Lost John Dean

Kieran Kane, Kieran Kane Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B000ERU7IO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,132 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the mid 1980s, Kieran Kane made his name as half of the O'Kanes, an acoustic duo that achieved surprising mainstream success with acoustic music that was contemporary yet possessed undeniable echoes of the past--music that grows in stature as time passes. After their split, Kane continued his solo work, most notably in a partnership with songwriter Kevin Welch, fiddler Tammy Rogers, and a number of others in Dead Reckoning Records, an ensemble of complementary voices and talents with similarly traditional ties. This collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplin, a sequel to their 2004 release You Can't Save Everybody, features 11 numbers: nine originals, one traditional tune, and a blues cover. The vocals are loose and relaxed, the less-is-more acoustic accompaniment enhanced throughout by Kaplan's instrumental virtuosity. An eerie, gothic feel permeates both Welch's "Satan's Paradise" and the traditional title song. "Postcard from Mexico" has a raw, swampy ambience. This marvelous organic unity continues to the end with a rousing acoustic revival of the Little Walter blues standard "Mellow Down Easy." It's no surprise that the album's refreshingly devoid of the arty, self-important pretense that dogs many less experienced Americana singer-songwriters. These guys were doing it before "Americana" existed. --Rich Kienzle

Product Description

Musicians, songwriters and old friends: when Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch sit down together, the room is instantly engulfed in a softy glowing bonhomie. Not a raging, giddy friendship – something more insidious, a bit sinister. Deeper. It’s a glow stoked by fast-flying sarcasm and the musical way Kieran and Kevin seamlessly complete one another’s sentences. Lost John Dean finds these industry mavericks picking up where You Can’t Save Everybody left off -- featuring an entire album of roots music gems from the pens of the original Godfathers of Americana. Joined once again by multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplin who flavors the gumbo with just the right spices.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece, May 12, 2006

By 

R. Myhr (Ashburn, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lost John Dean (Audio CD)

This recording is an example of one of those rare events -- a true collaboration of like-minded musicians, creating music that's really more than the sum of their individual highly skilled parts.

It's a follow-up to 2004's equally wonderful "You Can't Save Everybody". Where that recording was alternately delicate and robust, Lost John Dean has a tougher feel, with a live-from-the-floor ambience -- not surprising since it was recorded that way, no overdubs.

The instruments are the usual mix of acoustic guitars (occasionally electric), banjo, fiddle and button accordion. Arrangements are generally spare, often with driving rhythm. It's hard to categorize the music -- the CD will often be found in Country sections, maybe Americana, but it's firmly in the folk tradition, not remotely conventional Country. Welch is a southerner, Kane and Kaplin New Yorkers, but all are veteran musicians who have spent time in the Nashville trenches.

Kane and Welch are accomplished guitarists (Kane also plays a mean banjo) and the intensity and focus of their playing is a treat. Kaplin is a multi-instrumentalist who expertly fills out the sound with fiddle and accordion, and who adds special touches with electric guitar, pedal steel and oud.

Both Kane and Welch are fine songwriters, often covered by others. The majority of the pieces here are originals, with a few covers of other songwriters' work, and a traditional tune. The title tune is the traditional piece, with lead vocal taken by Kane, and it's real fine. Probably the initial big winner on the album is "Postcard from Mexico", where Kane and Welch trade lines, interweaving expertly over driving accompaniment. Welch's delivery of his ballad "Heaven Now" beautifully illuminates the theme of aging, acceptance of life's curves and understanding of what's important:

To those who love,
and those who care
I'll meet you
Down the road somewhere

A fine recording that deserves to make these guys rich. It won't, unfortunately, but we can try to make it happen. Buy it now.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Organic second album from Americana trio, May 19, 2006

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Lost John Dean (Audio CD)

The second studio album from this trio (following 2004's "You Can't Save Everybody") is derived more from the chemistry of their combined stage performances than their individual studio dates. Recorded live-to-tape (vocals included!), the sparse arrangements and driving rhythms echo the audience-enticing sounds they create at music festivals. The organic feel of the album derives from the trio's studio methods, forgoing charted, practiced arrangements for the jazz-like creation of talented musicians who've developed a shared. The trio of Oklahoma-born Welch and New York bred Kane and Kaplin, could loosely be categorized as Americana, with a rootsy country underpinning to their voices that's supported by a drumless, folk-styled presentation. The combination overwhelms you with the songs' power and the players' tasteful picking, rather than the volume or speed of the instrumentation. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Half An Ear, October 30, 2006

By 

handyman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost John Dean (Audio CD)

I brought this CD home from a local library's CD collection on pure speculation. I had never heard of these guys. Listening first with my hands in the kitchen sink, every song caught my attention and I am happy to report I had to wash the dishes again because this album wasn't made for multi-tasking.
Each song stands out, unique and individual. It's an album full of country blues "hits" that can each stand on it's own. That's awesome stuff, in this or any era of recorded music. Fans of Americana, country, blues, singer-songwriter buy this. Money well spent. Highly recommended.