Customer Reviews

Land of Milk & Honey

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Eliza Gilkyson spent some of last year touring with a Woody Guthrie tribute ensemble put together by Jimmy LaFave and it seems to have rubbed off in all the best ways. "Milk and Honey" is her most political and most thought-provoking album. It's also the third in a series of fine discs that show her songwriting reaching a higher level.

She opens with "Hiway 9," a sarcastic indictment of the leaders, including a "white man hidden in a black man's skin," who danced with the "devil of our own design" and got caught sleeping at the sentry post that ought to show up as one of Moveon.org's theme songs. Opening lyrics: "Well, the white god said to the little man. We're going to fulfill Scripture in the Holy Land. Between the Tigris and the Euphrates it's a lot like hell. Gonna liberate people and the O I L."

"Tender Mercies," the disc's centerpiece, is a heartbreaking ballad contrasting a teen suicide bomber deprived of basic childhood love -- "every mother's prayer" -- and a mother across the world who safely tucks in her children that could have fit easily on Springsteen's "The Rising."

If Gilkyson had found her "Richmond Boy" on her last album, she's lost him on this one. But "Not Lonely," a poignant examination of reaching middle age and finding your way alone, shows she's not unhappy. "Wonderland" is a pop tune about lowering expectations in a relationship. And she pays tribute to a hard-living friend with the New Orleans dirge of "Dark Side of Town:" I'm gonna be a midnight rider. Gonna burn my candle down. Following that driving beat to the dark side of town."

Fittingly, the album concludes with "Peace Call," an unrecorded Guthrie tune beautifully rendered by Gilkyson and pals Patty Griffin, Iris Dement and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Woody would be pleased.

Heard this one on the radio -- oddly, the track was "Ballad of Yvonne Johnson", and knew immediately I had to have it. It had all this aspects that are just what draws me in to a record -- it was rootsy, it was political, it told a story that had to be true (I totally "felt" Yvonne Johnson by the end), told fearlessly and unflinchingly, and it had this amazing, distinctive, absolutely perfect woman's voice. The CD is full of great songs, the standouts for me being "Hiway 9" "Dark Side Of Town" and "Wonderland", but I love everything here.

My tastes are eclectic -- just check out what I have reviewed to this point -- and I do enjoy good singer songwriter stuff. But my standard is Dylan, Townes, Guy Clark, stuff with some meat to it, stuff that has well - chosen words and, frankly, a bit of attitude. This record meets the standard. It also has that wonderful voice.

As simple as this sentence looks, it's an amazing change of view for all americans; as a European living in the States I always wondered who would bless the rest of the world if God only blesses America. I found the answer.
As simple as this, the music of Eliza is too: straight and clear. I have loved this CD and a live performance as well.

She's got a voice of Texas sun, sand, and sagebrush and she puts her heart in every word. 'Genuine' is one word I would use for Eliza Gilkyson---on CD, in person, she is what she appears to be. She touches tough subjects, such as abuse in "Yvonne Johnson" with a quiet compassion and grace. Perhaps only Woody himself could have done as well on "Peace Call," which I think should move in with "Imagine" as one of the best world-vision songs. Buy this CD and I guarantee you will be looking for hte rest of Eliza's catalogue.

For some odd reason, this album kept sliding to the bottom of my "listen to" pile; I dunno why, since I really liked her last record a lot. Well, I like this one even more. It's great. Go out and get it. Now. Before it's too late. Gilkyson is, of course, the daughter of '50s/'60s folksinger Tonk Gilkyson, and while hr career has led her towards more rock-related material, here she returns solidly to her folk-scene roots, with a searing, heartfelt, and emotionally powerful set of topical, social-political songs, each of which carries considerable impact. The album opens with "Hiway 9," which refers to the main transportation corridor in Iraq -- the song is a blistering indictment of the Bush League's war plans, and their impact on our two nations; similarly, on "Tender Mercies" she explores the emotional deadening of terrorists and the world around them. Even on the one topical song where she seems to overplay her hand, "Ballad Of Yvonne Johnson," about a woman convicted of murder after enduring a lietime of abuse, Gilkyson sticks to a smouldering emotional core that keeps the music compelling. There are also several songs of a more purely emotional/confessional style -- "Separated," "Dark Side Of Town" -- and these are similarly drenched with a dark, contemplative, largely pessimistic maturity: this is an album made by and for adults, and the quality of the craftsmanship is never sub-par.

Helping her out are some of the cream of the contemporary roots-music scene -- Slaid Cleaves, Jon Dee Graham and others -- and the musicianship, with the smooth, moving guitar work, is what makes this disc a real gem. Gilkyson is also joined by a powerhouse trio of folkie gals (Mary Chapin Carpenter, Iris Dement and Patti Griffin) who trade verses on a newly unearthed Woody Guthrie song, "Peace Call," which ends the album on a hopeful, spiritual note, underscoring the reflection and soul-searching that suffuses the whole record. All in all, I give this album a big thumbs-up. It's message is timely and urgent, and the delivery is powerful and sincere.

This is a wonderful CD, one that is very reflective of the times it was written in. Eliza has a truly beautiful voice. She explores tunings on her guitar that give her the room to use her voice in ways that are unique and very soulful. If you like her past works, you'll appreciate this effort. If you are new to her music, you are in for treat.

Another gem. "Not Lonely" is quickly becoming mmy favorite song by Eliza. It's witty and soulful. Social values, which seem to have been lost on many, are spelled out clearly in "Hiway 9", Guthrie's "Peace Call", and the tough "Ballad of Yvonne Johnson".
Eliza fans will not be diapoointed.

From the cover to the last chord of Peace Call, this album is a feast of pain and beauty. I was especially struck by the sophisticated arrangements like the New Orleans dirge in 'Dark Side of Town' and the hymn-like quality of 'Milk and Honey'. Each cut is clean, concise and, while moving, not sappy. And if you're not crying by the end of 'Ballad of Yvonne Johnson', then you don't have a heart.

In this time of lyrics that treat human emotion with trite and pallid phrases, Land of Milk And Honey is refreshing. So put this CD on, sit back and let some wonderful music wash over you.

PS: Don't forget the cover - that photo is as horrific as any battle scene I've ever seen.

It's appropriate that a Woody Guthrie song, "Peace Call", ends this album that is so true to the music and causes he fought for. This album is strong on style and clear on message. "Tender Mercies" could be Eliza's best song ever. HIghly recommended.

Eliza Gilkyson's new album is one great work from the witty, sarcasm laden "Highway 9" to the beautiful, heartfelt "Peace". In between she fills the spaces with deeply personal songs like "Not Lonely" and "Separated" as well as fun songs like "Wonderland" and "Running Away". The standout track has to be "Tender Mercies" where she uses her deep low notes in contrast to her tender high voice to share a mother's prayer for her children in a troubled world. I had the opportunity to hear her play this song live a few weeks back, and on the first hearing, she stunned the crowd with this song.

If only this song could get some airplay, this could really be her breakout hit. I only wish the rest of the world knew about the talents of this great lady.