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More Sounds of the New West
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Rounder Records: Celebrating 30 Colorful Years (Borders)
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Folk Selects
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Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
TRACK LIST at 2006-03-25
Various Artists / Folk SelectsTrack Title 1. Maybe -- Alison Krauss 2. One Endless Night -- Jimmie Dale Gilmore 3. Around This Corner -- Sarah Harmer 4. In My Hands -- Natalie MacMaster 5. All Just To Get To You -- Joe Ely 6. Horseshoe Lounge -- Slaid Cleaves 7. Jack Of Diamonds -- Tarbox Ramblers 8. When I Close My Eyes -- Rhonda Vincent 9. Sign Of Truth -- Tish Hinojosa 10. Dont Rush Me -- Juliana Hatfield 11. My Life -- Robert Lee Castleman 12. Blue In The Heart -- Irma Thomas 13. More Of You -- Laura Love 14. Never Give Up On Me -- Jann Arden
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Unsung
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Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
Thats just what poets do at 2006-07-21
Slaid Cleaves decision to record an album of covers may have suprised some of his fans, as his original songs have always been quite good. But you may have missed that some of the finer moments on his prior albums were of songs he chose from other writers. So Unsung, a full CD of songs by writers that Slaid admires, follows in that line. It flows as well as Slaids Wishbones or Broke Down, and stays in the tradition of great folksingers that cherry-picked songs to best fit their styles.In fact, these choices fit so sublimely that youd be suprised to learn the tunes are outside compostions. Race Car Joe is a direct descendent of Tiger Tom Dixons Blues or Breakfast In Hell. In fact, the Cd title Unsung works in dual directions. Not only is this Slaids way of exposing little known but excellent songwriters, but the story songs frequenlty speak of the everyday folk - like the wonderful Flowered Dresses - that are Unsung in everyday life. (Even if the man inhabiting Millionaire isnt particularrly savory.)My favortie moment in all of this is the tale of Everette, a composite of all those who suffer for their art in regal form. Written by Steve Brooks, this tale of a writer who slept on sofas, slept on floors but could stir your soul with his words is easily one of the best songs youll hear this year. Becuase all artists flail against the norm, sometimes not even understanding it themselves, because thats what poets do. This song, like all those collected on Unsung, reconfirm my prior high regard of Slaid Cleaves as Americas finest folk singer, and now, one of the countrys finest interpretive singers as well.
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
And Now for Something a Little Different at 2006-05-30
The decision by Slaid to do an album of covers is a fantastic one. Aside from the fact that we get to hear a unique Slaid take on songs that many of us are already familiar with, it marks a small bend in the road of Cleaves career. Another album in the tradition of Wishbones and Broke Down may have satisfied most fans (including this reviewer), but this album is a little something different from the sound (fuller, more polished) to the choice of songs (more diverse subject matter) which is a hopeful indication that in the years to come we can all expect for Slaid to keep challenging himself and us with his music. Great musicians take chances and while this album is not a radical departure from his others, it does indicate that he is not content to keep reproducing the same songs over and over. Overall, very well done.
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
Highly Engaging (even if he didnt write the songs!) at 2006-05-31
I recently saw Mr. Slaid live at a small venue with a small audience...and found out why he is such a beloved artist amongst the Texas/Americana music scene. He is a highly engaging character, gentle spirit, smooth voice, great delivery.And great choices for songs, as Unsung shows. These are all superior songs by under-appreciated songwriters. Highlights for myself are Karen Postons Flowered Dresses (she seems to have a knack for writing lines that make the listener close their eyes and let the memories in (as in her Lydia which Slaid cut on Broke Down)); JJ Barrons Song for June (best tribute song to June Carter out there); Melvern Taylors resigned yet fun Working Stiff (you expect someone to break into a kazoo solo in the middle)....Heck, every song is a highlight in its own way.The production is different this time since Gurf Morlix was not involved, but perhaps that is a good thing that contributes to the freshness of this temporarily-non-songwriting Slaid record. (I hear he is a slow writer, so hell be back and his next CD should be highly anticipated.)But dont wait for the next one - this one is just as engaging as the Slaid-written Morlix-produced albums. Enjoy!
