Customer Reviews

Holy Road: Freedom Songs

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Holy Freakin S**t! The best new artist of 2003 is here and her name is Lizzie West. I happend to rent the DVD "Secretary" and the best thing about the movie was a song at the end credited to Lizzie West. Out to the cd store and low and behold there is an album by this artist I had never heard of before. The music is just sensational. Organic, funky, folky, and that voice..... I'm still trying to place. Could it be a toned down Toni Childs? I don't know but this cd is just so fresh. Get it, okay??

The album, as a whole, is fluid and somber at the same time. The poetry of the lyrics is like poetry itself, devoid and full of abstract meaning simultaneously. Miss West's vocals, which sound Natalie Merchant-like or even like Fiona Apple, are magnificent. The album's tracks do not have the natural flow of West's vocals. The beginning quartet of songs: "Welcome" (if it can really be considered a song); "Time to Cry"; "The Day We Met"; "Miss You Baby" is magnificent. The it goes downhill. "Sometime" is slow and methodical, makes for wonderful listening once but is somewhat intolerable in subsequent listens. "Monkey Back Blues" and "Jenny" just suffer from the slowing pace. I just couldn't get through "Jenny" because it began to plod around the 2:00 mark.

The interesting thing is that "Doctor" is where the album recovers its momentum. After the quirky (featuring the only cuss word of the album; a truly startling surprise) and somewhat dissonant song which I loved, "Hit the Road" makes "Doctor" sound like the Macarena. It begins a string of four consecutive great songs. It's almost acoustic pop combined with some 80's tones (the joyous background following "...very confused...", which sounds almost like 10,000 Maniacs). And then the great instrumental middle section at 1:45 with her joyous and subtle "Bop's" in the background. The song would make for a wonderful single. It continues with the somber "Prayer", a song that got me hooked to the album. I heard it on an "Alias" episode underscoring perfectly the wake of a beloved character. The song is perfect for funeral orations and wakes. It is so sad and perfect. And then the gospel tinge of "See You Through (Conversation). It is a total surprise that Miss West is able to pull out so many different forms of music and make it into a seamless record. She takes country, jazz, pop, blues, bluegrass, bits of hip-hop and electronica (!), and gospel and just makes it part of her undobtedly extensive musical arsenal. It makes for a wonderful album. I'm not from the Midwest but I get the feeling that Lizzie West wrote this album purely as an homage to life in the Midwest states.

Welcome -- If anything, this track represents the most unique and almost spiritual prelude to any album I've ever listened to.
Grade: B+

Time to Cry -- Masterful. The use of the harmonica brings you to the South or the Midwest immediately. The beating drums in the background bring in a bit of hip-hop or rock rhythm to the song.
Grade: A

Dusty Turnaround -- Three for three. The song is infectious in its unique and catchy blend of lyrics and accompianment. The chorus is worth a listen over and over again. Again, it just brings images of traveling down some empty road in the Midwest with the wind in your hair. "Just remember man, there is no place like home."
Grade: A+

The Day We Met -- A tale of reminiscence between two lovers coupled with some strange invocation of imagery ("pumpkin-colored trees are turning red"). The easy pace of the instrumentation makes the song work.
Grade: B+

Miss You Baby -- Another longing for a man. The song just slows to a halt. But the lazy pace of the song has its charms. The lyrics are unique but it seems repetitive. Like we've heard it before. But, again, I like the beat and rhythm of the song.
Grade: B

Sometime -- Here's where she stumbles. The lyrics don't fit with the instrumentation. As such, there is something off-kilter with the song.
Grade: C

Monkey Back Blues -- Worst song on the record. It's so achingly slow. I guess it's the nature of the blues. Couldn't get through the first listen of the song.
Grade: D+

Jenny -- Continues the languid pace of the record so far. It's such a disappointment given the astounding beginning.
Grade: C-

Doctor -- One of my favorites. A perfect blend of odd lyrics and an almost R&B/rock element on instruments. And then the weird instrumental break at 3:09. Just threw me off.
Grade: A

Hit the Road -- Best song on the record. Period. It's so likable and upbeat. The guitar is so relaxing and a perfect compliment to Lizzie's astonishing lyrics. I just love the "Bop, diddy-dy bop" in the background as well as the echoing "very confused". Just a marvelous song.
Grade: A+

Prayer -- Second best song. Wonderful, poetic lyrics from a poem by Mary Frye. The accompianing instruments magnify the sense of sadness and somber mood. It's a depressing, moody song. And to throw in a spoken part was genius. Perfect.
Grade: A

See You Through -- The gospel touch was nice and surprising.
Grade: B+

Holy Road -- A long, slow, worshipful-like church song. Not that likeable.
Grade: B-

Lzzie West has a terrific voice and her lyrics are moving! I discovered Lizzie West after hearing a song of hers in the movie Secretary. I bought both Holy Road and her CD "Lizzie West"! I love both of them! I hope she produces more!

This one goes to 11. You don't understand, this one goes to 11. Buy it. own it. just listen.

I was introduced to Lizzie West through my favorite t.v show Alias. It was her song "Prayer" that was playing during someone's funeral. I knew right then and there that I needed to go out and buy this amazing CD. Right from the beginning she draws you in with her amazing voice, and takes you with her on her journey. An amazing CD!

I had never heard of this artist until I was watching my favorite show of ALL times, Third Watch, and I heard Lizzie West in the background. I bought the CD for 1 song, but was knocked out by the whole CD. I recommend this item.

I first saw Lizzie West on top of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis(July 2003) and she blew me away with her amazing voice and spirit. I bought the CD and over one year later still listen to it regularly. She is a true American original and this CD is one-of-a-kind.

I enjoyed every track. Lizzie's haunting voice and effortless manner will stimulate your senses. The music seems inspired. Poetic. This is music where you hear instruments and vocals and they do not overwhelm each other. Great lyrics. A pleasure to listen to.

Received product timely. Condition as advertised. Blown away by several songs (The Day We Met, Dusty Turnaround, Sometime, Holy Road). Perfect blend of melody, instumentation, lyrical imagery, voice. This is a very interesting artist whose work is easy to enjoy.

Coppery backgroud music mixes with a sweet brassy voice equals a stunningly remarkable album. I found this album by accident in a second hand store for $1. It wound up being an amazing dollar spent. I have since bought the same album off iTunes so she gets credit for a sale.
Lizzie's voice is so unique, so individual, so amazing that there is simply no other like it.

With just an impulse $1 buy on a Saturday afternoon, I've become a serious fan of this extraordinarily talented artist.