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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great collaboration, October 23, 2006
If you're a fan of Jim White's weirder stuff such as 'when Jesus got a brand new name', or, indeed, of his quieter songs like 'phone booth in heaven', or, if you're a fan of Talking Heads circa I Zimbra (and some of the African inflected stuff from 'Naked'), or, if you're a fan of stripped down post punk, and last, but not least, if you're a fan of Johnny Dowd, then chances are, you're really going to enjoy this CD.
All of the musical influences described above show up in one form or another on this record. By reading my description above, you might not think it would all fit together, but somehow it does. I can't tell a lie; Johnny Dowd is a little too 'out there' for my taste, but on "Chainsaw...", Jim White seems to have tamed him down just enough that you'll be humming the tunes in the back of your mind after just a few listens.
Willie B.'s drumming is tighter than a spider on rails. Several of the songs have some killer marimba rhythms going on (I believe courtesy of Jim White), and would lend themselves well to extended jams live. The last song on the album 'Dream on', has a distinct John Prine vibe, which may just be a sneak preview of the direction Jim White is headed with his forthcoming new album.
Some have called this collaboration an 'alt country supergroup'. I don't know about that, but it's dark yet catchy as hell (did I just make a pun on seemingly central theme of Johnny's?).
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The dark knights of creepy alt.country unite!, November 16, 2006
For anyone who follows the trails left by the shadowy roots-musicians Johnny Dowd and Jim White, Hellwood is a dream project. Seen together in the film 'Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus' (a must-see) the dark lyricists join forces with Willie B to create a really interesting album with a lot of edges. Dowd and White take turns singing pairs of songs, each bringing their unique voices and sounds to the project. My only complaint was that the whole affair seemed to be Dowd heavy (its not difficult to distinguish the distinct blues guitar/synth keyboard madness from Johnny when contrasted with Jim's usual off kilter-yet-lovely melodies) with more of the songs bearing his mark. Still, the actual workload is even, and the album offers great songs like 'Thank You Lord', 'Spider in the Bed' and 'Thomas Dorsey', an eerie gospel haunted by the late musician. Although it certainly won't crack the mainstream shell, 'Hellwood' is a darkly beautiful and compelling place.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Those who fall under Hellwood's spell will be rewarded many times over, October 31, 2006
According to their label's Web site, Hellwood recorded the CD "Chainsaw of Life" in a "cabin in central New York, in a room with walls covered in newspaper clippings of musician obituaries." Well, that sure explains a lot.
Hellwood may or may not be a musical purgatory, a place where good and evil seem to be on a seesaw ride. Hellwood, according to the CD, has a population of three, they being Johnny Dowd, Jim White, and Willie B.
That seesaw ride also extends to the music. Those three, together with some supporting musicians and background vocalist, churn out a type of goth-roots music--not sure what else to call it--unlike anything I've heard.
The marimbas and booming bass on the opening track are a good clue of the creative adventures that lie ahead--lots of unexpected, fresh sounding music. Hellwood's three citizens and their recording engineer, Dave Hinkle, have unleashed a thick, layered sound that conjures up hints of music that might evoke Drive-by Truckers in one spot and Beck in another.
Johnny Dowd brings his vocals, and guitar to the project; Jim White and Willie B. both play all kinds of instruments; Dowd and White both write lyrics and some of the music, and Willie B. composed the music on three tracks.
This recording is unlikely to gain much traction with the masses out there, but those who fall under Hellwood's spell will be rewarded many times over. (Incidentally, Hellwood's label, Munich Records, was also responsible for releasing the earliest Gourds CDs.)
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