From Amazon.com
Boring!! Lifeless, Meandering Folk Space Music
Album Rating: (1 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: A Tedious, Tiresome and Disappointing Continuance of Frisell's Exploration of American Traditional / Public Radio / Folk / Sleep Music.
Enough Already Bill!! How About Some Interesting Music For a Change, Like you Made 10-20 Years Ago.
Bill Frisell was (note the past tense WAS) the most innovative jazz guitarist of the 1980's-90's.
He created his own trademark sound: a twangy, bending, echoey wash of color, making his own distinct wall of sound
on every recording of his and every recording that he guested on.
I was such a huge fan of Bill that I would seek out and purchase every album that he appeared on to hear his performance. pr>
There were dozens of albums which he contributed to, putting his signature wall of sound on.
Seek out the albums "Power Tools," or Marc Johnson's "Bass Deisres" (1987) or the 1991 Live album
with Kermit Driscoll and Joey Baron to hear Frisell in a powerhouse performance.
The 1996 piece "Faith In You," from Marc Johnson's "The Sound of Summer Running" has a duo
between Frisell and Pat Metheny which is one of the most beautiful compositions I've ever heard.
Then around 1998 he decided he was going to move away from that eclectic fusion of sound.
His 1998 album "Gone Like a Train" opens with an exlposive fusion composition, then turns into a mush of uninspired improv.
That was the point he left the exciting guitar sounds and changed his career into experimental ad-lib American Folk Soundscapes.
Those of us like myself who purchased his next album "Good Dog Happy Man" were disappointed beyond belief
when the entire album was an uninspired, lifeless recording of Meditational Sleep Music, from beginning to end.
Leaving us to ponder the title: "GOOD performers, but a DOG album."
Or, perhaps his dog produced the album, hence the idea "GOOD DOG! You recorded my album, so I"m a HAPPY MAN."
Most of us fans hoped that this was just a temporary venture for him. Instead, for 10 years now he increased his popularity
on National Public Radio and has released one album after another, sometimes 2 albums a year of this meandering slop.
This album Incorporates some fine musicians for sure, but frankly, wasting their time just sitting around playing a few notes throughout this dullness.
Despite the efforts that went into it, Frisell's music in the last 10 years is so boring and dull that even those suffering sleep apnea and insomnia would need
something with more movement to help them relax.
Big and Juicy
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: It is still a bit hard to think of Nonesuch being the label of Bill Frisell; for many years, Nonesuch was a label something like Naxos is today, bringing classical music to the people at a budget price. Things change...
What we have here is another interesting album from guitarist Bill Frisell, who is accompanied on this outing by Greg Leisz on various guitars, Wayne Horvitz on keyboards, Viktor Krauss on bass, and Jim Keltner on drums. Like many Frisell outings, the music is at once laid back and intense--I guess you could say of Bill Frisell that he plays laid-back music in a really intense way.
This is music that just rolls and tumbles out of your speakers, sometimes seeming to lag behind the beat, but then catching up as everything comes together. Keltner's drumming is given a prominent part in the mix, and Keltner is a drummer who always seems to be waiting until the last possible microsecond to resolve the beat. The recorded sound is big and juicy, the performances are big and juicy--the kind of musical food that makes men--and women--happy indeed.
Life is good
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This is very definitely an album that grows on you. At first I thought Frisell soft pedaled this one, but upon repeated listening the subtelty of his technique reveals itself. As it is, I still prefer the more upbeat numbers like Roscoe and Big Shoe. Wonderful playful quality to most of the songs, even when titled Cold Cold Ground. I get the feeling of being in a cabin in the woods, sitting by a fire, as these songs touched on feelings of solitude, with a faithful companion by your side to run your fingers through his fur from time to time, while he gnaws on an old shoe.
I Love This Album!
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This is a slow groove with great ensemble work. It's not for everyone but it's right on for me. Beautiful!
One of Frisell's Best Recordings
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: This is the album that introduced me to Bill Frisell's "Americana" phase. Brilliant playing, wonderful compositions. In a world where people think playing a ton of notes as fast as possible is musical, this album is so refreshing.
The greatest poet is not the guy who talks fastest. That guy's usually the huckster, the snake oil salesman, the used car salesman on late night TV.
Frisell is miles beyond that. He doesn't need to try to impress you with a flurry of notes. His playing is pure, true, and impassioned. You can hear bits of folk, rock, jazz, and country on this album--all mixed into one glorious stew.
Highly recommended.
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