Customer Reviews

My Name Is Buddy

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I am not American. Nor do I usually buy this kind of music. I heard a few tracks by accident in a music store. But... we live in dark times, someone singing about friendship and brotherhood makes me feel that there are some good people out there. Its simple messages warm the heart. If the heart is true, the music is beautiful no matter whether the music is rock, rap... or in this case American Folk Music.

Ry Cooder's latest album is an folk music opera to a rambling cat named Buddy who sleeps in a little suitcase and hobos around America with his best friend, a pro-labor union mouse named Lefty.

Huh?...come again? No, Ry Cooder has not lost his mind. Let me assure all doubters that "My Name Is Buddy" is not only his most audacious recording to date but arguably his best.

Knowing what you do about Ry Cooder's impeccable musical reputation do you think he'd risk it all to write a bizarre roots music epic about about a working class hobo cat? Don't think too long about the question because the entire idea seems so laughably absurd. It is not our place to question artistic genius.

In reality Cooder's musical statement tells us more about human relations than animal behavior. I can only tell you that you're missing something very special if you can't suspend disbelief and listen to this album on Ry Cooder's own artistic terms.

I have been listening to Ry Cooder since 1969, and have enjoyed many great moments. Every music project he undertakes is always unique and handled with the utmost respect & integrity of the music. "My Name Is Buddy" is another jem, unlike anything I have heard from Ry. By surrounding himself with the great traditional musicians- Pete & Mike Seeger, bluegrass mandolin master, Roland White (the brother of the late Clarence White, both of the legendary Kentucky Colonials & Clarence was a member of the Byrds fame), Tex Mex accordian mastro Flaco Jimenez, Chieftains' Paddy Maloney, and other veteran pros, this is a GREAT collection of american music.

By telling the story through Buddy Red Cat, Lefty mouse, and Reverend Tom Toad, it offers an amusing and tearful journey of friendship and hardship in their travels. This is a collection of tunes that seem to have a story riding often on familiar traditional melodies, with some pretty interesting grooves bouncing along too. "Three Chords & The Truth" jumps & grinds in a funky groove. "Footprints In The Snow" tackles bluegrass with a Tex-Mex added accordian. Another favorite is "One Cat, One Vote, One Beer". After several listens I find that every song fits perfectly and becomes classic Cooder- a touch of this, a dash of that, mix it all together and get real American music. Don't pass on this one. This should get another award for Ry Cooder. I thank him I wish him the very best- Rob.

Wow...what an album! Cooder acts as a modern day Alan Lomax, taking the listener on a journey through the old America of farm labor rights, political scandal, communist fear and dusty towns, all narrated by characters of the most peculiar and endearing sort. But, not only is this a journey through American history, but American music as well. The songs styles range from folk, jazz, country, blues, rock n'roll, bluegrass and tex-mex.. all played excellently by Cooder's familiar crew of musicians (including Mike Seeger, Flaco Jimenez, Joachim Cooder, Van Dyke Parks and Jim Keltner). But perhaps the most striking thing about the album is that not only is it a fascinating and thought provoking look at old America, it doubles as a brilliant commentary on our own current society, rich with thoughtful musings and important ideas that should be addressed; and in today's world of over-the-top and incredibly one-sided political commentary, this album is a breath of fresh air as well as an hour of beautiful music.

And when you do "get it", it is astonishing. "My Name is Buddy" is a great collection. Period. It is another amazing work of art by the master, Ryland P.

Now, here's the thing about Ry Cooder. After all the years of simply superb music, he is still not well known to the average listener. To many, he's some shadowy cat with a cool name. Many of those who I introduced to his music became instant fans. This is not for the casual listener who will never "get it"...but then neither is Van Dyke Parks, for that matter. This is a true artists with concepts, visions and the virtuosity to realize these goals.

