Customer Reviews

Shoot Out at the Ok Chinese Restaurant

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Vanguard Records recently decided that Midwood is too good to be ignored in his own country. After his success in Europe, Midwood is now being hailed in the US as the new Bob Dylan, and like Dylan and Tom Waits, his music is timeless. In this debut album, Ramsays songs tell stories of interesting characters in different places, such as Chicago, Mohawk River, Waynesboro and Alabama.

His album title is enough to show that Midwood has a playful spirit when it comes to music. Although his themes are loyal to the melancholy Blues tradition, his lyrics, especially in "Feed My Monkey," are odd and humorous. "Waynesboro" is a twangy number in which Ramsay rambles about "the good old days and a good old-fashioned wife." Most of the tracks are low-key and easy to listen to, evoking Western images of rolling hills and dusty roads.

This album is far from being cliché, even within the template of bluegrass. Midwood combines various instruments and sounds to create his own signature blues: trumpet, banjo, harmonica, piano, organ, accordion and the fiddle, as well as the usual set of guitar, bass and drums. In terms of instrumentals, "Fishermans Friend" is an interesting number. "Spinnin on this Rock" is one of the best tracks on the album, with great piano and fiddle accompaniments.

You will not be bored with this album, for Midwood delivers even the most pessimistic themes with a tune that makes ones feet tap. His entire album, by respecting tradition and ignoring modern trends, never begs for attention but rewards those who are not turned off by his non-conformist, old-fashioned style. The last track on the album is "Dreary Life," a pre-war folk ballad sung a capella. It is a suitable finale that brings the album into a complete circle, advocating a return to tradition.

Midwood's drunken, monotonous voice -- the faint crackling that sounds like a needle scraping a record -- and the overall rough style of his music claim authenticity. You do not have to be a bluegrass lover to appreciate his music. If you've ever had the blues, you'll know what he's singing about.

I've had this album for almost three years now. I had to order it from Germany; that's how much it was worth it to me to get it! During that time, I've played it constantly, recommended it to countless friends and I've waited for it to be "officially" released here!

It's about time an American label took notice of Ramsay Midwood.

Laid-back, bluesy, swampy, Dylan-esque rambling lyrics, it's got everyting you could want. Redefines and breathes new life into the used-up term "Americana." Midwood mines blues and country while constantly adding new touches.

If you like J.J. Cale or the bluesier side of Dylan, this is the album for you.

You won't be sorry.

Who could predict that Germany would be a mecca for roots rock artists? Glitterhouse would seem to know what's going on long before anyone else. Not to worry, Vanguard has finally released "Shootout At The OK Chinese Restaurant" by Ramsay Midwood. Ramsay is a fixture on what appears to be an alt country revival in Los Angeles second only to what happened there in the late sixties, early 70's. Fair warning, though. Ramsay could probably be labeled as an acquired taste. Singing in a baritone drawl, backed by midtempo, greasy, swampy guitar licks and fiddle, Ramsay cruises through a set of songs that are drunken, backporch, foot tapping, sometimes sinister, sometimes laugh out loud funny, gems. The only dilemna I have is the American version has some songs on it that my German version doesn't. I may have to have a second copy. Get yours today and while you're at it, (sorry Amazon.com, you don't carry him yet) cruise over to Miles Of Music and order a copy of the latest by Mike Stinson. You'll be glad you did!

Ramsay Midwood doesn't spend a whole lotta time going up and down the scale singing a bunch of notes. He picks out a few and blows 'em through the roof. He acted in "Grapes of Wrath" with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago; and his first song is coincidentally called "Chicago" and sounds like it could have come from a similar world as Tom Joad, "Pick a bale a day, looky looky yonder, pick a bale of cotton." "I did 5 years on a dry lake bed, never thought of home & I always dressed in red," he sings on the lumbering harmonica blues "Mohawk River." "Monster Truck" is a softer rebellious track, "If you don't like it, you can kiss my ***." "Esther" is a piano-based ragtime with Ramsay's world-weary voice trudging through a long day. "You must have me mistaken for someone who lives in your mind," Ramsay starts on "Waynesboro" where he reference Bob Dylan, "And yes mister Zimmerman, the times are always changing..." "Spinnin' on This Rock" is a fascinatingly brutal stream of consciousness yarn about shooting your friends to watch them run. "Heaven's Toll" is a lumbering tale of frustration. "The grass is green & the sun is yellow; take a tip from a real smart fellow," Ramsay sings on the childlike "Grass'll Grow" complete with accordian backing. "Fisherman's Friend" is a Dylan homage with a great wry vocal like "Bobby D." The CD concludes with the croaky traditional "Dreary Life." "Shoot Out @ the OK Chinese Restaurant" is great smoky rural country blues. Why this blood red American had to go to Germany first to get this disc released on Glitterhouse two years before being picked up by Vanguard in the US is a mystery; but the disc is finding a devoted audience. It's stark, unadorned, and affecting workingman craft. Enjoy!

