Customer Reviews

Dirt

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is different from Mark Selby's first "More Storms Comin". As most of the critics are noting - it is deep and intense. On first listen you might long for the driving rock of the first album, but "Dirt" has true power, and staying-power for the real music lover. Wait until you hear "Desire" for the third or fourth time.... The amazing guitar work is subtle, the lyrics make you think, the arrangements are purposeful and brilliant. This is an album to learn from - a great wine - take a little time to savor it and you'll find you can't get enough.

Dirt should be nominated for Album of The Year -- even if it's just the Blues catagory, Dirt is the album of the year!

The fact that this guy is almost totally ignored by rock radio stuns me. I don't get why he isn't at least talked about more. Mark Selby is the creative force behind many of Kenny Wayne Shepherd's songs, but since KWS is on hiatus following his divorce, Selby has gone on his own to release two great albums. A master of the blues/rock guitar and slide, he shows his stuff even better and more consistantly on his new album "Dirt."

Mark's follow up to '99's More Storms Comin' features and eclectic mix of rock, blues, and southern rock styles formulated nicely on a very smooth album. Standout tracks include "Reason Enough", "Back Door To My Heart", "Willin' To Burn", "You", "Unforgiven", "One Man" and the title track; "Dirt".

The album may be a little slower than the last, but if you really appreciate the blues, then it won't make a difference. The insightful songwriting and talented playing are Selby's signatures and a sign of a truly great artist.

A must-have for the blues rock fan or anybody who appreciates good rock music!

Mark Selby's second release for Vanguard is in fact much different than More Storms Coming. Storms was full of hard driving blues rock songs with a few slow slide ballads.

On this album, Selby puts out a completely different sound. He nearly abandons his hard rocking, which at first was an extreme disappointment to me. After one listen, only a few songs including "Reason Enough" had the staying power that "Smoked" and "Satisfied" had from Storms. As far as slow songs go, only the title track "Dirt" really had the power and grit that "Blind Since Birth" and "More Storms" had.

There are certainly positive aspects of this album however. Selby's song writing is much deeper and is reflected in his slowed down songs. Most of the album has a mid-tempo groove, which gets better with each listen.

Overall this is a good album, but seems to lack the passion of Storms. This is a good effort by Selby, but leaves me wanting some more rock. If you are a Selby fan, you will probably enjoy this, and if you are looking for some slower stuff, this is a good album to get as Selby's vocals are stronger than ever. But if you want blues rock, this is not your album. Highlights on this album include Reason Enough, Dirt, and Willing to Burn.

On first listen this sounds quite inferior to the brilliant 'MORE STORMS COMIN". The sense of humour present on the first CD was somewhat missing on this one. After 4 weeks of listening, this has grown on me. Not one bad track on this CD and every song is a killer. If you liked "STORMS" you will love this as well. SELBY is one of the best song writers out there today. This confirms his status. Every song has a life of its own and you find yourself singing along after a few listens, although you hadn't realised that you even knew the lyrics.
BRILLIANT - buy it now!!!

Mark Selby returns with his sophomore release and follow-up to his "More Storms Comin'" release. In comparison to "More Storms", "Dirt" sounds a bit more somber and none of the tunes are as energetic as songs like "Don't you Throw That Mojo On Me" or "Blind Since Birth" but, that aside, there are some rather good tunes here in their own right. The songs are perhaps a little introspective and, because of the slower tempo, may require a certain melancholic mood to fully appreciate. But after a couple of listens, the hooks of tunes like "Reason Enough" and "Willin' To Burn" will be hard to shake from your head. This guy is a star on the rise and deserves to be heard.

"Dirt" is my introduction to Oklahoma/Kansas man Mark Selby. Known as a songwriter for "There's Your Trouble" by Dixie Chics, his sophomore disc both rocks and purrs. My favorite track is "Willin' to Burn" with its insistent rhythm and haunting electric lead that holds the note almost in pause and then smokes like a freight train, "I've got nothin' to lose; I'm down on my knees; I'm beggin' you; I'm willin' to crawl." The other standout track is the soothing ballad "If the World Was Mine." On this Selby coos and the background vocals buoy the gorgeous melody, "And if I stole you heart away, it would be a crime; why shouldn't I have everything, if the world was mine." Other tracks are consistently strong such as "Desire" that has an addictive melody and the sad blues written with Kieran Kane called "Easier to Lie." The CD concludes with 2 excellent tracks, the churning "Unforgiven" and the burning rocker "Dirt." The farming motif of the booklet photography made me feel like I was at an art exhibit celebrating rural America. Selby's CD is a consitently strong effort. Enjoy!

