Customer Reviews

In the Hills of California (Jewl)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Greg Brown's newest release has already embedded itself into my list of one of the best Cds I've ever listened to. I just saw Greg at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco and was left with a warm fulfilling feeling that only great music can give you. Greg Brown has a way with words and has a voice that just takes you over. The fact that this CD was recoreded at different performances dosent take away from the continuity of the album, but im my mind adds to it. You can really get a feel for Gregs deep connection with Kate Wolf and the festival. I recommend "Kate's Guitar," "Lullabye," and "Two Little Feet."

I bought this two days ago and haven't stopped listening to it. The set has 9 or 10 songs that have never been recorded, like 'Slow Food', which I heard Greg sing and have been waiting for him to record it. The set is very similar to Dream Cafe, Further In & Poet Game CDs. Serious Gregheads will no doubt add this to the collection. For me the cut that makes the whole disk is "Two little feet". Wow is all I can say! There isn't anything you can drink, smoke or snort that will make you feel better than Greg's music does. Greg is a genius songwriter, and his music satisfies some deep primal need we all have to feel satisfied and fulfilled inside, even though we may not know what we are looking for. You won't be dissapointed with this CD

This cd is a staple in my diet of "soul food". I have had this cd for a year now and I can never play it enough. I have found a profound love for the message, meaning, and feeling of greg brown's music.

The last time that the name Greg Brown, singer/songwriter and free-wheeling homespun philosopher appeared in this space was just recently as I found myself publicly `flirting', via cyberspace of course, with his wife the also accomplished singer/songwriter Iris Dement, my 'Arkie Angel' (See my review of her "Infamous Angel" CD). It is all Greg's fault, in any case. I was `introduced' to Iris on his tribute album "Driftless" where she did a cover of "Jimmie Rodgers Going Home" (complete with yodel at the end). So to be absolutely above board and fair I find it necessary to review some of his work

Greg Brown is the kind of folk singer who before I listened to his "Greg Brown Live" album I had not really paid attention to since the days of my early youth when I listened intently to Woody Guthrie whose songs were seemingly forged from the very heart of Americana. As a child of the urban folk revival of the 1960's I got caught up more in the overt political message songs provided by the likes of Bob Dylan or Phil Ochs. Greg has come out of the heartland of America like Woody in a fury to write and sing his tales of love, remembrance, tragedy, desperation and, on occasion, just pure whimsy.

These songs evoke, under more modern conditions to be sure, the days gone by when the community spirit of small town life meant something. A strong bass voice grainy with the trials and tribulations of life lend authenticity to his words, as does strong guitar playing when necessary. Needless to say the variety of topics covered in his songs speak for themselves from Grandma's root cellars to vanishing Iowa family farms to sweaty nights of lovemaking entwined with the up and down battles of love and, of course, the ubiquitous bouts of fishing.

In this CD collection we are treated to another look at many of those above-mentioned topics via Greg's performances over several years (1997-2004) at the annual Kate Wolf Festival held in California since 1996. Thus, if one is unfamiliar with Greg Brown, one can get a full range of his work, some of his best work, as he pays honor to Kate Wolf by his performances, one of the post-1960's most influential folk performers, whose work is still widely covered by contemporary folk singers. Moreover, the group of musicans that back him up on many of the tracks is superior, especially guitarist Nina Gerber.

So what is good here? "Wash My Eyes" and "Two Little Feet" work on Disc One, as does the controlled anger of "I Want My Country Back" and a rocking "I Shall Not Be Moved" to highlight his political perspective. On Disc Two the "Poet's Game" is always a winner (especially that line about the strip malls, the one about that one night stand lady friend up in New Hampshire and of his lost friendship with an unnamed fellow artist) as is "Where Is Maria?" and "Your Town Now".

So much for the music review. Here is the real reason I wrote this frantic review though. I looked at the pictures on the liner notes and noticed that old Greg has been doing some weight lifting or something. He looks like he could play tight end for the Chicago Bears. Hey, Greg male folk singers are suppose to be scrawny and malnourished looking not healthy and ready to do bodily injury if you mess with their women. All this is by way of saying - all that stuff about `flirting' with Iris in any way, shape or form was just whimsy. Okay?

If you Love Greg's Studio Albums but have never seen him Live you Have to check this out. I sat down with my old friend the other day and threw this album on he had never heard of Greg Before but instantly loved it. Grab this album sit down with a bottle of good Whiskey and set the mood, and Greg Will do the rest.

My first experience with Greg Brown was sometime in the 1980's at the Strawberry Music Festival near Yosemite. When I saw the picture of him in the Strawberry program, I was sure he was going to be uninteresting. That afternoon I heard him play and almost immediately felt a deep connection with him and his songs. Indeed, Greg is a poet of the most personal. He has been one of the performers to attract me to the Kate Wolf Festival on the several occasions I have attended. Some of the performances on this CD I saw, and hearing the recordings brings me right back. Kate Wolf, like Greg, was a unique singer/songwriter. She deserves her memorial festival. Greg's performing there helps us remember Kate and In the Hills of California is a testimonial to her.

get any better than this. The man has an amazing, ongoing body of work as illustrated in this wonderful compilation. Singing about realized and lost dreams, relationships and friendships of all shades, life's struggles and rewards, the sun, moon, earth, stars and seemingly everything in between.

The sound quality is not the same as his studio work, but for a live outdoor show it is very well done. The tradeoff is that you get an energetic, unscripted performance. Nice double CD set.

If you've never heard Greg Brown's live performance, this at least gives you a taste of what he can do. As I see it, live shows are Greg's forte, and I thoroughly enjoy listening to this 2 disc album. Greg has such a wonderful stage presence. I think more than anything it just feels authentic and honest with a simplicity to it all.