Lost and Found

Eliza Gilkyson

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 9, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red House
• ASIN: B000063IW0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,415 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A sweetly sensual yet singed-at-the-edges voice may be Gilkyson's most striking charm, but her songs have always sealed the deal. In her 15th year of recording, the Austinite's songwriting is in full, romantic flower, capturing desire's "dark treasure of senses," a prayer for a restless father "born by the light of a double-faced moon," and strange but resonant images of "all that's left untouched, undefiled, and unknown." Gilkyson's vision has more weight than her angel obsession suggests, and her enlisting of impeccable Austin musicians like Rich Brotherton, Slaid Cleaves, Gurf Morlix, and Lloyd Maines only deepens the musical mysteries. Drawing on gospel, blues, and folk rock, Lost and Found finds a singular, indelible, and consistent spiritual mood. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wise, worldly and romantic voice, May 31, 2002

By	Music fan (Norfolk, VA USA) - See all my reviews

"Lost and Found" is the flip side to Gilkyson's last, the dark, down "Hard Times in Babylon." That disc found her in the middle of a midlife breakup. This one finds her in love again with a Richmond Boy and reflective about what she's lost (her father, a lifelong songwriter paid tribute to with "Easy Rider").

Her voice, not as pretty as on earlier recordings, is perhaps more effective, becoming the disc's mesmerizing center. She brings a wordly knowing with just enough ache to the sad songs and a sly sexiness to the romantic ballads.

But that doesn't mean the melodies are tossed off. "Welcome Back," which sets the tone, deserves play on Adult Alternative radio alongside Bonnie, Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams (in fact, the disc should appeal to fans of mid-career -- "Sweet Old World" era -- Williams).
"Fall Into the Night" is a sexy come-on, a worthy bookend to her earlier "Unless You Want Me" from "Redemption Road." "Richmond Boy" is sly sketch of a lover who puts the seat down at night and "don't scare me when we fight."

She closes with a simple meditiation, "Riverside," that's a modern hymn.

The backing band balances twang, blues and even pop nicely with contributions from Gurf Morlix, Patty Griffin, Slaid Cleaves and Gilkyson's brother, Tony (formerly of X) and son, Cisco Ryder.

This is one that only gets better with repeated listens.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gilkyson turns to family for inspiration, April 30, 2002

By	Joshua M. Fischer (Macon, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Eliza Gilkyson, no matter what, is having an interesting life. It is easy to tell this in her music, which consistently improves and evolves into new directions, emotions and possibilities. On this album, it is one song that truly rises above and beyond all the other excellent, touching songs. Titled "Easy Rider," and written about her musician father, the song is simply spellbinding, unlike any other, ever.
Other standouts include "Fall Into the Night," and "Riverside," which offers this stanza:
"We sleep so easily/ Burn the oil like it's free/ Watch the war on TV with god on our side/ We're stronger than them/ Bomb, rebuild and defend/ Lose it all in the end down by the riverside."
Gilkyson is a quiet and important peace activist, a genuinely engaging and immensely skillful performer, and connected to such musical luminaries as X and John Doe. Her brother Tony played with X for many years, and Gilkyson rightfully honors him by singing one of his songs, "He'll Miss this Train." And her son, Cisco Ryder, pitches in memorably on the cajon, a simple wooden box modified for percussion. Ryder's band Knife in the Water is also up and coming, but for now his mother is, or should be, in the spotlight, crafting one of the year's intricate gems.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Found again, June 18, 2002

By	Nanci "Book Dragon" (Tri-Cities, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Eliza's earlier hit "Pilgrim" was a spiritual search for identity, although to me it was just some damn good writing and an electric, one of a kind voice. "Hard Times in Babylon" had a rough edge, confusion, and an angst not commonly found in popular music ... music with soul AND intelligence. Her latest "Lost and Found" combines all of these in a satisfying blend of good music, great writing, and again that wonderful gravel freeway voice. I love that voice. I love these songs, and I love her mind and her poetry. This is a great album, another in a series of great work.