Customer Reviews

Small Revelations

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

 

 

Musically, there is a great distance between the "live" Smithers, rocking over the sweet guitar, stomping his feet and bellowing out lyrics and notes, and the produced, rich, full sounds on albums such as these. This is the one I play most on the radio, especially the "deeper" cuts in the middle of the album and, of course, "Small Revelations" itself; the others I listen to alone after a long day, immersing myself in the raw voice and stomp of the foot. Most folks like one or the other best, but I don't think one can choose -- it's almost as if he were two great musicians, not just one. So I recommend all of Smithers' work, from the oldest songs now covered by the likes of Bonnie Raitt to the newest sound on the other end of the "live" spectrum, like "Small revelations" -- but buy this one first if 1) you need an introduction to his work (and then get a live session album, too), or 2) if you need an album to introduce your friends to Smithers. Then find them copies of "I Feel the same," "It ain't easy," and "Real Fine Love," the best Smithers' songs anywhere, both live and produced.

BTW, on my personal copy of this, my father, who introduced me to Chris' earlier work while I was still prenatal, had Chris sign "To Joshua, who has a cool dad." Thanks, Dad.

I agree with the person before me, who said this is chris's best. Mostly original songs, these are his finest. Buy this first, then 'Drive you home', then 'Another way to find you', then 'Up on the lowdown'. Chris is a master guitarist and songwriter.....

I still believe this is Chris's best. His versatility and song writing capability really shine through on this one..."Small Revelations" most of all.

I have been a Chris Smither fan for years. The more you listen the more you appreciate his lyrics and his special view of common life, in a not so common way.

This is the Smither collection I recommend to people who are interested in folk and acoustic blues, but who have never heard of Chris Smither. It is NOT the same as seeing and hearing Smither live. Seeing and hearing Smither live should be on the Bucket List of every person who professes to like acoustic blues, roots music or folk. However, if you wish to introduce yourself to the man and his music before you buy a ticket to see him in person, this is the CD to get. If you're selecting singles from iTunes, the ones I recommend are Thanks to You, Slow Surprise, Small Revelations, and, most of all, Cave Man. Chris often ends his performances with Cave Man as an encore. Some may quibble, but I think that Cave Man is his signature original tune.

The above-entitled headline needs some explanation. This is not a takeoff on Prince's various transformations. Over the past year or so I have been reviewing CDs, old and new, of various male folk artists like the artist under review, Chris Smither, who participated in and drove the folk revival of the early 1960's and are still active in that milieu. I have posed a question in these reviews about why these very talented performers never attained the fame of Bob Dylan, the acknowledged "king of the hill" male folk singer from that era. As a "response" to that inquiry I recently received an e-mail from Chris's publicity agent.

Did this "flak" write to convey her thanks for the genuinely positive and heartfelt reviews that I have given Chris's work? No. Did she argue that I had it all wrong and that Chris should really be declared the chief god of the folk pantheon as a good PR agent would? No. Alternatively, did she declare that I could not tell Chris's blue guitar from a blue moon. No. What she inquired about was my use of the`s' word in my reviews. The`s' word being my mistake of putting an`s' at the end of Chris's last name. Well, ho hum. However in this reviewer's household we have virtually every one of Chris's CDs so the rest of the reviews of his work in this space will be burdened by being introduced under the sign of the missing`s'.

But enough of that. To paraphrase a line from one of Chris's lyrics "Let It Go" this `should not concern a man of my stature'. And that is the heart of the matter. With or without the`s' Chris has the goods that make a great folk performer. That is the point behind my including him along with the likes of Dave Van Ronk, Phil Ochs, Tom Paxton and Tom Rush in the first place. This and future CD reviews will also go under the sign of the main points made in earlier reviews as below:

"I do not know if Chris Smither, like his contemporary Bob Dylan, started out wanting to be the "king of the hill" among male folk singers but he certainly had some things going for him. He plays that signature blue guitar for all it is worth on such covers as the Robert Johnson/Elmore James blues classic "Dust My Broom" yet can turn it down several notches for a song like "Winsome Smile" and then goes softer on reflective songs like "Small Revelations". Moreover he is as capable as a songwriter as any of writing of longing, lost love, thoughts of mortality and...being stupid in the world. Witness "Cave Man" on that last point. Then turn it up a notch with a bittersweet song like "Sportin' Life". Yes, Chris had the tools to go out and slay the dragons of the folk world. This is one of Chris Smithers', oops, Smither's lesser works yet still has most of the qualities of his five star efforts. That work may not be well known outside the precincts of the graying folk world, but it should be.

This for me is one of my top ten albums of all time. Not one bad track and a listen leaves you feeling good every single time. If your toes do not start tapping to this music you should probably call 911 as you are probably dead. Great album by a superb artist. One of the essential albums for any good collection of contemporary blues music.

this a great cd! I would recommend this for anyone who likes folky- blues. I own all of his cd's now and it all started with this one