Customer Reviews

T Bone Burnett

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

 

 

With great support from David Hidalgo (T-Bone was producing Los Lobos in those days), Jerry Douglas (who reinvented Dobro playing during this time) and a couple of his old Alpha Band cronies, this is T-Bone's best overall record. Not a bad song in the bunch (with a couple of terrific covers, like Tom Waits' "Time"), and two songs that just kill me whenever I hear them: "River of Love" and the quintessential T-Bone song "Shake Yourself Loose" which blends his love of a good pun ("I'm not running away from trouble/I'm walking away from an accident") and the ability to take a simple phrase (namely the song's title) and let it resonate and change meaning throughout the lyric--sophisticated stuff.
This is a great price on the CD and it has

T-Bone Burnett the performer/song writer is a victim of his own success as a producer. He is arguably one of the best half dozen producers on the planet, and in 2001 managed to produce the only album to win the Grammy for Best Album of the Year with absolutely no air play whatsoever (the soundtrack for O BROTHER! WHERE ART THOU?). But he is also a very good song writer, managing to blend a strong moral sense from his own religious beliefs (he is a Christian, but a Christian on the edge, not unlike a fellow traveler like Bono). Tragically, most of his best studio work is out of print, like the incredible PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT and the great BEHIND THE TRAP DOOR, featuring an absolutely chilling version of "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend," which he sings with none of Marilyn Monroe's playfulness, but with the utmost seriousness, as if he were articulating a philosophy of life. One of the scariest songs ever recorded.

Of all his albums, T-BONE BURNETT is by far his most mellow, filled with less moral combativeness. His albums are usually ironic and sardonic, but this one is peaceful and calm, as if he was have an extraordinarily good day when he recorded it. The arrangements are minimalistic, and the sound utterly uncluttered. It is almost impossible to listen to this album without feeling calm and peaceful. Burnett by background is a rocker, but this album seems almost folky in contrast.

This is not Burnett's best album, but it is very nearly his best. And until PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT or BEHIND THE TRAP DOOR become available again, this is probably the best T-Bone Burnett album one can find.

This was one of the albums I brought with me when I went to work in Moscow back in '91. We would play it in our minibus on the way to work every morning and our Russian driver loved it so much, I let him have my copy. He now drives a taxi and still plays it for his passengers. I haven't been able to get my hands on a fresh copy until now (Thanks, Amazon!)and at such a great price too! T-Bone Burnett is normally a bit more avant-garde, but he plays it straight on this one, and with a wonderful group of session musicians. This is not just a great album, it also reminds me of sunny August mornings in Moscow with the window down and "Annabelle Lee" playing loud. If you like acoustic music, treat yourself!

At this price, you should buy 3 and keep them in storage for future generations. The musicianship on this CD is awesome, the sound is pristine, the songs are very well written. It's old-fashioned folky country, no drums to speak of, no electric instruments. It was recorded live to 2-track in the studio. My one caveat. When this originally came out on LP record, it was shorter, without the extra "instrumentals" and such. Actually, it was better that way! (6 stars instead of 5) Also, the album, when it was recorded direct, was recorded simultaneously to analog and digital, so the master for the two of them is slightly different. Call me an old fuddy-duddy, but the analog master that the LP is based on sounds better. Keep in mind that in the 80s digital recording technology was not where it is before, no matter what anybody says...

So... if you can find the LP in great condition, get that too! But this CD is a classic and then some.

This album is my favorite from an artist better known for producing others music than making his own. I first heard this back when I was still into bluegrass, jazzgrass, Dawg music, etc. some 15 years ago. I've moved on from most of that type of music. But the songs on this album still hang in there with anything else you'd care to listen to. It is on par with Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as being a perfectly produced work. No matter how many times you listen to it, you just can not wear this music out.

Long tall Texan T-Bone Burnett has one of those nasal, Dylanish voices that you might call an acquired taste. Still, once you've gotten past that initial barrier to entry, you're hooked. On this eponymous release, T-Bone takes the neotraditional high road: there's not an electrified note to be heard. Instead he's assembled an acoustic ensemble to die for, including dobro wizard Jerry Douglas, fiddler Byron Berline, and Los Lobos' Dave Hidalgo. The songs--particularly "River of Love" and "Shake Yourself Loose"--are smart, lovely, and low-key. And even the bits that T-Bone clearly tossed off on the way to the studio receive eloquent performances. Jerry Douglas fans, please note: the disc includes two unaccompanied, CD-only tracks by the Slide Ruler himself, who makes Burnett's melodies sound more desolate and Appalachian than usual. Beautiful!

This is a ground breaking album. Without a doubt it is the best recorded and produced album I have ever heard. It has a sweetness and life that you never hear on other records, and at the same time the pain and ache of the songs is wrenching. The layers of sound that sweep you away to another place are exquisite and elegant. T bone is known to many now as the man behind the "O brother" sound track and the Counting Crows albums. Although these are good things to be known for, his work with Marshall Crenshaw, Los Lobos, Bob Dylans( he produced the comeback "blood on the tracks" album), the BoDeans, Gillian Welch, Elvis Costello, Roy Orbison may be even better. Without a doubt if you want to be considered as a serious new alt roots band, having Mr Burnett as your producer will do that . Now for my only complaint, he has spent so much time producing for everyone else that I long to hear a new album from him. I always here rumors but never an album.
If you want the best Album to sit out on a deck on a warm summer night and listen to, this is it.
You know how when you are outside every sound is in its place and it is all good? That is this album. every note is there just where it should be, not too loud, not to soft, you can hear it all. This was clearly a labor of love. this is the music of " O Brother" ten years before and cleaner.
Buy this album help convince T Bone that we want more. And a note of warning this album sounds better than your sound system, you will be forced to upgrade to fully listen to the wonderful music here.

If you like country music, or if you want to explore T-Bone Burnett's music, either way, it is very well written and recorded.

If you've got Gram Parsons, early Joe Ely, and/or Whiskeytown in your collection, this one will fit right in. Reminds me a bit of the acoustic Uncle Tupelo album, though UT plays it grungier. And if you already like this one, keep an eye out for Gene Clark's 'Roadmaster.' Final thought: when is someone going to re-release the first Alpha Band album on CD? The album that should've broken the Eagles lock on where country rock was headed in the '70's.

A lot of music for the price. The acoustic was a surprise. Reminds me of Roy Orbitson and/or Eddie Raven. Good CD