Customer Reviews

I, Flathead Limited Deluxe Edition

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It takes courage to release a concept album, and something close to mad faith in one's art to release three in succession, as Ry Cooder has.
The concept album is usually an accident waiting to happen, so Ry Cooder is pushing his luck making three in a row.
"I, Flathead" is the concluding part of his 'California Trilogy', following 2005's "Chavez Ravine" and last year's "My Name Is Buddy", and it's a tribute to Cooder's talents that it's a match for either.
More than four decades since he emerged as an electric blues guitarist so highly rated that he turned down an offer to join the Rolling Stones when they looked for a replacement for Brian Jones in the Sixties, Cooder has ploughed a less commercial but hugely rewarding furrow as possibly America's most important rock musician.
A set of linked songs supposedly performed by one Kash Buk and his 'Klowns', a circle of 'petrolheads': drag racers and automotive junkies who wander the salt flats of California in the early 60s.
This third album in the guitarist's recent Californian collection is the most essential, with the former Captain Beefheart and Randy Newman sideman mining a rich southern Cafifornia seam.
Kash's story is nostalgic for a time when weird was commonplace. There are a couple of awkward narrative moments but they're soon forgotten in a project that affirms Cooder's acute sense of place and musical history, and his fiery ambition to make 'vernacular American music'.
The music is sharp and enjoyably coherent throughout. The playing is sublime, the drama captivating - check out "Can I Smoke In Here" for authentic atmosphere and "Pink O Boogie" for jangly In Here' for authentic atmosphere and 'Pink O Boogie' for jangly paranoia.
Pick of the album: "Waitin' For Some Girl", "Ridin' With the Blues", "Can I Smoke In Here" , "Pink-O Boogie", "5,000 Country Music Songs".

Chavez Ravine
My Name Is Buddy

OK, you don't need a whole history.
Most people don't end up here cold.
Read the other reviews or the label PR to give you the basics about this trilogy.
This record continues the eclectic journey that is the essence of Ry's music. He really goes back to the music he would have heard on the radio and in the streets of LA as a kid. Amalgam of 50's Mex-pop, big-band, jazz, blues, rock and all that. Like his recent series, he is very reserved with the guitar solos that so defined his early work. With age he's become even more subtle, as if that was possible. But, when he puts it out it is as sweet as it gets. The best way to define this is adventurous (as always), fun, retro and still progressive.
Personally, my own view,I am a major Ry fan, and have been since the 70s. Of the recent works, Mambo Sinuendo was one of my favorites, but I found Chavez Ravine a bit of a push. The heavy Mexican pop undercurrent was not up my alley, although it had its moments. My name is Buddy took me back a little closer to home and I, Flathead took me back to the glory days.
Makes sense? I think this is en par with the best of Ry's work- Paradise & Lunch, Boomer's Story, and Chicken Skin Music.

if you don't know california in the '50's and '60's, don't read this book.. the music will be enough.. then read the book. through sheer persistence and love, cooder has become the grand historian for cali in the day.. every referrence rings true and resonates through the reality of the ground level history of so cal.. he nails it.. every time.. and the music ain't too shabby neither.. except for the guitar.. kidding

Here's Ry Cooder, a legitmate guitar hero of the last forty years or so, and he has, apparently, written a novella. A novella! A short novel--it's about 100 pages and it is included in the "Deluxe Limited Edition" of his new I, Flathead release...or should I say publication.

When was the last time somebody included a novel with their new music? This could be the start of something big. And it will inspire alt-indies everywhere to write short stories or novels or poems to go with their new musical material. It's like Ray Davies or Pete Townshend releasing Preservation or Tommy, complete with a lovely, printed novelization of their stories.

This new work fits nicely with Cooder's last couple of works; Chavez Ravine and My Name is Buddy. Along with I, Flathead, these are highly literate, beautifully produced, small works of art. Little bits of beauty in an otherwise bleak landscape of modern music. The novella is planted firmly in Sam Shepard territory-California deserts, dust, motors, motels and misfits. Told in a wry Depression-era-meets-Shepard-meets-Hank Williams voice, it may be set in today's America, or it may be set ten or twenty years ago. And it's got a main character, Shakey Lavonne, who apparently is from outer space, a space vato. It's a crazy tale of busted dreams and disappointment, duct-taped cars, abused women and brown-dirt images from the beat-up back roads outside of Lone Pine and the dry lake beds of eastern California. Places where only crazy people go, on purpose. Nested neatly with the record itself is the story and songs of Kash Buk and the Klowns, stand-ins for Ry and his friends, commenting on the novella's action.

