Customer Reviews

The Speed of Trees

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

'The Speed of Trees' is Ellis Paul's first studio album since the 1998 release of 'Translucent Soul.' With the help of Lucy Kaplansky, Duke Levine, Jennifer Kimball and Dennis Brennan, Ellis takes on a new edge with pure essential songwriting and shockingly gravitating vocals. Paul has ten albums under his belt and has gained national recognition as a clever storyteller. So sure of his abilities has been on tour for over 10 years. His songs have been used in Hollywood movie hits like "Me Myself & Irene" ("World Ain't Slowin' Down" off his 'Translucent Soul' album) and "Shallow Hal" with the title movie soundtrack song 'Sweet Mistakes." Paul ranks along with Bob Dylan as one of the top American folk singers hands down. He should be after listening to his mentor (Dylan) in early years. With this new release containing a newly discovered, unreleased Woody Guthrie lyric, "God's Promise." The song comes at a good time in these times that will move you in some way. It completes a well-rounded out album well.

The rest of the songs on the album have their own story reflecting from vivid sketches of strong feelings of his everyday life. These are quite a stunning collection of stories and informal masterpieces of contemporary Folk Americana. Fans will probably enjoy his book, 'Notes from the Road' (and the songs I've sung there) that's filled with his personal accounts of what life on the road is like. He bring together in his book about the American people and places that are quite unique. Paul adds journal entries, sketches, poetry and lyrics. The words is pretty much like his best music put forward. If you like to see Ellis Paul in the comfort of your own home and relish some of his best works in concert his LIVE DVD Collector's Edition of 'Ellis Paul: 3,000 Miles' is available this year (2003). The film features Ellis Paul at the historic Somerville Theatre in his own neighborhood. It's also a documentary chronicling a cross-country road trip with a smashing ending. Plus Ellis gives tips on guitar tuning, and includes interviews with Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert and Christopher Williams. If you're a first time listener I'd suggest Ellis Paul's 'LIVE' album for starters to get the full effect of his talent. Then try, the 'Translucent Soul,' 'Am I Home' and 'Sweet Mistakes' are among his best.

The production work on this CD is definetly a little slicker and focused a little more towards the "pop" end of the spectrum (whatever that is) than Ellis' past releases. That being said, it is neither over produced nor overly commercial. Instead, I'd say this is a logical step for Ellis and it shows the world that he sounds pretty damn good in front of a tight band. The instrumentation is tastefully done, and I particularly think the mandolin contributes significantly to several tracks. Ellis' song writing is as outstanding as ever, and Speed of Trees constitutes his most accessible work to date. I recently saw Ellis live and can report that these songs stand strong on their own when he plays solo. Particularly noteworthy in this collection is Ellis' reading of Woody Guthrie's God's Promise. This is a powerful song, finally given voice by Ellis (Woody's music, if there was any for this song, was never recorded or written down), and the song reveals a side of Woody that I had never recognized. I highly recommend this CD. If you're new to Ellis' music, this is a great place to start exploring his catalog. And, if you're not new to Ellis' music, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not picking up this release.

I have to disagree with some or all of the previous negative comments. It is Because of this CD that I will be back for more of Ellis Paul. Great style, vocals and writing.

I wasn't sure Ellis was going to be able to blow me away yet again, but he has managed to do it. This is a fabulous collection of songs, and there is not a throwaway track to be found. The full band is incredible, especially the incomparable Duke Levine. I can't say enough good things about this CD; my favorite tracks are the title track, "Eighteen" and "If You Break Down," but I know that will change tomorrow (Ellis' music is like that). Also, if you have the opportunity, go see Ellis live-it gives a whole new dimension to the music, and Ellis' ability to connect with a crowd is second to none. This one will be well worth the money paid, and it was worth the five-year wait for a studio CD.

Ellis writes from the sensitivity of someone who hears all those "between-the-lines" words we've never spoken out loud then, belts them out with intent. On stage, he inserts a dry sense of humor and reflection on all he has heard and seen. Through his songs, you truly understand how rich his experiences have been. It is not that those experiences have been greater than ours; it's that he stopped for a while to explore all their complexity ... and translated them through his lyrics to share with all of us.

I had the pleasure of seeing him perform songs from this CD live, in Larchmont, NY just prior to this release. He is truly remarkable. He's real and tangible and not afraid of expressing himself.

"Sweet Mistakes" has been a particular favorite of mine from a previous album. But, when I heard "If You Break Down" I was blown away!!! In "Words" one simple line says, "Your eyes make me humble" While I was listening, I was thinking, "your singing makes me humble."

I would compare his abilities/caliber to those of Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Peter Gabriel, and Sting.

