Customer Reviews

Blood & Candle Smoke (Dig)

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Tom Russell is an artist in every sense of the word. He writes beautiful lyrics, he puts those words to some fantastic music, he writes books, and he can paint like a God. He encompasses the true meaning of the word artist. But my familiarity of Mr. Russell lies mostly in his music. He writes from the heart and his songs tell great stories, sometimes true stories he himself has experienced.

His latest record, Blood and Candle Smoke is no exception. The tunes on this new record are all so abundant in texture and the images projected into your brain are a result of his strong lyrics. You will believe you are watching it on film instead of hearing it. I guess you could say it is so good, it confuses the senses. I'm not sure there is anyone on the scene today who can tell a story via music as well as Tom Russell.

The first track on Blood and Candle Smoke is East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam. This song is an account of Tom Russell's stint in Nigeria in the late 60's. It's a brilliant contrast or comparison between him teaching in Africa while at the same time others his age back in the states are delving in the world of drugs and free love that occurred within the "hippie" counter-culture. Russell sings, "moveable feast of war and memory, a dark old lullaby/it was a smoke of a thousand cook-fires it was the wrong end of a gun/Yeah, East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam". He paints a graphically explicit picture of his personal adventure while teaching in Nigeria. We, as listeners, definitely feel as if we are there, surrounded by the red clay, the dust and smoke. The horns, the guitars, the snare drum all add to the mood of this brilliantly written and arranged song. It's an impressive way to start the record.

The fourth track on the record, Criminology, continues the autobiography put to music, with Mr. Russell telling us his own personal story in song. As it says in his bio, he graduated from the University of California with a Master's Degree in Criminology. He even taught school in Nigeria during the Biafran war. "I had a gun pointed at my head on several occasions, yeah Nadine I was scared/something about a black man with a machine gun will make you wish you said your prayers/It was Nigeria in 1969". That's where it all started with Mr. Russell. Later the song tells us about 1971 in Vancouver and 1973 in "Canada again". Mr. Russell sings the song but I had to do a little research to discover that bit of information. His voice sounded so different from the usual strong baritone we have grown accustomed to, going instead with a higher pitch to his voice. "It's sort of a West African/reggae song. I must be channeling somebody or something I heard," he commented in his bio.

Mr. Russell recruited Calexico members Joey Burns on bass and guitars, John Convertino on drums and Jacob Valenzuela on trumpets, plus Barry Walsh on keyboards and frequent collaborator Gretchen Peters and the Oshogbo Orphan Choir on harmony vocals. He decided on these musicians after hearing the soundtrack to that Dylan film, I'm Not There. The songs that stood out the most to him were the ones performed by Calexico. All of the musicians are superb here. Gretchen Peterson's vocal harmonization adds another dimension and complements Mr. Russell's voice perfectly.

This is a wonderful record. What else would you expect from a consummate story teller the caliber of Tom Russell? If you are in to Americana or folk music, or whatever you would like to call it, you must absolutely add this masterpiece to your collection. It's as close to flawless as one can possibly get. Tom Russell may have even achieved the impossible goal of perfection with Blood and Candle Smoke (Shout Factory) just released.

BLOOD AND CANDLE SMOKE. By Tom Russell. (Shout Factory LLC, 2009. 2042-A Armacost Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025) CD $15.99

I have to smile with Tom Russell's most recent journey away from sure ballad-making with his new CD "Blood and Candle Smoke" on the Shout Factory label. This introspective collection of twelve tracks is perhaps more like orchestrated poetry, certainly more subdued and cryptic than any of his twenty albums since the 70s. All of these tracks are the caliber of songs that will grow on you, becoming richer with each successive listening. And that is the test at this juncture, I think, not whether a Nashville hook line will sell a million copies in six months.

Perhaps I misjudge the music buying public, but Tom may lose a fan or two with this one, yet I'm quite pleased that he continues to explore thought-provoking territory where he will gain even more diverse fans over time, a natural evolution that begs the question, "Do we in our 60s have something (left) to impart, something to leave behind?"

This personal excursion is not light listening, boys (and girls), each track full of pregnant and relevant phrases, expertly and consistently mixed and recorded to enhance the subject matter of each that range from the love song "Finding You" to the more prophetic "Mississippi River Running Backwards" - truly a complete work of art. I enjoyed every single song, especially "Nina Simone", "Guadalupe", "Crosses of San Carlos" and "East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam".

My only disappointment was that the CD package contained no liner notes or lyrics, because there are some rich lines here that really need to be reread and savored (so I just keep listening). The package has no information about the musicians and backup vocalists either, but part of the plan, I suspect, to let this envelope-pushing effort stand all on its own. A visit to Tom's website confirms that he is `backed by members of (the band) Calexico with vocal assists from Gretchen Peters'.

