Tunesmith Retrofit

Kelly Joe Phelps, Kelly Joe Phelps | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000G5SIB2
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,388 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Like the late Chris Whitley (to whom the banjo-driven "Handful of Arrows" is dedicated), Kelly Joe Phelps initially built a following through the sharpness of his chops, but would rather be known for the strength of his songs. Thus this stripped-down exercise in musical intimacy draws attention to lyrics set to homespun melodies, with an occasional fiddle, pedal steel, melodica, or keyboard augmenting Phelps's acoustic accompaniment. Though there's a stately grace to country-tinged tunes such as "The Anvil" and "Tight to the Jar," some of his wordcraft is so oblique and self-consciously poetic that it resists translation. From the opening of "Loud as Ears": "Old, dark ruby coats his throat / gloves a feathered mind / sharpens up her fountain pen." Huh? Yet the music is always eloquent, and there's a tenderness to Phelps's Dylanesque phrasing. With three instrumentals among the dozen tracks, he pays tribute to Dave Van Ronk on "MacDougal," with the sort of ragtime picking that made its way from the Mississippi Delta to the Greenwich Village folk scene. --Don McLeese

Product Description

Throughout his career, Kelly Joe Phelps has garnered a wealth of praise for his guitar work. But with Tunesmith Retrofit, he is sure to be revered not just a great musician, but as an outstanding songwriter as well. The album showcases Phelps at the peak of his powers. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars tunesmith retrofit, September 7, 2006

By 

pancho (void) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tunesmith Retrofit (Audio CD)

so much yearning in that voice -- bottom and top -- no other guitar player can make the instrument swim such deep currents --each release of his is full of surprise and nuance -- and his stories sit with you -- they're full of eyes. "Spanish Hands" and "Crow's Nest" are highlights...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Songs that last forever, a must have CD, December 15, 2006

By 

Capt. Jas Falconer (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tunesmith Retrofit (Audio CD)

This is an amazing CD full of songs that will bring you on a ride, and hold you there. His voice weaves with his playing to combine into perfect solid songs. Kelly's banjo playing does not fall short of his guitar virtuoso. One of his best so far. Go to his website and go see him live you will not be disappointed! Highlights are - Crows Nest - Big Shaky - Handful of Arrows - Plumb Line -

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars more great stuff by mr phelps., April 5, 2007

By 

fluffy, the human being. (forest lake, mn) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tunesmith Retrofit (Audio CD)

Another great release from kelly joe phelps. I count seven of his cds hangin' around my house now, and I love `em all like adopted children. What's wrong with this world? Why isn't this man more famous? I want answers!

This album is a folk masterpiece. Song poems sung beautifully. And mr phelps is about as fluid and mesmerizing a guitar picker as you'll hear. His wonderful voice and guitarwork dominate this album. Stark and perfect. The opening track, "crow's nest," has some fine violin accompaniment, "scapegoat" is an amazing piece of banjo wizardry, and "handful of arrows" is a great ballad performed with banjo. A little piano, a little organ, some pedal steel, other than that it's pretty much acoustic guitar pickin' and singing. And stuff of this quality is doggone rare. Someday, hopefully, mr phelps' discography will be as large as, say, john coltrane's, or duke ellington's. I'm greedy. I want lots and lots of this kinda work. Now buy the thing already. You should.