Customer Reviews

Unsung

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are two reasons for doing cover songs: for younger artists starting out, it is a way to pay tribute to musical influences, and pad out a cd's worth of music if you haven't written much of your own stuff; for an established artist, it is a chance to acknowledge mentors, and give a hand up to deserving friends who haven't had the same level of success. Most of the tunes on unsung fall into this latter category, with Austin singer-songwriter Slaid Cleaves letting his friends and fellow musicians get a wider exposure than they otherwise would.

Two of the songs, "Devil's Lullaby" and "Getaway Car," are by Slaid's current road guitarist, Michael O'Connor. These are great songs, and Getaway Car's chorus, ably sung by Slaid, cries out even more for multipart harmony singing.

"Another Kind of Blue" brings to my mind Van Gogh's "Starry Nights" for some reason. It's a short, lovely song, very impressionistic.

"Everette" is a fun song. Written by Steve Brooks, it owes obvious influence to Tom Waits, specifically the tune "Singapore." Once I learned the words, I was singing the song in a Tom Waits voice, and laughing myself silly: "And staring at his crotch." The song even employs Waits-type arrangements.

"Racecar Joe" is another character sketch, similar to Slaid's own "Horses" from Wishbones.

"Millionaire" although not overtly political, seems to bring to mind operatives like Karl Rove if you are a Democrat, and perhaps George Soros (from a line about owning Presidents) if you are a Republican.

"Fairest Of Them All" is really a woman's song, intended to be sung by a woman. It suffers from shifting viewpoints: 3rd person in the verses, switching to 1st person in the chorus. I'll caution Slaid now: singing about "wearing a dress and red, red lipstick" is going to get you heckled at some gigs. Don't say I didn't warn you. :) Slaid is backed up on this tune by Mary Gauthier, and I think that the song is more suited to Gauthier's done-it-all-seen-it-all voice than Slaid's. It's a good song, though. I have no real complaints with it.

"Flowered Dresses" is by Slaid's friend Karen Poston, the author of audience favorite "Lydia." Poston is the artist whose work I'd most like to hear next, when I can fit it into my budget. Slaid's singing on this song evokes a Rockwell landscape of Americana, which isn't a bad thing at all. Slaid's voice on this song is husky and romantic; it should be popular with his female fans, especially.

"Working Stiff" is a personal favorite. Slaid's voice on this song is evocative of Paul McCartney, and I mean that in the best sense. The arrangement is for a horn quartet, which I love. It just won't sound the same on the road with just Slaid and O'Connor's guitars, but that's ok. I can still play the disc.

Slaid's previous cd's, "Broke Down" and "Wishbones," suffered from the occasional clunker song nestled among the jewels; I can't really say the same for "Unsung." It's quickly turning into my favorite Slaid Cleaves CD, although individual songs from the earlier discs will remain favorites.

Thanks, Slaid, for a great CD.

I recently saw Mr. Slaid live at a small venue with a small audience...and found out why he is such a beloved artist amongst the Texas/Americana music scene. He is a highly engaging character, gentle spirit, smooth voice, great delivery.

And great choices for songs, as "Unsung" shows. These are all superior songs by under-appreciated songwriters. Highlights for myself are Karen Poston's "Flowered Dresses" (she seems to have a knack for writing lines that make the listener "close their eyes and let the memories in" (as in her "Lydia" which Slaid cut on "Broke Down")); JJ Barron's "Song for June" (best tribute song to June Carter out there); Melvern Taylor's resigned yet fun "Working Stiff" (you expect someone to break into a kazoo solo in the middle)....Heck, every song is a highlight in its own way.

The production is different this time since Gurf Morlix was not involved, but perhaps that is a good thing that contributes to the freshness of this temporarily-non-songwriting Slaid record. (I hear he is a slow writer, so he'll be back and his next CD should be highly anticipated.)

But don't wait for the next one - this one is just as engaging as the Slaid-written Morlix-produced albums. Enjoy!

Somehow Slaid Cleaves had escaped my notice until recently. A couple of months ago, I was giving musical tips to an old classmate who now lives in Arizona. Then she gave me hers. Slaid Cleaves was among those she mentioned, so I looked him up here and was surprised to find out how long he's been around. Unsung seemed like an interesting place to start with him and so I ordered it.
Well, the industry reviewer certainly got it right. On Unsung, Cleaves has really captured the spirit of a lively but underground folk scene. Its a shame that a lot of the songwriters Cleaves covers here will remain little-known, but that's the state of the music industry today outside of a few places such as Austin.
It took me a few listens to really get into this album, but once I did I could hear that Cleaves had carefully picked a batch of songs to cover that he liked and wanted others to like as well. Since I have not heard his other work, I can't compare these songs to his own but I can see that he's found some diamonds in the rough.
My favorite is Everette, but I also really enjoy Devil's Lullaby, Call It Sleep, Millionaire, Working Stiff, and Song For Jane. This would be a great CD to play while sitting by a campfire with some buds swilling a few beers or while enjoying a barbecue with a small group of good friends.
If you are a fan of singer-songwriters like Dave Alvin, Ray Wiley Hubbard, Jerry Jeff Walker, or Robert Earl Keen Jr. and you have not yet heard Cleaves, then you should find that Unsung is an album made just for you. I will certainly explore his music further.