I could not recommend a CD more highly. I would also encourage you to catch him live. He plays smaller cafes, taverns, restaurants - where he can talk and relate to his audiences in a very personal way. His performance reflects warmth and generosity ... and unprecidented humility, relative to his undeniable talent.

DO buy this CD ... and buy a couple for friends!

If you've been a fan of Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, October Project, Counting Crows, Pirates of the Mississippi (ya, "Feed Jake" was awesome") ... go for this!

Ellis Paul is one of the most gifted singer/songwriters making music today. In his ability to craft songs and perform them with such refinement and pathos he stands head and shoulders above the rest. But I must admit that, like the fan from Dallas, on first hearing I too was a bit disappointed. It seems that these great songs are for the most part overproduced. Let's face it, Ellis is not just some folkie with a guitar writing songs with three chords in standard tuning. What I miss, on most of the tracks, is hearing the predominace of that sound that is truly "Ellis" -- the open tuning and cross-voiced harmonies that he creates with his guitar (his min-orchestra). I applaud Ellis for putting all of his music out there...But maybe some of us are a bit spoiled too...we've heard tunes like Maria's Beautiful Mess, When We Begin, and Rollaway Bed, to name a few, already recorded with that great magical live feel...only to hear them now overproduced and radio ready. Ellis' songs will always deserve five stars...but the production on this CD could be better.

I am a huge Ellis fan! I found this album to be over produced and it lacks the down to earth tone that his other albums have. Ellis gets lost in this one. Sweet Mistakes and his Live album are much better though his new collaborative song "God's Promise" is beautiful but again I liked it better when I heard it in a live show.

I have become a huge Ellis Paul fan in the last year after having kept him waiting in the wings of my internal singer-songwriter stage while I enjoyed David Wilcox and Martin Sexton, among others. This CD has only convinced me further of his greatness.
As with each of Ellis' other discs, I've liked "Trees" more with each listen. Others have written aghast at the ("over"?)production of this album and I admit that my first listen generated a similar response. What's with the electric guitar and the heavy drums on some songs? I have to turn my stereo *down* with Ellis Paul?

Eventually, as I did with Wilcox' Turning Point and Sexton's The American, however, I decided to stop fighting the difference and to simply enjoy the added instrumentation and more electrified sound of some of the tracks. Sure, Speed of Trees sounds more produced that Carnival of Voices or Stories do, but it stands as its own effort.

I say, let go of what you expect from Ellis and let him take you where his creative muse is calling. He's still the same brilliant, image-rich songwriter. You'll enjoy the ride!

Ellis is not your normal folk artist (Just as Dylan wasn't one).
This is a superb collection of songs. "Words" is a love song about how difficult it is to express love in words---but he tries despite himself ("Your eyes make me me humble,I've fallen at your feet, pick me up if I stumble over words I can't speak".)
THis song was inspired by (trying) to interview people at one of his shows on Feb 14th!
"Maria's Beautiful Mess" is about not getting involved with a potential lover knowing that the person might be a little over powering ("It's what's in the middle that scares you"). The guitar work here is one of his best--a combination of fingerpicking percussive style and strummed with pick---just a wonderful dynamic (and Ellis is the master of this).
"Give in, Give up"---in DADDAD tuning is panaramic---Duke Levines playing is divine (I think it's him). Ellis really hits the high ened of his vocals on this one---I recall seeing him play this one in concert for the first time and I was unaware he had such a broad vocal range (move over Dar!---only joking Dar).
"Sweet mistakes" ("There's a place in your pocket where peace can abide, you pull it out it's a compass a guide that will put a little soul on you") of course is the song from the movie "Shallow Hal" "When we begin" was inspired by watching one of those generic blind date reality shows on TV and takes you on the separate journeys of the two players until they meet (in open D tuning, BTW) "Tell me the story of all your past glories, the lovers the losers the friends, Split all your magic, the good times and the tragic" "The speed of trees" High Strung "geetar" ("Pick a road. just decide, is a plane or a train or a bride, decide, decide, decide") with lots o' hammer-ons ("Your love makes me move at the speed of trees".) "Breaking Through the Radio" is a rocking song about an up and coming rock band and the music. "The Ballad of Chris McCandless" is a song inspired by the book "Into the wild". ("Sometimes he said don't it seem like the concrete is closing in".) "Eighteen" is about being eighteen (looking back from a high school reunion)! (And I finally think I finally know what it's like to be eighteen") "God's Promise" is A Woody Guthrie Lyric with music provided by Ellis---you'll not find this one elsewhere! "Roll Away Bed" is just a real fun song!! That's yer lot.

I'll keep this short and to the point. Ellis's work somehow makes me consider putting down the guitar and pen for good, as it seems that it can't be done to his level, and yet I feel so inspired by the work as to feel the need, like thirst, to pick it back up again and write, all at the same time. He's simply one of the best songwriters we have. These songs are life, described perfectly.