Customer Reviews

Pedal Steel

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

 

 

I first discovered Pedal Steel out at Mike and Jack's, the underground West Texas hideout which fostered so much music. Imagine, that was twenty years ago. Terry Allen is a complex, totally artsy genius.

If there is one CD that every serious Texas music lover should own, this is it. Pedal Steel is a play, a concept album, a risky musical departure from the ordinary. You have my word that you will love it. Terry Allen is a true Texas treasure.

Johnny Hughes, author of the upcoming novel Texas Poker Wisdom.

Captivating. Listened to this on a long stretch of highway. Terry Allen writes like he's hearing that final call; intense and involving. Musta been a helluva play to see, but listen to this anyway. You DO have an imagination, dontcha? And don't miss CHIPPY.

Sure it's short-- but really distinctive. This one twists and twirls together 'western' legends-- Billy the Kid morphs into a story about a tragic pedal steel player (and back again), with pointed satirical and touching evocations of the West. Beauty, humor, tragedy, absurdity, lust and a changing, kinda wild landscape all around. And musically, he touches on stuff from "Sentimental Journey" to Hendrix-feedback, spoken word akin to a 'Texasfied' Firesign Theatre, Willie & Waylon, maybe Tom Russell or Ian Tyson's psychologically complex cowboy songs, and his own work. Can't say the themes aren't also in his other work-- but the concentration and sometimes pointed phrasing here make it worthwhile. Compelling I think.

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Track Listings:
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1. Pedal Steal (35:45 Minutes)

Strange album; a single track 35 minute album which develops around a theme. While enjoyable may not be the exact way to describe it, Pedal Steel will captivate you or not - nothing in between. All I can add is that it is a Terry Allen disc and for me that was enough. If you haven't heard Terry, you might want to start with one of his earlier albums. But for the fearless, go ahead and jump in with both feet! I guarantee that you won't be ambivalent about it after you hear it.