The 1st time I listened to Dirt I was hearing so many excellent musical elements that I wanted to keep rewinding a bit to see if I missed anything. Several dozen times of critical listening sessions later, I realized that not only has Mark Selby elevated himself to star level but also he has distinguished himself as a songwriter who can tell the story and have the listener nodding in agreement with what he just said or smiling from the description of the dilemma/truth. I love this guy's music. Dirt is a keeper! Dirt is like the line drawn in the sand and Mark's side is the one you want to be on...

I just got this CD and it is good, but when I first played "More storms comin'" I was hooked. Storms had that great blues-rock thing going for it. Dirt is a good rock cd, but it comes up short on the blues. This is a good CD and it is a keeper, but I hope when Selby does his 3rd CD he will add the blues to it. If you are into the blues be sure to check out "More Storms Comin'" if you are into rock "Dirt" is the CD for you. Either way be sure to give Mark Selby a listen, you will be glad you did.

This is simple I heard the song "Back Door To My Heart" on a music channel. I remembered I had seen Mark Selby's name as song writer for Kenny Wayne Shepherd's albums and immediately went to Amazon to find "Back Door To My Heart". After a review of the snippets I purchased Dirt. I was so satisfied by Mark's creative song writing that I have since purchased all the rest of his catalog. But I always come back to Dirt. He opens with "Reason Enough" with lyrics to live "I won't tell the truth just to keep from tellin' lies, I'm not gonna to live cause I'm afraid to die". He slows it down with "Back Door To My Heart" following strongly with "Willin' to Burn". He continues up and down an emotional roller coaster with "If The World Was Mine, Moon Over My Shoulder, One Man, You", and the sultry "Desire" with his wife Tia Sellers whispering in his ear.

In this unworthy economy with $4.00 a gallon gasoline, save your fuel money and pick up a copy of Dirt it will be money better spent.

Selby has written more than 10 top-40 hits, including 4 #1 songs. His songs have been recorded by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, the Dixie Chicks, Keb' Mo', Lee Roy Parnell, Wynonna, and many others.

Most important for me is that Mark has co-writen over a dozen songs with Kenny Wayne Sheppard including the classic "BLUE ON BLACK" (penned along with Selby's long-time collaborator and wife, Tia Sillers).

Now comes Mark's second solo effort: DIRT.

Most of the cuts on this new CD were written with Tia but ain't mellow or countryfied as Tia's masterpiece: "I HOPE YOU DANCE" (which LeeAnn Wommack rode top of the country charts), nor does Mark rock as hard as his efforts for KWS, but it is very solid from top to bottom settling for ground bewteen blues, Nashville & rock.

It is a good album to take on a road trip, bares repeated listens and does not grow stale. I would not say there are any jaw dropping stunners on here, although, as many have pointed out, "WILLIN TO BURN" gets the juices flowing. I also thought "MOON OVER MY SHOULDER", the rockin "UNFORGIVEN" and the closing title-track were pretty good rip roaring guitar wind outs.

Mark is a guitar talent, plays a fine slide, sings well and creates vinettes of small town life and big time love.

Some say he has mellowed some. Marriage will do that to you, but he can evock sounds that rival the Stones (circa 1978), Houses of the Holy era Zep, The Band or Mellencamp at times, but never mimmicks their sound. It is his own brand and it is good.

I'd like to hear more hooks as wide open as "WILLIN TO BURN" and the slower moments seem a little too confessional for my taste, but I'm wilin to hunt down his debut CD, as some say it rocks a little more.

We watched Mark on stage with Tia, Jeffrey Steele (GONE, HELL YEAH TURN IT UP), Big Al Anderson, Leslie Stacher and the legendary John Hiatt, amoung others, and he's a talented picker.

I don't think we'll see many albums from this sonmgwriter / singer, but we can enjoy the one's he gives us.

Now if we can just get Kenny Wayne to record more good songs by Mark & Tia and get Kenny back on the right path, my job will be done.