Open

Cowboy Junkies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zoe Records
• ASIN: B00005B8GO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,222 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Psychedelic...Miles from The Trinity Session, June 8, 2001

By 

Jeff Williams "Jeff" (Schwenksville, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Open (Audio CD)

I'm reminded of a verse from a Camper Van Beethoven song..."Cowboys on Acid." What becomes obvious when you first listen to the latest album is that the band is less Cowboy and more Junkie nowadays. Less acoustic guitars and more heavily distortion-laded guitars. A bit of a mix of The Doors and Mazzy Star's more psychedelic distorted songs. Fans that began to jump off the bandwagon when "Miles from our Home" was released will probably be left far behind on this album. I don't think the band is planning to turn around and pick you all up...this is a dramatically different turn from the band that started a few albums back...a departure from acoustic folk rock and more towards guitar-oriented rock.

Looks like the band lost a lot of old fans, but in my case, I just love this album. Although I've been a fan since their early bluesy-folk albums like "The Trinity Session" I actually enjoy and appreciate the new direction the band has taken. I loved "Miles from Our Home" and I love the new sound on "Open." The album (especially as a whole) is really outstanding. Perhaps that's because my music tastes range from folk rock to hard rock, and I'm as comfortable listening to The Trinity Session as much as I am to "So Tonight that I May See" by Mazzy Star or "The End" by the Doors.

I wasn't expecting the band to make another folk & blues album. I loved their early work, but I'm a fan enough to follow the band through their careers as they progress and experiment. If you liked the band when they were more mellow, then listen to their old records. I'll follow the band as they go...they will lose a lot of old fans, but are sure to pick up more along the way.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Less is more - More power and poise and a little less prozac, August 19, 2001

By 

Martyn Richard Jones "Martyn Richard Jones" (Cordoba, Spain) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Open (Audio CD)

Canada’s very own Cowboy Junkies have done it again, but not the same again. The first thing that struck me about this album is a seemingly deliberate yet brave choice taken by the CJs, that is, not going for easy options in terms of accessibility, commerciality and immediate appeal. There’s ten tracks in all, the first five tracks on Open are not the easiest of songs to open up to, especially if you are not prepared for them – tracks 6 thru 10 are somewhat easier for people familiar with recent Cowboy Junkies work. Needless to say, after a few listening one of my favorite tracks turns out to be “bread and wine”.

1. i did it all for you – controlled electric guitar feedback, subdued bass, cool pacific coast cymbals, that voice .. oops! Did I put the born-again Velvet Underground/Nico CD on by mistake? Nope, this is the start of the latest CD by the Cowboy Junkies. This is a truly hypnotic track that grows on you the more you listen to it, of particularly note is the use of percussion and the subtle yet moody interwoven guitar work

2. dragging hooks – Another innovative introduction, another set of curiously lyrics and a careful arrangement – this is Quentin Tarantino in music!

3. bread and wine – this must be one of my favorite tracks on the album, I love it, it reminds me of so many great things, like the first time I heard Patti Smiths’ Horses, or great summer rock concerts in the 70’s, and that special Hammond sound combined with Margots vocals that just takes me away to another plane

4. upon still waters – this is dynamic as dynamic can get in this context. More beautiful instrument work combined with great vocals that show how Margot’s skill as a vocalist has achieved greater depth as well as breadth

5. dark hole again – for me this track is sort of bridge between the more experimental use of instrumentation and the vocals of Margot Timmins – but would still not be out of place in a movie like From Dusk To Dawn

6. thousand year prayer – this is a beautifully exquisite song with a style that tales me back to the days of Joni Mitchell, Helen Reddy and Carole King

7. I’m so open – If someone asked me right now for music for a fashion show then this would be on the list – this is 60’s, Parker Knoll furniture, Mary Quant, Jean Shrimpton, Chelsea Girl … made anew … I love it to bits … absolutely fabulous darlings

8. small swift birds – you know those songs that when you listen to them they just make you feel so good ? you do, well, this is one of them

9. beneath the gate – Margot’s voice does full justice to some simply beautiful words and a laid back arrangement of seemingly effortless exquisiteness – I also loved the keyboard work on this track

10. close my eyes – this is a classic track to end up what will surely be a classic Cowboy Junkies CD, when Margot sings “I just want to close my eyes”, you just know that feeling …

In short, a quite brilliant album of burning revelations, poignant renderings, subtle reminders, lightly veiled references, restrained reminiscing, heart-twisting renditions, shades of remembrance and pure Cowboy Junkies.

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey critics, it's called ART., May 28, 2001

By 

John E (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Open (Audio CD)

This cd is not for everyone. If you're looking for catchy, jangley pop hooks-forget it. The radio won't go near this album. BUT...it could be the best thing put out by this band. First of all, it's a concept album. The first half of the album is about as dark as music can get. Tonight's the Night by Neil Young and Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd are its spiritual brothers in ambience. Soon as we hit track six (the beginning of a lp's "side two") the music turns a corner towards salvation-albeit a bittersweet Cowboy Junkies type of salvation... Two final points- First, it should be listened to closely all the way from beginning to end AT LEAST once. And second, the song "At the Gate" made me gasp and well up with tears the first time I listened to it. So beautiful...Possibly the perfect Cowboy Junkies song.