Customer Reviews

Lifeline

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

The songs on Lifeline are just that, a lifeline out of sorrow and despair. These are heartfelt renditions that take repeated listenings before you tune into their emotional resonance. They may not have an immediate appeal, even to devoted Iris fans, but once you let them get inside you, you will be glad you did.

Iris always surprises. Every album is different from the last, none more so than this, her latest. Her voice remains unique and very special. The accompaniments on this album are appropriately sparse, yet virtuoso. The songs are Gospel in theme and content, folksy in style and spirit, and Blues in their cathartic power. If you are an Iris fan, give this album a fair hearing before judging it. If you are new to her, start instead with Infamous Angel, to fall in love with her voice, then work your way up to Lifeline.

I've heard Iris Dement perform in concert many times and in many venues over 12 years. The first time I heard her perform, she stole the show in Carnegie Hall in 1993, an unknown opening for a Nanci Griffith tour. That summer, I saw her inspire a crowd to sing gospel songs in a performance at a tiny hall in a Brooklyn park. She did the same at the Bluebird Cafe in Denver.

As writer, performer and recording artist, Iris' music benefits from intimacy, a connection among her, the music and the listener. As a result, I have always been struck by how poorly her lilting voice is captured on her studio recordings.

This recording doesn't correct that problem entirely. I'm not sure that can be done with recording technology (you must hear her perform live). But the choice of songs close to her heart obviously lifts Iris' performance to a level we haven't heard on CD since "Infamous Angel."

Observers who have praised the record while admitting their own lack of religiosity are on the money. "Lifeline" isn't about the songs, though they are good and thoughtfully chosen. It's about Iris finding material to inspire her to break an eight-year solo recording drought and give us back her songbird's heart.

Nobody who knows me will ever describe me as "religious," but I grew up in a family that was off-and-on "church," in the old-time-religion way. My mother and _her_ mother sang constantly as they did housework, and their repertoire was mostly hymns and gospel songs. Many of them are on this CD, and DeMent's rough, untutored voice isn't unlike what I grew up hearing.

There can be a fine comfort in hearing --and singing along with, if nobody else can hear-- these old songs. The arrangement --mostly simple piano and guitar, with a little rough vocal harmony like what happens in little white frame nondenominational churches that dot our hills-- are both traditional and fresh, like the songs themselves.

I dunno how youngsters, or those with no hillbilly church experience will hear these cuts, but I love them, and recommend them highly to anyone who remembers a time when it was possible to believe. They're part of "the culture" to anyone who knows the difference between "hillbilly" and "southern," and this is one CD that was worth every penny I paid for it.

It's been eight years (!) since Iris gave us her last record. After releasing her first three albums in the space of six years, that really puts things in perspective. Having seen her perform a handful of these songs at two shows back in August of this year, I knew this CD would be worth the wait.

With the exception of one tune, this is an album of cover songs. A few of them I've heard before, many of them are new to me. "He Reached Down", the lone original song on the album, shows the strength & craft of Iris' songwriting in that it holds it's own along-side these timeless songs, many of which are well over 100 years old. They will all still be relative and their beauty will endure another 100 years from now.

The simple production, arrangements and playing only heighten and emphasize the power of these words. Iris is in fine voice throughout and this record reminds me that few folks have a voice quite like Iris Dement; expressive, nuanced and powerful.

Although I initially had hoped the new record would be an album of originals, with songs & performances this good, it's merely a quibble. This is one for the ages.

I love Iris Dement. She is unique, unfiltered by self-consciousness or popular fads. She is always & ever true to herself. I love the way her voice flows directly from her heart. I am not a Christian, though I was raised as one, but as long as Iris is singing, I am a believer. She makes these songs her own, a personal statement. They are rough and deep and wide and heartbreakingly lovely. As is she.

This is now my all time favorite gospel album. The singing is superb, the musicianship is excellent, and the words touch the heart, soul, and spirit. I love this album and have been listening to it daily. Iris, I beseech you to do another similar Gospel album. I'd buy it in a heartbeat, and I believe a lot of other folks out there would, too. You did an awesome job on this album! Please, do another one!

Iris DeMent is blessed with a truly unique voice. This CD finds her voice as strong and distinctive as ever. Iris sings these traditional gospels with conviction and clarity.

"Near The Cross" is stunning, it gives me chills each time I hear it.

"I've Got That Old Time Religion" and "I Never Shall Forget The Day" are rollicking guitar driven songs with old-timey harmony on the choruses. You just can't help but smile when you hear them.

"Blessed Assurance" and "I Don't Want to Get Adjusted" are beautiful ballads with lovely understated dobro accompaniment by Stu Basore.

Listening to "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" I picture Iris sitting at the piano in a little country church singing her heart out.

This CD is wonderful from beginning to end and well worth the price, especially if (like me) you can't seem to hear enough from this talented woman.