Travels in the South

Chris Stamey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 15, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B00023NDJU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,990 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #86 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Jangle Pop

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb return to solo work for one-time dB, July 31, 2004

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Travels in the South (Audio CD)

Though it's been 14 years since Stamey issued his last power-pop solo work (that is, discounting 1995's free-form instrumental LP "Improper Linear Models..."), he's hardly been away from the music industry. Having garnered significant college radio and club fame in the 1980s with the dBs, as a sideman for Alex Chilton, and with and a string of solo albums, Stamey stepped out of the limelight to spend time as a producer for alt.country acts like Whiskeytown, Caitlin Cary, Alejandro Escovedo, and many others.

His time in the studio is evident in the rich productions he's crafted for his mid-life songs of travel - often Spectorian in grandeur, but more spare in their layering. From the opening "14 Shades of Green" Stamey's trademark chiming guitars and quirkily memorable melodies are front and center. The lyrics beautifully chart reminiscences of high-school's geographic and emotional landmarks ("Here's where we went to class / A hundred hours a day / Here's where we smoked grass / And laughed our cares away"). Similarly, the Paul Simon-esque "In Spanish Harlem" takes a loving, wide-eyed stroll through the Brill Building-era of New York City ("Kenny Burrell doesn't know how to play out of tune / The orchestra swells across Fifth Avenue / Hal Blaine hits the drum so hard / You forget just where you are / In Spanish Harlem").

As he's done on earlier solo works, Stamey stretches well beyond jangle-pop, adding touches of blues, jazz and soul to his often melancholy tunes. He also stretches out instrumentally, clocking several tracks over the five minute mark, and many more over four. The catchiness of the 2'30" single is here, such as the British Invasion-meets-the-Byrds guitar riff of "Alive," but stretched and explored more deeply than AM radio would have ever allowed. By touching not only his personal memories, but the musical, social and philosophical influences (e.g., "Kierkegaard") from which they were born, Stamey's greatly deepened the content to which he puts his considerable song craft. This is an album long in the making - both emotionally and practically - but quite worth the wait.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad He's Back, July 6, 2004

By 

Blackberry Tea (Kansas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Travels in the South (Audio CD)

Stamey is a guy who has never disappointed me - from Sneakers to the dBs to his solo stuff. His music is always very well crafted and interesting. This record is no exception. If you are a fan, I bet you will enjoy it. If you are new to the guy, take a chance. Mature, fun and smart!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chris Stamey achieves a rare feat in contemporary music, June 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Travels in the South (Audio CD)

An absolute gem. Musically, lyrically, sonically brilliant.
Chris Stamey has been quoted as saying that he wanted to be adventurous and make the kind of record they use to make in the late 60's. He succeeded. This is the kind of ambitious record you can only get from a major artist who isn't on a major label.
I love this CD.