East to West

Paul Burch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bloodshot Records
• ASIN: B000GETA4W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,191 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On Paul Burch’s five preceding records he has showcased his strapping Nashville backing band, The WPA Ballclub, to complement his own ambidexterity on guitar, Wurlitzer, pedal steel and vibes. The trend continues here, though the ante has been upped by the likes of multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien, guitarist Mark Knopfler and voice-out-of-heaven Ralph Stanley. Burch’s fondness for classic country shines in honky-tonkers like "When I’m In Love" and "I’m Taking It Home," but his true songwriting genius is best exposed on tracks that straddle the boundaries of folk ("Last Dream of Will Keene), pop ("December Sparklers") and blues ("I Will Wait For You"). Both "Daddy Rhythm Guitar" and "John Peel" use the purest forms of instrumentation, the latter featuring Burch’s primitive bass-slapping, and "Little Glass of Wine," which includes the immortal Stanley on high-harmony co-lead vocals, smells of sweet Kentucky bluegrass. By the time he croons "Montreal," using the French Canadian city as a love-affair metaphor, you’re left to wonder why Paul Burch is still tucked so deeply into Nashville’s underground. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars And fate stepped in. Thank God for that., August 22, 2006

By 

Bt "Cat." (Parts unknown) - See all my reviews

This review is from: East to West (Audio CD)

As I hear it told, Paul was going through a tough time, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to continue making music. It seems some chance meetings, & phone calls from some legendary musicians (Ralph Stanley, Mark Knopfler among others) who informed him they've been long-time fans, & advise to keep plugging away gave him the desire to go on. Man, are we lucky for that! This guy's one of the best kept secrets out there today. You want a true throwback to the days of Hillbilly country? This is your man. He also does rockabilly, and some vintage style rock & roll that you'd swear came right out of the fifties. He blends a variety of subtle styles in his approach, but he's so damn talented that it flows effortlessly. This is music that is timeless, traditional, yet it's fresh. I don't know if this is his best (all of his releases are great), but it's already a staple in my collection, and like every other of his discs, it always will be.