Lifeline

Iris DeMent | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Flariella Records
• ASIN: B0002ZUIJG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,553 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #13 in Music > Christian > Southern Gospel
  • #28 in Music > Christian > Country & Bluegrass
  • #98 in Music > Folk > Traditional Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although there's only one new original on Iris DeMent's first release in eight years, the music throughout ranks with the most personal she has made. DeMent's quavering vocals invest this collection of traditional spirituals with an unwavering conviction. "This is my story," she sings on "Blessed Assurance," written more than 130 years ago. "This is my song." In her liner notes, the Arkansas-raised artist explains how these were the first songs she remembers hearing, and that this music has always provided comfort during hard times, a comfort that isn't necessarily (or at least not narrowly) religious. On "Sweet Hour of Prayer" and "God Walks the Dark Hills," DeMent accompanies herself on stately solo piano, and the emotion is as pure as the arrangement is unadorned. On other tracks, DeMent and co-producer Jim Rooney enlist homespun support from kindred spirits such as guitarists Mark Howard and Bo Ramsey and a call-and-response chorus of harmonizers including Stuart Duncan. The self-penned composition, "He Reached Down," is a folkish recasting of the Biblical "Good Samaritan" parable. Even listeners who don't share the faith expressed in these songs will have trouble resisting the unflinching intimacy of the performances. --Don McLeese

Review

Features the song ''Leaning On the Everlasting Arms'', as heard in the Soundtrack to the Coen Brothers film True Grit. --True Grit

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Iris is Back!, November 9, 2004

By 

David T. Steere, Jr. (Annapolis, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lifeline (Audio CD)

I'm the least religious person I know...quite an atheist in fact. I often resent when religion creeps into ostensibly or otherwise secular albums (i.e., my reaction to the recent Rosie Thomas cd was quite strong and negative for this reason). But...

I wonder at the few negative reviews LIFELINE has received here. I haven't been so moved by an album in ages. In fact, LIFELINE turned me to mush. I've always loved Iris as one of our best songwriters and most affecting singers. My reaction is likely heightened by having just read the biographical essay about her in the new issue of NO DEPRESSION. It deals with the past eight years since her last album (the great THE WAY I SHOULD), the hate mail she received from some of the songs on that album, the more viruluent response she got when she cancelled a concert out of conscience about her tax dollars supporting the war in Iraq, her writers' block, her periods of depression, her divorce and remarriage to Greg Brown. Most important how she goes back to the old church songs from her Pentecostal past to make her feel better and alive.

I simply can't fathom how anyone who loves Iris can resist the exquisite simple arrangements here, her incredible heart-rending singing, her beautiful piano accompaniment to her own voice, the simple acoustic instruments accompanying her, and the fabulous harmony vocalists.

To paraphrase from that NO DEPRESSION interview and the album notes, her mother told a weeping Iris over the phone, "Iris! You gotta get to a 'pe-yan-a'." She has. How lucky we are that she did. A real winner and a definite mush-inducer.

62 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank You Iris...and Amazon!, November 20, 2004

By 

Charles Griffin (DeLand, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lifeline (Audio CD)

Ok, forgive me for being a little political, but I wasn't in the greatest of moods the morning of November 3rd (Election Night)! In fact, I was downright depressed. Being perhaps a little overly dramatic, I thought, "Oh Lord, what happens now?" Dramatic because I'm not very religious.

Then something wonderful happened...Amazon sent me an email indicating a new album release from Iris DeMent! AFTER 8 YEARS!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. It came as a complete surprise.

So I did what any true Iris DeMent fan would...I tried to run out and buy LIFELINE at the local music stores (sorry Amazon, but I wanted to get it right away). But here in Greenville, NC the CD was nowhere to be found. I wonder if Lee Armstrong had better luck than I. So thanks again to Amazon, I finally got what I've wanted for years...to hear Iris once again!

And I am not disappointed. As I've mentioned, I'm not particularly religious, and yet I love old gospel songs. Why? Because they're just flat-out good songs. And when these gospel songs come from the sweet, achingly soulful voice of Iris DeMent, it's pure perfection.

Songs like Hide Thou Me, That Glad Reunion Day and Near The Cross may have been written by others years ago, but from Iris, they seem to come straight from her bones. She even manages to include an original track that easily takes it's place among those wonderful songs. In fact, He Reached Down may well be the best on the album! I have to admit, when I first heard that Iris had only written one song on LIFELINE I was a little disappointed. But when she writes a song, it's one Hell of a song!

And I'd like to say one more thing. That voice. Is there a voice like it anywhere? Was there EVER a voice like it? So many country, rock and pop singers with allegedly 'great' voices receive constant attention these days. I'm sorry, but their voices are a dime a dozen. Iris is a true original. Her voice is pure and hauntingly personal!

And that voice is put to brilliant use in LIFELINE. So I'd like to thank Iris DeMent for coming back to us...and I thank Amazon for giving me the good news when I truly needed it!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Like Iris Sitting Next To Me, November 9, 2004

By 

Mark Bunner "IrisDeMent.Net" (Weirton, WV USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lifeline (Audio CD)

Iris deserves accolades for this CD. This album of gospel songs is definitely worth buying and definitely worth finding some time to sit down and pay attention to. The one quality that struck me about this CD is the feeling that it's Iris sitting next to you on a couch in the living room, just playing and enjoying music together. It has a warm, personal feel to it. The production is much like anyone who has attended her concerts expects. It's Iris, her instruments, and her beautiful voice. There are a couple of "flat" songs on this CD, but the wonderful songs truly outshine those less shining moments. I haven't really picked a favorite at this time, but tracks 1,, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are all wonderful examples of Iris at her best. The one song that I think has gotten my attention the most is, "Near The Cross". I've heard this song many times, from places so varied as inside a church, on an album, and in my own home sitting with family and friends in an impromptu "living room concert" like I mentioned before. This has to be the most unique and emotionally touching version I have ever heard. I've listened to it repeatedly; trying to determine what etheral quality it is that makes it grab the attention of my soul. It literally made tears well up in my eyes. It is not the best song to illustrate the clarity, range or beauty of Iris' voice, but it is especially filled with the beauty of heart-felt emotion. If a new listener were looking for examples of Iris' voice at it's best, I would probably steer them to "I've Got That Old Time Religion In My Heart", "I Never Shall Forget the Day", or to "I Don't Want To Get Adjusted". I also especially like that Iris has written "He Reached Down" for this album. Longtime fans will know of Iris' struggle with organized religion; which makes this song (and album) seem to be a statement by Iris that she does not deny that her moral and ethical makeup are at least based on her religious upbringing. It also shows that gospel music (and music in general) has a certain soul soothing quality and a meaning to even those who question their religion. I was somewhat disappointed not to see "Momma Told Her Truth" on this album, but I imagine someone made the decision that the song was not quite enough gospel to fit in with the songs on "Lifeline". That's ok, because now I expect to see it on her next album of original songs, along with her love ode to husband Greg Brown, "This Love's Gonna Last." Lifeline is definitely a must buy for any Iris fan.