|
19 Jul 05 - 11:16 PM (#1524084) Subject: Review: Jim White From: number 6 There aren't too many new artists that I hear that really grab my emotions and astound me. Jim White is one who has. He is absolutely astounding. He has made 2 cd's, both are worth mentioning "Gimme 5" and "Wrong Eyed Jesus". From "Wrong Eyed Jesus" these songs I have to mention: Christmas Day Angel Land A Perfect Day to Chase Tornadoes Sleepy Town He has also made a documentary "Wrong Eyed Jesus" which I haven't seen. Anyway I just had to post an accolade here at the Mudcat to Jim White. sIx |
|
20 Jul 05 - 07:56 PM (#1524655) Subject: RE: Review: Jim White From: GUEST If you like Jim White, check out his CD "No Such Place" and the latest one called "Drill A Hole In That Substrate And Tell Me What You See." On "No Such Place" check out "Handcuffed To A Fence In Mississippi" and "10 Miles To Go On A 9 Mile Road" ...these are the two most "commercially digestible" cuts on the album and Jim himself said he wrote "10 Miles ..." for the radio. On "Drill A Hole..." check out "Alabama Chrome" and "Combing My Hair In A Brand New Style," and "If Jesus Drove A Motor Home." There is also some guest appearances on "Drill A Hole..." by such luminaries as Aimee Mann (doing backup vocals on "Static On The Radio") and guitarist Bill Frisell. "Drill A Hole..." isn't his best vocal performance, but the songwriting is as strong as anything previous, my opinion. "No Such Place" is my favorite CD by him. There's not a bad cut on the whole CD (well, "God Was Drunk When He Made Me" is a little silly, though. Sort of a send-up of any one of a million smarmy country tunes). He does a deliciously wicked cover of Roger Miller's "King Of The Road." All of his stuff is hard to describe. The haunting dreamscapes he's able to weave together with incongruent instruments like the banjo blended in effortlessly with all the techno-wizardry (what Jim White calls "hick-hop") is irresistable. The darker stuff I like to think of as "disturbingly beautiful." It makes me a little uncomfortable to listen to it because I feel like I'm an aural witness to some unnatural, twisted behaviors. His way of relating them elevates them to the status of art, much like Nabokov did in "Lolita." The guy is the best living U.S. songwriter alive today, a unique genius at his craft. Am I a fan? Naaahhhh........ |
|
20 Jul 05 - 09:25 PM (#1524713) Subject: RE: Review: Jim White From: number 6 "All of his stuff is hard to describe. The haunting dreamscapes he's able to weave together with incongruent instruments like the banjo blended in effortlessly with all the techno-wizardry (what Jim White calls "hick-hop") is irresistable. The darker stuff I like to think of as "disturbingly beautiful." It makes me a little uncomfortable to listen to it because I feel like I'm an aural witness to some unnatural, twisted behaviors. His way of relating them elevates them to the status of art, much like Nabokov did in "Lolita." You're description does Jim White justice ... thanks Guest. sIx |
|
20 Jul 05 - 09:47 PM (#1524730) Subject: RE: Review: Jim White From: number 6 Guest ... I most certainly will check out those other songs. He certainly is prolific ... I wonder if the 'present day society' can accept his songwriting ... probably not, but anyway, it certainly is refreshing to have discovered his artistry. sIx |
|
20 Jul 05 - 11:31 PM (#1524807) Subject: RE: Review: Jim White From: GUEST He's not mainstream by any stretch of the imagination, that's for sure. The themes of his songs reflect some of the sordid and seamier experiences that occur, unfortunately. He's been at the center of some of them; he's crafted those experiences into art and we the listeners are the fortunate recipients. |