Drive You Home Again

Chris Smither

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: March 16, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hightone Records
• ASIN: B00000I73F
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,419 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Bonnie Raitt may call Chris Smither "my Eric Clapton," but Smither's importance has less to do with instrumental prowess than with fusing sonic textures and with finely crafted lyrics. Smither's best songs aspire to poetic insights via the blues, evoking troubled, complicated moods through the incessant, slinky groove of his guitar. Working again with session player and producer Stephen Bruton, Smither weds lilting acoustic blues arrangements with more ambitious, spacious sounds--including diverse percussive rhythms, piano, organ, and blues harp. The sonics are at times reminscent of Daniel Lanois's work with Bob Dylan. Smither's most memorable original work isn't found on this, his ninth album, though it may be his best collection. The only misstep is the zydeco jaunt "Tell Me Why You Love Me," which sounds out of place amid all the eerie meditations. In Smither's vision, folk music, like life, plays out "in very complicated measures / And they can't be simplified / If we just keep this together / All the rest is justified." And he shows the same intensity in his choice of covers, especially Tim Hardin's gorgeous "Don't Make Promises," here found in its definitive version. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The usual from Chris Smither - OUTSTANDING, May 17, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

As usual from Chris Smither, a mix of outstanding originals and a few traditional-oriented songs of other writers. The originals are always, as on this CD, the best reason to buy Smither and listen over and over again, but the absolute highlight for those who appreciate a new take on an old favorite: DUNCAN AND BRADY. Heard it the radio on the way home from work, I was jumping out of my truck, roaring down I-95!! The old story with the most commonly used verses, but with an up-tempo, railroad rif. Even if great honky-tonk doesn't do it for you like it does for me and mine, OH LORDY, this is HOT TIME BOGEY!! When I got home, I played it for my lady [who was always very partial to the 60's Tom Rush version] and ...well, suffice it to say it was a great weekend! COOKIN! (:)))) GET THIS CD NOW!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW - this is another semantic gem from a master..., May 7, 1999

By	Andy "Bear" Greider (atgprod@mindsp... (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews

It's been about ten years now that I've been listening to Chris Smither, and in that time, all he has done is become more of a legend in my mind. For me, there is no one better to remind me that I am not the one who is blue, cause if I've been blue, well, Chris has been deep indigo.

The man has a witty, primal sense of the language which he uses to form songs that the listener not only can identify with but also empathize or sympathize with and remember. The songs take on deeper meanings and a real sensibility the more you listen. Fortunately for us, Chris not only sings these lyrics with incredible range, he also plays that blue guitar of his with some serious gusto and skill...his earlier works showcase his solo playin but the new releases, this one in particular, really emphasize his ability to bring together his songs as compositions, utilizing many instruments to create a very rich and full, yet not overdone sound. The last two CD's have been a delight that way...but this one is the gem.

As an overall comment, "Drive You Home Again" is one CD I can't take out of my player. What an amazing bit of work!...Chris really scores with all the tracks, but my two favorites are "No Love Today" and "Hey Hey Hey." This is a CD well worth checking out...my only complaint is that there are 25 minutes of unused time on the CD - we could've used a few more tracks, but oh well - more for next time.

One final thing, if you get the chance, see Chris perform live! He is even better once you capture the pulse of his music in person. Thanks Chris!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another *brilliant* CD from Chris Smither., April 2, 1999

By	Authors Andrew Dornenburg & Karen Page (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

I just got home from Chris Smither's 10:30 pm set at "The Bottom Line" in New York City where he performed several songs from this brilliant new CD. I find myself blown away by the amazing sounds Smithers is able to coax from his guitar strings, and this CD captures them beautifully. "Drive You Home Again" showcases Smither's gifts as a soulful singer-songwriter (even poet-philosopher). Anyone who worried (like I did) that this CD wouldn't measure up to Smither's last work will set their fears to rest after the first listen. This one's a gem, too.