Customer Reviews

Plains

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I'm very late in writing a review of George Winston's latest album for the simple reason that I was very disappointed in his 1994 release, "Forest", and didn't expect much from "Plains". Lowered expectations can be very helpful at times, as I found "Plains" to be a very pleasant surprise. Winston isn't breaking any new ground here, but the selection of pieces is a blending of his original music and covers from a diverse group of sources including Hawaiian slack key guitar, Philip Aaberg, Chet Atkins, and Sarah McLachlan. Winston often claims to be a "folk musician", and this album seems to be more clearly in that direction than some of his previous releases. In keeping with the title of the album, many of the pieces have that open expansive feel that Winston is so good at without some of the repetition that drives me nuts on some earlier work ("Okay! We get it! Let's get onto another note! "). This collection also contains some bluesier work that Winston is noted for in concert but hasn't been recorded much.

Of the original pieces, I like "Rainsong (Fortune's Lullaby)" the best. The introduction sets an introspective tone, and then the flowing main part of the song comes in - gently rolling and easy-going. "Plains (Eastern Montana Blues)" is also especially nice with lots of open space between the phrases of the melody. Though not particularly bluesy, there is a melancholy mood. On second thought, maybe this IS the blues out on the plains with nothing and no one around.

Winston makes no bones about his admiration for Phil Aaberg's music (I'm a big fan, too!), and while he does an admirable cover of Aaberg's "Before Barbed Wire", Aaberg's wistful sadness and masterful subtlety aren't there. "The Dance" by Tony Arata was featured on Garth Brooks' first album. I`m not familiar with the Brooks version, but Winston makes this one his own.

While I'm not jumping up and down over "Plains", it is a very good album, and I've enjoyed listening to it a lot. Not terribly challenging or radical in any way, it's still a very pleasant experience and I can see why it was such a huge commercial success.

Few things are as pleasant as finding that that a source of enjoyment has more in it than you expect. Whether this is as profound as a new line of discovery or the simple pleasure of an album of music that you had overlooked is a moot point. In either case the rewards come as a great surprise. George Winston is one of America's musical treasures, combining folk with light jazz, making music that can delight and uplift at the same time. Somehow, this weekend, I found that I had missed an album, and the pleasure was worth the wait.

Plains is classic George Winston. Many of the tracks are landscapes or impressions. Winston seems to be visually inspired. Listen to the happy, folksy rhythm of Dubuque and compare it with the thoughtfulness of Aaberg's Before Barbed Wire. Of course, Winston isn't bound by his traditional Montana settings and music. There is also the melancholy romanticism of Frangenti and the delicate styling of Give Me Your Hand.

The surprise is his use of Hawaiian slack key music (No Ke Ano Ahihi and 'Ike Ia Ladana) once you listen, the influence on Winston's music is obvious. There is a tendency to write some of Winston's work as New Age when it is simply reworking of a mix of styles into something that is something of its own. Winston uses misic and influence from Aaberg, Chet Atkins, Hawaiian, Sammy Cahn (and even Sarah McLachan) with the adeptness of a polished musican.

But for me, it is still Winston's own work that makes me wish I had worked harder on keyboards. Graduation, Plains, and Rainsong are the best on this album, which is sure to see a lot of playing. Get it for your own rainy days, you'll love it.

I am a music professor at the University of Maryland, and I love this CD. I'm a big fan of George Winston music. The CD is great for background music or just to listen to help you unwind. I listen to his music when I'm working or reading. If you have a friend or relative who loves New Age music, I would suggest getting this CD. On a side note, the two fellows who are simply trashing George's album for entertainment are just being jerks. Don't listen to them. If you don't like New Age music, don't buy the CD. George has his own particular style, and if you don't like it, it is not necesscary to prove that you hate him, not is it necesscary to trash his CD. Those guys obviously have a lot of money to blow since George's concert tickets (especially for the first row) are not cheap. They should be ashamed of themselves.

