Customer Reviews

Honey Songs

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

 

 

I completely disagree with the previous 2-star reviewer. This album is wonderful. I find it somewhat similar to his album "Wait Till Spring" that he recorded with Donna the Buffalo (excellent album) and also "Hummingbirds." Yes, this is not another bluegrass album, but it isn't necessarily a completely new direction for Jim either. He's done the more rock-tinged stuff before. And it rocks! (Although I would hardly call this a rock album.) The styles are greatly varied and the backing band of "big-name" players sounds very natural and unimposing. The splendid songcrating abilities of Jim still shine through. I think this album is superior to "Hummingbirds" and at least an equal to "Wait Till Spring." This is definitely true in the musical sense. The lyrics I'm not so sure about, as it takes a while for the lyrics to sink through my thick skull and I'm able to fully grasp them; so it would be unfair to judge them too harshly at this point. I'm pretty sure they're awesome though. I think the other reviewer probably just listened to the first couple tunes; as they rock more than most of the rest of the album. And don't worry, I'm sure Jim's got some more bluegrassy stuff on the way. I really really hope he does another with Robert Hunter, like "Headed for the Hills." That was like a message from God. Nothing wrong with a top-notch songwriter playing with a variety of styles or working with various "big-name" musicians! Hey, he spends so much time writing and stuff he probably doesn't have enough time to keep a more deadicated group of musicians together.

As the attribution "& the Dream Players" suggests, there's more of a focus on excellent instrumental playing on this album (and some guest harmonies). But overall, the album is a bit of a letdown. While most of the songs were written just by Lauderdale, they're lyrically just not as strong as his best. "Honeysuckle Honeypie" is a surprising song for Lauderdale, and succeeds mostly on its instrumental strengths. "Stingray" is strong, but the chorus is almost a clone of "Fireball" from Every Second Counts. "I'm Almost Back" is the strongest 'traditional' Lauderdale song, but doesn't equal his best. The title of "Those Kind of Things Don't Happen Every Day" promises the Lauderdale we used to know, but sadly doesn't deliver at all, offering instead a song that could have been on Country Super Hits, Vol. 1.

If you're a real Lauderdale fan, by all means get this. If you're wavering or new to Lauderdale, start somewhere else.

LOVE this album. He has a really distinctive voice and is a gem of a songwriter.

I'm somewhat in the middle of the two previous reviews posted here. I've most of Lauderdale's CDs in the past - and loved most of them (I'm a bit partial to the bluegrass ones though) - but missed this release until I saw Jim perform with James Burton at this year's Folk Alliance in Memphis. Jim mentioned his Burton tribute CD and gave me the name. Well this is it and James is right at the top of the list of "Dream Players" on the CD sleeve. But he's not the only one here playing and the harmony vocals are a team of "Dream Singers": Buddy Miller, Patty Loveless are just a start and Emmy Lou Harris blends with Jim's twang on the final track "I'm Almost Back".

The Album starts out HOT with "Honeysuckle Pie" and has a few upbeat numbers, but then starts to slow down in tempo, with that Harris duet the perfect close to the CD. (That track wouldn't fit as well anywhere else in the set list.

Lauderdale appeals to a diverse group of music fans and keeps cranking out quality CDs on Yep Rock to try to satisfy everyone.

This may not be the perfect Lauderdale CD (at least in my opinion), but its way up there!

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

Apparently Jim Lauderdale feels a need to enlist the aid of "big-name" players, perhaps to attract a larger audience. The result here is a disappointment. Jim takes a detour from his recent previous releases, eschewing his trademark bluegrass and country flavored tunes in favor of a more rock-oriented sound. The mellower exceptions are "It's Finally Sinkin' In", "Borrow Some Summertime", and "I'm Almost Back". Lyrically, this CD is not as strong as earlier efforts either. Is it possible that Jim has emptied the well with his rapid-fire string of releases? Let's hope not.