Medicine Man

Dan Janisch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 10, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Green Door Record Co.
• ASIN: B000R7I2CO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,730 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartland excellence, March 31, 2009

By 

Bt "Cat." (Parts unknown) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medicine Man (Audio CD)

I give this 5 stars to equal the excellent review by "hyperbolium" before me (it's a 4 1/2 star disc to me too). Very well described. Dan's come a long way from his earlier efforts in songwriting and this disc is proof that he's likely found his niche in style, and confidence. If you like "Nebraska" styled dusty songwriting, then you'll likely enjoy this one.

4.0 out of 5 stars +1/2 -- Terrific singer-songwriter folk-pop, May 27, 2008

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Medicine Man (Audio CD)

The Los Angeles-based Janisch doesn't record a whole lot - this 2007 CD is his first release since 1998's superb "town South of Bakersfield" debut, "Weeds." In the intervening nine years, he's moved from a folk-inflected honky-tonker whose style favored Merle Haggard and Hank Williams to a ready singer-songwriter whose folk, rock and blues take in `60s acts like Brewer & Shipley and Arlo Guthrie, modern day troubadours like Peter Case, and intimate, down-and-out alley singers like Tom Waits. As good as he sounded with pedal steel and two-step beats, he sounds even better unleashed as a busking-ready folkie.

Janisch opens his latest CD with the superb dobro-blues title song, seemingly describing a happy visit with a dealer. The mood turns downbeat and confessional with "Sweet & Simple," lamenting the commoditization of love songs ("love is sweet and simple, not available in stores"), but recognizing music's unique healing power ("But when a heart gets broken, it feels beyond repair, a song's the only place that it can hide, yeah, it's all you've got to share"). A similar intimacy is heard on several other songs ("She Was a Beautiful Girl" and the philosophical closer, "Nora Has a Bird"), but Janisch can also open up, such as on the sea shanty styled "Big Trip," and the wordy, Dylan-esque "The Strongest Man (That Ever Lived)."

In addition to simplifying his arrangements, Janisch has included a few sonic surprises, such as the primitive organ solo on "Sayonara Chinatown" and the toy instruments on "Pretty Little Baby." The production touches remain flourishes, with Janisch most often singing to the accompaniment of guitar, bass and the occasional light percussion, and it's his songs and inviting vocals that are the disc's real story. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2008 hyperbolium dot com]