Customer Reviews

Jericho

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned this disc since it's release, but feel compelled to comment on it now, after Rick Danko's untimely death. Forget about the excellent rendition of Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" and the wonderfully crafted cover of Springsteen's "Atlantic City." Buy this for the sheer pleasure of listening to Danko's beautiful sad voice on "Too Soon Gone." The song title says it all. Rest in Peace, Rick and Richard.

It seems I've changed my mind about this album a couple times, but this time I've changed it for good.
There are many cases in rock and roll history when a principle songwriter leaves a group and assumes he's left his bandmates in the dust; the remaining members regroup and go on to continued success, but their fan base and their critics become divided as to whether they're still "the real deal" or not (the likes of Pink Floyd and Supertramp come to mind). And who knew The Band would join those ranks when they released "Jericho" in 1993, their first studio album since 1977's "Islands," and their first without former songwriter Robbie Robertson (and member Richard Manuel, who committed suicide in 1986).
Robertson's claim as to why he has not participated with his former colleagues is as follows; "We'd made a movie [The Last Waltz] about it and everything. I didn't want to say 'Just kidding!'" However, the album "Jericho" itself has not made "The Last Waltz" a lie; even Robertson says that the Waltz was meant to be an end to their touring days only, and that The Band had intentions of continuing their studio career. In fact, Band members were talking about the possibility of another studio album as late as 1980. However, the "reunion tours" of the 80s did make "The Last Waltz" a questionable event. But since the Waltz only represented the end of touring, a new studio album does not hender the original meaning of one of the greatest concert films of all time. If that was the case, "Islands" would have made The Band liars in 1977. But since that's not the case, "Jericho" is nothing more than a triumph for The Band.
Longtime members Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, and Levon Helm welcome sidemen Jim Weider, Richard Bell, and Randy Ciarlante to make one of their most sincere, honest albums. Of course, the reunited Band now has the same symptom as the reunited Pink Floyd...that is adding a slew of unnecessary sidemen and outside songwriters. But once you ignore that, "Jericho" is a moving and powerful album; 'Too Soon Gone' finds The Band mourning for their lost mate Richard Manuel, while the ghostly but lovely 'Country Boy' includes vocals by the late singer, recorded just five months before his suicide. 'The Caves of Jericho' features a great vocal performance from Helm, and 'Blind Willie McTell' is The Band's first version of a Bob Dylan song since 1971, and a rousing cover of Bruce Springsteen's overlooked 'Atlantic City' is The Band at their best.

This is certainly The Band, even though some, for nostalgic reasons, would disagree. This sounds like The Band, with a bluesier feel to it than it used to be "way back when".

I miss Robertsons songwriting and Manuels voice (well, you get one song from Manuel here)and piano too, but to put this off just because of that is not fair- everything changes!

The only thing "bad" I have to say about this recording is the lack of own material, but they certainly put new fire into other peoples material. Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City" is just amazing here, and Springsteen himself has stated in interviews that he was honored that The Band asked him if they could use his song. He was very pleased with the result!

Buy it, you wont be dissapointed!! These wheels are still on fire...

The last thing I expected was another wonderful album from the Band. The last wonderful album from them had appeared more than 20 years ago. Excellent choice of material, the usual solid musicianship, sympathetic work from the new members and guest stars like Champion Jack Dupree. This picks up where Stage Fright left off. A solid choice if you already know and like the Band, or if you've never heard them before

Jerico was released without much fanfare and raga, generating attention through word of mouth. Sporting a hilarious Peter Max pink album cover, the Band churned out their best music in years. Most notably, a stupendous version of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City," which introduces mandolins as a lead rock instrument. There's more. The bluesy "Remedy" starts the CD with a teriffic shuffle. Their cover of Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" is steller (in this case, the Band's version of "Blind Willie McTell" bests Dylan's.) Danko's "Too Soon Gone" vocals are eerie and forlorn, and though the album has Helm at the forefront and the instrumentation taking a decidly southern tone (fiddles and mandolins dominate on some tunes) this effort is a landmark for the Band in terms of musical chops and for putting so much soul into a project that you think Robbie Robertson wrote every track.

I was a big fan of the original Band, especially their first 3 albums, which I bought when they were originally released. I also bought "Cahoots", but the album never really "hit" me, and though I liked several songs on later albums like "Moondog Matinee", "Northern Lights" and "Islands", I more or less forgot about them until Capitol began their reissue series of all their albums with extensive sleeve notes and great bonus-tracks.

I knew they had reformed and recorded new albums in the 1990's, but with Richard Manuel gone Robbie Robertson gone, I had a feeling that these recordings would be disappointing and only pale reminders of what once was. How wrong you can be!!

