Customer Reviews

Mortal City

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 1996 "Mortal City" album contains the song that introduces most listeners to Dar Williams: "The Christians and the Pagans." I first heard Williams live at the first Lilith Fair in Bloomington, Minnesota. It had rained a lot and the Second State could not be set up, so Williams got to perform on the Main Stage to 75,000 people. I still remember those who had never heard her before wanting to know about this song. It is a fun song and you have to admit that outside of novelty songs you do not come across many fun songs. There is a second fun song on "Mortal City," the droll coffeehouse song "The Pointless, Yet Poignant, Crisis of a Co-Ed," but it is a mistake to think that this sub-genre defines Williams work as a folk singer.

Williams provides a wide variety of songs on this album, which comes from the time in her career when she did not have the type of accompaniment in the studio or on stage that she has shown on her last two albums. From the simple eloquence of "February" (which was covered by Joan Baez on her 1997 "Gone From Danger" album along with another Dar Williams song, "If I Wrote You"), to the rollicking beat of "The Ocean," to the wistfullness of "Iowa (Traveling III)," to the solemnity of the 7:15 title track, Williams covers a lot of ground in terms of musical styles and lyrical tones. Looking back from her "End of Summer" album released the next year, you get a sense that Williams was looking for her voice on "Mortal City," where I think she hits her stride in terms of both music and politics. After all, she is a Folk Singer, and there is a tradition to be maintained.

I would judge "Mortal City" to be her second best album so far. You should listen to Dar Williams' albums in order, because you get a sense of growth as an artist. "Mortal City" is the end of her coffee house stage, leading to the college auditorium stage in which she usually performs today. This album provides ample proof for why Williams is popular with college audiences and sets up her current attempt to move up to the next level which she confronts the paradox of folk singers, how to be political and popular at the same time.

When I stumbled upon Mortal City, having heard 'As Cool As I Am' on a very progressive radio station, I had no idea what I was in for, never having heard of Dar Williams. Once I bought the album, I was in shock - I had no idea that someone could write lyrics like that, put them to music and come out with such amazingly wonderful songs. Her words felt more like poetry to me, so complicated, so true, so funny, so different from what I'd been listening to.

'As Cool As I Am' has got to be one of the greatest songs ever written - who knew that a strident yet entertaining feminst anthem could have such an enticing beat? I used to fantasize about appointing myself Dar's publicist and getting that song onto mainstream radio so that other people could her how wonderful it was - of course, I was too busy listening to her music to do much of anything else. The amusing 'The Christians and the Pagans' and '...Crisi of a Coed' are balanced out by the powerful 'The Ocean' and haunting 'February' and the rocking yet touching 'Iowa.' And these are simply jewels among other gems - the other songs each share the terrific music and unique lyrics, but they cover a wide range of styles and subjects. Dar's only misstep - and I feel almost blasphemous even hinting at that - is 'This is Pompeii,' which always seemed jarring to me, not fitting in with the rest of the songs. But even one less than perfect song cannot in anyway affect the beauty and power of this CD.

For those who have never heard of Dar, this is the best album to start with even though it's her second. It's hard to resist Dar after hearing her humor, her sensitivity, her insight and her music. For those who know Dar but don't yet have Mortal City, this one is highly recommended. But in reality, everyone who does not yet have this album should definitely buy it - it's simply too wonderful to miss out on!

The Mortal City is a complex, passionate, and intricate web of poetic words, beautiful guitar, and incredible singing. Dar Williams is able to capture the listener's ears so easily because everything she sings to you is so honest and true and flows so beautifully. I have all 6 of Dar's CDs (The Honesty Room, Mortal City, End of the SUmmer, The Green World, Out There Live, and Cry Cry Cry) and yet this CD, the first Dar CD that I have ever bought (and Iowa, track 3, the first song I ever learned to play on guitar) remains my favorite of them all, and I strongly, STRONGLY encourage you to get this CD because on your first listen, you will become enthralled and a Dar Williams fan faster than you can say Southern California Wants to be Western New York (haha, that's track 10) :):)

This album made me buy everything Dar williams has put out, and in my opinion, that is the one that will last more than two decades, Though there are "Mortal Cities" in all of her albums.Except for maybe Cosy sheriden, nobody writes like that. For writers and appreciators of writing, this album is a good lesson in how to deal with western culture. I wasn't expecting musical miracles, the genre does not demand it necessarily, but surprsingly, it is very rich. The surprise of "pointless yet poigenent..." is also musical, "February" and "Iowa" support the claim that one does not need that many chords to create a beautiful melody.Dar is a heerosexual feminist that undertands men as well. Nice. Unique. liten to "famity". Every song here is a jewel, You need 2 months to go through them all, because it can get too intense, at times. You might listen to 4 songs while reading the words, and then rest for a week, afraid of what might happen too you if you listen to the rest of them. Crying is unavoidable, but the Catharsis is wonderful. This is a very daring, very clever piece of art, from begining to end, Dar's Honesty Room is also recommended.(True, the title track is embarassing, but so is the situation described. Not every singer uses embarassment as an instrument, Dar is capable of that. I was sure it will be like Pink Floyd's "Money" in Dark Side of the Moon, but I find myself litening to it every time, without skipping.)

