Torched

Michael Hedges | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 2011)
• Original Release Date: February 9, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Windham Hill Records
• ASIN: B00000HZOK
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,155 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Torched is the album Michael Hedges was reputedly working on when he was tragically taken from us in a car wreck in November 1997. It reveals Hedges exploring his fervent desire to be a singer/songwriter, rather than the virtuoso guitarist who influenced a generation of string-pickers. Hedges played the whole guitar, not just the strings, turning it into a tribal orchestra that rendered his gorgeous and often quirky melodies. That Hedges is rarely heard on Torched. Instead Hedges's vocal side prevails. Torched is a scattered collection of nearly completed songs and rough tracks, all highlighting his spiritual search and romantic yearnings. As a singer/songwriter, Hedges was influenced by the 1960s and '70s Jackson Browne-James Taylor axis of earnest proclamations. He's even joined by '60s veterans David Crosby and Graham Nash, who added their harmonies to "Spring Buds" after Hedges passed. On the title track, he sings of spiritual transformation by fire, adding some distorted fuzz guitar to scorched effect. On "Promised Land" he waxes biblical. There are a few instrumentals as well, including "Fusion of the Five Elements," an early, triple-speed demo for the song that wound up as the title track to Oracle, Hedges's last official album. Other pieces like "Dream Beach," "Arrowhead," and "Ursa Major" would have fit comfortably on Oracle with their wistful melodies and arrangements that have Hedges playing flutes, percussion, and keyboards in addition to guitar. Posthumous albums are always problematic. We'll never know if Hedges actually wanted these tracks to be released, and over all the vocal songs don't match his more carefully articulated Road to Return vocal album from a few years back. With Torched we're left with embers from a musician who usually gave us bonfires of brilliance. --John Diliberto

Product Description

Torched by Michael Hedges

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Broad Vision of Michael Hedges, May 17, 2000

By 

"mhfan" (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torched (Audio CD)

Anyone who has enjoyed any other recordings of Michael Hedges should own this CD. It is his final musical statement, and no one knows which of the unfinished tracks, if any, would have made his final cut. In that light, a different standard needs to be applied to this collection of recordings. Perhaps more than any other album, "Torched" illustrates the broad vision of Michael Hedges, which spanned from pop music fan, to serious composer, to spiritual mystic. The unfinished tracks are often very clearly unfinished; but the Michael Hedges fan will love this collection as a rare glimpse into the creative process in action; the Michael Hedges fan will love this collection because it gives a view of what was to come; and many other people will enjoy this recording because the music is of a very high compositional standard, and has an integrity that is truly rare. Of all the Hedges albums, this is the one that may be for fans only, if there is such a thing; however, this is not meant to dissuade the curious. If you are inclined to take a chance on this, you will most likely be pleased. I must say that I was very disappointed by the Amazon reviewer's lack of musical perspective, as well as by his use of sledgehammer "wit," considering the circumstances of Michael Hedges' death.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A last and great gift from Michael Hedges, July 6, 2004

By 

Leif C. Ringstad Sr (Wausau, WI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torched (Audio CD)

This is a last great gift from a musician and artist that touched the souls of all he met.

For those who are not familiar with Michael Hedges' work, please purchase as a minimum, Ariel Boundaries, and then perhaps "Live on the Double Planet." After those two albums this one will take on a greater meaning.

This album in it's unfinished state only adds to the experience, because it yeilds a small insight in to the processes from which his art emerged whole. I would have much preferred to wait for the finished album than to loose such a national treasure as Michael Hedges.

This man died far too soon, with far too much music left in his heart. I consider myself blessed indeed to have been present at a number of his concerts over the years, and to have shaken the hand of such a talented soul.

Michael, you are with us always in your music and in your gentle manner and your raging performances and your wit.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The moving and beautiful last creation of a unique musician., July 11, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Torched (Audio CD)

Do yourself a favor and buy this cd today! If you have ever heard Michael and appreciated his profoundly unique playing as a guitarist and his vibrance as a human being, you will cherish much of this album. If you have never heard of Michael, ignore any categories such as solo-guitarist or new age music - there is so much shear beauty here that should be experienced to be appreciated. Even though technically an "unfinished" work, most of the music is complete and multitracked as well as any release you'll ever hear. The cds haunting melodies and jaw-dropping illustrations of guitar genius merge to bring you a portrait of a very spiritual human being reaching a new plateau of creativity and someone possibly about to break away from his new age guitar virtuoso image shackles into a more complete and accessible singer/songwriter stage. With his tragic, untimely death there is much we can only speculate about, but this is a beautiful cd for anyone and everyone that loves music in general. Give yourself and someone you love this cd. And please remember not just Michael but also his children (there is a fund for their benefit you may contribute to) when you listen to this wonderful legacy he has left behind, and the many other recorded gifts of his beautiful and unique artistic vision that he has given us thoughout the years.