Customer Reviews

Nightshift Watchman

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

 

 

If you're a David Wilcox fan already:

LIKE the rest of D.W.'s work, this is good, simple music,
meshed with stunningly well-written lyrics.

UNLIKE D.W.'s other work, you should read the CD's liner-notes BEFORE listening to the CD. Without the insights provided in the liner notes, you will almost certainly fail to catch the double-meanings woven into the title track, and the personal significance (in David Wilcox's life) of many of the other songs' themes.

If you've never heard David Wilcox before:
David Wilcox sounds alot like James Taylor: an almost-conversational male voice, singing over accoustic guitar and other quiet-ish instruments.
This format allows the words to get to us, without having to fight through a wall of sound.
That's good for us, because David Wilcox's lyrics are 1) the best part of his music, and 2) stunningly well-written and insightful.

David Wilcox's lyrics are head and shoulders above any other lyrics I have ever heard. They resonate with clever imagery and keen insight into personal relationships.

David writes primarily about relationships or reminiscences. His songs are alot like the conversations you might have had with your best friend. Unlike other lyricists, who seem trapped in a single theme ("love songs", "Let's go get drunk", "I'm so lonely since my horse died", or "Aren't I wonderful ?"), David manages to write intelligent, entertaining, and compassionate pieces about many, many kinds of relationship: Settling down, breaking up, buying the beat-up car you had while you were in high-school, turning middle-aged, being a teenager, feeling "different from the norm"...and so on.

David's music will not club you over the head with HIS lifestyle, but you WILL feel that the music is in tune with your own lifestyle. You won't find references to huntin' dogs and moonshine (like Jeff Foxworthy's humor), or overt religous messages (like Amy Grant's songs), or any other imagery that might make you feel distanced from the author. In fact, after listening to most of David Wilcox's work, I cannot definitively say what David's religion might be, ..But I DO feel, and I suspect that you will also feel, that he's the sort of person who has keen insights into various stages of life and personal relationships, and has a splendid talent for communicating those insights in an engaging way.

If you enjoy James Taylor, then you'll LOVE David Wilcox.
Buying a CD by David Wilcox is like gaining a one-way friendship with a stable, thoughtful, quietly entertaining person.

Back in 1989 I was living in Denver Colorado and I heard Daddy's Money and The Nightshift Watchman on a Boulder AM station. when I called the station to find out what album these songs were on, the DJ said that these songs were lent to the station as demo's and weren't currently on the market. David, your quick wit and your keen insight to the human soul makes your music so enjoyable. I now have all six of your CD's and I enjoy them all. Keep up the good work.

Walking in the Atlanta airport, I passed someone who looked familiar. It took a few seconds but I recognized David Wilcox from a CD cover photo. Taking a chance I turned toward him and said, "David Wilcox?" He stopped, smiled, and waved me over. What a nice guy! He seemed genuinely interested in having a conversation with a fan. He mentioned that this CD may be available soon and that I might enjoy it. He was right. This early material is easy-to-listen-to, relaxing accostic folk. "It's Almost Time" remains one of my favorite David Wilcox songs. Thanks for the recommendation, David. I hope to run into you again sometime. Happy travels!

If you like complex, yet simple acoustic music...tune in to this one. David Wilcox finally released this on CD...I had the tape for a few years. It's full of metaphors. Most of the songs are several levels deep. My personal favorites...Come Away To Sea, Daddy's Money, and Santa Fe. It's Almost Time is also a great tune, but the version on "How Did You Find Me Here" is superior.

I started listening to David in 1987 on vinyl. I was immediately hooked. I play guitar(badly) and was intrigued by his use of open tunings as if it was a natural extension of himself. He is obviously doing what he is supposed to be doing. (ie, destiny, fate, will, whatever you wish to call it) I would recommend this piece of work as a foundation for his writing and then stay close to the chronological order of releases. Any artist has to grow, or stagnate. David cannot and should not stay just like the David we individually love to hear. His writing is so insightful and brings such a fresh look on things. If you are a thinker, then he is for you. If you like nice shallow pretty music, go elsewhere. That is not what he is about. Above all else, go to a live show! This CD(originally an album) is the least produced recording and has a great simplicity of sound. If you love this one you will buy the next two or three for sure!

This album is simple folk music at it's most pure. Beautiful, sincere, and moving.