Customer Reviews

Crusades Of The Restless Knights

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ray has plugged away for decades trying to live down the memory of writing "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother". Anyone coming into this or any other Ray disc expecting this sort of barroom sing-along is in the wrong place. Ray writes deep, funny, touching songs with excellent musicianship to back it up.

In his live shows, you have the benefit of hearing the stories behind the songs, and you can see the true skill Ray has acquired at playing the guitar. He really seems to believe what he is singing in every instance, as if he has felt every emotion that is put forth.

In said live shows, the biggest reaction goes to "Conversations With the Devil", which threatens to be his new signature song. It is perhaps the most funny, yet also insightful, thing he has written, and I would think he would gladly replace Redneck Mother with this newer work.

The sound is stripped-down - Ray with a few players - but that's all he needs. The power of the songwriting and performance come through in what is perhaps one of the best country albums in a long time. Forget Nashville. Ray is creating art in Texas.

Tha amazing thing about Ray Wylie is that each disc is so good that you cant believe that the next could possibly be as good. But then the latest release comes along and surpasses the rest. As a songwriter and performer he is simply without parallel. Not only does he write great lyrics, he writes extraordinary music that brings out the most in those lyrics. Then he plumbs the depth of both in that husky evocative voice that plunges right into the listeners heart and soul.

This is great American music!

What if radio stations never played Dylan or Springsteen?

Ray Wylie Hubbard is not a new kid on the block, but with Crusades of the Restless Knights, Ray may finally be on his way to getting the recognition he so much deserves. Hubbard gets almost no air time in most markets -- perhaps his thinking persons' country/folk/rock is not what many station directors are looking for. Nonetheless, his well honed musical abilities and intelligent, thought provoking lyrics are winning over new listners every day. People are telling people, and Ray Wylie Hubbard is on his way!

The album is fresh, original Hubbard, covering the spectrum from folk to country to rock. There's nothing shallow and superficial here. This album is nothing but winners, coupling Hubbard's deeply observant, thoughtful, poetic abilities, and his head-nodding, foot-tapping country/folk/rock.

With Crusades, and listners' word-of-mouth, Hubbard is proving that great music will be recognized, whether radio stations play it or not.

Ray Wylie Hubbard deserves an award for the titles of his CDs: "Growl, Loco Gringo's Lament, Delirium Tremolos," and "Crusades of the Restless Knights," maybe the best title of them all. "Crusades" is folk music mixed with country and gospel, heavy on the metaphysics and as always with more than a hint of rowdiness.

"The Messenger" is my favorite song on the CD. Ray's recorded it before, but this time he does it with a quavery voice and strong backing vocals by Patty Griffin. "The River Bed" is another good one. He describes the song as "A quarter moon, a river bed, a beautiful woman...she just happens to be dead." That'll give you the flavor of Hubbard's songs: death and Texas, Rilke and Buddha, love and cocaine, Jesus and a hot woman in a "Red Dress."

A song I don't like on this CD is "Conversation with the Devil" which is too obviously derivative from an early Bob Dylan number, but all the others are good to great. A touching number is "Airplane Fell Down in Dixie" which is a subtle tribute. I won't tell you to who (whom?); you'll have to figure that out yourself. Hubbard, as usual, supplements his weathered voice and acoustic guitar with a collection of instruments and fine players. Dobro, fiddle, and mandolin are prominent. A cardboard box is used on one number -- and Ray learned to play slide guitar for this CD.

"Crusades" is one of half a dozen outstanding CDs Ray Wylie Hubbard has made over the last decade. The title of this review, by the way, comes from Ray's description of one of his songs. He says he hit two out of the six.

Smallchief

Ray Wylie Hubbard is truely amazing. And if your a Texas music fan, you must hear all of Ray's stuff before you die. The man has never put out a bad record, or a bad song for that matter. There is no filler in Ray Wylie Hubbard. He put's his heart and soul into every song he writes. This album continues in the Ray Wylie tradition. You can learn something from every song too. Ray is a class guy, the real deal. And he does the Messenger again. Good, I'm glad, it's one of my favorite songs of all time. And don't miss him live! This man lives for his music and that's no lie.

I admit, all I'd heard before was "Up against the wall..."

Well, that's not this Ray Wylie Hubbard. Yes, "Crusades" has its own raw power, angst, and humor like the previous works, but Hubbard is talking about some deep subjects here: God, ghosts, a deeper life with depth and genuine feeling.

It's a little bit of country with a folk feeling. Yes, this CD will get Ray Wylie the airplay he well deserves.

You know I am going back to listen to some of his older music now.

I am a 12 year old guitarist who attended a songwriter's workshop with Ray in Boerne, TX. When my dad and I heard "Conversations With The Devil," we knew we had to buy this CD. We already had "Dangerous Spirits" and "Live At Cibolo Creek Country Club," but I must say, this is my favorite release I have heard by Ray. There is an incredible variety in the songs, like the blues-influenced opener "Crows" to ballads like "There Are Some Days" and "The Messenger." In the words of Ray himself..."It was 'wuth it."

This album made my CD player SMOKE! It is the finest yet from master Twinkie Ray. Kickass instrumentation. Powerfully sublime lyrics by a thinking man. Ray's "song telephone" is working better than ever! I hope his connection stays clear and strong.

I'll come out it right here up front. CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVIL is a Masterspiece!!! Nothing less. As far as the entire CD goes, well, I would never have believed that Ray could top "Dangerous Spirits" or "Loco Gringo's Lament" but I've now decided that he has accomplished that near impossible mission. This new CD of his is a must have!!

"Even crows act like eagles when they find a dying snake."

In Western Pennsylvania (where I live), crows are everywhere. If you want to see an eagle, you have to be very lucky or willing to brave the wilderness. And snakes don't survive by exposing themselves to humans, so you're more likely to find them dead than alive. That Ray Wylie Hubbard sees, knows and cares about such things, derives wisdom by observing the process and is capable of capturing it in a song makes me want to thank God for placing such talent on the earth. He's obviously willing to brave the wilderness, literally and figuratively, and the result is a stunning collection of songs.

This CD was my initiation to this guy's body of recorded work. He's a great songwriter.