Customer Reviews

High Water

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

 

 

Now that the Fab T's are (is?) just Kim Wilson plus backing band, I'm a little surprised at the changed sound on this release, probably in part due to working with different musicians to his usual working band. Very different to his solo traditional blues albums under his own Cannonball label.

For a start, there's a definite hip-hop, almost drum-and-bass feel throughout, as if Kim's been listening to a few G Love or Little Ax albums. Repeated drum and keyboard loops are used, lead guitar is minimal, and the harmonica doesn't solo conventionally, rather the riffs mesh with the overall groove.

This has both benefits and drawbacks - in songs such as "Too Much of Everything", the incorporation of hard-edged rhythms and swampy blues work well. Likewise in "Do Right by Me", the repeated keyboard figure give the track a brittle funk, while "High Water" has a dignified, powerful gospel feel, here the harmonica wails and bubbles under the groove, answering the righteousness of the lyrics.

But the downfall is a reliance of too-similar beats and songs which occasionally sound half-finished. Too often the song choruses are merely the title chanted over and over, and few bridges and rhythm changes are used - even rap and hip-hop have breaks to mix-up the beats. Also the spare feel asks much of the vocalist, and Wilson, although one of the better white blues/r'nb singers around, is found lacking in variation once or twice - and to my ears, he often "over-souls" a little too much, his melismatic touches often sound contrived.

That said, the ballad "Promises" has a gorgeous feel, helped by a fine guitar figure and heartfelt vocal - when he hits that final falsetto he sounds like a man brought to the edge.

So a flawed effort, but often compelling enough to be worthwhile.

Yeah, we all miss Jimmie Vaughns contribution to the T'birds. But I miss Kim Wilson's turban too! However, neither one of them detracts from the fact that this an outstanding CD. This version of the band provides a solid rythym section and Kim Wilson's harp playing and vocals are some of his best.If you like the 'birds and their brand of boogie blues you'll like this CD! OK, maybe I do miss Jimmy's guitar a little bit.

This is one of the best roots rock efforts I've heard in a long time. Kim Wilson recorded some demos with drummer Steve Jordan (formerly with Keith Richards) and guitarist Danny Kortchmar (James Taylor, Jackson Brown). The demos were so strong that he just put them out. Good idea! Jordan and Kortchmar wrote most of the songs and mixed blues and soul influences with an occasional touch of reggae to set up Wilson's vocals, which are typically strong. Highly recommended.

Outstanding cd

I heard different things about High Water after I bought it...I'd heard the record label slapped the "Fabulous Thunderbirds" label on it in an effort to cash in on this collection of tracks Kim Wilson recorded with studio and road veterans Danny Kortchmar and Steve Jordan.

Bear in mind: this is not a Thunderbirds album, in the context of what you'd expect. No run and gun tracks, songs about sexy women and the tradition of Texas-style blues that the 'birds are known for.

No, this is a more personal set of songs, rock-edged and really quite good on their own. The title track is an almost gospel-sounding song, and there are some really well-written tracks here.

"Tortured" is a blues song, but doesn't have the usual underlying rhythm you might expect, for an example.

Either way, this is a good recording. Now that Wilson has become a solo artist in his own right, one should think about starting here to get an idea of what he was looking for, an identity outside the 'birds.

This 1997 release is a different direction in the T-Birds sound...much more sparse with a heavier emphasis on drums & bass. The band is also quite different with Danny Kortchmar on guitar and Steve Jordan on drums. Kim Wilson's vocals are as strong as ever.

I hear that same old the Thunderbirds use to be stuff all the time.All I can say is most of these people haven't followed every album/CD like I have and seen the evolution of Kim(and the T-Birds).Kim is a possessed musician always willing to take a risk with style yet always placing his stamp on the sound. If your expecting one of those bands that plays there greatest hits until they die your looking in the wrong place.Check this CD out and you won't regret it.And really listen!