Customer Reviews

Up on Rockfield

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

 

 

I heard Vance Gilbert sing most of the songs on this CD at last night's CD Release concert. Today I'm buying the CD, so I can hear these songs again and again. My favorites are the fun "Goodbye Pluto," the thoughtful and moving "Old Man's Advice," and the two that made me cry, "Whatever Louise Wants" [for all you dog lovers out there, it's about Vance's much-loved poodle] and "Some Great Thing," which he closed with. It's too bad you won't hear the hilarious banter from the live concert, but you *will* hear the glorious voice and authentic songwriting. I can't wait for mine to arrive.

I attended Vance's first gig over thirty years ago in the living room of our college dorm and can't count how many times I've seen and heard him since. This particular CD demonstrates how special the guy is -- he claims it's a collection of tunes inspired by other artists, but Vance obviously wrote them and obviously owns them.
There's no point in a song-by-song review here. Suffice it to say that before the disc ends the listener is treated to solo guitar, full band, notable guest vocalists, and a church organ; chugging R&B, thoughtful ballads, and wry lounge jazz; songs about romances healthy and failed, songs about life stages, songs that bereave both ex-planets and beloved poodles. Vance may not crank them out, but he also never rests.
With all the above in mind, why the world puts up with "artists" like Kesha and Gene Simmons while guys like this wear themselves out on the road is a mystery. Do yourself and Mr. Gilbert and the world a favor: buy this CD, be ready to want all his other CDs, and then go see Vance in concert whenever he's within two hundred miles of your place. He's the only thing like him, period.

House of Prayer gives me goose bumps! Also love the Pluto song and Up on Rockfield. Superb!!!! My 4 and 6 y.o loves it too!!

Someone dragged me to a Vance Gilbert concert and I absolutely fell in love. The only reason I can think that this guy is not a humongous star is that he falls outside the ordinary categories, and he's probably a little difficult as he doesn't sing anything that he doesn't want to, nor does he write new stuff quickly. But what he does is always quality. I love his voice, I love his music, I love his ideas, I love his banter.