From the evidence of this album, Ramsay Midwood has one and a half melodies and one tempo (mid) in him. As a singer he's a croaker. Since there is no picture of him anywhere here, he may also be invisible, for all I know.

In short, this is one hell of a lovable CD. If there's even a molecule of justice, Ramsay Midwood will be as revered a name -- in at least those households where superior hand-crafted music gets its propers -- as, mmm, maybe John Prine or Tom House, both of whom he vaguely resembles once in a while. But mostly, if he is like anybody (as in the end he is not much), it's Tony Joe White. That is, if Tony Joe White were to take up singing with marbles in his mouth.

Like TJW (who is best remembered for his long-ago hit "Polk Salad Annie") Midwood perfectly melds folk music -- in the traditional, not the post-James Taylor/navel-gazing, definition -- and swamp rock. He has an astonishing way with words and stories, typically rendered as stream-of-consciousness meanderings through the not wholly functioning brains of bewildered working stiffs and down-and-outers. Midwood's mumbling vocals conjure up the sounds of men obliviously muttering to themselves or woozily filling your ear from the next barstool. Meanwhile, the band's sneaky, snaky rhythms curl around the lyrics, drive the narratives, and set you off on a lost highway and a magical journey.

Ramsay Midwood is somebody who may well be somebody. If you want to say you heard him when, here's your chance.

Vanguard Records recently decided that Midwood is too good to be ignored in his own country. After his success in Europe, Midwood is now being hailed in the US as the new Bob Dylan, and like Dylan and Tom Waits, his music is timeless. In this album, Ramsays songs tell stories of interesting characters in different places, such as Chicago, Mohawk River, Waynesboro and Alabama.

His album title is enough to show that Midwood has a playful spirit when it comes to music. Although his themes are loyal to the melancholy Blues tradition, his lyrics, especially in "Feed My Monkey," are odd and humorous. "Waynesboro" is a twangy number in which Ramsay rambles about "the good old days and a good old-fashioned wife." Most of the tracks are low-key and easy to listen to, evoking Western images of rolling hills and dusty roads.

This album is far from being cliché, even within the template of bluegrass. Midwood combines various instruments and sounds to create his own signature blues: trumpet, banjo, harmonica, piano, organ, accordion and the fiddle, as well as the usual set of guitar, bass and drums. In terms of instrumentals, "Fishermans Friend" is an interesting number. "Spinnin on this Rock" is one of the best tracks on the album, with great piano and fiddle accompaniments.

You will not be bored with this album, for Midwood delivers even the most pessimistic themes with a tune that makes ones feet tap. His entire album, by respecting tradition and ignoring modern trends, never begs for attention but rewards those who are not turned off by his non-conformist, old-fashioned style. The last track on the album is "Dreary Life," a pre-war folk ballad sung a capella. It is a suitable finale that brings the album into a complete circle, advocating a return to tradition.

Midwood is perfect to listen to when your ears are tired from overly processed popular music. His drunken, monotonous voice -- the faint crackling that sounds like a needle scraping a record -- and the overall rough style of his music claim authenticity. One does not necessarily have to be a bluegrass lover to appreciate his music. If you've ever had the blues, you'll know what he's singing about.

The new Ramsay Midwood album - "Shoot Out At The OK Chinese Restaurant" is such a breath of fresh air. This guy writes, plays, and sings ....

If music was ever art - this is it - real art.

Five stars. No questions asked.

This is easily a 5 star record, but unusual as the songwriting and swamplike performances creep up slowly...... when they finally kicked in i had to take a sabatical because of the addictive nature of this creature.

i downgraded it a notch because it's a hippie record and the band omitted alot of notes, or did or didn't they?

highly recommended.

Ramsay Midwood's monotone blues style sounds like a drunk John Fogerty with a mouth full of cotton. Yet this album is quite appealing. Midwood shares the crusty sensibilities of Tom Waits, and punctuates his songs with witty zingers and clever rhyme schemes. The backing band brings a porch-jam festiveness to Midwood's hick soliloquies, and the CD is full of unexpected musical and lyrical detours. "Esther" has warm piano touches and is the most sentimental of the songs here. Most of the tracks, however, convey the funny-strange desperation of a world-weary hick who hasn't lost his sense of humor. "Spinnin' on This Rock" is what I'll sing to myself when I'm an old man.

Ramsay is a rare and pleasant find if you are searching for real roots American music. He is a quirky and authentic singer/songwriter in the tradition of the real Texas tradition. A sly combination of JJ Cale, James McMurtry and Leon Redbone, this album should not be missed. The song, "Chicago" is a favorite of mine with an intense twist. "Monster Truck" is a tongue-in-cheek comment on Big Truck Guy who lives in every neighborhood and in every state. Don't miss this one! It took me months to take it out of the CD player...and it still finds it's way back into the player and right into the heart.