I, and those that first discovered George Winston, some years ago, were mocked because Winston is so easy to listen to. I doubted my taste, at the time, and agreed with what a lot of people were saying, that if he's that polular, he can't be any good. In the last year or so, I've been listening more carefully to his work, and find that the large majority of it is just excellent. Once in a while a piece does lapse into loungeiness, but the great majority of his work shows a great deal of thought and attention, and will reward your close attention.

This is not one of the best Winston albums, but it is still very good. Most of the tracks are very good, except we could do without a Sarah McLachlan and George Strait. Many songs are remakes of other songs, which he usually does very well (except the latter...but I am just not a huge fan of those artists). The guitar tracks are a real treat, and finally he records the Chet Adkins song he has redone for piano. This isn't a huge GW origional album, but if you are a fan, it is still worth having.

I listened to George Winston's Plains and thought it to be a gem. The reviews are down on this CD, due to Barry Wilson... Although he has the right to his own opinion, to go so far as to mock and heckle an artist at one of his concerts is sickening. Anyway... the music was great. I recently saw Winston in concert and enjoyed every minute of it.

The first night I listened to George Winston's "Plains" I only made it throught the third song before I shut off the CD. Decidedly, I tried "Plains" once more. This decision definitely was in my favor. I have grown to love the somber notes in "Plains" as well as the inspirational tracks that make my spirit flow.

I prefer to listen to "Plains" without thinking of the individual tracks. Rather, a story emerges for me as the CD progresses in one long continuous expression. Metaphorically, George Winston guides the audience like a marionette through his expressions of music with invisible strings.

Another reviewer commented that the CD is properly titled as "Plains", but the reviewer disliked the long time lapses between some notes. My rebuttal to this is: the long notes offer a space where your imagination can run wild after picking up where the notes end. These gaps are also a nice relief in contrast to playing straight through measures. Listen for the holes in the music, I believe you will begin to appreciate them.

One last note. The music in "Plains" often times feels like an audible extension of my own thoughts. I am at a loss of how to better explain this. Perhaps after you listen to the CD you will understand. This is a wonderful feeling, and not one that too many other artist offer.

Buy "Plains", you will not be dissapointed. This is an investment to be cherished!

.....
I'll just add my voice to the choir, here, letting you all know that this is a particularly fine and exceptionally listenable album, that just gets better with replays. I like George Winston, but don't particularly seek him out. This album came as a gift from one of my sisters awhile back, so thank you, Con, for such a fine and thoughtful present!

I keep PLAINS in the car, for bad-radio times, and for stressful moments. It holds up remarkably well to repeated listening. Even my wife, who's normally allergic to anything remotely New-Agey, likes PLAINS a lot. Easy listening, without the negative connotations. Highly recommended.

Happy listening--
Peter D. Tillman

Any George Winston is good stuff. Some releases tho, are better than others. While "Plains" is very good, it doesn't effect me like 1982's "December" or 1994's "Forest". As for the individual songs... there is no "Carol Of The Bells", "Thanksgiving" (both from "December"), "Tramarack Pines" or "Cloudy This Morning" (both from "Forest") here. There are however some classic Winston-esque tracks here. Check out "Rainsong", "Cloudburst", "Before Barbed Wire". While Winston is able to pick and choose his 'cover' tunes, I feel his choices on "Plains" could have been better. Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" just doesn't work for me here. Winston plays the Cahn & Atkins tunes well, but his own new age stuff is easily the best. Track 9 ("Merry Go Round") should have been deleted. The majority of this album flows - and depending on where you are... it will give you the opportunity to experience some of those deep thoughts.

The first time through the album, I wasn't sure want to make of it. But each time I played it, I found myself appreciating more and more the artisty Winston brought to these selections. It should be noted that only one of the songs is an original composition, which was quite a surprise. Still the songs are enjoyable. Particuliar favorites are the opening "Dubque" and "The Dance" which I keep listening to over and over again. I would love to have his arrangements on sheetmusic, because many of them sound like they be great fun to play. This will not be remembered as one of his greatest works, if for no other reason then they aren't his compositions and there is nothing terrible originial in his interpretations. Still for fans of melodic piano music, and all Winston fans it it well worth owning.