The story could use some serious editing but since Mr. Cooder has, in effect, self-published the story...so what? He can do whatever he wants. He has struck a blow for writers and artists everywhere. And we should thank Nonesuch Records for taking the chance on such an unusual piece of work.

And the music is his strongest in years, matching the best of both of his two recent records, and as good as his work in the early 1970s. He's working with his son Joachim Cooder, old friends Rene Camacho and Flaco Jimenez. The sound he produces is handmade, airy and satisfying. Mr. Cooder is one of those guitarists who is instantly identifiable with one pluck of a string.

The sticker on the Deluxe Limited Edition warns the buyer that there's a story smuggled in the package..."for those who know how to read." Caveat emptor. I suspect that most folks will spring for the cheaper, normal CD package. I couldn't even find it at my friendly Barnes & Noble. That's too bad. It's a fine piece of American music and art. But, these days, who has time to read?

Fantastic follow up to 'Chavez Ravine' and 'My Name is Buddy' Ry Cooder completes the trilogy with 'I, Flathead' - and another fascinating tale of life in bygone America.
I opted for the 'deluxe version' to include a small hard backed book written by Ryland himself - which could easily be the script for a cult movie.
Cooder's ramblings made compulsive reading - taking you back to childhood sci-fi magazines - and more adult themed media - with a great cast including the space visitor Shakey and his salt flats racing buddies.
Don't forget Kash Buck - and his band The Klowns who take the music theme of the CD.
Some critics panned Cooder's last effort for not sounding 'classic Ry Cooder'. Give the guy a break! He's entitled to take his creativity wherever he thinks fit - and his last 2 albums have been brilliant pieces of work.
As with 'My Name is Buddy', you need to embrace the whole concept - this is more than music - it's a great story WITH great music.
Stand out tracks for me include 'Steel Guitar Heaven' with a nice mention for Paul Bigsby, Ridin' with the Blues, Johnny Cash - and finally Fernando Sez.
But hell - they're all brilliant!
My advice is: 1. Read the book 2. Listen to the album - then read the book again.
All in all another gem from a modern music genius.

I, Flathead, part 3 of Cooder's California trilogy sees the high standards set with "Chavez Ravine" and "My Name is Buddy" continuing.

Again a concept album telling the story of Kash Buk, a drag racer who wants to be a Country Musician. Despite this the music consists of several genres Western Swing, Country,Rock, tex Mex and Cooder teams again with old partners Jim Keltner and Flaco Jimenez to great success.

Cooder has been very prolific in recent years and I heard in a recent interview that the reason is he wants to get as much music out before the recording industry collapses!

Ry Cooder at his best. All the best descriptives - creativity, sound, rock & roll at it's best, etc. Simply music at its best.

I remember when I first got into this trilogy with Chavez Ravine that this album was given the lowest reviews of the bunch from the major critics, but I am not sure why.

Sure, this album may not be as in depth of a social or historical commentary as Chavez Ravine or even the allegorical statement that My Name is Buddy is, but the one thing that I love about this album is that it is fun. It is upbeat and has a relaxed mood that just works. While I like all three albums, this is the one I listen to the most because it flows quite well from start to finish, and it makes me happy.

I kind of think this is what Ry Cooder was going for. It isn't devoid of the features the first two components of the trilogy have, but they don't dominate this recording. For my listening it is a nice balance that is probably why I enjoy listening to it so much. It is great music, and I love listening to it on a nice sunny day, and I find the underlying story a bit comedic at times while it never neglects the seriousness of some features.

The book with this release is a nice addition that complements the album as a sort of commentary that helps explain the album. I don't think it is an absolute necessary feature, but given the price comparison between this edition and the one without the book, it is worth the few extra dollars if you can afford it.

"I, Flathead" is one of about five Ry Cooder CDs that has taken up permanent residence in my CD stack. I use them as background when I'm editing or writing. I can and often do play them every day and never tire of them. As the third in the series starting with "Chavez Ravine" and "Buddy", each song on each CD is quite different. The sounds, the words, the feelings each song evokes are never boring.
I love it. I love them. I love Ry Cooder.

Ry Cooder has been a favorite of mine since the early days. I bought this limited edition thang not knowing what to expect, but pretty sure that I'd like the music. Well, I decided to read the book first to frame the songs when I got to them. I got really wrapped up in the book and looked forward to reading a little bit of it each night, savoring the experience of time traveling back to the era described with its odd scenarios. After a week of reading after work, I almost forgot about the CD that came with the book. I was disappointed when the book ended, I wanted to read more, but then gave the CD a listen. It dovetailed nicely with the book and it now allows me to revisit the parts of the book in grittier detail and atmosphere. This is a cool combo. Definitely get the book/CD combo if you are a Cooder-head!