Customer Reviews

Play Me Backwards

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Without a record deal for over a decade, many considered Joan Baez to be a washed-up icon from another era by the early '90s. Though her influence was certainly felt -- in artists ranging from Tracy Chapman to the Indigo Girls -- she had hardly been "present" in any tangible sense (save for a benefit concert here and there and a couple of independent releases).

In planning her first major label release since 1979, Baez was faced with a nearly insurmountable task: Appear fresh and "hip" enough to attract attention of the new audiences (a good deal of which weren't even born when she released her first album), while at the same time drawing on her rich musical legacy. And to say that she accomplished both goals would be a gargantuan understatement.

The mood of PLAY ME BACKWARDS is contemporary -- with crisp ballads and uptempo acoustic rockers setting the tone -- while at the same time, graceful, honest and very much in keeping with the type of music Baez should be making at this stage of her career. She avoids the desperate attempts to be trendy and cool that other rock "legends" have made, relying instead on integrity and understated elegance.

About half of these tunes are self-penned (either on her own or in collaboration with other tunesmiths), and the rest are provided by younger composers (Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Janis Ian, John Hiatt) who openly acknowledge Baez' influence on their work. The result is a remarkably coherent and satisfying album, perhaps Joan's best work since DIAMONDS & RUST.

Yes, Joan still has it. In fact I enjoyed this album more than any she has made save Diamonds and Rust. While the songs still have substance, and still can fit the folk genre (if genres you must have), the rhythms & music are more complex than previous works. And on this album Joan sings, not showcases her voice, just sings. I enjoyed it greatly for this. My main attraction in picking up the CD was the song "Amsterdam" penned by Janis Ian. Other songs hold up, and I wouldn't not recommend any. Let's hear it for a singer with substance and integrity.

A good CD will entertain and perhaps, even entice. A great CD will also make you think. And then there are those handful of artists who create an enchanting, magical work that takes the listener to a place they've never before been. Joan Baez has created such a piece with her CD "PLAY ME BACKWARDS". Filled with ethereal sounds and exotic beats, Ms. Baez is lightyears away from the acoustic simplicity of her early work, yet the purity and crystal clarity of her voice still eminates directly from her soul and commands center stage. Never one to shy away from controversy, this experimental piece is filled with risks, and they all pay off in the end. For instance, the title track "PLAY ME BACKWARDS" deals with religious ritual and child abuse-hardly the stuff that top 40 music is made of-and in the hands of a less skilled writer and singer, this song could have been a disaster. Instead, it is a brilliantly understated and magnificently presented work that sends shivers up the listener's spine. Juxtapose this with a gospel-inspired "I'm With You" and the CD begins to take you on an up-and-down journey of monumental proportions. Hidden in between the "big" music are tiny little gems which, upon second and third (and more) listening begin to coax you further along the journey. On "Amsterdam", a delicate love song by Janis Ian, Ms. Baez achieves exactly the right tone to bring this paper-thin song to life, and Mary-Chapin Carpenter's "Stones In The Road" is given a breath of fresh air in this wonderful rendition. While other "showier" songs on this flawless CD tend to reach out and instantly grab the listener (such as the Dali-esque "The Dream Song" with its soaring violins and haunting viola, and the triumphant "Edge Of Glory", for this reviewer, it is John Stewart's "Strange Rivers" that is most enchanting. When I interviewd Ms. Baez in the early 90's, she explained that "Strange Rivers" was recorded after a half hour of rehearsal, and then recorded live in the studio, while she jammed with the two other guitar players on this song. "We actually were able to look at each other's faces as we played" she exclaimed, "imagine that!." Truth be told, I love Joan Baez, but have found some of her work to be a mixed bag. That is absolutely not the case with "Play Me Backwards". This is a genius work from one of the greatest women in American music.

The demo disc is reason enough to buy this pricey album. It is a complete album by itself, more intimate and reflective than the album that was originally released, and many of the cuts are very beautiful. The instrumental accompaniments are spare, so you mostly hear Baez in all her glory.

In 1992 'Play Me Backwards' was one of Joan's first cd's to put her glorious voice to a whole new generation of folk/country/rock music composers' songs (it has since become her standard practice to champion new songwriters' works).

New rhythms, new lyrics, new subject matter to explore, and all with the exquisite sensibilities Baez has been known for for more than 50 years.

The 'Queen of Folk' reaches a new level of comfort, a new inspiration, and, I expect, a new joy in recording and performing with this splendid collection of songs that explore issues of the heart, our culture, and the human experience.

And now, with this 2-disc 'Collector's Edition', we are privy to the original demo recordings that formed the basis of the final product. It is a rare and unique opportunity to hear the creative process that goes into Baez' impeccable artistry.

Brava, Joan, for another solidly beautiful recording!

this album offers a lot. i find myself humming the songs all day long. what struck me first was the exceptional accompaniment on all songs...she's working with some very good musicians here. and the songs are good: some she wrote, most she didn't, and this kind of variety is exactly what i like on a joan baez album (similar to diamonds and rust). when i'm listening to the cd in the car, there are only a couple of songs i click past (high praise).

This is not a solo effort. Paul Simon, Jackson Browne helped with this collection. Baez also covered Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Stones in the Road" and Janis Ian's "Amsterdam." The meaning is complex, but the music is simple and beautiful. It's probably not the first Baez album I would buy, but definitely needs to be included in a collection of her work!

Musically is a very fine cd. I love Joan Baez's performance of "Trough your hands " . This is a very interesting record anyway you look at it . I like interesting records, don't you?

I've hearn Joan Baez's music before and, while nice, I never really loved anything she did. This CD, however, has some great music. The songs I like best are Strange Rivers, Edge of Glory, and Dream Song. But while Strange Rivers and Edge of Glory are 4-star songs, the Dream Song passes them all at a high 5. It's a sad, haunting song, with violins mostly, and Joan's wonderful voice. The Dream Song is so beautiful, and is also fun to dance to.
You will want to listen to The Dream Song over and over... and possibly backwards.

With "play me backwards, Joan Baez has shown that she still has it. My favourite song is the "Dream song", with an unusual melody.