Setting the Woods on Fire

Walkabouts

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 12, 1996)
• Original Release Date: 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Glitterhouse
• ASIN: B000000SYW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #167,725 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This stalwart Northwestern quartet stands apart from the pack thanks to the wide-ranging keyboards of Glenn Slater and the plaintive/gruff vocal poles held by Carla Torgerson and lyricist Chris Eckman. While Setting the Woods on Fire's disposition in pensive and vaguely ominous throughout, there's a full range of material to be found here. "Sand and Gravel" is a somber and resolute tune with a stately vocal by Torgerson. Eckman steps to the fore on "Old Crow," a Exile On Main Street-like rocker with Slater making like Nicky Hopkins on the keys while Eckman whips slide guitar runs across the muck like Keith Richards's Yank cousin. "Hole in the Mountain" brings the two voices together over chugging Stones beat and brass from guests the Tiny Hat Orchestra Horns. --Steven Stolder

Product Description
Setting the Woods on Fire ranks among the Walkabouts' most rock-based efforts. A sweeping, stately record, it owes a great deal to the Stones' Exile on Main St. Digipak. Sub Pop. 1994. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Blair Witch" of cd's, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

Arguably one of the greatest records ever made by an American rock band, without a doubt one of the eeriest. Previous Walkabouts albums skirted around the dark twistedness of rural America but never dove into those murky waters they way they do here. Fire is the lyrical metaphor that recurs throughout the songs, from the purifying flames of the revenge drama "Firetrap," to the nuclear holocaust of "Hole in the Mountain." Musically, the work recalls powerful guitar jangle bands like True West and the Dream Syndicate, with organ adding an especially macabre touch throughout. Chris Eckman's allusive imagery is gripping from start to finish, from the last-chance desperation of "Good Luck Morning," to the rapt, Siouxsie-esque horror of "Nightdrive," to the touching, steel-guitar driven "Promised." This is one of those rare albums where there literally isn't one weak track. If "Twin Peaks," the novels of Russell Banks or the music of darkly literate bands like X ever struck you, you need to get this record.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fantastic group, August 6, 1999

By	"[e-mail]" (Carrboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews

"Hole in the Mountain" beats anything on Exile on Main Street. Holy moly does it cook! Please see my comments on New West Motel for my overall assessment of this great American band.

5.0 out of 5 stars great band delivers a great recording., February 24, 2007

By	fluffy, the human being. (forest lake, mn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Setting the Woods on Fire (Audio CD)

i love the walkabouts entire discography, but this is one of my three favorites. intense, dramatic songs, driven by lots of pulsing forward driving rhythm. chris eckman and carla torgerson sing with power and passion, and eckman's great guitar playing is very prominently on display throughout this album. more rock and roll fireworks in general to be found here than on most of their other discs. a great place to start with this band if you have yet to hear them. if you are already a fan, you can't go wrong with this one.