December's Child

Mark Olson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dualtone Music Group
• ASIN: B000069COB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,741 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

MARK OLSON AND THE CREEKDIPPERS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Vibrations, August 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: December's Child (Audio CD)

My Own Jo Ellen, Olson's previous release, was a five-star CD in my book and it was on my best of the year list, as well. December's Child treads the same turf but with less successful results. Not to say this is a bad release. It's not, but lacks the some of the innocent charm of 'Jo Ellen.'

Alta's Song, December's Child, Nerstrand Woods, Climb These Steps, and How Can This Be? are wonderful songs--good feelings abound. I can appreciate the Carter family-styled Cactus Wren, but to be honest I usually skip this track. The inclusion of One Eyed Black Dog Moses--which the band usually closes their live performances with--seems unnecessary and plods along compared to the other songs. Say You'll Be Mine--the ballyhooed collaboration with Gary Louris--is a nice respite from the lo-fi proceedings.

With each release I grow to appreciate Olson's skill as a songwriter. I can't imagine any other performer penning a song as personal and affirming as How Can This Be. More good news--fiddler Mike Russell has a big role here. Let's hope he tours with the 'Dippers this time around.

Victoria Williams, whose spirit and nature jumped out of My Own Jo Ellen on practically every groove even though her involvement was minimal, is not nearly as visible here. This is a Mark Olson CD, not an Olson/Williams CD.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Former Jayhawks lead singer, December 17, 2003

By 

Michael H. Griffin Jr. "mikey" (Richmond, Virginia United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: December's Child (Audio CD)

I will keep this review short. I love this disc. In fact, I have enjoyed all of Mark Olson releases, back to the Jayhawks, but I find myself playing this album more than any other of his great career. Say you'll be Mine is my personal highlight of the many great songs here.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Mark Olson . . ., August 1, 2002

By 

"bushbean" (Vashon, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: December's Child (Audio CD)

. . . then you will indubitably like this record. If you like Victoria Williams/Mabel Allbright, then you will be somewhat disappointed with the abridgment of her contributions as a backing vocalist and songwriter. Mark Olson's lyrics are smarter and more visionary then ever, and he pulls the familiar (but perpetually irresistible) hooks out of his bag of tricks. As a result, great songs abound, though the quirky production and regrettable experiments with vocal harmonies makes me wish (1) that most of those songs had been recorded on the relatively more lush and electrified 'My Own Jo Ellen' (which, if you like Mark and Victoria, you should own), or (2) that Olson had scaled back the production and revisited the truly lo-fi sound of the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdipper's earlier efforts. (I should addd that although still around for this recording session, Mike Russell's apparently permanent departure from the Creekdippers is a grave loss.) Gary Louris's one-track cameo and songwriting credit adds nothing other than its promotional value. And the finale, 'One Eyed Black Dog Moses', is just silly. But 9 of 11 ain't bad, especially when 3 ('How Can I Send Tonight', 'Alta's Song', and 'How Can This Be') are sublime.