Customer Reviews

Letters in the Deep

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

 

 

It is fascinating to see the pattern repeated. Strange how artists who start to realize that they have something special seem driven to be "different" and "creative". Sad how often the result is a hodgepodge that is far less than the simpler earlier works that were sweated out before self-awareness crept into the picture.

"Letters in the Deep" should be a brilliant new work by Cadillac Sky.

Instead it is a senseless mishmash of half portions of Brian Wilson, art school and sophomoric college band.

I hate to be so critical of a new work. But dang.

Although there is so much effort to be new, the feeling is more that of a hackneyed, naive effort to be creative that would have been amazing IF it had be released in 1973. That was a long time ago. Alan Parsons, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Beatles, Brian Wilson all trotted down this path on the way to musical innovation almost 40 years ago.

While I suppose it is cool that there is someone (once again) trying to break out of what might be perceived as the trap of "commercialism", I am reminded of the countless "lonely guy locked in a room teetering on the brink of his dark mortality" grainy black and white student films we were forced to sit through in college.

The previous two Cadillac Sky albums were far more new and fresh because they started with feet solidly planted on 70 years of musical excellence. Unfortunately, this time, the push for razzle-dazzle blew away the music - and resulted in songs that create a feeling of a bad open-mic night at the coffee house.

In contrast, the truly "Progressive Bluegrass" creation of this year is "Things that Fly" by the Infamous Stringdusters. That work is a great contrast with "Letters In The Deep" because it both honors bluegrass and rejuvenates with subtle innovations that are simply beautiful without trying to scream out "LOOK, WE'RE DIFFERENT ! ! !"

I can't wait for there to be additional feedback on this recording. I have been an outspoken fan of Cadillac Sky and I would love to be convinced my take is completely off base.

Cadillac Sky is a group that has put out 2 very good contemporary bluegrass CDs on Skaggs Family Records. They went to Dualtone so they metamorphosis into a band without boundaries. Here is a group that has the best instruments that money can buy, use Blue Chip picks $[...], Collings guitars and mandolins, Nechville Banjoes, Daddario strings, TAAG violins, Their promo says they sleep easy knowing their instruments are protected by Colorado Cases. They have a Bible verse on their CD. I visited their website that has some Cd making footage, Dan Auerbach (frontman of another group) produced it for them, they basically wanted an old fashioned type recording without overdubs and cut and paste, that will sound better the more that a listener listens to it.

Well, it is very different than their previous CDs , lots of dissonance in the melodies, all acoustic , you hear talking in the background of songs. "Lee Of The Stone : West" is a very pretty instrumental, but it is only 44 seconds long. Honestly, I find it very odd to say the least, electronic sounds , mellotrons. There is a good amount of clipping in the recording, it is a very loose affair. "Hypocrite" is a song about hypocrites, "Say one thing and you do another, repeat.

"Bathsheeba" is a frantic sounding tune, that has some nice mandolin and guitar with some good tone. Then, some harmonies ,like from "Pet sounds" ,come in the mix. The voices sound poor, like they were meant too, "Pitiful Waltz" is a good description of the song. Well, I have spent alot of time with this and I loved their first 2 Cd's. You make up your own mind, This a Free country. All I can give you, is what I am given.

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Very good album. I know David Mayfield is not the lead singer of this band, but he shines through on Letters in the Deep. He takes many lead vocals and his songwriting is heartfelt and sincere. Excellent production by Dan Auerbach. Highly recommended for any fan of Americana music.

I have to say that I have been a true fan of Cadillac Sky since day one, however maybe I was expecting too much here. Sure, there are some great songs on this album. I am particularly fond of David Mayfield's vocals on Human Cannonball, Ballad of Restored Confidence, Pitiful Waltz, and Tired Old Phrases. Hangman is probably the best song on the album and an instant hit, but other that I've been let down by the new album. I'm not one to say that they should keep rehashing their first big hit over and over again. I understand that bands grow and evolve. I was a true fan of Gravity's Our Enemy and I loved Weary Angel, but on the new album I feel that it doesn't fit, and I'm not one to normally criticize original music. I'm not a die-hard bluegrass fan, and I listen to everything from pop country to metal, as well as traditional bluegrass. They are a very talented group and put on an awesome live performance, but this new album simply misses the mark. It's not horrible music, but some of the songs are way out in left field. The album feels inconsistent.

