How To Become Clairvoyant

Robbie Robertson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 5, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 429 Records
• ASIN: B004L79VUI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,211 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Named one of Rolling Stone s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Robbie Robertson sets to release, How To Become Clairvoyant, his fifth solo album and his first record in more than 10 years. Guitar virtuosos Eric Clapton (who co-wrote three tracks with Robertson), Tom Morello and Robert Randolph guest on the album, which Robertson co-produced with Marius de Vries. How To Become Clairvoyant also features Steve Winwood and Trent Reznor as well as vocalists Angela McCluskey, Rocco Deluca, Dana Glover and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. Bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Ian Thomas lay down the groove throughout.

On his last two albums Robertson explored his ancestry. Now, with How To Become Clairvoyant, he takes on his rock heritage, delivering his first-ever song about leaving The Band, the evocative This Is Where I Get Off. What is lost? What is missing? Robertson asks on When The Night Was Young, a poignant reflection on youthful idealism. We could change the world/stop the war...but that was back when the night was young.

The smoldering Straight Down The Line is a sly nod to rock n roll s early reputation as the Devil s music, while the blistering He Don t Live Here No More is a song about excess. The latter features Clapton on harmony vocal and electric and slide guitars alongside Robertson s soulful gut string guitar solo.

Robertson was a founding member of The Band, penning such classic songs as The Weight, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down and Up On Cripple Creek. The Band s 1976 farewell concert was documented by director Martin Scorsese in the film The Last Waltz and the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In addition to his acclaimed solo albums, Robertson also has a long list of film credits. As Executive Soundtrack Producer for 1996 s Phenomenon, he recruited Clapton to perform Change the World, which subsequently won GRAMMY® awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. He has collaborated with Scorsese on numerous films, including Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Casino, Gangs of New York and Shutter Island.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 71 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good introspective look back at Robbie's life, and "My Generation" April 5, 2011

By Southwest Bluesman

Format:MP3 Music|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am of the same generation as Robbie -- you know, Pete Townshend's declaration of "My Generation." (We were hippies, freaks, then "Baby Boomers",then yuppies, then simply "Boomers", and now, we're becoming something else: seniors.) I bought Music From Big Pink for $4 about a month after it was released, and I've been a fan of The Band ever since. I've been hoping Robbie would do some more music -- waiting 13 years since Contact With the Underword of Redboy was a LONG wait! Was it worth the wait? Yeah, pretty much.

First off, this is VERY different from the New Agey "Contact..." I love that album, but this is not New Age Robbie, or Native American Robbie. I am tempted at first to compare this album to Levon Helms' "Electric Mud" from last year, but the two have little in common. Levon's release was raucous and loud and fun. Robbie's release is a surprisingly restrained, introspective look back at life, as when he sings about the dreams we had when the night was young -- and then later on says we got what we deserve because, well, most of us "sold out" and WE are "The Establishment." So much for who we are and where we're headed...

If anything, this album (I still can't call 'em CDs or downloads) has a lot in common with Eric Clapton's most recent release, the self-titled, "Clapton." Both albums are about an hour long and both are generally on the mellow side and very introspective. Sure, there are some great guitar licks here and there, but all of the songs are really toned down and, well, mature. (Do not confuse mature with "boring.")

I downloaded this first thing this morning, saved a file on my external HD, and then put it on my iPod to listen to for my morning one-hour walk. Conveniently, this albums clocks in at 59 minutes! The album started my walk off with a few lively tunes, then settled into a long segment of mellow songs that looked back, looked inward, and were consistently good -- but slow, just like Clapton's album, except Clapton's is more bluesy. (It's appropriate since there is an appearance by Clapton on seven tracks...)

The title track comes near the end and, of all songs, probably comes closest to "Contact..."'s New Age sonic exploration. I saw in another review where someone said the final track ("Tango for Django") should be on a movie soundtrack. It's an instrumental that slowly fades away and if you listen closely, you can hear someone say, "That's it." I wholeheartedly agree. It's great movie atmosphere music!

Overall, if you're expecting a lively The Band Redux, you'd probably be more satisfied with Levon's release. If you're looking for well-written, intelligent, well-crafted songs -- though nothing of the stature of, say, The Weight -- then I'd recommend this. I won't listen to it walking again, but when I have trouble drifting off to sleep, or just want to relax, this album (or "Clapton") will be at the top of my list. Both are cut from the same cloth.

29 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Robbie Robertson Still Has It April 5, 2011

By Johnny K. Kroll

Format:Audio CD

Actually an outstanding new album. You'll still here the depth of Robertson's emotional connections to the stories being told in each song; what I really like about this album--in addition to the lyrical depth--is the musical arrangements. They are really soothing, yet also have the ability to really move you. I grew up on top 40 to begin with, then moved to the great genre of rock n roll; this album has that constrained feel of ready to rock your socks off, yet it paces itself so that the urge to just explode in exuberant dancing becomes a more measured activity. If you have any liking for Robbie Robertson, this album will definitely please you!

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Fantastic April 5, 2011

By jsnoblit

Format:MP3 Music

This album, this collection of songs, showcases the power of Robbie's songwriting skills. It is great to hear an artist communicate through songs something other than puppy love or how much money they make. The collaboration with Clapton is cool but what really makes the album great for me is all of the different sonic textures Robertson weaves in and out of each composition. His lyrics are also great - the right balance of storytelling and ambiguity - balanced by his loud whispery voice.