Customer Reviews

Speed of Life

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With "Speed of Life," the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has released one of the finest albums of its long and storied career. After a 5-year hiatus from the studio (a stretch longer than the entire lifespan of most recording acts), this group nearing its 45th anniversary has clearly gained a whole new head of steam.

Grammy awards may sit on their mantels and multi-platinum records may hang on their walls, but Jeff Hanna, John McEuen, Jimmie Fadden, and Bob Carpenter have decided not to rest on their much-deserved laurels.

Like most of the few remaining acts that began in the 1960s, the band could have lived out the rest of its days on the road, playing all of those chart hits for crowds of contented listeners. But these four musicians seem to think they still have something to prove - and with "Speed of Life," the proof that they're still a viable musical force today is evident in every single song on the album.

Hearing Fadden's chugging harmonica at the beginning of the first track, "Tulsa Sounds Like Trouble to Me," is like getting a call from a long-lost friend. In fact, throughout the entire album there's a sense of the familiar bordering on the nostalgic - but it can't be nostalgia if it's brand new - and that's the beauty of this band and this CD.

John McEuen shows off his composing and banjo-playing skills on "Lost In The Pines." Bob Carpenter takes the lead vocals on "Somethin' Dangerous" and "Earthquake." One has an almost involuntarily compulsion to turn up the volume when Jimmie Fadden and the band perform a rousing version of the old Canned Heat chestnut, "Going Up The Country." Fadden also takes the lead on "Tryin' To Try" - a song he co-wrote with Texas legend Guy Clark.

All of the other songs on this 13-track collection feature founding member Jeff Hanna on lead vocals, including "The Resurrection" - the prime standout in an album filled with standouts. Even though it tugs at the heart, "The Resurrection" is ultimately a song of hope. Co-written by Alice Randall and Hanna's wife, Matraca Berg, "The Resurrection" captures the essence of much of America at this point and time in history - and the song's title captures the best possible description of the disposition of the band that's performing it.

America loves a comeback story, and "Speed of Life" is all the evidence needed to prove that the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has come back once more. The group has defied time, the odds, categorization, and a lengthy recording hiatus to come roaring back with perhaps the best album of the year - genres be damned.

Critics have been guilty of attempting to pigeonhole the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band into a specific musical category for over 40 years now. Call it country; call it country rock; call it Americana. It really doesn't matter. In this particular case, let's simply call it joyous music because it's clear these guys were having a great time making this record, and it's absolutely guaranteed to bring joy to all of those who listen to it.

I struggled for a moment when considering how many stars to give this album. I mean, its a great album -- one of the best ever by the NGDB -- but its not Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy (Liberty Records 1969). But what is? Uncle Charlie set the standard for country-rock that has never been matched. So what do we have here? The opening cut, "Tulsa Sounds Like Trouble To Me," is classic Dirt Band from the opening Jimmie Fadden harmonica and the great Jeff Hanna vocal. OK, I'm into it already. But what got me hooked was that there were not just a handful of keepers, but the entire album was filled with songs I'm going to want to put on my MP3. "Resurrection" is getting a lot of press, and its worthy of download. But I was very surprised by a couple of Bob Carpenter songs -- "Earthquake" and "Something Dangerous." "Earthquake," written with John McEuen, is one of the few Dirt Band attempts at western swing and a great protest song to California's seismic living conditions. OK, can someone set up a tour with Asleep at the Wheel?? Do you need to be more impressed? This album was recorded "live" -- meaning everyone was in the studio playing simultaneously (the norm these days is for each instrument to be recorded separately). Also, I'm still amazed to think that Jimmie Fadden plays the harmonica and the drum set at the same time (and in between breaths he lays out harmony vocals). Buy it, download it, whatever. You'll spend the first day boogying, and the next day memorizing the lyrics, even if it isn't Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy.

This is another great album as usual. I've had the CD for a couple weeks, ordered from their website, and it has a good mix of country and bluegrass. Can't stop listening to it.
I gave it 4 stars, reason being, Jimmy Ibbotson is not on the album. He's truly missed not being with the band anymore.
Addt'l singers on the album did well.
Highlights: Brand New Heartache, Jimmy Martin and Good to be Alive. All songs are awesome but these are my fav 3.
It's a Must Buy for all NGDB fans.