To give "My Name is Buddy" 5 stars is to minimize the perfection of "Into The Purple Valley", "Chicken Skin Music", "Talking Timbuktu", "Mambo Sinuendo" and only about a gross of other tracks (Did somebody say "Let's Burn Down The Cornfield" by Randy Newman?). Don't misunderstand me, "My Name is Buddy" is choice and miles beyond much of the aural drek served up today. It's just that Cooder standard is so high, these things are hard to measure.

And yes, while I am a long-time devoted fan, I do find that sometimes his "cartoonish" vocals are a bit too mannered, bordering upon parody (read "Down in Hollywood"), but it doesn't bother me in the least on this cd as it helps to advance and color the storyline.

Here's what you have to do. You have to lay down, close your eyes and let the story unfold in your head. What you will visualize is a time-warp story tinged with all the genres, styles, politics and attitudes that form America - what we say we are and what we really are. And that, dear friends, is a beautiful thing.

Flaco, Van Dyke, Paddy and the Seegers add wonderful colors. Keltner gives another brilliant performance of a drummer as a lyrical soloist (this guy is the best rhythm section on the planet.) Cooder plays great. He throws little fills and riffs out that others would save and put in a scrapbook.

You like music for intelligent people? You like Van Dyke Parks, Los Lobos, Hal Willner productions, The Subdudes or Little Feat (with Lowell)? You like this, too. Buy it right now.

This is an amazing disc. Much like his early work (Into the Purple Valley, Boomer's Story, etc.), this song cycle recreates the dust bowl era in modern sonic terms and musical language. It combines folk, jazz, blues, and protest songs into a charming, intelligent and entertaining mixture. If you are a fan of classic American music and clever storytelling, then this is the CD for you. It's the aural equivalent of some of Steinbeck's novels (`The Grapes of Wrath' and `Travels With Charlie' come to mind), crossed with `The Wind in the Willows'. That may sound like an odd mixture, but the results are wonderful.

As in the best American folk music of the era Cooder is recreating, these songs are political motivated, socially aware and purposefully accessible to a wide group of people. His take on this form would do Woody Guthrie proud. This is the best musical purchase I've made in quite a while.

Once again, Ry Cooder revisites the things that mean the most to him; social justice, displacement of the poor and a time when music had tangible origins. Through a red cat named Buddy he explores Hobo songs, miners and union songs, the fight for civil rights and dignity. And then there is a brief re-occuring theme of a space ship landing at an opportune time...It comes complete with a beautifully illustrated book about Buddy's travels with his friends and acts as a footnote to the songs. It is a simple premise and obviously a labor of love beautifully executed and is not for the hard of heart. This is front porch music with old friends the likes of Flaco Jimenez and Paddy Malone. We need more people in our lives like Ry Cooder.

I am listening to this CD as I write and it is great. To give this music 1 star because you don't like the politics, ouch, what is that about. These are real events in our past whether you want to admit it or not, besides the songs are wonderful regardless of the political point of view. Highly recommended. [...]

As an avid music fan with an abiding interest in the origins of popular music, I was again astounded by Ry Cooders ability to depict graphically the mood and sounds of the 30's. He has continually explored the origins of music from Africa to Cuba to Mexico to early America with consumate ease. My Name Is Buddy is only available on import in Australia and not for general release so I am proud to have my copy included in my collection. I trust that he, and others, continue to explore our musical roots and Ry Cooder remains as one of the Four or five artists who have had a profound effect on my musical knowledge

Paul Thomas Australia

Ry Cooder has held a special place in my head and heart for several decades, I have never been disappointed in his work. Every album has been a new adventure, a journey to new a place somewhat real and somewhat imagined. There are a couple of things about "Buddy" that I find interesting, maybe a bit telling. This is the third album he has used the UFO idea in a song, 1982's 'Slide Area' opens with "A UFO Has Landed In The Ghetto", 2005's masterful 'Chavez Ravine' has "El UFO Cayo" and 2007's 'My Name Is Buddy' has "Green Dog." "Green Dog" also strongly recalls "My Little Town" from 'Chavez Ravine' even using using some of the same lyrics. As usual, the musicianship and production values are without parallel, the freshness of some of the writing is suspect, though.