Being a big fan of the first 2 CDs ("Blind Man Walking" and "Gravity's Our Enemy") I was really looking forward to this CD but I'm disappointed. First off, the production seems way off. Dan Auerbach may work fine for the Black Keys but I think he is illsuited to producing Cadillac Sky. The liner notes says that the songs "were recorded live in the studio with minimal overdubs to obtain the sound and feel of old time bluegrass music" but it sounds like it was recorded in my basement. There's nothing wrong with using the studio to your advanatage to produce the best sound; and I'm all for overdubs if it enhances the outcome. And the recording technique is about the only thing on this CD that gives you a feel of "old time bluegrass music." I love progressive bluegrass but there is so much dissonance here that I actually cringe at times. I'm not sure if they were going for a "Punch Brothers" feel or not but please, leave that for those guys and do what you do. (There is some kind of instrumental sound at the end of "Trapped Under the Ice" that sounds like a tortured kazoo player . . . really? did someone actually think that sounded good?) And please lose the background unison vocals and the lower register harmonies; it's just doesn't sound good. The vocals in general just do not sound rich like on the previous CDs.

There are some well wrtiten songs on this CD and good playing (Matt Menefee, in particular, is very precise, tasteful and innovative on the banjo). Maybe it was just the push to do something different or really shake things up on the 3rd CD, and I haven't given up hope on these guys, but this CD just misses the mark. I kept playing it over and over in hopes that it would grow on me but unfortunately it just confirmed my disappointment. C'mon guys, get it together; don't throw tradition completely out of the window. Lose Dan Auerbach and Get those "Letters in the Deep" back up to solid ground and elevate the next CD to the excellent level that you have proven in the past.

My husband bought this CD, because he had seen a few of their videos and liked their sound. I had never heard of them before, but I absolutely LOVE this album! I'm a huge bluegrass fan, and this album is my favorite album I have bought in ages. I read some of the other reviews out there, and felt compelled to write, to let others know what a great album it is!!! Don't listen to those that say its sub-par, it most certainly is not! I love that it doesn't stick to the traditional bluegrass sound, but branches out. The sound is fresh and keeps the music from sounding repetitive. Its a great album, that I never tire of listening to. I would highly recommend it!

I have been hooked on C Sky since I first heard them. I heard they got a new singer and Im guessing he is on here. I dont think is voice is bad. Matter of fact it sounds pretty similar to the last guys. There is potential but so far I have not heard it here. They have everything they need to keep going but they need to figure out how to put it together. I dont think this album really sounds much like bluegrass at all. I really liked how the last two albums had a real modern feel but also incorporated more of the twang of bluegrass to them. I will say that when I first heard gravitys our enemy, I had to listen a few times till I got into it, so maybe the same will be here, but I doubt it!

As if they had forgotten what vocal harmony is, Cadillac Sky disappoints in their latest, "Letters in the Deep". Discordant and tinny, I was thoroughly disppointed. Hoping for better next time.

Cadillac Sky has new guitarist/songwriter/singer, David Mayfield, for Letters in the Deep and it shows in a very good way. This album may angry or dissapoint some of their more traditional fans, but I find it absolutely amazing. A great mix of experimental progressive bluegrass with tradional bluegrass. Open your minds to their new sound and you will fall in love.

I LOVE this album! I have all of the other Cadillac Sky cd's but this is my favorite by far. The addition of David Mayfield to C-SKY was the smartest move these guys could have made. All of the songs are great but my favorites are "Trapped Under the Ice", "Ballad of Restored Confidence" and "Break My Heart Again". I must admit that I saw them earlier this spring and they played some of their new stuff and I fell in love with it there. If you ever happen to have the opportunity to see Cadillac Sky live, do so! They are excellent live and you can tell that they really enjoy what they are doing. Good job guys!