dream of a young picker: getting to play with the people who created the form of music I had grown to love and yearned to emulate. The story on how this came about is available, but the result is what counts here. It was one of the best experiences in my life, and captured a young band at its best, shining our spotlight at the time on our heroes. And boy, did they shine back.
Vassar set the benchmark for fiddlers to aspire to with his hot inspired approach.. Earl as always defined the 5 string banjo ... Roy sang great and his performances stand as some of his best work. Travis and his songs bring you in to a different branch of the country folk world with his genius guitar style matched by his wise words written from his Kentucky background. Doc shares with everyone his joy of hot music, and makes everyone feel at home. (The first time meeting between Doc and Merle helped us out, as when we saw it happening we realized we were in a group of great people who were all truly fans of each other as much as we were of them.) Jimmy Martin demonstrated to us between cuts that he knew what his music should sound like, and cordially let us in on the secrets. He is one of the best bluegrass/country singers, and here shows why that is said. Maybelle was like an angel and, never realizing her impact on music in general, just wanted to do her songs in a way that would 'please everyone... the more the merrier.. ' She would laid down the spirit of the whole project . This was not something she could teach, but from her we learned.

This is a great album, and I say this not because I am a part of it. I do not listen to a lot of albums. I rarely listen to other Dirt Band music, although I like it. And, I play it live. But, after I remastered this from the original masters, and having heard it over the years, it seems like I would have had enough. I have listened to this probably 50 times since remastering, and look forward to the next flight where I can take a trip back to a time that was in a space where we all are frozen in the moment.

Circle represents much of the best of American music, songs, picking, singing, writing... and still draws me to it. I am sure anyone who likes acoustic music of the Americana type will find themselves drawn to it also. Circle becomes a welcome part of your life.
Thanks to the 96/24 mastering, it sounds better than ever, too.

The new pieces I put in are all equally important to me. I am proud that the Washington Post's great review mistakenly said Earl played Foggy Mt. Breakdown. The talking cuts showcase Jimmy Martin and his way of getting to the point, and gives us further insight to the true bluegrass great: funny, natural, strange.. and a definite opinion of exactly where he wants his music. And he is right.

The piece around Sunny Side is there to show all who have asked over the years "what was it like?" It captures the true spontaneity of the sessions; the constant chatter of all the players, uncertain of who was going to play where, how it starts, if one should wear picks or not... and it all of a sudden blends in to the start of such a touching piece of great music that now obviously comes from real people who are creating it from the heart.

The perfect closing song for this remastered work I found in the hours of the constant running tape, the bit of song where Doc asks us to "Remember Me when the twilight begins to fall.." and seems to speak for everyone. As I sat in the control room on the third day of running the tapes I said to the engineer "I hope today we come across the perfect closer for this" and it was the next piece of music.

So here it is - this journey back in time we were so very fortunate to make and be a part of - Will the Circle Be Unbroken in time I believe we will find to be as well known in American culture as has Wizard of Oz, Dark Side of the Moon, The Music Man, Citizen Kane, The Tonight Show, The Grand Ole Opry, and ...

A Bluegrass work of art!
In 1971, the boys of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band got together with some of the all-time greats of Country music (including Earl Scruggs, Mother Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Roy Acuff and others), and produced a three record album that was one of the greatest Bluegrass Country music albums ever made. Some thirty years later, this album has been re-released on two CDs, with four bonus tracks (three are dialogue and the other is the Bluegrass classic, Foggy Mountain Breakdown).

This is a great CD collection. The music is absolutely wonderful to listen to, a real work of art, sure to be enjoyed by any Bluegrass fan. Though the title might suggest that this is a collection of religious songs, in fact only a few are overtly religious, while most are simply Bluegrass tunes played by real experts. I loved listening to this album, and highly recommend it to you!

The Circle Will Never Be Broken
Before there was "O Brother, Where Art Thou," there was "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," the time the masters taught the long-haired boys how to make music. Now 30 years after its original release we have this marvelous album remastered for CD. Like wine and friends, these songs just get better with age. The great country/bluegrass musicians are all here-- Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff, Jimmy Martin, Earl Scruggs et al. I had forgotten that wonderful improvizational feel of this live album. If you close your eyes, these musicians appear to be "pickin" and "sangin" in your living room. The original album closed with a beautiful guitar solo by Randy Scruggs of Joni Mitchell's "Both Side Now." I'm not sure much is gained in this version by adding the four previously unreleased tracks. The producers should have left well enough alone. With that minor gripe, I know of no better country music CD than this one. It ought to be placed into a time capsule for future generations.

Just bought my third copy!
I loved this album when it came out, and it's one of the few recordings from that period in my life that I still listen to as Good Music, not just an exercise in nostalgia. Growing up in San Jose, CA, 50-plus years ago, I cut my teeth on this music (my father moonlighted as a drummer in a country-western band), so the album made me feel right at home. But the quality of the performances is outstanding, the give-and-take between the musicians is fun to listen to, and the warmth and rapport in the studio comes through on every track. (I'm especially fond of "Soldier's Joy," which makes "Dueling Banjos" sound like a pallid imitation, but there literally isn't a single bad track on the whole album.) I wore out copies on 8-track tape and vinyl, so I'm delighted that a new, remastered version is now available on CD. (Note: Two versions are available, a CD/DVD combo including live studio action, and a 2-CD set with just music. The latter, which I bought, includes four previously unpublished bonus tracks, mostly conversations between the musicians, but John McEuen's breakneck rendition of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is pretty impressive.)

perfect
This album is as good as it gets for more reasons than I care to iterate. If you care at all for classic blue grass performed at an unsurpassed level of perfection, get it. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

Elliott Smith's fourth solo album and major-label debut, XO, brings narrative detail and a wide range of emotion to an indie meld of '60s-style rock and folk-pop. Whether in the broken stateliness of "Waltz #2 (XO)," the Sgt. Pepper tribute of "Baby Britain," or the explosions of "Amity" and "Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands," Smith's melodic and arrangement senses give his vulnerable vocals and brilliant wordcraft the maximum effectiveness. XO is a watershed in singer/songwriter rock. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Truly Remarkable
I've never written