Customer Reviews

Chase the Buffalo

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4 star:		(1)
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I realize that this review is about 15 years too late, but this is one of the best CD's from one of the "New Singer/Songwriter Movement" Alums. Pettis, every bit as good, if not better, than movement mates Gorka, Colvin and Vega, delivers a work of stunning depth and clarity with "Chase the Buffalo." From his usual homage to Mark Heard that begin most of his CD's (Here, it's the wonderful "Nod Over Coffee"), all the way through to the closer "Envelopes of Light", this CD delivers beautiful playing, strong vocals and enough melody to satisfy over several releases. My personal Favorites are "Nod Over Coffee", "You're Not There", "Natchez Trace", "Family", "Trying to Stand in a Fallen World"...... hell, the entire CD is a Home Run!!!
Pierce has been around for about 20 years and still tours regularly. His music is reminiscent of John Gorka, Jonathan Edwards, Mark Heard, etc., real personal singer/songwriter stuff, but he can also rock and has a sense of humor in his songs as well. This title was out of print for a while when High Street Records was sold by Windham Hill. It's nice to see that Amazon has it available. If you are a fan of any of the above-mentioned artists and enjoy singer/songwriter, new folk stylings, then get this CD.

Pierce Pettis is without a doubt, the most talented singer/songwriter nobody's heard of. Pierce's sense of lyric and melody is as finely developed as anyone's; his songs, whether whimsical observations, vignettes of small-town Southern life, or penetrating social commentaries, can easily stand beside those of Bob Dylan or Woody Guthrie. This recording, one of his finest, is no longer in print, so if you find a copy, don't waste time wondering if you'll like it, JUST GET IT. It's really a crime that this CD is no longer available and that Pierce can't sell it. "Chase the Buffalo" opens, as all of Pierce's post-1992 CDs do, with a Mark Heard cover--this one "Nod Over Coffee," a mournful observation about how we are all slaves to our schedules and the momentum of meaninglessness. (Heard, who produced Pettis' previous recording, "Tinseltown," died of a heart attack.) Every other track is written by Pettis himself, other than "No More Sad Songs," a collaboration with two other artists. There isn't a clunker on this entire CD, but the absolute highlights include: "Natchez Trace," a soaring, melodic ballad with gorgeous high-string guuitar accompaniment; "Family," a deeply moving observation on death and redemption; "Trying to Stand in a Fallen World," a rousing, up-tempo, conversational tune: ("Do you ever feel this way? Like there is no escape/and you're out there all alone/in a place that's not your home/trying to stand in a fallen world?"); "Lions of the Colosseum," a wry critique of conservative Christians "with their manes of hair" criticizing other Christians who take their social activism seriously (made relevant again by Glenn Beck's "social justice" comments); "Chase the Buffalo," which parallels historical Native American buffalo hunts to one's own life/musical journey ("I have wandered like those herds/lost in music, lost in words/ But the hunger leads me on/seductive like a siren song. . .Before the beauty melts like snow/chase the buffalo"); "Stickman," a poignant, poetic, powerful rumination on the end of an AIDS patient's life. I could go on, but I hope you get the point. This is a masterful piece of art executed by a brilliant singer-songwriter and his more-than able friends in the studio. Pierce has a number of other outstanding recordings, most notable (in my opinion) "Everything Matters," "State of Grace," and his latest, "That Kind of Love." Buy them and you won't be disappointed. And check out his web site. If he's coming to a town near you, don't miss him. This man should have LEGIONS of fans.

This was the first Pierce Pettis CD I ever bought, and it just knocked me off my feet. I'm not a real touchy-feely kind of guy; I'm a Vietnam-era former Marine Officer, but this guy's 'Family' made me weep, and can still do the same thing years later. He's a one-in-a-million poet who writes songs that can make you laugh and cheer, or completely fall apart, and sings and records them so you can understand exactly what he's saying. He's a fine guitarist and has a very pleasant singing voice. Since buying this, I've bought every Pierce Pettis CD upon release, without even listening to tracks - and NEVER been disappointed. This guy is GOOD. Get this one, then get 'em all.

Pierce Pettis is an overlooked folk-singer from Alabama. He has released eight albums but he has had most of his success being covered by other artists. I would describe his sound as Bruce Cockburn with a much better voice.

There are 14 tracks here, most of which are very good. He also has a fine band with Jim Keltner on drums, Booker T on organ, and David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) playing on everything from electric 12 string guitar to accordion to an 8 string Peruvian thingamajig. This CD was also nicely produced by bassist David Miner (who goes all the way back to being a founding member of Grace Slick's Great Society).

I first heard of Pierce Pettis after a private concert that he played for a national music store chain. The music was great, and Pierce's personality and warmth really made me fall in love with this album. Last week I have bought the 5th copy of this album for myself (due to the fact I have given the other 4 away) and I can not tell you how excited I was to receive it (hard to find anywhere except Amazon)!

If I could only say one thing about this album is that it makes you feel the same way that cuddling up to a warm fire on a cold winters night with that special someone does. It creates a warm, spirited, thoughtful and composed feeling that can only be described as "special" while drawing you into every note and vocal inflection.

Creativity and a statment of a race no longer dwelling with strength on its own soil. love , compassion and passion in the lyrics that make you think and feel the passing of an age of the American Indians. Poetic genius and unpraised talent of the american artist is all here on his album