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The Great Tomato Singer Songwriter Collection
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Avalon Blues - A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt
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Honeysuckle Dog
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Chris Smither Album Review:
Long Time Comin ! at 2004-04-03
31 years late . . . but VERY COOL! Ive been waitin on this release for quite awhile.The intrigue of the guest artists alone starts you thirsting.A few choice licks by The Greatest Feat of them all is a special treat!Ive noticed that 5 Stars are thrown out there far to frivolously on this site. There are two reasons that hold that last star out of my rating . . . . .1: This album couldve started on song #2 and instantly improved.( Not that song #1 sucks, but it just doesnt fit the feel of the rest of the album).2: The background noise is much more tolerable with no snaps, crackles or pops . . . but its still background noise.( In fairness, it does bring you back to the day a bit).Bottom Line . . . this is an excellent album, and Id recommend it to most anyone.
Chris Smither Album Review:
Its 1973, not 2004 at 2004-03-17
I thought this album was a follow on to the excellent Train Home, but once I got past the shock when I played the first track (Smithers voice is higher and less mellow in 1973) I loved it. Its like being shown photos of your lover as a child-- this one is so sweet you just want to carry it around with you. Lonely Time is seriously sexy, and Braden River sparkles. This is great stuff.
Chris Smither Album Review:
Blast from the Past at 2005-05-09
Chris Smithers Honeysuckle Dog was recorded to be his 3rd album for Poppy, the follow-up to Dont It Drag On. Of the 12 songs here, Chris recorded 10 of these on other releases; so the music is familiar to those of us who have followed his work. On what is cited in the liner notes as the first recording of Randy Newmans Guilty, Chris voice shakes with vulnerability and is like a gentle apology from a guy who knows hes messed up. With the backing vocals of Maeretha Stewart, Hilda Harris and Patti Austin, his take on It Aint Easy carries a gospel fervor for the downwardly mobile. Lowell Georges electric lead snakes through the track. The classic Homunculus is one of Chris best melodies. This stripped-down take with just Chris and guitar ironically sounds full and rich. Braden River is cited in Michael Cuscunas liner notes as one of the first songs Chris wrote and shines here with Mike Mainieri enchanting on vibes, Dave Hollands acoustic bass and Ralph Mcdonalds tasteful percussion. Theres a lot of hiss on Chris reading of Bessie Smiths Jailhouse Blues. Whether intentional or not, it makes the track seem related to Bessies own recordings. The title track pulses like a cousin to Jimmy Reed and is very easy on the ear. Chris has a knack for taking another writers material and totally embodying it as if it were written just for him. On Eric Von Schmidts Rattlesnake Preacher he tells the tale of Diamond Joe, Hes the rattlesnake preacher marching through the land; If you aint got the grace of God, hell strike you where you stand. Chris take on Rosalie is a rollicking good time. It may have taken 31 years, but this is a set well worth exploring for Chris longtime fans and those just discovering this marvelous singer. Enjoy!
Chris Smither Album Review:
Every Chain has a weak link at 2004-07-07
I am a loyal Chris smither fan and have been that way since I was 2. But this Cd is total weak compaired to almost all of his other CDs. Most of the songs have no real fealling to them, which is very unusual for Chris. Plus most of the tracks are horribly over-Produced. This just makes it seem like he was forced to record and had no new ideas. I think that the main reason that this album was stored away for 30 plus years was because of its weakness. try getting any other Chris Smither Cd besides this one.
Chris Smither Album Editorial:
Whether you call this previously unreleased collection Chris Smithers lost album or just an artifact of the early-70s singer-songwriter scare the pleasures it offers are evident if not always essential. Some of the songs would be rerecorded in tighter versions for 1984s IIt Aint Easy (although Lowell Georges slide work on Rosalie and It Aint Easy is brilliant) while others are reprised and improved versions of songs from Smithers first two records (IIm a Stranger Too and IDont It Drag On); the wistful original Braden River has never been heard before or since. The jazz-folk settings on half the cuts echo early Tim Hardin or Tim Buckley but Smithers signature delicately ornamented guitar work is in full-bloom--no other singer-songwriter at the time could begin to transform Bessie Smiths Jailhouse Blues the way he does. Die-hard fans will likely find this set a modest revelation. Roy Kasten
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Train Home
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Chris Smither Album Review:
Best CD yet from a great singer/songwriter at 2005-09-05
Be sure to check out Chriss cover of Crocodile Man!The whole CD is superb.
