Customer Reviews

Chris Whitley Live at Martyrs

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Chris Whitley has undergone many changes as a musician, even if we ignore his experiences before recording Living with the Law. Of his recorded works, my favorite is easily Dirt Floor-- a brilliant set of emotionally intense songs recorded just the way I like it-- alone with acoustic instruments (a National and a banjo). While the arrangements on this live recording are similar, the feel is quite different. Whitley has moved towards a more cerebral approach, heavy on microtonal nuances that are easy to mistake for out-of-tune playing (I still have to reassure myself every time I listen to this one that it had to be intentional given Whitley's skill). This album doesn't have the same power as Dirt Floor, and it may take some time, but it will grow on you. As a warning, though, if you're one of the people who trashed Din of Ecstacy and Terra Incognita, you probably won't like this one.

This is not a music review, it's a Why Chris Whitley Is Always In My CD Player story.

I had Din of Ecstasy already, had heard Kick the Stones and Big Sky Country, but had not felt the power.

Living in New Orleans sometimes means Getting The Hell Out. While I was evacuated, I had no idea where my life was headed. Standing in an empty apartment in Buffalo, NY with a fantastic stereo, good bourbon, and Chris Whitley's Live at Martyr's.

There in the dark with Chris, I felt like maybe I was a little less alone. Not that the world would be better, but that, well, he'd been there.

Now he's gone, and we just have his music. But I still think he understands. And for at least 20 minutes of my day, Chris Whitley is there.

Buy it, enjoy it, feel it.

Maybe after people hear this they will understand "Din Of Ecstasy".If you have been lucky enough to see Chris live recently this is just what you got.Chris,his guitar,a stomping boot and that incredible,haunting voice.This is as intense as anything since Blind Willie Johnson.A must have.

I think "Live at Martyrs" is a great album! To those that don't like the opening cut (Dirt Floor): the way it sounds is what happens when you take an 1930's National guitar which was NEVER EVER meant to be amplified, plug it into a little 1960's tube amp turned up to 9 or 10, and mic'ed with a mic hanging down in front of the amp by the amp's carrying handle. Then you add Chris playing the...whole thing, really digging into the strings. Mix that all together and you get "Dirt Floor." And that's what I like about it. It's SO punk rock! It's SO Nicolai Tesla! It's SO Albert Einstein. It's SO William Gibson! If it sounds a little rough, it's only because he's asking things of his gear that it would rather not do. And yet, he pulls it off with conviction.

It's a soundman's worst nightmare, a serious trainwreck!!

I like "Din of Ecstasy" for the same reasons I like this CD. Chris just doesn't play nice on that album and that's why it stands out to me. To me, this album is the same way. I like "Law" and "Dirt Floor" for different reasons. Each album of his is carried by a different vision and this one is no exception. I can't wait till "Hotel" comes out so I can hear the latest vision.

It takes a very mature musician to craft a totally unique style. It takes even more to do it using equipment in ways other than it was intended. But then to do it without the slightest shred of timidity! This album is a clear showcase of how Chris Whitley has reached this pinnacle of musicianship.

Live at Martyrs' would be the only live release that the late great Chris Whitley would record during his lifetime. Like his previous release, the excellent Dirt Floor, it just features Chris' voice and guitar. However, while Dirt Floor was subdued for the most part, Live at Martyrs' shows a range of emotions. Unlike most musicians, Chris preferred to take the road less traveled by often altering his songs in a live setting to express a distinctive mood. This trait, along with his explosive performances, led to many fans and critics lauding his shows as legendary and Live at Martyrs proves this statement true.

Over half of the album's tunes come from his first two albums. Stripped down to their core, "Living With The Law", "Poison Girl", and especially "Long Way Around" are stronger than those originally recorded on Living With The Law, showing the emotion that was often harnessed by the production in their original versions. The tunes featured from the noisy Din of Ecstasy album are also impressive as "New Machine" is even more ragged while "Narcotic Prayer" and "God Thing" sound more real, beautiful in fact, in a more intimate setting. "Firefighter", later renamed "Little Torch", and "Serve You" also benefit from their more sparse settings. Other highlights include the upbeat killer country blues of "Home Is Where You Get Across", the haunting "The Model" and "From One Island to Another" and the mostly a capella read on "Big Sky Country" which leads into a wicked version of "Gasket" that closes the set. All told, Live at Martyrs' proves Chris' reputation as a legendary live performer. Highly recommended.

What is your tolerance for listening to raw, tinny, distorted electric guitar? After purchasing this record, you will learn very quickly your own threshhold. Rather than hearing the possible full dynamic range of Chris using his amazing voice with his acoustic guitars, we instead listen through the thin noise of distorted guitar which often times muffles and obscures his tremendous playing ability. This live performance could have been a hundred time better if it were an "unplugged" version of the same. I love Chris Whitley's talent and his music, but I would have loved it that much more had he used a little forethought about what his audience really wanted to hear, which could also be the reason why he is not yet a household name.

Had the immense pleasure and disappointment (he was inconsistent, live) of seeing Chris play at Martyr's several times. The first time was for the recording of this CD.

It's impossible for me to NOT factor in the vibe and the feeling of being at the show, when reviewing this record, but I'll try...

Emotionally raw: This live set is not simply a man playing his songs live. When you listen, you'll hear a guy attacking his music with such energy and ferocity that you're easily left in awe. This was no carefully paced show with calculated, professional but uninspiring performances.
You can smell the sweat when you listen to this CD, feel your shoes stick to the beer spilt on the floor, marvel that the hair on your arms is standing straight up....

Chris Whitley was an amazing guitar player. The complaints of distortion, etc in this recording are only partially merited. He simply played THAT fast, and with much complexity.

His vocals on this recording are at time little more than cast off, when the emphasis was obviously on the guitar playing, but are still solid or better throughout.

Not a CD well suited as an introduction to his body of work. Honestly, most of the songs on this cd are better listened to, initially at least, on their respective studio recordings.
It's not an "easy" listen. It takes some time and effort, and if you're willing to put that effort in, you'll be rewarded many times over.

Standout tracks:

Big Sky Country
Home is Where You Get Across
Serve You

I first saw Chris Whitley in the basement of a bar in St. Louis with about 15 other people, a 'slow scene' according to the artist himself. It was truly the perfect venue to listen to what Whitley, alone on stage with a guitar (that looks like it was hit by a train, twice), a cigarette, and a boot to keep time. His playing is rough, granted, but it is honest, and it is the honesty in his voice and in his playing that I find most appealing. This is a great album, featuring a great and truly unique (see `honesty' above) artist, at his best - live. But don't just buy this album, seek him out and listen to what he does live, you won't regret it.

Great live CD.
Sometimes the sound of Chris' guitar is a bit tinny and abrasive.
The performances are excellent. This is really a must-have if you are a Chris Whitley fan.
All around a great CD. Really captures a live show and showcases a legend.
RIP C.W. We miss you!

I'm dying for a good Chris W. live recording with full band. Most of the performances on this record are completely over the top and just plain overdone. I just kept thinking "dude,relax".