"Jericho" was their first re-union studio album, with original members Helm, Danko and Hudson together with guitarist Jim Weider, Drummer Ciarlante and Richard Bell on piano.

"Remedy" sets the scene right from the beginning. Classic Band sound, with Helm vocally in good form and horns that bring up memories of old albums like "Rock of All Ages" of "Cahoots" - written by Weider and Colin Linden.

"Blind Willie McTell" is a completely stunning recording - it has all the best qualities of classic Band. Great melodic tune (Dylan) and outsstanding changing lead vocals from Danko and Helm. Moreover I really enjoy the acoustic guitar and Hudson's harmonica. The song wouldn't have sounded out of place on "Northern Lights, Southern Cross".

"Jericho" is an almost equally strong track - sounds like a Robertson song. Could have been a forgotten track from the "Brown" album sessions.

The high standards are continued with the Band's version of Bruce Sprinsteen's "Atlantic City" - sung by Helm with harmony vocals from Danko.

Stan Szelest who guest-appeared on "Atlantic City" wrote the tribute "Too Soon Gone" to the memory of the great Richard Manuel. Sad to think about that Stan himself was gone before the release of the album. Beautifully sung by Danko.

The greatest tribute given to Manuel, though, is that the Band let him appear on the album himself. The inclusion of the 1985 recording with Manuel, "Country Boy", makes this album even more authentic. Great vocal performance from Manuel, as always.

Somehow second half of the album loses a little steam. The straightforward "Move to Japan" has a nice rockabilly rhythm and nice vocals from Helm - but is not particularly memorable.

"Amazon" is a slow slightly droning song with jungle sounds and more beautiful vocals from Danko - again reprising the atmosphere of "Northern Lights" - even the guitar sounds like Robbie Robertson.

"Stuff You Gotta Watch" is Muddy Waters blues - played with a quite free and easy feel; but apart from Helm's vocals it doesn't really sound like the Band.

Willie Dixon's "Same Thing" - is a nice track, but nothing more. Again sung by Helm.

"Shine a Light" is a gospel-inspired song, with shifting lead vocals from Danko and Helm. Quite inspiring and bringing back memories of "Stage Fright", which isn't bad at all.

"Blues Stay Away From Me" is a 6 minutes blues; I have a feeling that had this been in the old vinyl-album days with playing times around 40 minutes, this would have been the track that was left out.

Because of the strong first half of the album I feel I must give it all five stars; and"Amazon" and "Shine a Light" are really good too!

There is an overall mournful tone to the music on this disc, but its original appearance in 1993 was a cause for rejoicing among fans of the '60's-'70's group known as the Band. Three of the founding members of that quintet got back together with a shoestring budget and some younger personnel to produce this small miracle of an album. (A fourth founding member, Richard Manual, who had died in 1986, is also represented by an archival track of him singing "Country Boy," as well as by a song written as a memorial to him, "Too Soon Gone," beautifully sung here by Rick Danko.) The separate musical identities the now-middle-aged musicians had established are reflected in the eclectic choice of material, but the re-formed group performs as a cohesive and skillful unit. Highlights include a couple of bluesy rockers ("Remedy" and "Stuff You Gotta Watch"), covers of Dylan's "Blind Willie McTell" and Springsteen's "Atlantic City," the aforementioned "Too Soon Gone," and a catchy gospel number, "Shine a Light." "Amazon," a tale of environmental degradation featuring another fine vocal from Danko, would also make the highlight list but for the obtrusive jungle screeching sounds overdubbed onto the track -- but that is the only significant error of judgment reflected on the album. If you care more about good honest music than about styles and trends, you should definitely give this record a chance.

I'll make this short and sweet. This is one of the Bands better albums (or cd's) with or without Robbie. Very impressive.

I bought this CD shortly after its release but never lived with it long enough to form an opinion. Apparently I cheated myself out about 13 years of fine, fine music. I think of The Band as one of those magical ensembles in a class with the Beatles, with each carrying their own weight. So you might not even notice the missing choppiness of Robertson's guitar.

To start off, I would like to say that Richard Manuel is my favorite person who ever lived. Resulting-ly, the biggest problem with the album is the lack of his beautiful voice and piano. His achingly beautiful rendition of Country Boy is worth the price by itself. But its not as if he is the only talented member of The Band, far from it, and they stand on their own surprisingly well, considering their lack of their primary vocalist and songwriter. Weider is not as sharp a guitarist as Robertson, but it works out, over all. Good album, good buy.