Though fresh and contemporary, all of the uniqueness of Tom Russell's singing and songwriting style is embodied in this superb collection of songs, a distilled concentrate that should endure for a long time.

I'll keep this short and just agree with the other two (so far) reviewers and say that this is one of Tom Russell's best recordings. I especially like the two songs that refer to his time in Nigeria ("East of Woodstock...," "Criminology") and "Guadalupe."

My copy of the CD included liner notes with all the lyrics and listing of everyone involved in each song.

A perspicacious and prolific writer, Tom Russell is a fascinating fellow.
Over time his songs always find a way into my consciousness...

This record is laden with the classic Tom Russell perspective,
but Tom's musical direction and style continues to grow and evolve.
This recording takes full advantage of the recording studio,
and the sound has a distinctive production style.

I bought tickets to see him play here again in a few weeks,
looking forward to seeing how he arranges some of these songs live.

If you are familiar with Tom Russell's music you will not be disappointed.
If you are exploring his music for the first time, this is an excellent choice.

I first saw Tom Russell perform live at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse in Berkeley. I loved his music before seeing him perform, and after seeing his interaction with the audience, loved the man. I then read Tom's lyrics to some of the songs on "Blood and Candle Smoke" in the 39th issue of the Berkeley Poetry Review put out by the students of UC Berkeley. How can you not respect a man who helps future writers by contributing his work to a poetry magazine from which he will not receive any payment? And to see his lyrics in the same book as Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Diane di Prima, Al Young and other luminary poets was just so right. Tom Russell is the perfect voice of the American experience. Lyrical rap without the violence and music that is all his, not sampled from someone else. If you ever have a chance, see Tom perform live. If not, buy his music, and play it loud, play it low, but play it and think about this ol' world that we inhabit and can make it a bit better, if we try.

A great collection of songs. Tom does not disappoint with this effort. I especially like Guadalupe.

I have been a sometimey Tom Russell fan ever since I was introduced to his songwriting via a cover of one of his songs by Dave Alvin. When Blood and Candle Smoke was released it got such positive reviews across the board, I had to order it. That he recorded with Calexico was the bonus that sealed my decision to buy. And when I put it in the first time, I got pretty much of the Southwestern tinge to the music I expected. But there was something else afoot as well, and that made this CD an interesting mix.
Many reviewers have pointed out East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam and Criminology as two of the better cuts on the album. I agree. But they are very different from the typical Tom Russell tune being almost evocative of Bruce Cockburn. Listen to them and think about that!
Being a Southwesterner, I have a soft spot for the "Southwestern sound" as typified by the excellent Nina Simone and by Guadalupe. I like the other songs as well to a greater or lesser degree, but the latter two songs mentioned are the ones that touch my soul.
Of the several Tom Russell CDs I now own, Blood and Candle Smoke has become my favorite. The CD comes housed in a two-panel digipak and is accompanied by a sharp little booklet containing album info and the all-important lyrics. If you are a fan of Americana, then this CD should certainly be in your collection. You should not be disappointed!

Nobody can tell a story in song quite like Tom Russell. You don't just hear the words, you can feel the Santa Ana winds blowing, see the faces of the weathered characters, even smell the fresh sage. Add to that Calexico, a virtuoso contemporary group with musical influences from California and Mexico, and there just aren't enough stars to rate the CD.

How to describe the songs. Of course, you've got one romantic ballad, "Finding You," but it's not the hearts and flowers kind of song you'd get from so many other singer-songwriters. (I will pray to any God who keeps his light on late at night/For the miracle of miracles/The one that saved my life...)

"Mississippi River Running Backward" has this amazing Nawlins gospel feel, talking about the end of the world coming because 'we're just not living right.'

"The Most Dangerous Woman in America" is a coal mining ballad that will send cold shivers down your spine. I literally ended up getting a cup of tea after my second listen.

"Don't Look Down" which is ostensibly a carnie's story, which takes a turn and delivers a life lesson we all could use.

There are eight more tales that will capture your imagination and your heart. I have most of Russell's 20-odd CDs and am working hard to get the rest, but I'm going to say this one's my favorite--until he does something else that gobsmacks me. And, yes, I believe he will. He's not a person to rest lightly on his laurels.

Rebecca Kyle, December 2009

This is a wonderful collection of songs by that I have listened to many times. The stories he tells and emotions he evokes are a rarely heard on most albums. A very intelligent song-writer. I'd like to say I have a favorite but it seems to change every time I listen. Which is another way of saying you can't go wrong with this cd. Saw Tom Russell live for the first time recently at Fitzgeralds as part of the "Blood and Candle Smoke" tour. Having some of the songs put into context by him makes it even more enjoyable.

I've been a fan for 15 years. On each of his previous albums, I think "Very good, but one day he'll really floor us." This is that album. Simply incredible, one of those records that you keep going listening to, over and over again.