Chris Smither Album Review:
Can listen to this over and over at 2005-07-21
I bought this CD shortly after it was released, and I dont get tired of listening to it. Its pleasantly folksy, the lyrics and tunes are interesting, and his singing voice is just different enough to keep my attention. Its a very relaxing CD, even though the songs arent particularly slow. Its a keeper.
Chris Smither Album Review:
I want to own this music! Will shop tomorrow! at 2005-05-08
Tonight as I was driving home (again) I heard Crocodile Man on NPR. Although I hadnt heard anything about this album, I knew immediately that the foot-stomping artist was Chris Smither (having seen him in concert at least thrice)...but I also knew that the song was...Dave Carters! This momentarily confused me, but I kept listening, and trying to figure out who is the female vocalist singing back-up (could it be Tracy Grammar?). Yes, Chris Smither has an amazing knack for making songs his very own, doesnt he? What an astonishing talent! If you havent seen him in concert, I highly recommend the experience. And Ill buy the album tomorrow.
Chris Smither Album Review:
Journeyman catches the last train home at 2005-02-01
Train Home is a pleasant, well executed but fundamentally unambitious outing for gravelly voiced troubadour Chris Smither. Smither has a nice, and well-recorded, fingerstyle on the steel string guitar (although the overdubbed arrangements of it lend the album an uncalled-for busyness) and by the sounds of it an impressively smoked-on, whiskied larynx, put to great effect towards the back end of the album, especially on the wry Let It Go. But it isnt apparent what Smithers motivation for writing his songs is - hes neither a song-and-dance man nor a poet: as a result Train Home falls uneasily between blues (which he plays fine but doesnt seem to suffer) and folk. Theres a taste, but not a full slate, of the word-smithery (but not bitterness) of Leonard Cohen, the technique of Chet Atkins, the sardonism of Bob Dylan and the lunacy of Tom Waits. But Smither is never bold enough to travel past the point of no return on any of them - fair enough, I guess, on a record called Train Home. What remains is an accomplished outing from a journeyman whos seen plenty of stuff on his travels, but isnt planning on serving as a touchstone for new directions in popular culture any time soon. But, as a way to unwind on that Train Home from the office, its right up there. Olly Buxton
Chris Smither Album Review:
Incredible at 2004-06-07
I can listen to this CD everyday and I never seem to get tired of it. Its got a rare quality to it thats hard to define and near impossible to find. If nothing else buy this CD to hear his fantastic take of Dave Carters song Crocodile Man. Its worth buying the CD just to get that song.
Chris Smither Album Editorial:
New Orleans-bred folk-bluesman Smither has few peers. As a musician hes expanded the six-strings-and-foot-stomps delivery of John Lee Hooker into an elegant original style that draws as much on the sweet jazz melodies of gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt as the spidery swing of country bluesman John Hurt. And his writing has a poets eye for detail as when hes pondering mortality on the discs title track. Theres also a gentle sincere quality that comes through the dusty tones of his voice until he drops it to a mean-eyed growl to capture the soul of characters like his Crocodile Man--loners condemned to live in the dark neglected corners of their own hearts. But for much of this album Smithers coming from a happier place where love and life are full of possibilities and his blues are just another way of expressing joy and wisdom. Ted Drozdowski
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Don"t It Drag On
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Chris Smither Album Review:
Best album of 71 we never got to hear. at 2004-09-05
I bought this album after Smithers excellent Train Home and its like seeing a new black belt in his first tournament after youve seen him as grand master. Its very good, Train Home is great.
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