Customer Reviews

Ghosts of Hallelujah

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

 

 

The Gourds have always been very very quirky (to use the term "real" critics like to use). What else can you call a country band that on occasion covers Snoop Doggy Dogg? Their previous albums have been examples in how odd lyrics and somewhat disturbingly sparse arrangments (usually built around accordian/mandolin/guitar) can work to make powerfully beautiful music.

This album departs from that form, albeit barely in that the music surrounding the lyrics (that will make you smile or shake your head, depending on your inclination) is a tad more mainstream alt-country.

Perhaps that is due to their growing fan base within the music community and getting people like Max Johnston to play with them. In any case, I kind of miss the stripped down sound of their album "dem's good beeble" or the flat-out weirdness on "Stadium Blitzer".

This is still a great album, and it may be the best for those uninitiated in Gourd-dom. The elements, lyrically, are all there--the curious interest in hip-hop culture ("Gangsta Lean"), the songs that refuse to make any real sense, and yet still make some kind of sense ("Fine Leather Truck"), and the occasional song about the rough life ("(the new way of) Grievin' & Smokin')".

Basically, I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys Son Volt but wishes they would get goofy every once in awhile. The Gourds can do that, and play every bit as beautifully, when called upon, as Jay Farrar and his bunch of fellas.

Every year, the Gourds release a CD that I think will be impossible to top. And every year, I'm proved wrong by their latest release. "Ghosts of Hallelujah" is by far the boys' best -- for the first time, they sound like a complete band, thanks to former Wilco multi-instrumentatlist Max Johnston. The two singers/songwriters complement each other beautifully. KP Russell lets loose on "Ghosts of Hallelujah," a complex ode to spirituality and faith, and "Gangsta Lean," an angry, biting look at gangsta rap. And Jimmy Smith is still his usual, unintelligible self, wailing to such tunes as "Up on High" (the operative word being, apparently, "high") and the most beautiful love song of the year, "Rugged Roses." The music is a blend of country, bluegrass and rock with some unlikely zydeco and folk influences. The vocal deliveries are earnest and evocative. And the lyrics -- well, don't spend too much time trying to figure out what the hell they're talking about. Buy this album. See them live. The Gourds are the best band around in the increasingly ephemeral No Depression movement.

With their third release, "Ghosts of Hallelujah," the Gourds rightly ascended to the zenith of the Americana genre and for that matter staked a pretty good claim for best American band in any genre.

Chief songwriters Jimmy Smith and Kevin Russell ply their craft by again offering dark, funny, eccentric, odd, and vivid themes and lyrics that collide with some of the best ensemble playing of our times, all fueled by some gonzo muse that is best left unseen and only heard.

This 1999 release saw multi-instrumentalist Max Johnson join the fray and his impact on filling out the band's sound cannot be underemphasized.

It's hard to recommend one Gourds' CD over another, but this one seems a tad darker and biting than the others, is my least favorite of their sessions, and does not serve as the best introduction to the band.

Although not my favorite gourds disk, it does have its gems that make up for the songs that I (emphasise I) don't really care for. The song that helps make this album great is the title track, ghosts of Hallelujah. This track is unreal, always puts a smile on my face and makes me tilt my head back and try to sing. This disk is a great road trip disk, pop it in and you can flow all the way through. There are many other highlights to this disk and very very very few disapointments, so purchase and enjoy another great gourds release.

I like no depression style music a lot but lately it's begun to feel a bit stale...it wasn't evolving, lacked spark. Well, here's the spark! Here's the conviction! Here's the FUN! The perfect CD for the coming summer.

Along with Robbie Fulks, the Gourds are the living evolution of American music and all types of American music are present on the CD - often in the same song. Rock, country, punk, blues, cajun, bluegrass, r&b, jazz, acid...you name it, it's in there. The result is the most intoxicating brew you'll find this year.

The Gourds are the future of music. Now we just gotta get more people turned on! BTW, their other albums are great too...

I LOVE THIS CD!!!

Then this is the album for you. The Gourds are undiscovered music at its very best. They're difficult to categorize, not because they try to be that way, but rather because that's how their hearts pour out. There's twang and bluegrass harmony there, but this is no alt country band. Simply put, the Gourds freakin rock. My only complaint: I'd like to understand what you're saying OCASSIONALLY Jimmy! Buy this album at all cost.

A lesser state of induced psychosis than "Have Moicy!", but this jangling, shambling pastiche of folk virtuosity is a very fine thing despite-perhaps because of-the 23 year interim: think of Michael Hurley et al., as the gourd's feral step uncles.

Bubbles of vocal clarity burst above the roil of wood guitar, toy organ, mandolin and fine skin banging. That the rest of the words are nearly unintelligible is just art. Great art made of ravens, rappers, cicadas, legumes and leather trucks. For those inclined, a great find. Everybody has an angle.

These guys really seem to understand what "The Band" was all about. Five people with different interests and musical strengths creating something that is greater because of their diversity. This approach allows for a depth of listening experience...different lead voices to listen to , varied grooves to slip into, diverse lyrical approaches, different instrumental configurations. Plus, they have a sense of humor. This is a beautiful album.