Customer Reviews

The Salesman and Bernadette

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

An astonishing album - beautiful musicianship courtesy of Lambchop coupled with top-of-form Chestnutt means that this is music with longetivity written all over it. Vic can die happy - he's now recorded a certifiable masterpiece. I don't think I'll ever tire of it.

Athens, GA is one of those southern artsy/fartsy cities that is a creative well of talent. It has that art house aura that draws attention from, but still protects against, the guardians of morals that inhabit the bible belt that runs through the south and the midwest. Vic Chestnut might have ended up as a wheelchair bound, bible thumper spouting hellfire and brimstone, but instead we get a man who can play a convincing role as a contemplative drunk that can pen a damn good song.

The Salesman and Bernadette is Vic Chestnut's sixth album. Lambchop is the backing band on this album. The collaboration is similar to the one Chestnut did on the album Nine High a Pallet, which involved Chestnut and members of the bands Widespread Panic and Cracker. Lambchop is an indie band out of Nashville that plays everything from country to the avant-garde.If you are familiar with Vic Chestnut's other work then I can say this is one of his more upbeat albums. If you're not familiar with Chestnut's work let me just say it is a somber album with upbeat moments. Think Faulkner... Tennessee Williams... Lush greenery thriving in humidity under weeping willows. Think of plantations past their prime and southern cities grappling with their heritage and changing times. Think bourbon and the occasional Valium.

Somewhere between Woody Guthrie, Victoria Williams, and R.E.M. sits Vic Chestnutt in his wheelchair, making some of the most unique folk I've ever heard. This original and literate 'concept' album grows on you with each listen, until Vic's sitting there in your living room strumming a guitar. Nearly every song's a mini-masterpiece, but I love "Parade"...it builds and builds until Vic's nearly rising out of his chair with the intensity of emotion.

I discovered this cd at my local library 3 years ago. I remember it stood out on the shelves with its title that reminded me of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman" and its interesting cover art. I thought it was worth a shot but didn't believe it would prove to be any good because I had never heard of Vic Chesnutt before, plus as you probably already know, there's tons of crap in the music section of public libraries all across the country. Well, I was wrong about this cd. "The Salesman and Bernadette" is a gem, truly a rare find. Let's see if I can explain the sound: It's kind of folk, early blues (like Bessie Smith early), a bit Mazzy Star-ish in mood; for the most part (though there are other musical accompaniments), it's the sound of one man and his guitar on a cold night with a bottle of booze on the table nearby drowning his sorrows in song and solitude, slurring the words every now and then with the guitar chords running into each other -though there are often moments when the sound is so clear that I swear you can hear into Vic Chesnutt's soul and the stars too. This is a very personal-sounding album, like any of Elliott Smith's, and with the vocal expressivity of early blues records but with a very contemporary sound: a good analogy would be, Vic Chesnutt is to Blues as Amy Winehouse is to jazz: Definitely unique. You won't find another artist like Vic Chesnutt and if you've never heard of him before (and you like Mazzy Star, Elliott Smith, old blues records and you're tired of hearing all that crap that comes out of the radio, then I suggest you start with this album. This is my favorite from Vic Chesnutt and I love every song, especially "Square Room," "Maiden" and "Bernadette and Her Crowd." This is the kind of album that you listen to when you're by yourself at home, writing, drawing or painting or just sitting back and sorting through the turmoil of your own life. This is not car music.

I've been telling people about Vic for years. One of the best songwriters around. This album continues to prove that. A wonderful, textural album, especially on the impressive "Mysterious Tunnel".

If you are a Vic Chesnutt fan you owe it to yourself to purchase a copy of Pete Sillen's film about Vic. It's called Speed Racer.

From Vic's first record, Little to this latest offering he's amazed, moved and brilliantly expressed emotions in song. Each song tells a story and each story is humerous, insightful, and delightful music. It's a wonderful CD and a great addition to his already amazing catalog. Vic Chestnut's CDs only slightly pale to seeing him in concert. Neither are to be missed while you still breathe.

I received this record a few days ago, and I am simply blown away by its brillance. A sad, sad album perfect for late rainy nights with brilliant songwriting, unique instrumentation (which includes Lambchop), and excellent lyrics. "Salesman" is not a record for everybody, and takes awile to digest and understand. If you are a fan of good music and can appreciate it, I highly reccomend picking up this record. Just give it a little time to grow on you, and be aware that it will mellow you out substantially. You will not be disapointed.

It's now almost five months since my last review of this album. I'm up to maybe 300+ listens now. Beautiful, high art. Maybe the best album of all time.

to the genius of Vic Chesnutt.

This is probably the most easily accessible of all of his albums. Of course, I feel that any fan of great music should own every album that he ever produced, but this is a great place to start.