|
I really was prepared to loathe this album
for three main reasons: #1, The press for this album is filled
with Mr. Black chatting about "circles of meaning that have
to be completed by affecting the audience " and such...language
that CAN be poetically meaningful from real artists but usually
is just Marijuana-induced pretentious folderol from your random
Johny-come-lately next long haired unwashed hippie with a guitar.
#2 Mr. Black has met with some nice success as a songwriter which
is usually foreboding for their first big label debut -- The
days of singer songwriters recording their first albums after
writing well for others creating monumental art (Such as Carole
King with Tapestry) are mostly over. #3, Since this is an Arista-Austin
debut and speaking as an accomplished musician myself residing
in the capital of the lone star state, I have seen more than
I care to of what the other side of being the treasured "Live
Music Capital of the World" does to a city's musical judgment!
Upon hearing this album, I will be honest,
I have never been so happy to be SO wrong in My life. This album
is transcendant. Its beautiful, poetic and haunting. It' s catchy
and pensive at the same time. It is also simultaneously innovative
AND classic. It is at once joyous and heartwrenching. It's....
it's ...I am running out of superlatives and analogies ...so
now to the dozen songs that inhabit this gem of a disc....
"A Long Way to Go" is a haunting
yet warming song about old freinds and old good times. Its the
euqivalent of a hug from a person in my pain. You treasure the
contact but it picks at emotional scabs of your own, too. "
What Do I Want" can be ANYONE's song at MANY times of your
life with its plaintive longing for all of us trying to figure
out the person we stare at in the mirror everyday. Anyone who
doesn't fell a pang from the lyrics in this tune is either in
denial deeper than Bill Clinton's or is simply inhuman. The title
cut will make everyone who hears it recall their first love with
mixtures of winsomely tinged lust.
"That's Just about Right" and
"Carnival Song" are two of the cuts on this stellar
album that Mr. Black wrote as notable tunes for others. While
the artists who cut these two songs initially, Blackhawk and
Waylon Jennings are great artists in their own right, the writer's
versions of these tunes puts theirs to shame. " Noah's Ark"
and "King of The World" are so stirring in their pleading
and spirituality they are almost hymns translated into delicious
folky-pop.
"Streets" is a slightly more
optimistic but no less thrilling retake on Bruce Springsteen's
feelings in the classic "Badlands" and "The Valley"...
My lord what is there to say about this song but to relate this
anecdote... Being a musician myself I had to listen to this album
to make the 'zine's deadline -- all this at the end of 14 hours
of composing, rehearsing, practicing, calling agents and publishers
and the like, and generally living the stressed life of an active
musician. The last thing I wanted to do at the end of such a
day is listen to another "Im-from-Austin-so-I-am-amazing-but-am-really-a-piece
of crap" album.. which is I reiterate what I was so afraid
this CD would be. Needless to say my emotional state was far
from mushy. And in the listening of the final cut of this album..(
this song " The Valley") .. this grouchy, tired, biased-against-Local-talent
musician actually WEPT. Yes, WEPT..cried real tears all over
Mr. Blacks press material, the song is THAT nurturing, stunning,
emotional and majestic.
But for those who want more comparisons
to help judge rather than my gushing adjectives lets just say
this fellow combines aspects from the best of all of these :
Early Billy Joel with guitar instead of a piano, the southern
windblown rocking sound of Bad Company, the poetry of Bruce Springsteen
and John Mellencamp without their occasional tendency to flag-wave
the benefits of hoosierdom and Jerseydom getting in the way of
the art. And one more artist comes to mind as well: the album
"Grace" by the mourned Jeff Buckley.
Never has another label debut stunned me
as much as "Birmingham Road." In conclusion, to reflect
back on my pre-listening bias, I expected to want to see this
fellow in Austin, roll my eyes and spit invective at him. Instead
I hope to see this fellow and politely chat and maybe give him
a big hug and say "You are a beautiful talent , Man."
And i DO want to say that sincerely, not again as just another
marijuana-addled epithet of musician bonhomie. You are not doing
Mr. Black a disservice by not running out to get it. If you truly
love great music--the disservice you will be doing will be to
yourself. |
