Customer Reviews

Rodeo Eroded

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Now I must confess to being biased about The Rodeo Eroded as the violinist of Tin Hat Trio is my daughter, but from that priviledged position (and it is a priviledge), here goes. My test of all cds is whether they bear repeated listening. I put them in my car cd player and listen again and again. Some pale after only one or two takes. Others, like Glen Gould's Bach get richer and richer as my ear hears more. I find that all of the Tin Hat CDs stand the repetition test. Listening after listening they yield things I hadn't heard before. The music does pull from many roots, but it speaks a complex and cohesive language of its own, and that language becomes clearer the more one listens. The trio's live performances reveal an improvisational vitality not fully apparent in the CDs.

Think of a French cafe being suddenly transported to a Texas border town...what would the house band sound like? I think it might sound something like THT.

Cowboy noir at its finest.

The Tin Hat Trio's sound has been getting more refined and more sophisticated from each album to the next - their debut was mostly just the trio, live and raw in the studio; 'Helium' added some overdubs, some guests, guitarist Mark Orton played some dobro, Rob Burger played some piano, the sound was fuller and bassier.

For 'The Rodeo Eroded', they've just gone all-out. There are guests wherever needed, overdubs wherever needed, the members of the trio play a wide variety of wonderful instruments, and the result is this, one of the most sublime albums I've heard in a long while.

The album opens with 'Bill', a beautiful dobro-driven waltz, no doubt a tribute to the great Bill Frisell (who has worked with and obviously inspired all three members). 'Holiday Joel' is a more frenetic discordant latin number, a strange feature for guest percussionist Billy Martin. 'Nickel Mountain' is one of the most haunting, beautiful pieces on the album, surprisingly one of the only times the Tin Hat Trio have coupled dobro with piano.

All of the three pieces mentioned above are by Mark Orton, who wrote and arranged most of the material on the album. There seems to be just that little bit more attention to detail than in his previous work - for example check out the final phrase of 'Bill' where he reharmonises each note to perfection; or his amazing orchestration of 'Willow Weep For Me' (featuring none other than Willie Nelson on vocals), adding clarinets, harp, cello, bass and drums to the Tin Hat Trio palette.

The other members' compositional skills should not go without mention. Rob Burger's 'Happy Hour' is an incredibly funky latin tune; and Carla Kihlstedt's 'Sweep' is one of the most beautiful and different pieces on the album.

If there's one criticism I have of 'The Rodeo Eroded', it's that there are a handful of tunes that don't go very far. The band's great sound tends to pull them through though. 'Fear Of The South' is nice enough but perhaps a bit pedestrian. Similar comment for 'Rubies, Pearls and Emeralds' and one or two others.

But that aside, basically the Tin Hat Trio is a brilliant ensemble and this is a brilliant album!

i had their album "Memory Is An Elephant" and i enjoyed that very much. I already knew these three were incredibly talented and creative, but wow! This album is a work of art beginning to end! I love the "dusty, lone, western landscapes with Morricone leading the way" theme. That's not much of description but i can't add much as it has already been said in the other reviews here. I will say that if you love music that is thought provoking and very visual, get this album. And don't even think about being cheap and ripping it off the net somewhere in... mp3 form. The artwork of the album accompanies the music in that it is wonderful. Very nice job indeed! I hope to see them perfom live sometime soon. I know it'd be an unforgettable experience for sure.

Heard the track "Bill" kick off a UK dance (jazzy downbeat) compilation and had to hear more. Anyone coming here from a similar route should be reassured that they'll love this album. Although the pigeonhole is 'American roots' there's an eclectic mix of melody and drama that makes this stuff accessible to all. Buy it, its lovely !

This is the kind of music that the term "acoustic instrumental" was invented for: relaxed tempos, guitar - violin - accordion / harmonica (and other) non-virtuoso instrumental interplays, source material originating from a wide range of traditions, and varying intensity overtones of jazz, folk, bluegrass and the avant-garde. 'Lots of playfulness here, too--but in a musicianly, not slapstick, way... Last but not least, a guesting appearance on the vocals to 'Willow Weep for Me' by Willie Nelson. This is good intelligent fun by a group of players who are not afraid of playing what they have to say.

I just listened to Rodeo Eroded. This is music at it's finest. It's Parisien-style Jazz, Southwest ballads, Sweet Bluegrass and the prettiest Willy Nelson song I've heard in years. Bravo Tin Hat Trio. You're going to have musicians beating down your door to guest on your next CD. I'm sending this CD as my musical gift to all my friends who LOVE music.

The tunes in Rodeo Eroded are brimming with imagination and are truly unique, playful and passionate. You've got many in the music world comparing the Tin Hat Trio's music to the Argentine tango, bluegrass, gypsy music, and such. Even I can feel the ghost of Astor P. in a couple of tunes; but really, the grooves and infusions coming out of this group have a life of their own design. If you love the guitar and violin, you will love Rodeo Eroded. If you are an accordion skeptic, Burger's masterful machinations on the accordion will surprise and delight. After you've digested this one, be sure to check out the trio's earlier offerings: Memory is an Elephant and Helium. Cheers THT

what shall a listener add to a professional review if it's fair and accurate?
THT's 3rd record catches up with the former ones, marvellously combines overjoyed and lugubrious moments and presents a wide range of styles as a unified whole.
Any music freak who loves offbeat compositions and records will at least enjoy the rodeo a lot... and if you happen to attend a concert of the THT you'll love them!

3 1/2

THT offer highly unique avant-western chamber music of sorts...each album I have heard sounds compellingly worthwhile, but TRE, while being no exception coming chock full of coiled instrumental payoff, misses overall greatness when becoming embroiled too often inside its own admittedly interesting mechanics as opposed to transcending them.