Customer Reviews

Chameleon (Dig)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Tim O'Brien on this album reminds me of Woody Guthrie, especially the way he sings "This World was Made for Everyone". That song is very evocative of "This Land is Your Land. Got a child at home, four or five years old, he or she is gonna smile a lot with "Get Out There and Dance" and "Megna's". And if you want to give a listen to some pickin' extraordinaire just give a listen to "Crooked Road."

Time plays guitar, mandolin, violin and bousouki (yes that's a real instrument) on this album and he does them all expertly. "Nothing to Say" the closer on the album is my favorite, it seems so personal to Tim, but I also particularly like opener "Where's Love Come From," and "Safe in Your Arms," another song that seems autobiographical. This is a good CD, with something here for the adult in us all and for the child too.

"The whole effort is just Tim O'Brien, no other artists, singing and playing 16 original songs with only one instrument for each tune. They range from the jazz-based, to the gospel, to Celtic influences. Obrien's talent as a song-writer is tremendous." JP Tausig

I know Tim O'Brien and this CD has me tappin' my toes, clappin' my hands and movin' all over. Tim O'Brien is a living legend in many areas of music. 'Chameleon' runs from traditional bluegrass to Scots-Irish ballads to folkie. Tim O'Brien plays the guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo, and sings and writes many songs. Who could ask for anything more?

My favorite song 'Where's Love Come From, Where's Love Go?' it is an up-tune jazzy kind of song full of questions and no answers. The title song, 'Chameleon'-feels like an old John Denver tune, it fits Tim O'Brien.
'The Only Way To Never Hurt' is an old time country heartbreak song. 'Get Out There and Dance' is a song my 5 year old granddaughter would love- "you gotta get out there and get in the grove- step it to the left and step it to the right- as long aa you're doin' it, do it right'". 'There's Nothing To Say'- love the lyrics and momentum- "just a guy who plays a guitar, who comes and plays where ever you are'.

"The bottom line is that Tim O'Brien is a stellar songwriter, a stellar instrumentalist, and an intuitive producer. All those elements come together swimmingly on this, his 14th solo record. In fact, Chameleon is, dare I say, will surely prove to be one of the best folk and roots releases this year." Chris Gome

Folk songs, country songs, Irish Celtic songs, are all the genre of music that assists us in remembering our heritage; where we have gone, where we are going and what are we gonna do. Tim O'Brien is one of the masters-

Highly Recommended. prisrob 05-11-08

Traveler

Tim O'Brien features his range of talents with stringed instruments in this crisp CD, Chameleon. In fact, it is the extraordinary mix of vocal and instrumental styles that truly makes this collection a "chameleon". Tim O'Brien is not a "one size fits all" singer and instrumentalist.

As you listen to this album, you will be struck with mental flashes of other accomplished musical artists: Gordon Lightfoot, Ricky Skaggs, Steven Fromholz, and even some Hawaiiana.

If you are not sure whether you are a fan of America folk, start with Chameleon.

Tim O'Brien is back with yet another terrific album that is definitely one for the books! Tim's voice is able to convey all the subtle nuances of the lyrics; and he sings with a type of heartfelt passion that I rarely hear and enjoy. Chameleon is a strong album featuring Tim with several different types of guitars and similar instruments; and every single song is really quite memorable.

"Where's Love Come From" explores how loving relationships come and go; Tim sings passionately of how love can go and go because of the very human feelings that we all inevitably experience. Tim's guitar playing is flawless, too--it's all THAT good. In addition, "Hoss Race" has an excellent beat; this catchy melody is very well written. However, an even better song comes with "The Garden;" this tender love song moves me every time I hear it and it tugs at my heartstrings quite a bit. Tim delivers "The Garden" with panache and this impresses me greatly.

"Megna's" features Tim reminiscing about a man named Mr. Megna who peddled vegetables and other foods from his truck. Tim sings this brilliantly with a folksy style that is very pleasing to the ear! Tim's mandola playing enhances the natural beauty of this fine number. Tim is also very able to project his voice as he mimics the way Mr. Megna would cry out to the neighborhood what he had for sale that day. "The Only Way To Never Hurt" is a song that has Tim lamenting a love gone awry; he wants to run away and hide because his heart aches so badly. "The Only Way To Never Hurt" is "to never love at all;" this message is true but love is worth the potential pain a person can feel. Tim does hold out hope that "someday (he) will love again," great!

"Get Out There And Dance" is yet another catchy tune that Tim delivers with a lot of style and that impresses me greatly. Tim really sings this with all his might and just one listen proves it. "Get Out There And Dance" encourages people to live life and enjoy it. In addition, "Safe In Your Arms" starts with Tim singing a cappella; and he never sings a superfluous note! Tim sings this song to celebrate the fact that his one true love will comfort him no matter what life throws his way; and Tim's fiddle playing is very well done.

"Crooked Road" has a fine arrangement; and when Tim comes in this number takes off like a jet! The CD also ends very strong with Tim O'Brien performing "Nothing To Say;" "Nothing To Say" puts Tim front and center--and that's OK by me! Tim sings and plays this ballad very well and it makes a solid ending for this album.

Tim O'Brien is truly a great talent; and we are all better off for his sharing his gift with us. I highly recommend this album for Tim's fans; and people who enjoy folk music will appreciate this CD as well.

I had the pleasure of seeing Tim O'brien's solo performance a few years back at a wonderful little venue called Hugh's Room in Toronto. It was shortly after 'Traveler' was released and many of the tunes played that evening were from the album. Fiddle, bazouki, mandolin and guitar were all played with masterful precision and Tim's vocals were absolutely beautiful and pitch perfect. It was an unforgettable evening and easily the best show of this kind that I have ever seen.