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
Excellent, unified collection of covers by Slaids friends. at 2006-06-02
There are two reasons for doing cover songs: for younger artists starting out, it is a way to pay tribute to musical influences, and pad out a cds worth of music if you havent written much of your own stuff; for an established artist, it is a chance to acknowledge mentors, and give a hand up to deserving friends who havent had the same level of success. Most of the tunes on unsung fall into this latter category, with Austin singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves letting his friends and fellow musicians get a wider exposure than they otherwise would.Two of the songs, Devils Lullaby and Getaway Car, are by Slaids current road guitarist, Michael OConnor. These are great songs, and Getaway Cars chorus, ably sung by Slaid, cries out even more for multipart harmony singing.Another Kind of Blue brings to my mind Van Goghs Starry Nights for some reason. Its a short, lovely song, very impressionistic.Everette is a fun song. Written by Steve Brooks, it owes obvious influence to Tom Waits, specifically the tune Singapore. Once I learned the words, I was singing the song in a Tom Waits voice, and laughing myself silly: And staring at his crotch. The song even employs Waits-type arrangements.Racecar Joe is another character sketch, similar to Slaids own Horses from Wishbones.Millionaire although not overtly political, seems to bring to mind operatives like Karl Rove if you are a Democrat, and perhaps George Soros (from a line about owning Presidents) if you are a Republican.Fairest Of Them All is really a womans song, intended to be sung by a woman. It suffers from shifting viewpoints: 3rd person in the verses, switching to 1st person in the chorus. Ill caution Slaid now: singing about wearing a dress and red, red lipstick is going to get you heckled at some gigs. Dont say I didnt warn you. :) Slaid is backed up on this tune by Mary Gauthier, and I think that the song is more suited to Gauthiers done-it-all-seen-it-all voice than Slaids. Its a good song, though. I have no real complaints with it.Flowered Dresses is by Slaids friend Karen Poston, the author of audience favorite Lydia. Poston is the artist whose work Id most like to hear next, when I can fit it into my budget. Slaids singing on this song evokes a Rockwell landscape of Americana, which isnt a bad thing at all. Slaids voice on this song is husky and romantic; it should be popular with his female fans, especially.Working Stiff is a personal favorite. Slaids voice on this song is evocative of Paul McCartney, and I mean that in the best sense. The arrangement is for a horn quartet, which I love. It just wont sound the same on the road with just Slaid and OConnors guitars, but thats ok. I can still play the disc.Slaids previous cds, Broke Down and Wishbones, suffered from the occasional clunker song nestled among the jewels; I cant really say the same for Unsung. Its quickly turning into my favorite Slaid Cleaves CD, although individual songs from the earlier discs will remain favorites.Thanks, Slaid, for a great CD.
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
A great CD at 2006-07-17
Slaid Cleaves, it must be said, is an incredible songwriter. Hes put out some incredible stuff on his past albums (Wishbones and Broke Down being the most recent and best of his work).This album finds Slaid playing the songs of other less notable songwriters. In effect, giving them a chance to find an audience that they may have never reached, while at the same time providing Mr. Cleaves with top-notch, cream-of-the-crop material that he can put his name on.The CD is really quite amazing. All of the songs are great, but some stand out more than others. Oh Roberta, Fairest of Them All, Working Stiff, and Getaway Car are my personal favorites, but each song catches me a different way with each successive listening.My only complaint about this album is the obvious disconnect between the songs, the singer, and the writer. You cant truly feel supremely moved by the incredible writing (or at least, I cant) because you know the singer didnt write it. Regardless, the songs are so good and Slaids take on them is so perfect and balanced, you cant help but love it all.Recommended. Highly recommended for fans of Slaid Cleaves.
