Customer Reviews

Under the Wishing Tree

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An album by a super-talented virtuoso named Charlie Sexton and his compatriots brought home this possibly once-in-a-lifetime achievement. I have literally played this CD into the bedrock since its release in 1995. An epic of sorts that is long as it is broad in scope, encompassing many moods, colors and textures, but mostly of an earthy variety. Afterall, this is a CD that, in this reviewer's opinion would make a great soundtrack to the exceptional Texas-based film Lone Star. Charlie takes us thru his neighborhood and along the way we meet it's inhabitants as we make it out the other side: thru the neighborhood, past the fields up to the wishing tree, past the woodframed house and the prison, across the railroad tracks to the nightclub called Sanctuary where Charlie declares God is watching over this broken dream of all of ours.

Like most great albums, this one is best when all you're doing is listening to it - not Web surfing, not doing dishes, not reading a book - just listening for 73 minutes. It's also not just a collection of random songs; there are clearly discernible arcs of character development, social commentary and emotion.

The songs seem to get more passionate as the album goes on, from the more straightforward (but by no means mundane) rock of "Neighborhood" and "Wishing Tree" to Sexton's poignant stories about his family in "Sunday Clothes," "Plain Bad Luck and Innocent Mistakes" and "Spanish Words" to the intense expression of hope in the face of despair in "Home Sweet Home" and "Broken Dream." "Home Sweet Home," in fact, does an amazing job of continuing the story and keeping the tone of the album going after the immersive experience of the 12-minute epic "Plain Bad Luck and Innocent Mistakes" could've ended a lesser collection. The entire album is exquisitely produced, with tracks weaving in and out of audible range at the perfect moments.

If I were forced to insult this CD, I could only point out the rather odd dividing line between tracks 9 and 10. Everything else is quite simply marvelous.

This is an amazing CD - I cannot believe that more people have not discovered Charlie Sexton. The songs are personal and beautifully written. The music rocks, and yet it's different than any of Sexton's other music. He is a brilliant artist and this is a brilliant work

The Austin of 1995 isn't the Austin of 2004, that's for sure. But thankfully it's still mostly intact.

Whenever I have friends come visit, this is one of the first records I play for them to get them "into" what Austin is all about. Anybody living here will totally identify with and understand what Charlie is talking about.

The beautiful thing about this LP is that Charlie isn't just "representin' Austin here, this music's language is universal in scope and feeling.

Still his best work as an artist, by far. It makes one proud to live and work in this city, knowing we have people of this caliber.

They were going to make a superstar out of Charlie Sexton when he was 17. They took him in a studio, obliterated anything he had to offer and then forgot about him. I guess he went home and played his guitar. Then he made this record and toured it in a ratty van. Saw him in New Orleans in 1995 at the Howling Wolf when he toured this record. One of the hottest live shows I've ever seen! Bar none! This is a record you can go back to time and again. The next time I saw Charlie, he was on stage with Mr. Dylan and nobody knows how to assemble a band like Bob does. Listen to the tracks they offer here. I hate to make lame comparisons about how one guy sounds like someone else. Charlie doesn't sound like anyone else. This is good stuff!

After Mr Sextons start as a future teeny bop idol ( I still have his first album ( remember vinyl)) and then short stint backing
Australias own JIMMY BARNES for a time ( saw him live in 85/86 )
this came as a major surprise. This is mature, original and full
of interesting songs that span a wide range of styles. While I would have liked a few more rocking tracks there isn't one boring track on this. They all have their own charm and will
make any fan of MELLENCAMP / DYLAN / DANIEL LANOIS and other very sophisticated song writers very happy.

Charlie Sexton is a bit of an odd duck- guitar slinger prodigy to the stars with little previous indication that he was capable of an album like this. Haunting, sepia toned production by Dan Lanois alumni Malcolm Burns combined with superbly well arranged, well written tunes make this one those overlooked masterpieces. Reams of intricately woven guitars, mandolins, atmospheric washes and heartfelt singing make for a stirring experience.

Charlie had my attention from the first time I saw him on an MTV new year's concert right after "Pictures For Pleasure." I unfortunately lost track of him after that. I recently came across that cassette (!) and rediscovered him. All this time,I never knew the Arc Angels existed. If I had, I would have moved myself straight to Austin! I didn't know what to expect when I found "Under the Wishing Tree." What I found was brilliant...

Charlie's beautiful, mesmerizing voice, musical talent and raw emotion on such personal songs as "Sunday Clothes" "Plain Bad Luck" and "Spanish Words" has me captivated. I just want to listen to him over and over. It amazes me that more people have not discovered Charlie Sexton.

I am eagerly awaiting his new work out in September.

I love finding good music that has not been over played on the radio,or not even heard, to me those are hidden finds.Wishing Tree is one of the best, people still ask me "who is this guy?".I'm waiting for something new from Sexton,but it will be hard to top this one.Again, great find!

There are some albums that just _have it_, and this is one of them. I am constantly amazed that it hasn't received the kind of acclaim it deserves, but that's okay, at least I found it. The only problem, I guess, is the fact that low consumer response means low demand for a follow-up, and so far there hasn't been one. Too bad, although I don't know how anything could top this. Even the song I don't care much for (Sunday Clothes) is still worth listening to. Plain Bad Luck And Innocent Mistakes is epic. The album flows together like a unified experience that I can't forget. Truly stunning.