Sky Like a Broken Clock

Kelly Joe Phelps | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B00005JT8A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,967 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A band, no slide, but still just beautiful music, July 13, 2001

By 

Nobody important - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sky Like a Broken Clock (Audio CD)

OK, let's clear up a few things here. On this album, Kelly Joe Phelps has a band. He has worked with bands before, to marvelous effect-- witness his performances on Tony Furtado-- "Roll My Blues Away," "The Tony Furtado Band" (bluegrass/blues/celtic blends); Greg Brown-- "Slant 6 Mind," and "Further In" (both of these are folk/blues-based albums with a very similar feel to this one) and Martin Simpson's "Cool and Unusual," (celtic blues instrumentals-- astounding) to name a few. He can play flashy lead like nobody else, but he knows how to share a stage, and the key to his playing has always been the fact that his playing is never flashy enough to overshadow the music (which is itself a wonder given that he is one of the best guitarists you will ever hear). Next, there is no slide here. Again, on his last two albums, he played many of the songs without the slide, and showed that his fingerstyle guitar, and his single-note lead lines are almost as impressive. That said, this is a wonderful album with beautiful writing, beautiful singing and, of course, top-notch musicianship. While his first few albums were the very essence of blues, the music here cannot really be called blues. This is a blend of the acoustic styles with which KJP has been experimenting for the last few years, although the blues roots are difficult to miss. I hate the term, "New Acoustic Music" (not to be confused with the insipid "new age"), but it fits this album, which combines old country blues, modern folk and folk-rock, and a touch of country and bluegrass. The feel is mellow, but the music is complex enough to grab your attention and hold it for the duration of the album, with the same free-flowing, jazz-influenced structure you will find on KJP's previous albums. Further listening (or, if you like these albums, buy Sky Like a Broken Clock): All albums I mentioned at the start of this review. Also, Dave Alvin: "King of California," and "Blackjack David." Steve Earle: "Train a Comin'." Ben Harper: "Welcome to the Cruel World," and "Fight for your Mind." Richard Thompson: "Small Town Romance." Gillian Welch: "Hell Among the Yearlings." Todd Phillips, David Grier and Matt Flinner: "Phillips, Grier and Flinner."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars plenty of sauce, but a little undercooked, July 19, 2001

By 

Prof. Slidewell (Lambertville, New Jersey USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sky Like a Broken Clock (Audio CD)

Kelly Joe's got the vibe going on this release. Loose, funky moods abound. Great guitar playing as usual. However, his songs have grown over time to include long, intricate narratives. As much as I love his outstanding guitar playing (I'm a lap-style player myself), on this album it seems the two elements are fighting for space. I appreciate the enthusiasm and fun that comes through as Kelly Joe and his accompanyists jam out, but perhaps next time he might craft the songs to better support his wonderful stories.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OH NO! not at all what I expected, July 14, 2001

By 

R. Nassar "RNinAK" (Anchorage, AK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sky Like a Broken Clock (Audio CD)

Technically the music is very good. Kelly Joe Phelps I believe is incapable of anything less than virtuosity of voice and instrument. However, he does not play any of the wonderful slide guitar of his previous, cutting edge, delicious past three CD's. The liner notes state that the musicians got to together for the first time and recorded the album in three days. Well it shows. I believe that they were able to create a purpousful and deliberate "feel" but what I felt was the the music retreated to the category of background music in a loud smokey bar. The CD still has a rough edge and a raw emotional feel but gone is the soulful, tasty guitar/ slide guitar that I find so compelling. Bottom line there are a couple of great tunes on the album but overall not much to sink you teeth into. Kelly Joe please break out your slide and stomp your feet by your bad self.