From Amazon.com
slaid cleaves unsung
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: slaid cleaves is a poet and a singer and in unsung he helps other poets that have not been heard enough . he sings their songs as only slaid can do. smokey, yet innocent as the song writer dictated, getaway car is sad but yet leaves you a thought that just maybe... flowered dresses is a sweet but sad song of how what you may want and what you have...
Ok , I am a fan of slaid cleaves and these songs he sings from other poets, shows just how great he is. Thanks to the poet and the bard
Just a Delightful Collection
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I am not a music critic by any means, but this is a great cd. I listened to it on my way to work one morning and don't even remember the drive, I was so immersed in the songs(this probably isn't safe, but that's how much I was into the tunes). This album took it's place among my favorites immediately.
I first heard of Slaid Cleaves on Rounder Radio. They play "Oh Roberta" quite a bit. The rest of the album is just as good. Each cut tells a story and Cleaves sings with such emotion that he draws you into the song.
Since this is an album of covers, I'm anxious to hear some songs that Cleaves has written himself. But, he has a wonderful voice and I'm so glad I found this one.
This is good
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: I first heard Slaids music on a local station, while listening online. Sounded cool, kinda calm, country, a lot of folk, nicely original at least. When I heard another played, I decided to buy a CD. This is the one I got.
Wow, I like this a lot. At first I really only liked Everette, and that one spoke to me in great ways that songs rarely do. So I let the CD loop some in my player, and each song, one by one, grew on me greatly. Flowered Dresses, then Fairest of them all, another kind of blues, I ended up enjoying each song as much as the first. Looking to buy another CD, I found he was on tour, now I got tickets and can't wait to see him live.
Very easy going folk music with a modern texas twist that sounds damn good. From 2pm to 3am, this music will accompany smoke or drink well.
really good album
Album Rating: (5 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: really liked this cd. perhaps not as well as broke down or wishbones, but he's got a great voice and style of story telling.
Diamonds In the Rough
Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)
Review Comments: Somehow Slaid Cleaves had escaped my notice until recently. A couple of months ago, I was giving musical tips to an old classmate who now lives in Arizona. Then she gave me hers. Slaid Cleaves was among those she mentioned, so I looked him up here and was surprised to find out how long he's been around. Unsung seemed like an interesting place to start with him and so I ordered it.
Well, the industry reviewer certainly got it right. On Unsung, Cleaves has really captured the spirit of a lively but underground folk scene. Its a shame that a lot of the songwriters Cleaves covers here will remain little-known, but that's the state of the music industry today outside of a few places such as Austin.
It took me a few listens to really get into this album, but once I did I could hear that Cleaves had carefully picked a batch of songs to cover that he liked and wanted others to like as well. Since I have not heard his other work, I can't compare these songs to his own but I can see that he's found some diamonds in the rough.
My favorite is Everette, but I also really enjoy Devil's Lullaby, Call It Sleep, Millionaire, Working Stiff, and Song For Jane. This would be a great CD to play while sitting by a campfire with some buds swilling a few beers or while enjoying a barbecue with a small group of good friends.
If you are a fan of singer-songwriters like Dave Alvin, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker, or Robert Earl Keen Jr. and you have not yet heard Cleaves, then you should find that Unsung is an album made just for you. I will certainly explore his music further.
Purchases
1 Devil's Lullaby
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