Customer Reviews

Blues & Haikus

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

 

 

First, please ignore the above reviewer.
I'm glad the previous reviewer mentions Tom Waits. Let me point out that this was THE album which Tom Waits especially loved.
In one rare (bootleg) interview with Waits from 1974, he mentions how Kerouac's recordings were "real effective".
If you like the atmospheric smoky sax which sets up the perfect backdrop for Tom Waits' "Small Change" spoken verse track from the album of the same name, you will LOVE this recording. The only track which I feel could have been left off was the second one called "Hard-hearted old farmer" which sounds like a one-take throwaway (which is annoying because it seems like they could have been really on to something here if only they had worked at it a little more!) and that's the only reason I don't give this 5 stars.
There is another song on this CD which will remind you of the song about Neil and Jack (Jack&Neil/California Here I Come) which Waits recorded on his Foreign Affairs album.
KOn this album of Kerouac's though, you have a nice blend of great sax playing from Al Cohn and Zoot Sims (Kerouac's favourite tenorman incidentally) and Kerouac's breath-taking imagery which is without parallel - conjuring up such vivid (and sometimes stark) pictures in your mind.
As someone living in Japan and familiar with this type of poetry, I can also say with a fair degree of confidence that Kerouac has a strong (perhaps natural) affinity for haikus. Even though he does not rigidly follow the rules of haiku - such as having to include a 'seasonal' word or the syllable rhythm, he strings together the 'essence' of flashing images in beautiful zen-like minimalist fashion.
For all serious Kerouackians out there, this is NOT to be missed.
One final note - it sounds like Jack and co. are having so much fun making this record as Jack is constantly horsing around in the studio (sounds like he says he's too drunk at one stage) with the musicians and producer but that just adds to the warmth and the immediacy of the recording to the eager listener. There are very few albums out there like this except for the works of Tom Waits and Lord Buckley. Highly recommended. Open a bottle of wine or beer, then open your mind and press the play button for a tremendous ride.

I was disappointed . . . could of spent my $s more wisely . . . rambling and not much content OR insight at all

One star because he wrote 'on the road'
One star because he influenced artists like Tom Waits

That's it

NO APOLOGY