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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So This Is The End...., February 15, 2007
This review is from: Cake Or Death (Audio CD)
For those who don't already know, Cake or Death is Lee Hazlewood's long-promised and long-awaited career finale. On first listen, I had mixed feelings about it but subsequent listens brought me around to embracing it whole-heartedly as an album worthy of a singer/songwriter of Hazlewood's stature. It has all the elements of an enduring Hazlewood classic that nods to his past and looks to his future while remaining rooted in the present.
I like the whole CD with the exception of the snippet of Some Velvet Morning performed by his granddaughter which is cute, but out of place. But I suppose Lee's fans can forgive him a little self-indulgence after the years of listening pleasure he has given us.
Among my favorites are Nothing, with its touch of wry Hazlewood humor; the accordion-driven Sacrifice; the ominous sounding surf-rock of The First Song of the Day; the patriotic Anthem; the humorous White People Thing; and Lee's bittersweet acceptance of his looming mortality in T.O.M.
However, the best cut on the CD is a splendid rearrangement of the famous Boots. That is so well done with its jazzy horns and Duane Eddy's guitar that its hard to keep from hitting the replay button over and over. As much as I like Lee's original recording of Boots and the subsequent rendition by Nancy Sinatra, it is this arrangement that is the best. Thanks, Lee!
As all good things must come to an end, it is with sadness that Hazlewood's fans must accept that Cake or Death is likely the last we will hear musically from him. I bought this at a favorite West Coast CD shop where it was flying off the shelves and I urge all who read this to get one for themselves. Not because its Hazlewood's last, but because its one of his best.
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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's worth buying, but..., January 23, 2007
This review is from: Cake Or Death (Audio CD)
I really like a lot of the tracks on this record but a handful won't survive the journey from my computer to my IPod. When I first heard about his granddaughter (Phaedra) singing "Some Velvet Morning" I loved the idea... I was dead wrong. It's the stuff hidden bonus tracks are made of; but on an album that's only 13 tracks as it is I'm really disappointed to hear it on the record. It sounds like she sang it through the phone and he recorded it at the other end on a boombox. The song, "White People Thing" feels a little too much like a Jeff Foxworthy joke to me. My other omitted track would be "She's Gonna Break Some Heart Tonight" sung by Tommy Parsons... it's not that bad of a track but I paid to here Lee Hazlewood sing not Tommy Parsons. Now that I got all that off my chest I should say that everything else on this record is really strong and well worth the money even if you're only listening to 10 of the 13 tracks like I will.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lee's Last Stand, March 22, 2007
Well here it is, Lee Hazlewood's long-anticipated musical adieu. I already own the US issue of Cake or Death but I generally like to get the "Special Edition" or the imported version which usually has a little something extra for the fan. But in this case, there is no difference that justifies the added expense, especially the 26 dollars which is the current lowest price. The main difference is that the German release comes sans plastic jewel box. I got mine here from an amazon partner for just three dollars over the price of the domestic release, so I don't feel bad. I'll just give the other as a gift to someone who needs to be introduced to the music of Lee Hazlewood.
As for the music, I like Cake or Death more everytime I hear it. In my review of the US release I mentioned my favorite cuts. That list has since been expanded. I still think Hazlewood's retooled version of "Boots" is highlight of the CD, it certainly has become far and away my favorite version. But that is certainly not all there is. I also highly enjoy the accordion-laced Sacrifice, the ominous-sounding, surf-guitar driven The First Song of the Day, the dry Its Nothing To Me, the star-spangled Anthem, the hilarious White People Thing, and the bittersweet anticipation of Lee's pending date with mortality in T.O.M.
While those are my favorites, I enjoy the other songs as well with the exception of the overly cute rendition of the refrain from Some Velvet Morning sung by Hazlewood's granddaughter.
If you are a fan of Lee Hazlewood on any level, I recommend you buy the US release of Cake or Death. Lee's last stand will spend a lot of time in my CD player. Don't buy this just because its his last, but because its one of his best.
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