Customer Reviews

Blood From Stars

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you sift through the musical styles, genres, and influences that attach themselves to Joe Henry's wonderful Blood from Stars, what's left is a simmering stew that smacks of blues, jazz, cabaret, rock and other subtler ingredients. I'm not able to muster a blow-by-blow accounting of the songs here--this is one of those few recordings that strike me as something to take all at once, like a spoonful of fish oil--and I find my favorites keep changing depending on when and where or even how I listen. (By "how" I mean, am I listening alone, listening when doing other things, or trying to inflict my musical proclivities on someone else.)

Mr. Henry commands a crack ensemble of veteran musicians whose talents he puts to great use in these tight arrangements that sometimes yield jaw-dropping moments as when the full band locks step and takes things up a notch in The Man I Keep Hid or Bellwether. Despite the deep traditions that inform these songs, Mr. Henry ups the hip factor with overlays of unusual effects or total change up as with the bongo drumming that end All Blues Hail Mary. The anthem Suit on a Frame crackles with a menacing energy as Mr. Henry repeats "my every breath" and his band plays with an inspired fervor, a true sum of the parts.

As noted frequently, some songs share something with Tom Waits' music, particularly his earlier works, though I find this sharing more the result of having a common muse than a common result. Yet I also suspect that the facets I like here--the multitude of influences, expressions, and genres well-played with a retro noir feel--may not command the attention Mr. Henry should garner in a world where music is a commodity that has to be slotted and categorized as though it were mail.

No artist in the 00s has put out a staggering and consistent body of work as Joe Henry, from Scar to Blood from Stars, he delivers exquisite, heart rendering, deeply felt, incredibly well written albums every time.

Blood from Stars is no different, and it maybe my favourite since Tiny Voices, dark and sprawling and loose, gorgeous and shadowy. Each song transports you to a dimly lit run down parlour, full of stragglers and losers and the terminally heartbroken. Another exquisite and accomplished record from one of the greatest American artists.

I'll be honest. I didn't know what to expect. I don't know the work of this artist, and I am wary of rock when described as alternative. And, while I'm glad I bought the album, be forewarned: Don't listen to this alone. In fact, don't listen to this if you are having a bad day.

But on rainy days, or snowy nights, this is your album. It can warm you up. And you don't want to be alone. Stylistically, this is a difficult album to categorize. That's not a bad thing, merely and observation. I hear elements of early jazz, album rock, and, of course, blues.

"The Man I Keep Hid" is haunting and reminds me of the blues, but only in passing. I liked "Death To The Storm" so much, I listened to it twice on the first listen. It's one of my favorites on this album. I also liked "All Blues Hail Mary," on the strength of the music and lyrics. "Progress of Love" is a nice little three-four song, a true rarity outside of country and folk. It works well for this album. "Suit On A Frame" is the closest thing to a rock style song, and only just barely. This is probably my second favorite track The styling reminds me of Sting. "Truce" is a wonderful song about life's contradictions and how to get through them; wise advice in any event. For what it's worth, "Stars" is also a good listen and a strong finish to a very interesting album.

This isn't my usual cup of tea. But I liked it very much.

all i can say about this album right now is that when it arrived an hour ago via UPS, i was more excited and happy than i've ever been about receiving a collection of music at my door. joe is an addiction for me - i've purchased every cd that is available - and this one will be played ad nauseum as well. blood from stars is dark and brooding and like velvet that's gotten wet. when it dries, the patterns from the wet are all there, pressed into the weft of maroon billiard table surfaces, soft and rough and beautiful, all at once.
lovely, haunting music, a voice that doesn't falter with age, incredible lyrics, and of course beautifully produced - it's all here.
and joe - i love you madly, too. please don't ever stop writing the "kind of artful persuasion that will keep you faint and disoriented, your dreams afloat". you do that so well, better than anyone else in this music world today. bring up that parade. we'll be on the sidelines, watching and listening and swaying to the beat.

I didn't expect Henry to top "Fuse," a long-time favorite, but he's done it here. The liner notes alone are worth the purchase; he describes the process of creating this CD in prose that left me as breathless as the creative music and arrangements I've come to expect.

I first came to Joe Henry through his production work with Bettye LaVette, Susan Tedeschi, Teddy Thompson, Elvis Costello/Allen Toussaint and Solomon Burke and this is the first of his own releases that I've heard. On first listen it sounds a bit like 'Tom Waits - Lite' particularly on songs like "The Man I Keep Hid" and "Death to the storm". I don't mean this as a put-down but mainly because of the left-field production, arrangements and also possibly because of the presence of guitarist Mark Ribot. However, unfortunately Joe doesn't have Tom Waits' extraordinary voice or his ability to write memorable, heart-rending ballads. What he does have is the ability to create wonderful, dramatic sonic landscapes, as in the track "Suit On A Frame". This track and several others are like listening to a film - the sounds are so vivid and theatrical.

I think this is a very interesting album that actually sounds amazing but it definitely needs a couple more really good songs to raise it to four or five stars. Amazon are categorising this as 'blues' but for me this isn't blues (or jazz) but if you do like Tom Waits give it a go, it could be right up your street. My highlights were "All Blues Hail Mary", "Death to the storm" and "Truce".

I like this. Blues, a voice somewhere between Randy Newman and Mose Allison. Mellow energetic music for a quiet or introspective day.

Some artists just can't be overrated. I've been a fan of Mr Henry for over twenty years and he still manages to evolve himself making every relase worth buying.

This is Joe Henrys best record since his two best albums Fuse and Scar. Once again he manages to blend together everything from jazz and tin pan alley to blues and country. It's seamless and it's unique. If you haven't discovered one of the most intresting artists on the scene today, this is a great starting point.

I'll keep listening, and trying. Sometimes a record, cd, whatever we call it, has to grow on you. While this sounds like a Joe Henry record. (Organic , textural soundscapes that could and should be co-opted into a soundtrack). For me, the songs just aren't there. There's a lot of sonic meandering. Which is great if it leads somewhere. But here? It just never seems to get going. Now don't let me stop you from buying and enjoying it. It's a fine record. I've never liked criticism that waxes about what something isn't. Instead of celebrating what a work is. Which is exactly what I'm doing here. So. Maybe, I'll take a long drive, on a deserted road, and give it a few more listen's.

The album is well written and equally well-recorded. Very intelligent and lonely. But it doesn't seem to capture a soul. I don't hear any honest confessions or pain or love, or any emotion whatsoever, Simply well sung metaphors and lyrics. A manufactured product. Blood from Stars is as vivid a portrayal as any film, but its not really real. Blade Runner Blues