Customer Reviews

Lost and Found

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"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.

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.

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.

Eliza Gilkyson seems destined to be one of those artistes whose every step seems to date have been dogged by bad luck (her early CDs all being associated with labels gone out of business shortly afterwards) but reflects that out of adversity, there often springs tenacity and (as evidenced on this CD) latent genius.

Think of Dory Previn from the 1970s updated to the 21st century by a lady who knows a good chorus hook and guitar tuning for delivery of a repertoire of songs that demonstrate that here is one of the leading ladies currently performing able to burst a few bubbles (especially male egos) and reflect that landscape of accumulated life experiences and letdowns that is middle age but able to remain optimistic as it progresses.

This is without a doubt her most complete and rewarding CD yet with a range of songs on personal relationships that is without peer in anything I have heard in the last few years (I have yet to receive her latest 2004 release to compare) striking the whole range of emotions and experience. From the closest to a female Loudon Wainwright song I have heard ("Mama's got a boyfriend") through reawakened longing ("Fall into the night") to a new partner ("Richmond Boy") and disilluionment with Bush and the Gulf war ("Riverside").

Further proof if it was needed that Red House Records is one of the most exciting labels currently with Lucy Kaplansky as well as Eliza on their roster.

Love Eliza, love her songs, love her singing, love her strumming. Go see her if you can, get her cd's if you can. She is unforgettable.

On the follow-up to her wonderful "Hard Times in Babylon" Eliza Gilkyson expands with optimism on this somewhat more upbeat CD. There seems to be a more family vibe involved with "Lost and Found," down to son Cisco and brother Tony Gilkyson playing on several of the songs. The most touching of them is Eliza's tribute to her father in "Easy Rider." Her father, Terry Gilkyson, had a number of hits in the 50's and 60's with his group, The Easy Riders, and had written songs for singers as diverse as Dean Martin, Burl Ives and Walt Disney movies.

"The Jubilee Four and the Greenwood crew,
the Wellington Boys from 'Hullabaloo,'
Everybody wanted to love you but
they couldn't get through
Easy Rider."

Terry Gilkyson passed away in 1999. While "Easy Rider" is somewhat mournful, it is followed by the optimistic ode to new-found love in "Richmond Boy." The songs are all pitch-perfect in production, never too overdone to miss their emotional mark. The guests are kind of a Texas who's who, including Gurf Morlix, Patty Griffin and Slaid Cleaves (and you really need to hear Slaid's "Unsung"), who adds terrific harmonies to "He'll Miss This Train." "Train" is the only song not written by Eliza; instead, Tony composed it. It's good enough to make me wish maybe he should go solo more often ("Goodbye Guitar").

Overall, this is a really good and honest folk record, with strong roots feel. There is even a harbinger to Eliza's more political "Land of Milk and Honey" with the CD's closer, "Riverside." With the simple line of "bomb, rebuild and defend," she skewers the whole war mentality that lulls people to "watch the war on TV with God on our side." It's a perfect closer to a superb CD.