Slaid Cleaves, it must be said, is an incredible songwriter. He's put out some incredible stuff on his past albums (Wishbones and Broke Down being the most recent and best of his work).

This album finds Slaid playing the songs of other less notable songwriters. In effect, giving them a chance to find an audience that they may have never reached, while at the same time providing Mr. Cleaves with top-notch, cream-of-the-crop material that he can put his name on.

The CD is really quite amazing. All of the songs are great, but some stand out more than others. Oh Roberta, Fairest of Them All, Working Stiff, and Getaway Car are my personal favorites, but each song catches me a different way with each successive listening.

My only complaint about this album is the obvious disconnect between the songs, the singer, and the writer. You can't truly feel supremely moved by the incredible writing (or at least, I can't) because you know the singer didn't write it. Regardless, the songs are so good and Slaid's take on them is so perfect and balanced, you can't help but love it all.

Recommended. Highly recommended for fans of Slaid Cleaves.

The decision by Slaid to do an album of covers is a fantastic one. Aside from the fact that we get to hear a unique Slaid take on songs that many of us are already familiar with, it marks a small bend in the road of Cleaves career. Another album in the tradition of Wishbones and Broke Down may have satisfied most fans (including this reviewer), but this album is a little something different from the sound (fuller, more polished) to the choice of songs (more diverse subject matter) which is a hopeful indication that in the years to come we can all expect for Slaid to keep challenging himself and us with his music. Great musicians take chances and while this album is not a radical departure from his others, it does indicate that he is not content to keep reproducing the same songs over and over. Overall, very well done.

Slaid Cleaves' decision to record an album of covers may have surprised some of his fans, as his original songs have always been quite good. But you may have missed that some of the finer moments on his prior albums were of songs he chose from other writers. So "Unsung," a full CD of songs by writers that Slaid admires, follows in that line. It flows as well as Slaid's "Wishbones" or "Broke Down," and stays in the tradition of great folksingers that cherry-picked songs to best fit their styles.

In fact, these choices fit so sublimely that you'd be surprised to learn the tunes are outside compositions. "Race Car Joe" is a direct descendent of "Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues" or "Breakfast In Hell." In fact, the Cd title "Unsung" works in dual directions. Not only is this Slaid's way of exposing little known but excellent songwriters, but the story songs frequently speak of the everyday folk - like the wonderful "Flowered Dresses" - that are "Unsung" in everyday life. (Even if the man inhabiting "Millionaire" isn't particularly savory.)

My favorite moment in all of this is the tale of "Everette," a composite of all those who suffer for their art in regal form. Written by Steve Brooks, this tale of a writer who "slept on sofas, slept on floors" but could stir your soul with his words is easily one of the best songs you'll hear this year. Because all artists flail against the norm, sometimes not even understanding it themselves, because "that's what poets do." This song, like all those collected on "Unsung," reconfirm my prior high regard of Slaid Cleaves as America's finest folk singer, and now, one of the country's finest interpretive singers as well.

Slaid Cleaves offers up a selection of songs by relatively unknown song writers (David Olney is the only one with whom I am vaguely familiar). The songs can be thought of as a series of short stories, many of which are inhabited by characters for whom The American Dream is just that - a dream.

There's a nice mix of songs - ranging from the achingly wistful ('Another Kind of Blue', 'Call It Sleep') to the slightly more up-tempo ('Everette', 'Millionaire'). Although originally from Maine, SC delivers all of the songs with a pleasantly world weary Texas drawl and, in some cases, a hint of wry humour. The playing is impeccably restrained - in addition to percussion, featured instruments include : electric & acoustic lead guitars, acoustic bass, pedal steel, violin, cello, various keyboards and, on 'Working Stiff', some traditional brass band instruments.

Some of the songs are not instantly memorable but, thanks to their exceptionally fine lyrics, tasteful arrangements and subtle melodies, I found that most gradually worked their way into my consciousness - with only a couple that have yet to register with me; it's definitely music which benefits from repeated listens.

This album is incredible. Slaid Cleaves makes some really outstanding music that doesn't get old, it just gets better. The lyrics and sound are both great and original.

Slaid Cleaves is one of the most authentic Americana Music representative.
I like his simplicity and his melody.
Very very wonderfull.
Vincenzo

Of course I bought his only album of all cover tunes. Flowered Dresses and Getaway Car are strong. There are several other nuggets scattered throughout. Tracks 1, 4, and 7.