Needless to say, I've been waiting for an album like this from Tim. It's like a postcard from an old friend. It's personal. It brings out the emotions like nothing else can. 'Chameleon' is a collection of new Tim O'brien tunes played by just Tim with his arsenal of instruments...including, for the first time ever, a banjo!! and it's pure magic from beginning to end.

Tim O'brien is offering us another example of his very special talents. His uncanny ability to reach a part of us all, through his music, is shared by only a few. Recordings such as 'Chameleon', that are brimming with the essence of humanity, are very rare in today's world. This is a disc to own and play often, through the best and worst of times. It's one to cherish.

Update: Great to see so many listeners offering their comments and opinions here. Chameleon still gets my nod for excellence.

I have endless admiration for Tim O'Brien the picker and Tim O'Brien the singer. There are albums of his that I've spent a lot of time with: his unjustly obscure "Guess Who's In Town" disk on Biscuit City (which consists mostly of swing-type tunes); his great collaborations with David Grier and Dirk Powell ("Hootenanny") and again with Powell and John Herrmann ("Songs from the Mountain" -- killer O'Brien vocals on that) and his album with Darrell Scott ("Real Time"); his work with Hot Rize and NewGrange; and right through to his O'Boys album with Schatz and Nygaard and his album of Dylan songs, "Red on Blonde." It's hard to fault his tasteful playing and soulful, unique singing on any of these.

That said, I've never connected with Tim O'Brien the songwriter. He's had occasional gems scattered throughout his career -- "Walk the Way the Wind Blows," "More Love," "Hard Pressed," etc. -- but I've always found his writing inconsistent, and with a bit of a silly streak that just feels forced to me. Maybe he and I just come from different perspectives, but I feel like with his other talents being so staggeringly great, he should consider relegating his songwriting to 2-3 strong cuts per album.

So, naturally, I am not part of the target audience for a full album of O'Brien's original songs. I was hoping "Chameleon" might change my mind on his writing, but no dice. The same things that always rankled me -- the aw-shucks goofiness, the uninteresting peace and love platitudes, the unleavened sentimentality -- are in full effect here. To me, a fair amount of it smacks of laziness (he nicks the refrain from "Cotton Eyed Joe" twice?). I'd rather him sing the tar out of "Molly and Tenbrooks" than write a new song based on it ("Hoss Race," which again borrows some phrases from the older song). Do I really care about his stodgy views on cellphones ("Phantom Phone Call") -- and didn't Kristin Andreassen write a much better song about the same topic on her recent album? "Megna's" is a song that is simply the call of a neighborhood vegetable vendor, with little insight brought to the main character or his condition. Surface stuff...My point being that, unfortunately, O'Brien's immense gifts as a singer and musician (some nice pickin' here, by the way, on a variety of instruments) only serve to heighten the vapidity of much of his songwriting.

I gotta be honest...I'm sure I'll get some flack from my comments, but, well, I guess I was biased going in, but I tried to put all that out of my mind. But all my old qualms came back to me, in shades of mediocrity. Do you like how I stole that old Paul Simon line and recontextualized it to virtually no effect? Then you might like this album...

I really enjoyed this CD, and have listened to it repeatedly. The songs on Chameleon are in the style of folk and traditional country music, and O'Brien sings his songs in a warm, casual voice with just the right amount of authentic twang. Chameleon helps me unwind and puts me in a good mood, with its upbeat (and amazing) fiddling and fingerpicking. Highly recommended.

This is the first time that I've ever heard of Tim O'Brien. Listening to the snippets on the product page enticed me enough to give this album a shot through the Vine program. I was quite surprised. Take a little bit of folk, a little bit of bluegrass, add some straight-up hillbilly and a little politics and you have O'Brien's latest album, "Chameleon." Playing instruments that span a time period from 1922 to 2004, O'Brien peppers his traditional sounding tunes with some very modern topics. "Phantom Phone Call" is played on a 1922 Carlo Micelli Fiddle, but the lyrics speak of a much more modern invention, the cell phone, and the dangers that may or may not come with it. "Get Out There And Dance" is pretty straightforward as to what it is about, and its simplicity sounds sweet coming from a 1975 Nugget A-5 mandolin. Other highlights include "Hoss Race," "Father Forgive Me," and the wonderful "World of Trouble."

If you enjoy alt country, that high lonesome sound, and traditional Blue Ridge sounds, Tim O'Brien is your man.

If there's any justice in the recording industry (and I have my doubts) Chameleon is going to take the Best Folk Recording of 2008. "Chameleon" is a CD worth owning. Download tracks if you must, but this CD is of a whole, and it hits all the right notes. According to the liner notes, Tim O'Brien took his instruments (and he plays a lot of them at virtuoso level) and a bunch of song ideas into the woodshed and didn't come out until he had this recording. Time well spent.

"Chameleon" kicks off with a bluesy guitar riff that gets you bouncing from the first few bars. I'm put in the mind of Leon Redbone but with more ooomph. In fact there are a number of cuts on this CD that remind me of other artists: Norman Blake, Tom Paxton, and even the great John Prine, but the tunes are derivative in only the best sense that this is rooted American music that builds on tradition. That may account for the title, Mr. O'Brien might change his colors, but he remains a lizard throughout.

Mr. O'Brien is also just a little ticked off at the state of the world, and the individual cupidity that keeps things running down. Hence the Tom Paxton influence. Politics with a humorous edge - good for kids and adults.

It's not often I'm able to give anything a whole-hearted recommendation, but "Chameleon" is one of the few gems out there that shines in any light.

Buy it! Buy the whole thing! You'll like it.

I've been listening to Tim O'Brien for more than twenty years now, and continue to be amazed that his voice, and his material, just keep getting better.