Black Ribbons [Vinyl]

Shooter Jennings | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (March 9, 2010)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rocket Science
• ASIN: B00354NBK4
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,239 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

3.5/4 Stars --People Magazine

Brilliant ... one wild, paranoid, anti-establishment mash-up of psychedelic theater. --Los Angeles Daily News

Genre: Awesome. Okay, lets call it a concept album even though that doesn't even do it justice as to how much I love this album. --Stereogasm --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Description

Shooter Jennings, The acclaimed singer-songwriter is kicking off a bold new chapter in his career with new band HIEROPHANT and a mind blowing 70 minute opus that completely obliterates genre distinctions. On this unprecedented work, twanging dobros coexist with Nintendo chipsets; brutally assaultive passages alternate with moments of unabashed tenderness, and surreal Floydian soundscapes float above smoking slabs of whiskey-soaked southern soul. It s an electrifying thrill ride across a dense, dark and gloriously decadent musical landscape. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing album, cerebral, relevant, eerie..., March 2, 2010

By 

John J. Robinson "jjr" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

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This album is one of the most interesting surprises to come along in the music scene in quite awhile. Shooter Jennings and Stephen King have created an eerie, and extremely relevant, listening experience here. I don't buy many albums these days, but this ride is definitely worth the price of the ticket!

Stephen King plays the narrative on this album (yes, that Stephen King). He is a radio DJ the night before new draconian government broadcasting laws go into effect. It is the last free broadcast, and the dialogue hits the mood perfectly.

I recently heard an interview with Shooter Jennings discussing the narrative, and it is brilliant. For example, the D.J. (Stephen King) doesn't discuss martial law during the broadcast because, as Shooter explains, everyone would already know that martial law was in effect, thus D.J.s wouldn't be talking about it much. And the result of this foresight and attention to detail is a narrative that works; King's voice, the background music, and the narrative easily convince the imagination that it is listening to the last free radio broadcast in the United States, sometime in the near future.

King mentions "past" events that are happening now and reflects on the mood of the country as they occurred. Listening to this future broadcast discussing today's events in the past tense is an incredible experience, especially considering the brilliance of the spoken word.

So what music set does this last D.J. decide to play on the deathbed of free speech? This is where the music comes in and delivers the home run! King explains why he has chosen this music, for its resistance, its spirit. This music will not go gently into that good night!

It's blue-grass; no, it's new age; no maybe it's country; wait, it's definitely rock; no it's... it's... it refuses to be classified! This is it folks, this is something new and amazing that refuses a convenient label, refuses to follow the rules, and refuses to let go!

It will frighten you, fill your heart with melancholy, stir your fighting spirit, and will finally offer that last gift of hope. And it will certainly entertain.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Giant Leap Forward, March 2, 2010

By 

B. B. Barker (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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I've always thought that Shooter had only one foot in the country scene. With Black Ribbons, not only does he lay down a heavier, metallic, sinister sound that could almost be called progressive, he serves it up in a creepy, mind-bending concept album with Stephen King narration and CD packaging that is pretty darned cool.

I saw Shooter and his kickin band play some of these songs a few months ago on tour, and they come through loud and clear here.

This is an album that has great songs, tells a story and actually has something to say.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath taking, March 3, 2010

By 

Dakota Moore (SoCal) - See all my reviews
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To say this album is incredible does not do it justice. I've bought every one of Shooter's studio albums, save for Bad Magick as it was a greatest hits album and to me, all his songs are hits. When I first heard about this album and this concept months ago I wasn't too sure; I was worried because I felt that Shooter was straying from his roots. But after hearing the album and understanding his reasoning and ideas behind it all, I can say with out a doubt that this is by far my most favorite album of his.

Shooter has definitely found his sound and made it is own. Like a previous reviewer said, this album refuses to be classified into a genre, you can label it whatever you want but I can guarantee you it surpasses that. I can't get enough of this album, it has my favorite artist doing what he does best along with narration from my favorite author...This album is the total package for me, hell I may even buy the vinyl LP as well.