Customer Reviews

Tin Lily

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4 star:		(1)
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A frequently used term by reviewers of Jeff Black's music is "songwriter's songwriter," a description most apropos to Black's artistry on his latest release. Quite simply, there are few singer/songwriters today (Richard Thompson and David Gray being notable exceptions) capable of penning inspired lyrics with the literacy, depth and poignancy found in the stellar mix of songs gracing "Tin Lily."

And a very eclectic mix of melodious songs it is -- from the radio-friendly rocker, "Libertine," to the achingly beautiful ballad, "Nineteen," to the rollicking piano tune, "Free at Last," rendered with soul-shaking gospel fervor.

It is evident from the grit and angst peppered throughout this album that Black has encountered his share of life's adversities. He sings of loss, freedom, struggle, mystery and hopelessness, yet he emerges grateful for life's simple pleasures, which he perceives could indeed be "heaven now."

Strong powerful vocals are supported by brilliant instrumentation from master musicians, including Will Kimbrough (electric guitar), Jody Nardone (piano/organ) and mandolin-god Sam Bush, who also shines on fiddle. Black contributes on accoustic/electric guitars, keyboards, piano and harmonica.

In the final analysis, though, it is the sheer poetry of Black's music that sets him apart from the masses. He thinks and writes sensitively and metaphorically, so he engages both the heart and the intellect in a way that takes the listener to a deeper level of emotional investment in his music.

From "Hollow of Your Hand" --
love has thrown a light
across the shadows of this land
living in the hollow of your hand.

From "Closer" --
there is a place
where we never wonder
far away from this
despair
where the folly
is forgotten
will you meet me there?

My CD purchases this year include new releases by the aforementioned Thompson and Gray, as well as Springsteen and Clapton, but Jeff Black's "Tin Lily" is the standout of the year!

Playing Time - 47:09 -- Jeff Black is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, keys, harmonica) whose Americana music incorporates influences of country, folk and rock stylings. His songs have been covered by Waylon Jennings, Sam Bush, Lisa Brokop, Jo-El Sonnier, Blackhawk and others. Although Arista Records put out his debut album, it is the Dualtone label that has now signed Black and released "Tin Lily." With all lyrics included in the CD's jacket, one should tune into his messages to see if they are memorable by providing inspiration, insight, or enlightenment. Or if his lyrics tell striking stories with some of his own interpretive twists and experiences along the way. Many of his songs give us his pensive considerations for homemade simplicity, the state of life and relationships. Others are quite uplifting as they encourage personal introspection and reflection. Black's audiences are listening, and they are paying rapt attention to his more exhilarating material.

Black associates with some veteran musicians. Kenny Vaughn and Will Kimbrough play electric guitars. Dave Roe and Dave Jacques play the bass, while drums/percussion are ably played by Craig Wright. Piano or organ are laid into the mix for two songs by Jody Nardone . Sam Bush (mandolin, fiddle) appears on a few tracks, and backup vocals are tastefully rendered by Mathew Ryan and Kate Campbell.

The Black stock is a hearty working-class one made up of industrious people who weren't afraid to get their hands dirty in the quest for success. Perseverance may be the key. Realizing that "the hard way out is hopeless," Black also isn't trying to prove anything to anyone. He's merely letting his unique spiritually-tinged music speak for itself as he sings his songs that largely address country values. Born in Kansas City, Jeff Black has been compared to the likes of Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Harry Chapin and Steve Goodman.

Sharing the same stage with Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, John Hammond, Guy Clark and others will continue to build Black's fanbase among patrons of music that sits outside the mainstream. Black is creating a powerful body of work as he explores his concern for ordinary life. With a keen ability to be both laconic and passionate, Jeff Black sings organic songs that are meant to be personally interpreted for meaning in one's own life. Let's hope he can find great success without becoming an articulate anachronism. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

This could be heaven now. Jeff Black's latest is just that; a bit of heaven now. Another great collection of songs and styles from the master songwriter. When I saw Jeff in the Berkshires earlier this year, he told me that he had written many songs and would be taking them out on the road. Don't miss him live or any of his other albums. Tin Lily covers much ground. There is a spiritual theme which runs throughout many of the songs, not in a preachy way, but in very soothing acknowlegment that there's a greater good. Jeff has brought in a great group of musicians to augment his playing. Great work again from Jody Nardone on piano and the other players. Highlights for me, so far: "Free at Last" a roll down the windows and drive kind of song. "These Days", "Easy on Me" and the beautiful "Heaven Now" continue to show a tenderness in his writing and sweetnees in that very rich voice. There is a warmth and comfort in these songs which shows, once again, that Jeff Black remains one of the great American songwriters and musicians. Bravos for this great work.

Do you know how when you're on a budget watching the pennies, you just can't get all the music you'd like to have? Well, after loving both "Birmingham Road" & "B-Sides," I had to wait a bit for this one. Thank goodness for some of these crazy people who want to get rid of their used copies because this is one TERRIFIC CD. My copy has been hugging the changer for weeks and will not be headed back out the door.

Jeff Black's "Tin Lily" is an excellent disc. I connect with this music! It's witty, intelligent, emotional, & melodic with enough pep to keep you awake on the highway. Two of the tracks are my very favorites. The opener "Easy on Me" is a classic breakup track with Black's velvet voice hugging the exquisite melody, "You say you don't want to tie me down; so what's with all these ropes & chains?" "Free At Last" is another great road song with Black pumping the piano like daybreak just over the horizon, "I drove the loop in my '65, thrift store shoes, the grand emporium blues, man I'm lucky to be alive."

Other tracks are also excellent like the moody "Nineteen" with Jeff's gentle voice quite beautiful, "Blackberry winter, Oh, I wish you could have seen my father's gold tooth shining, you would be nineteen." "Closer" has a sweet pop melody while "Heaven Now" boasts some lovely strings in a wistful remembrance. "These Days" is a great track with a pounding rhythm and sounds like the voice of a soldier on the front lines, "Praise be there's someone watching over me." Black does a good job of mixing tempos and creating an excellent set of tunes. This is a delightful disc. Bravo!

Jeff Blacl's 4th disk is a collection of strong and well writen songs. In keeping with the progress over the first three, he is consistent, inventive and deeply personal.

Black's mix of folk, country, pop and rock influences place him in the hard-to-define Americana genre. He can stretch out on sophisticated folk songs that bring to mind the British moodiness of Richard Thompson, but he can also plug-in for electric country rockers like "Libertine" that would be at home on Steve Earle's set list, and spin bouncy pop numbers like "Free at Last" that sound like a rustic version of Billy Joel.

Black's second release on Dualtone (the first was a reissue of his largely acoustic "B-Sides and Confessions, Vol. 1") sports a full band, with Jody Nardone's piano propelling several songs. Black's lyrics are impressionistic, rather than narrative, with poetic imagery that doesn't always readily reveal the songs' themes. A few subjects, like the untamed "Libertine," lay more on the surface, but others are painted more dreamlike in pastoral washes.

These aren't the sort of catchy tunes that top-40 buyers will sing to themselves as they motor down the highway, but if you're looking for something with multiple literary layers and an array of interpretations, Black's work is worth checking out. 3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2005 hyperbolium dot com]