I've been a Dirt Band fan ever since I first saw the band perform some 30 or so years ago in the movie/documentary Banjoman. The mixture of grass roots music with rock and roll energy was infectious to say the least. I've followed the band ever since and always look forward to hearing a new release from the group. Their ability to defy classifications is also part of their appeal and for that reason I would not compare this album to any of their others. By my personal opinion it's just another gem to add to their already rich collection.

I, like some of the other reviewers, was at first a little disappointed that Ibby was no longer in the band's line up. But, I over came this disappointment after listening to the whole album. With Ibby's absents we are treated with more vocals from Jimmy Fadden. And the winning track on this stellar album for me is his cover of Canned Heat's Going up the Country. The cover is better than the original. Jim's vocal and harmonica, Jeff's resonator guitar, mixed with Bob's honky tonk piano, and John's driving banjo just blew me away. My wife is perplexed with my recent desire to buy a VW bus and take us and the dog on a country wide road trip this summer. Guess I need to share the album with her too.

Thanks guys, you did it again.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME...ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME....THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE BEST GOOD-TIME, JUGBAND, COUNTRY-ROCK, FOLK-BLUES MASTERPIECES OF ALL TIME...(AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS THEY HAVE...AND KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT I SAY...AS I PLAY THIS KIND OF MUSIC MYSELF...IN MY PAST AND RIGHT NOW.....)
IF FOR NOTHING ELSE, THE GRITTIES' RENDITION OF AL WILSON'S (CANNED HEAT) ANTHEMIC CLASSIC IS WORTH THE PRICE OF THE DISC ALONE....THANK GOD AND THE GRITTIES FOR THIS ROUSING, FOOT-STOMPING RETURN- TO-YESTERYEAR/LOOK-AT-THE-ROSY-FUTURE-OF-MUSIC RECORDING....(AND RIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOODSTOCK, FOR WHICH THE SONG IS FOREVER LINKED)...
JUST THROW AWAY ALL THE OTHER CRAP THAT PASSES FOR MUSIC TODAY...AND GET TO WHAT IS REAL....BEFORE YOU GET LEFT BEHIND.....THE PAST IS YOUR FUTURE....WAKE UP....
Vince Lucie

The band has been together for quite a long time and yet on this album they sound fresh with not only excellent vocals but instrumentally as well. In fact, the bands diverse and highly capable ability to master music in a wide range from a country sound, 'Resurrection', to an almost pop sound,"Stuck in the Middle with You" is a major part of their appeal. They can tackle any song original or cover and make it their own and in the latter case, make it so unique and quality it can be released as a single. This CD has more sharing of vocals with Jeff Hanna with lead on many and their harmonies exemplify a band that has worked together all these years without losing their coiperative spirit. Their great capability to tackle a range of instruments is part of the attarction to this great group, they add a variety of sounds that fit well with each song. It is a pure delight to hear this great band, they are pure Americana, and I look forward to seeing them on the road again soon.

...i'm deeply and joyfully into the NGDB Music since the "Symphonion Dream" (his masterpiece in my humble opinion) and "Dirt, Silver and Gold" (the dream-like compilation) days, the glorious mid-seventies. Got on vinyls/CDs every single album this truly gifted Gentlemen recorded, and now with "Speed Of Life" i experiment a very happy listening, superb and medicinal sounds for me on this depressed times. Thanks for the long ride, NGDB! Thanks for always placing me on a sweet and warm parallel universe! Congratulations for the new tunes and the great covers of Canned Heat/"Going Up The Country", and Stealers Wheel/"Stuck In The Middle (With You)"! Best for the new year 2010 and please, consider to make gigs over Europe!

I like full albums because good ones have a flow. If you like southern music this is a good treat to listen too. I also like the recorded live sound they went for. It works and keeps the music simple and easy to listen too.

this is a great cd. i like the songs speed of light,amazing love and good to be alive. I saw the band in concert at the opry this past summer, and they put on a great show.over all this is a four star cd.

The September 26 review by "Vince" says what I would like to say. This is a really good album by a band that is such a treasure. None of the redneck or corny stuff that is selling as Country today. Just authentic American music played with great feeling and skill.