Customer Reviews

Open

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

You can never go wrong with pizza. When it is bad, its still pretty good, but when its good, its amazing. Thinking of Cowboy Junkies in a similar fashion, I saw a new CJ's album and bought it. The Venus Flytrap on the cover is a very suitable image. It may look like "pizza", it may even smell like "pizza", but it ain't. The first half of the album is a lot of musical "expirementation", which sounds more like someone left the tape rolling while they tuned their guitar and then left the room with the guitar too close to the amp. I got tired of this in the 90's and hoped it had seen its conclusion. I was mistaken.

A few riffs sounded like out-of-context rip-offs from other CJ songs. One song was mixed so horribly that I could not decypher a sing word being sung. While I know this was might have been done on purpose as part of the great "experiment", it just sounds like someone screwed up, especially since the vocals and the lyrics are major reasons why I buy a CJ album. There is not a single song on the album that I really want to hear again. I could go on, but if you've read this far, you get the point.

Obviously, there are some who like to hear a band experimenting, no matter what the result. I prefer to have a band experiment, weed out that which does not work, and put what did work on the album.

I almost didn't get around to listening to this CD at all. I like most of the CJ's work but my reaction to "Miles From Our Home" was quite negative. Because of this, and because it sounded like such a sharp, irreversible change of musical direction, I assumed the band had finally "jumped the shark." But the other day I saw "Open" at a friend's place and on an impulse I asked if I could borrow it. Right away I was pleasantly surprised at how melodic and listenable most of it is, with tasteful (not overdone) guitar distortion adding to the atmospherics. I find it stylistically closer to "Lay It Down" (which I adore) than to "Miles" (which is way too upbeat and pop-sounding for me, but which hopefully will prove to have been just an anomaly). So at least for now, I'm happily back on the Cowboy Junkies' bandwagon.

This is a band that continues to get better with every album. If you're looking for commercial radio airplay songs...look somewhere else. If you're looking for great music with phenonemal lyrics and sound...buy it!

'Hauntingly beautiful' are words that commonly describe Michael Timmins guitar and songwriting, as well as Margo's voice. This album is no different. Peter Timmins gets to cut loose and Alan's bass riffs start to fly. Jeff Byrd, Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler accompany the band again adding that special something to make this album one of their all time best efforts.

Getting Geffen Records off their backs was a blessing for this band. Creatively speaking, this album is a defining moment for the Cowboy Junkies!

Long live the Llamas!

Like most of their albums, Cowboy Junkies' latest work 'Open' is not "accessible" in that fluffy, bright, shiny Pop Music way. This CD is as dark, brooding, atmospheric and dense as anything they've put out previously and, as such, it isn't maybe immediately going to knock you over. Only...

I keep playing and playing it. The songs here meld together to make something bigger than the whole and, while the style (at least in the opening half of the albus) is different than some of their previous work, I find myself drawn irresistably into the music. As with other CJ works, you get deeper than average lyrics (with actual words in them); complex musicianship; and the rich, haunted voice of Margo Timmins. On first listen you might not "get it", but the songs just stick with you, especially the fine Draggin Hooks.

As the CD progresses, you'll get more and more of the trademark "CJ" sound, starting most notably in "Bread and Wine", with the minor-key guitar licks familiar since at least 'Pale Sun, Crescent Moon' was a fixture in my CD player, but throughout there is something going on to keep you interested and hooked. Their music will never be mainstream, which is fine with me, but I find that I really like and admire the front half to two-thirds of this effort.

If you don't like challenging music, then the persistent "house band for the Prozac Nation" mood might make you hate this CD. But if you do or can overcome the first reaction and give it a chance you'll probably become a CJ's junkie like me.

I started liking the Junkies way back when Trinity came out. I loved that recording more than I can express. Well, the junkies have changed drastically since then and so have I. I recently put on Trinity and I didn't even like it that much anymore. Unless you are stuck in the past and are still waiting on Trinity Part II, then you should get this CD. Very good. A little more distorted guitar than in the past but it is a nice touch. I think this is much better than Miles From our Home.

Upon first listen I thought as a couple of other reviews. This is terrible... However I persevered and gave the CD another chance. The beauty of this collection is not readily apparent on the first listen. The Junkies will make you work to appreciate Open. The music of this CD is hypnotic. The words and music from this CD will burrow themselves into your brain. Songs like Dragging Hooks, Bread and Wine, and Small Swift Birds are good examples. They seem to me to grow stronger upon each successive listen. This is an inventive collection from a band which defies all labels. Certainly this CD is different from their past works but it is most definitely Cowboy Junkies at the top of their game.

I have been a Cowboy Junkies fan since I first saw them on "Saturday Night Live." I have always eagerly anticipated each release from the band, and "Open" was no exception. When I first put this CD on my system, I will admit I was a bit taken aback. The fuzzy guitars and echoing vocals on the first track, "I Did It All For You," were not what I was expecting; I am still not certain how I feel about it. There are moments on the CD when it seems as if Margo Timmins' vocals are purposely way back in the mix. It is a shame as she possesses one of the most beautiful voices in all music. As you get further into the CD, however, there are typical CJ moments of incredible beauty and power. "Small Swift Birds" ranks as one of the best tracks the band has ever recorded. "I'm So Open" shows off the band at its rocking best, and the lyrics in "Beneath the Gate" will have any listener wondering just what did happen with the "love so carelessly misplaced," as the lyrics pose the question. "Close My Eyes" ends the CD on a beautiful note, with Karin Bergquist of Over the Rhine harmonizing beautifully with Margo. I truly believe that this CD is one that will grow on me the more I listen to it. If you are a longtime fan of the band, you need to keep yourself "open" to the group's new direction. If you have crtiticized Cowboy Junkies in the past for their mellow, atmospheric quality, this CD might surprise you. It is worth investing the time to find out.