Re: Tom Russell's new one
That's the problem with concept albums. While they may work as a whole (and I'm not sure this one does), it is extremely rare if individual songs hold up on their own. To have to read liner notes and written material before I can understand how good a record is or what a great concept I'm dealing with is firthers my point. This is aural art, not literary genius. The music is, or should be, the important thing. If it's not, then just write a book and I'll trat it for what it is. I feel the same way about visual art as well. If it doesn't grab me before I read about the concept and what went into producing it, it's probably not "great" art. Tom Russell has done some great pieces before and I respect him for even attempting this song cycle but (IMHO), it just doesn't work all that well. Hell, name me 5 concept albums that have worked out well regardless of genre. Iceman Hanspeter Eggenberger wrote: Reply to: Re: Tom Russell's new one Slim wrote: I think it's a great album. I would suggest listening a couple of times and reading the extensive notes Russell includes. Projects like this are labors of love, and I bet everyone on the list would agree that a talent like Russell deserves more than a cursory spinthrough. I agree with the above. But I have the same problem with Tom Russell's new one as I have with most "concept albums": Some songs only work in context to the others but not as individual song. So you have to listen to the whole album from the first to the last track to get the picture. HP NP: Hank Shizzoe - "Walk"
Re: Concept albums (was: Tom Russell's new one)
Reply to: Re: Concept albums (was: Tom Russell's new one) Young aka \\\"The Iceman\\\"\" wrote: Hell, name me 5 concept albums that have worked out well regardless of genre. The concept albums by The Kinks worked out very well: "The Village Green Preservation Society", "Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire" and "Schoolboys in Disgrace". The Who's "Tommy" is nice too. And the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" - if we see this as concept albums. HP NP: The Kinks, "Muswell Hillbillies"
Re: Tom Russell's new one
On Wed, 24 Feb 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Why do I feel that this negative response to Russell's album was essentially preordained by the first post on it a month ago declaring it one of the greatest records of all time? Maybe it's the reverse of the Lucinda Syndrome. And isn't it strange that Slim always seems to be on the side of the virtuous critical angels, while it's those poor schmucks with the opposing viewpoints who are inordinately affected by pre-release hype. Give folks some credit, Slim, for thinking for themselves. Sometimes a difference of critical opinion is just that.--don
Re: Tom Russell's new one (opera)
On Wed, 24 Feb 1999, Lowell Kaufman wrote: So TR's new one is made to rely on more than just the song itself - it is called a folk-opera after all so view it in the context of an opera. Uh oh. Not another folking opera. Will Miner Denver, CO
Tom Russell's new one
Didn't someone refer to this as the best album ever, or some such
hyperbole? After one listen, I'd give it an award for one of the more
sleep-inducing albums I've heard in quite awhile, but that's about it. A
coupla songs stand out from the monotonous morass ("Chickasaw County Jail"
and Iris singing "Acres of Corn"), but most of it's too damn stately and
antiseptic for its own good. I bet even Kinnamon balks at this.--don
Re: Tom Russell's new one
I just listened to this too. And was sorely disappointed after all the hype
here. As a folk operetta goes it's ok but nothing stands outs. Sorta like
Paul Simon's Capeman thing. A thanks but no thanks here and I'm a big fan of
Tom's.
Iceman
Don Yates wrote:
Didn't someone refer to this as the best album ever, or some such
hyperbole? After one listen, I'd give it an award for one of the more
sleep-inducing albums I've heard in quite awhile, but that's about it. A
coupla songs stand out from the monotonous morass ("Chickasaw County Jail"
and Iris singing "Acres of Corn"), but most of it's too damn stately and
antiseptic for its own good. I bet even Kinnamon balks at this.--don
Re: Tom Russell's new one
Didn't someone refer to this as the best album ever, or some such
hyperbole? After one listen, I'd give it an award for one of the more
sleep-inducing albums I've heard in quite awhile, but that's about it. A
coupla songs stand out from the monotonous morass ("Chickasaw County Jail"
and Iris singing "Acres of Corn"), but most of it's too damn stately and
antiseptic for its own good. I bet even Kinnamon balks at this.--don
Gosh - a TR backlash on his concept record.
Well, I found it inventive and exhilerating and a piece of patriotic
songwriting that moves my spine that I truly can compare with Woodie Guthrie.
Maybe folks out there get tired of verse after verse of So Long It's Been
Good to Know ya, but I don't. Maybe the wonderful display of Irish ,
Norwegian, and Cowboyish folk tunes aint twangy enough for y'all, but I'm
enthralled.
But I guess everyone's into disposable music that can prick up your ears
at a moment's notice and then be thrown away until the next record with a
good riff comes out.
To each his or her own.
Keep Dancing,
-ldk
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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*It makes no difference without passion...*
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Re: SV: Tom Russell's new one
On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, Eivind Berge wrote: Most classic albums tend to creep under your skin after repeated listenings, and yes, "The man from God knows where" is a classic. Try again folks. After finding the previous listen to be an arduous affair, I think I'll pass for now.g As one who's always found Russell to be an occasionally brilliant songwriter and mostly a snooze as a performer, I doubt even a hundred listens (god forbid) to that interminable album would change my mind. Believe me, it was difficult enough to stay focused on the album without choking on its grandiose pretensions. As Lowell sez, to each his own I guess, and when I want arty folk, I'll stick to the infinitely more interesting Hank Dogs.--don
SV: SV: Tom Russell's new one
-Opprinnelig melding- Fra: Don Yates [EMAIL PROTECTED] Til: passenger side [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dato: 23. februar 1999 20:35 Emne: Re: SV: Tom Russell's new one On Tue, 23 Feb 1999, Eivind Berge wrote: Most classic albums tend to creep under your skin after repeated listenings, and yes, "The man from God knows where" is a classic. Try again folks. After finding the previous listen to be an arduous affair, I think I'll pass for now.g As one who's always found Russell to be an occasionally brilliant songwriter and mostly a snooze as a performer, I doubt even a hundred listens (god forbid) to that interminable album would change my mind. Believe me, it was difficult enough to stay focused on the album without choking on its grandiose pretensions. Which only proves what we all know, and should be thankful about: Music is a VERY subjective thing. Best Eivind Berge Norway
Re: Tom Russell's new one
In a message dated 2/23/99 12:56:55 PM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Maybe the wonderful display of Irish , Norwegian, and Cowboyish folk tunes aint twangy enough for y'all, but I'm enthralled. But I guess everyone's into disposable music that can prick up your ears at a moment's notice and then be thrown away until the next record with a good riff comes out. I think it's a great album. I would suggest listening a couple of times and reading the extensive notes Russell includes. Projects like this are labors of love, and I bet everyone on the list would agree that a talent like Russell deserves more than a cursory spinthrough. I disagree with the above comment that "everyone's" into disposable music, especially on P2. That's a bit rude and an overgeneralization to say the least. On an unrelated note, I just saw Kelly Willis do an instore at Waterloo, and whoever was playing lead with her was weak. Also, her guitar was out of tune the whole time. Almost distracted me from looking at her. Slim np The Iguanas - "Sugar Town"