Slaid Cleaves Album Editorial:
When a celebrated songwriter cuts an album of covers its generally a stopgap till the next record or a way out of a contract. But Cleaves never known to be prolific or to knock out product approaches his seventh album in 16 years with a purposefulness that transcends a mere shout-out to wordsmith friends. His choices are obscure--the best-known songwriter here is David Olney--but meaningful varied sometimes stunning. Hes drawn to traditional allusions and melodies (Michael OConnors Devils Lullaby) to minimalist character studies (Adam Carrolls Race Car Joe) and to Austin Texas where many of the songwriters covered make their homes. Cleaves taps Karen Poston for Flowered Dresses a Kodachrome of small town love; Steve Brooks for Everette a praise-song for a barstool poet; Graham Weber for Oh Roberta a gift to a troubadours muse; and Chris Montgomery for Call It Sleep a working mans lament. If the arrangements are straight-up Americana--with David Henrys cello and organ shaking things up a bit--Cleavess temperate sly grin of a voice finds comic insight between all the wistfully down-and-out lines. Like Nanci Griffith on iOther Voices Other Rooms Cleaves takes the measure of influences which are more contemporary than historic and as a result captures the spirit of a lively if largely underground folk scene. --iRoy Kasten
Slaid Cleaves Album Editorial:
On Unsung Austin singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves delivers a treasure trove of songs from some of his favorite writers some undiscovered all less-known than deserved. These are poignant stories not unlike Cleaves own songs that feature poets lovers and underdogs struggling to win. Cleaves brings these stories to life with the same eloquent grace and grit that have made his past recordings so valued. PCleaves tells gorgeously compact stories in a voice packed with Texas trail dust. - Entertainment Weekly
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Wishbones
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Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
I dont believe a word of it at 2006-07-24
I purchased this disc after having read the glowing reviews and because of Slaid Cleaves association with artists I admire. Unfortunately, I find WISHBONE utterly boring and unlistenable. Every note, word, syllable and emotion is so perfectly placed that it resembles the work of a gifted graduate student who has assimilated the works of the masters without really having anything of his own to say. The overwhelming effort to convey sincerity and passion seems processed and canned. I greatly prefer his UNSUNG disc.
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
Disappointed at 2005-09-01
After the acclaim this album has drawn I was looking very forward to hearing it. I was disappointed in it and found it impossible to get into. I listened to it through 5 times trying to find a groove with it but never did.
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
A little too country at 2005-02-16
As much of a fan as i am of Slaid Cleaves, i didnt enjoy Wishbones. Slaids relocation to Texas is strating to seep further into his music. The folk sounds of Lifes Other Side and No Angel Knows have been left behind for a more twangy sound. Slaid, come back to Maine!!
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
Aint broke dont fix it at 2004-08-31
No huge surprises in Wishbones, if it aint broke dont fix it. So expect, top notch instrumentation (big iron strings and sliding steel abound ) and equally slick production and performance, emotional weight and clever wordplay, stories of the hard road, American fables, and lovelorn vinaigrettes.In his own words from the title track this is real life no reality show . The gritty Cleaves is again in cahoots with Austin production mentor and buddy Gurf Morlix, but this time he is really utilising Gurfs considerable guitaring skills to maximum effect. This album is a bit rockier with more band arrangements than the award winning 2000 release Broke Down. Cleaves says, with obvious pride, of Wishbones The instrumentation becomes more a part of the story instead of the background to the story. It certainly feels comfortable on the ears to this listener, and I can see why Cleaves is comfortable with the arrangements to the extent he indicates. The only complaint I can imagine from his legion of fans will be why so long? Slaid Cleaves is at his best when he is telling beginning middle and end stories and Wishbones, if anything, has even more story songs than Broke Down. He has a lazy affability and a deceptively well-honed ability to introduce characters, lay settings, communicate emotions and conduct a journey through verse long adventures, with either comforting or confronting choruses, to the inevitable moral filled conclusion and all in 3 minutes. Slaid is as good as it gets at this, and what is even better, from the point of view of an ardent gig goer, the hard working Cleaves ( whos musical trail started busking in Cork in the mid 80s where he was a student ) can still be found touring 10 months of the year and will in any given year be at a venue near you. Though if this