Customer Reviews

Dislocation Blues

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This last album, a collaboration with Australian Jeff Lang, sees the two of them revisiting some of Chris' earlier compositions, albeit with radically new arrangements, plus some covers, collaborations and Lang originals, as well as a couple of Dylan songs. The playing is exemplary, intimate without being claustrophobic. Obviously kindred spirits, the two share singing and guitar duties to outstanding effect. This really is an album of astounding honesty, grit and feel. And the rhythm section are no slouches, either.
Chris' passing in 2005 at the age 45 robbed music of a major talent. Although frequently categorized as a bluesman, this really doesn't do justice to Chris' vision. Many of his albums could only be called blues in the loosest sense of the genre; capturing the soul of the blues without succumbing to the cliches. Treat yourself to something bitter sweet, but quite special!
P.S. If you don't already have Chris' Living With The Law and Dirt Floor albums I strongly recommend you invest a little of your hard-earned cash and buy them. Hotel Vast Horizon and Terra Incognita are two other personal faves.

I really thought this would be a toss-off effort from the late Chris Whitley, and Australian Jeff Lang, but happily this turned out not to be true.

The two seem to inspire each other, and the result is a fine CD. Whitley is in fine voice despite his impending health problems, and the guitar playing is first rate from them both.

The high points IMO are a very spooky reading of Stagger Lee, the reworked Rocket House and Velocity Girl, and Langs Ravenswood. There are two really great Dylan covers as well. There really isnt a weak cut on the album.

Once again Whitley proved himself to be a true bluesman in every sense of the word, and Lang does the same.

Highly recommended.

When I first heard that this album would be released, I was overjoyed. I first heard Chris Whitley at a South-By-Southwest festival in the 90's. He was playing his beat-up old National with a custom slide while accompanying himself on a stomp box. His unique, bluesy but adventurous phrasing and gut-wrenching voice made me an instant fan, and Dirt Floor remains one of my all-time favorite recordings.

Jeff Lang is not as well-known in the US as he should be, but if you listen to Chris Whitley, you have probably heard some of Lang's disciples. He is the acoustic blues guitar deity of Australia, worshipped by guys like John Butler and Xavier Rudd. Lang is one of the most interesting and virtuosic guitarists around. If you doubt that praise, just know that Bob Brozman decided to record an album with him (track it down, if you can). He is a master of bottleneck and lap-style slide, as well as fingerpicking with lightning-fast fretwork. His style is also completely unique, and ever-evolving, combining his blues roots with Richard Thompson's British folk, and even occasionally Indian sounds, although less overtly than, say, Harry Manx. Lang is just amazing.

So, when I heard that this album would be released, I couldn't believe our collective luck. These two musicians complement each other perfectly. Chris Whitley's voice was always deeply moving. By this point, he was sufficiently ill that it didn't quite have the same power that it did in the 90s, but it still had the evocative spirit. Whitley's guitar style was always unique without being flashy, and Lang is sufficiently adaptable that he can bring his virtuosity to the table in a way that complements rather than detracts from the Chris Whitley vibe. The over-all sound is a bit more rooted in blues than most of either Whitley's or Lang's recordings, but that is probably because they were attempting to meet on common ground, as great collaborations should. If you are a fan of either Lang or Whitley, you should not hesitate to buy this album. If you are a fan of both, you need this album right now. It is everything it should be, and a fitting testament to the legacy of the late, great Chris Whitley.

Since most of those reading this review are probably already fans of Chris Whitley, I recommend that you start tracking down Jeff Lang's recordings. They are all worth-while, although the fact that they are mostly Australian imports makes them sometimes costly.

I had never heard of Chris Whitley or Jeff Lang until I heard a selection on Philly's WXPN. I ordered the album that day and after hearing it in its entirety, I am saddened that I hadn't discovered these amazing musicians sooner.

This release on folk-imprint, Rounder Records, most famous for issuing early George Thorogood & the Destroyers records, was put out in '06. A year after Whitley's death. It was a joint-affair, bringing together the talents of C.W. & Jeff Lang. In fact, Chris booked a series of Australian coastal dates just so he could have the time to do this disc with his old buddy, Jeff Lang. "Dislocation Blues" is a great title for the record and sums up their lifestyles perfectly. However, in typical Whitley humor & originality, he wanted to call it "Road Dogs Shall Inherit The Earth." It's got twelve songs with two additional musicians on bass and drums. It's another loose record with a "jam" feel to it. More of a musicians' record for musicians, but Whitley collectors will need to have this. No doubt about that.

This is the best recording that Whitley ever made and Jeff Lang had no small part in that. I found the covers on Rocket House to be too distorted for my taste but the covers here are exceptional; they have wonderful creative twists while being true to the originals. If this is your first Whitley album, then you might be spoiled, because the others aren't up to the standards set here. Too bad Whitley died after this collaboration, I think he finally found his groove.

Note that the final song of Amazon's track listing is incorrect. The final song is a live recording of Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trail".

What a spot on heads-up move by Jeff to collaborate with Chris and record this music. They really put together one hell of a CD. Recorded and produced prior to Chris' last (sadly) cd "Reiter-In", but released later than "RI", this work simply blows me away. Don't miss it.

I've only recently started listening to Jeff Lang and like his music a great deal, and then I came across this collaboration with Whitley and I must say I'll be searching out more of his work as well.
Together they are magic and the musicianship is stunning, with a very raw sound that is just perfect for both performers. There are no lesser tracks in my opinion on this cd, it simply rocks for a blues album.

This is a really great album. After DIRT FLOOR it is one of my favorites of Chris Whitley's. His voice and guitar playing are excellent. But I find the mix really distracting, in that the drums are pushed to the front. The snap of the snare overwhelms the other instruments. Otherwise, it's a winner.

I've been a huge fan of Chris Whitley's since "Living with the Law" and was really sad to hear of his death at age 45. Listening to this album is just wonderful - Whitley and Lang are a great musical pair. The energy of the vocals and instruments really gets this kicking, and though their vocal styles are quite different, the two match each other really well. While I like it all, I really love "When I Paint My Masterpiece," "Dislocation Blues," and "Rocket House." This is as pure as it gets - no gimmicks, no tricks - just straight-on fantastic music. RIP Chris!