Customer Reviews

Stripping Cane

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

 

 

literate, soulful, haunting and simply beautiful. Jeffrey Foucault is a singularly unique artist. A stunning combination of honesty, intelligence and pure soul. The songs, whether blues, country or folk-influenced, all exemplify Mr. Foucault's aforementioned ample skills. In our commercial age where much of the music we endure today is superficial, transparent over-produced trash this CD as well as his debut, Miles from the Lightning, are pure joys. Do yourself a favor and buy this CD as soon as you can...

Given that Foucault's 2002 debut, Miles From the Lightning is as good a singer/songwriter debut CD as you will find anywhere, expectations for the follow-up have been high. Stripping Cane does not disappoint - this an excellent second CD and a recording that takes JF into a genre all of his own.

Combining the best of folk, roots and alt-country/americana, Foucault has utilised both his musical and literary skills to create a new genre all of his own - Kerouacana. Combining his love of Townes Van Vandt and literary interests (how many recording artists web-sites feature a link to the Kenneth Rexroth Archive?) Stripping Cane is a musical tour de force in the spirit of the Beat Generation. Featuring soon-to-be-classics "Bluest Blade", "Northbound 35" and title track "Stripping Cane" , Foucault's lyricism lifts him into a league well above the average journeyman strummer.

Benefitting from David "Goody" Goodrich's production and contributions from Redbird friends Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey, the CD is pretty much filler free (if you ignore "4 and 20 blues"). Highly recommended.

This is a great discovery for me. The voice and the guitar remind me of Kellie Jo Phelps and a little like Lyle Lovett. There is a lot of spirit on this record and it gives me goosebumps. Listen to it and see how you feel.

An album I can't listen to without feeling moved. The songs are beautiful, with sparse arrangements that highlight the clearly audible lyrics and deftly-fingered guitar work. This is exemplified by the title track, but even the intro track, "Cross of Flowers" brings out the memories of driving into the places you know well on the way home. These songs and the vocal delivery give a powerful jolt of emotion, from wistfulness, loss, yearning, or even playfulness.

This stripped down 2003 recording was my first exposure to Mid-Western singer-songwriter Jeffrey Foucault, and it remains one of my favorite (the other being his 2006 release, Ghost Repeater, with full band backing). The songs alternate between slow, moody numbers (the real gems), and more lively (sometimes tossed-off seeming) tunes, simply accompanied by finely finger-picked and slide acoustic guitars (David Goodrich is excellent with the variety of stringed things he contributes), with the occasional harmony vocals and electric guitar touches added.

While always competent and tasteful, it isn't the music that's virtuosic though; it's the remarkably deep and unaffected lyrics within the whole package (pleasant and low key high quality vocals, instrumentation and production) that makes it feel an authentic part of the old and new West...

This collection of songs may be a bit uneven (compared to Ghost Repeater), but it includes the amazing and powerful "Doubletree" and "Northbound 35" which are not to be missed (and everything else doesn't disappoint either).

"Mustang horses, champagne glasses
Anything frail anything wild
It's the price of living motion
What's beautiful is broken
And grace is just the measure of a fall" (Northbound 35)

Jeffrey Foucault is fast becoming one of my favorite artists. Stripping Cane is a nice mixture of blues and rock, I am looking forward to buying more of his work.

My friend got me a copy of this and I love it. I bought one for my Aunt who is the biggest country fan ever. It is her favorite CD now. Thank you Jeffery Foucault. Young man. Old voice.

I heard about Jeffrey Foucault from his fellow musician/friend, Danny Schmidt (another great musician, who I would highly recommend). I listened to samples on Jeff's website and was immediately impressed. As one reviewer noted, most music these days is shallow and overproduced. A lot of the songs use slide/lap steel guitar, but it's tastefully used. Jeff's music is best listened to when you don't have a lot of distractions. His music will seep into your very soul. He shows great depth and maturity for a person in his 20's. One person that influenced him is Townes Van Zant, who I'm not familar with, yet. I just learned that he has a new CD that is due to be released at the end of the month (to be in record stores by March 23). You can pre-order it at his website.

This is a CD not to miss. I apprecition anyone who has the talent to sit down, pick and strum, and have a voice as fine as the instument he masters. Jeffrey Cane is definatly one of those fellas!! Here in the Last Frontier we are blessed to have some of the finest talents come to entertain us accoustically. I am so excited that this man has accepted our invitation and I cannot wait to witness this talented newcomer in a small and intimate venue. This CD will take honor in my autographed collections!