album is as user friendly as I suspect it is, and given some breaks, it cant be long until he will only be available live, as a dot at the end of some warehouse for ý30 a ticket, see him while you can!tracks: 01 Wishbones .... a jaunty guitar driven careworn but optimistic tale 02 Road Too Long.... a standard RnB truckers tune (six day in this mode but Im going to get a hit this time) 03 Drinkin Days.... His drinking days are over but hes still in trouble, bad luck doesnt always come in a bottle. The sequel to Horse Shoe lounge from Broke Down 04 Sinners Prayer.... Blues tune, in a Peter Green style, a lament for the lost life. 05 Tiger Tom Dixons Blues.... Reforged collaboration with his pall Rod Picott, the boxers tale 06 Below.... Nostalgic piece of childhood and childhood places both lost never to be seen again. 07 Quick as Dreams... The old timer Jockys recollection, riding the thoroughbreds, in the racing hey day 08 Horses.... Moonshine Willies tale, in a Jimmy Rogers style 09 Hearts Break.... Shuffering Blues and home spun philosophy, my favourite track. 10 Borderline.... Heartbreaking tale of a disenfranchised migrant worker 11 New Years Day.... A Cajun feel good farewell to a friend Rob Ellen
Slaid Cleaves Album Review:
Getting the better part of the Wishbone at 2004-08-11
Slaid Cleaves is Americas finest young folk singer. Period. Theres simply no other way to put it. His new album, Wishbones, is a collection of songs that mix the best of folk tradition, Woody Guthrie observational skills, Bruce Springsteen common-man common sense and, (when you see him live) charisma out the yazoo. (OK maybe yazoo is not the most potent critical term, but Slaid Cleaves has got the proverbial it.)Wishbones follows the breakthroughs Broke Down paths populated by lonesome losers, bright eyed dreamers and (as he calls them) people you refer to as a character and plays them with a gravity that makes them all seem like long lost friends. But its Slaids economy and live skills that carry both the CD and the current shows.On Wishbones, Slaid and producer Gurf Morlix have captured an essence in each song, even more so than on the excellent Broke Down CD that proceeded this one by almost four years. Theres the wistful title track, the tale of the city that fell victim to progress in Below, and the long awaited recording of concert fave Horses (and Divorces). Slaid and his band know just how much to swing and when to hold back (the Spanish influenced Borderline). It makes him stand head and shoulders above so many better known and allegedly hipper artists, and if you have ever seen him live, youll hear what I mean.For example, the recent 2004 Newport Folk Festival. Slaid and his band just completed a really strong performance of old favorites, choice new selections from Wishbones, all in a context of western swing and folk styles. His band was spot-on and the audience was more than appreciative, clapping and singing along. Then, for their final song and to everyones surprise, the band tore into a butt-kicking version of The Whos Wont Get Fooled Again. While half of the crowd came to their feet to stomp and cheer, the other half stood with their jaws somewhere around their ankles. By the time the band crashed into the final chords (and a minor lyric change: meet the new war, same as the old war...), the audience was literally roaring its approval as Slaid exhorted the crowd to get out there and vote! In a weekend filled with great artists and fine moments, this was (for me, at least) the single most amazing performance by anyone in attendance, bar none. Slaid Cleaves gets it. Wishbones is his best CD to date. (While youre at it, pick up a copy of Broke Down.) 4 and 1/2 stars and one of my favorite discs for 2004.
Slaid Cleaves Album Editorial:
With his third album since transplanting his music from his native Maine to Austin Slaid Cleaves now draws as much from country and blues roots with a touch of classic-rock Springsteen as he does from the troubadour tradition. His tales of losers and dreamers of hard luck and lifes tough lessons benefit here from the musical muscle of a band that includes producer Gurf Morlix on bass and guitar veteran keyboardist Ian McLagan drummer Rick Richards and guitarist Charles Arthur who channels the sinuous inspiration of Otis Rush on the bluesy Sinners Prayer. Other highlights include the tuneful title track (written with Ray Wylie Hubbard) the barroom brawling Drinkin Days the taut wisdom of Hearts Break and the affirmation of New Years Day. In the four years since his previous release Cleaves has grown into a writer who is more than the sum of his influences and a musical artist who is no longer content to let the lyric carry the whole load. Don McLeese
Slaid Cleaves Album Editorial:
Slaid Cleaves called one of the finest singer-songwriters from Texas by The New York Times ventures into exciting new territory on the follow up to the acclaimed Broke Down. Delivering hard hitting songs and a more muscular sound by producer Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams Robert Earl Keen) Wishbones is the strongest album yet from this captivating artist.
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