I had no idea who Dar Williams was when I was given a copy of Mortal City by my then girlfriend. She thought I'd like it as I am often times drawn to guitar based folk. I listened once and that's all it took. This is one of the best CDs in my collection. Ms. Williams has a spectacular voice that shines throughout the album and make sometimes uneven lyrics fall right into place. I have no particular favorites. Different moods draw me to different songs. There are no slouches on this CD. Anyone who appreciate poignant and powerful folk on the lines of Suzanne Vega, and Luka Bloom should definately purchase Mortal City.

The first time I listened to this c.d. "Mortal City", I hated it. But after a while, Dar Williams began to grow on me. I have long been a fan of Ani Difranco and Dar shares a similar style- particularly the vocals and folky guitar. I grew to love this c.d.: especially the song "As Cool as I am" Dar's lyrics are powerful and poignant, intellectual but not stifling or stuffy. Her words explode truth and humor. Mortal City contains a perfect balance of more emotional ballads ("February" and "Iowa") and more upbeat tunes, like the hilarious yet suprisingly touching "The Christians and the Pagans". After listening to this cd repeatedly, I became a Dar addict and eventually purchased all of her cds. Mortal City is an excellent introduction to the many musical talents of Dar Williams.

Have you ever wanted to take off in the rolling hills of Iowa's heartland? Do you know how it feels to just want to be yourself without the hateful jealousy that we sometimes feel when comparing ourselves to others? Dar Williams is one of the best songwriter of her generation and here, on her best album to date, she proves once again her uncanny ability to express the inner feelings of the human heart. From the self-affirming and empowering up-tempo "As cool as I am" to the heart-wrenching tale of loneliness in "Mortal City", the album is a delightful, even if sometimes painful, exploration of the complexity of the human psyche. Dar looks into herself and her life for inspiration and comes up with universal themes to which we can all relate. Dar's heartfelt and evocative voice soars through the songs and takes us on a journey that is unlike no other. Some personal favorites beside the ones mentioned are February, a poignant finger-picked song with lyrics expressing the heartache of a break-up and Family, a song which shows the depth of family that overcomes even the hardest times in life. If you've never heard of Dar or have just heard, this is the perfect album for a beginner. If you are an avid Dar fan, this is the culmination of all that is good about music- truth, beauty, and peace.

"Mortal City" has been my favorite album for quite some time now. Not only do I think it is Dar at her finest, but it is contemporary feminist folk rock at its finest too. I love this album, my boyfriend loves it, and everyone I've had listen to it loves it. My favorite songs on the album are "Iowa" and "Southern California Wants to Be Western New York," both of which make me feel choked up everytime I hear them. When Dar sings "Once I had everything/I gave it up/For the shoulder of your driveway/and the words I never felt," it tells more about love than any of the love songs you hear on the radio. The other songs are great, too. "As Cool As I Am" is really fun, and so is "The Ocean," which is my boyfriend's favorite track. I have to agree with the one negative reviewer, that "The Christians and the Pagans" is a little hokey, but I think it's supposed to be that way and, anyway, even though I really don't like the song very much, the rest of the album is so great, it doesn't matter. Oh, and the album is really really fun to sing along to in the car. It has gotten me through many a long commute :)

I've always loved Dar Williams, and this is one of her very best albums- hands down. As a severe insomniac, I have the hardest time getting to sleep, but if I pop this CD in, Dar's amazingly full and emotional voice can send me off to Dreamland within the first few tracks. Songs like "February" and "Family" have come to represent the delicate and precious relationships of my friends and me in a way no other music has. Then she gives us our war-cry in "As Cool As I Am," where we find ourselves crying out, "I will not be afraid of women," the same way we shouted, "We are far too young and clever." And she is definitely folk music's finest marriage to the new generation. This is a fine blend of haunting melody, invigorating accompaniment, classic lyric, and a wonderful voice, and if five stars is the max, she gets six for this one.

I discovered Dar via my iPod and of the hundreds of songs I have purchased, she is my favorite discovery. My favorites on this album are Iowa, As Cool as I Am, and Mortal City. I bought my daughter this album along with concert tickets for her and a friend as a BDay gift, and she thought it was awesome.