Customer Reviews

Very Best of

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Okay, okay. So maybe I'm a little over-the-top when it comes to my adoration for David Wilcox; not only would I buy a CD of him singing in the shower, but I would buy a CD of him clearing his throat or hiccuping.

It is true that David Wilcox can start sounding the same from song to song, but when the music is so poignant and beautiful, that isn't a bad thing. In fact, his one attempt at musical change (Turning Point) was a bit of a let-down from his previous releases, and is good *in spite* of the change, not because of it.

This is a great compilation CD, although "Best Of" is a misnomer, since several of his best were omitted. (I have it on good authority that David knew nothing about the CD until several months before it was released--he had no input on any part of it.) If you are a new fan, this would be a great intro to his music as it spans his entire career and gives you a feel for studio recording as well as his live performances, and if you are an old fan, this is a great CD to finish your collection. The 3 new versions of well-known favorites are worth the price.

David Wilcox's music is totally mind blowing.

Part poet, part storyteller--David Wilcox is an amazing songwriter. His songs make you laugh, make you cry and make you think. His breathtaking voice is like milk and honey. This man's music, and this "Best of" album are a wonderful feast for the ears.

I've been listening to David for years and I've often wondered why he hasn't broke through into mainstream radio. The truth is...his music is too good for the radio. His music has heart and brains--and most of what is played on commercials stations today sounds studio manufactured and lacks substance.

Kudos to the amazing and talented David Wilcox.

The only complaint I have is that a true "Best of" Wilcox compilation should be an 8-CD set. After all, each song he has written has been "the best" and is such a gift to all who enjoy his fabulous guitar playing and rich voice.

Angela

For David-diehards, there are 3 unique tracks on this release:

1) "Johnny's Camaro" - This is a different live soundboard recording of "Johnny's Camaro" than what appears on East Asheville Hardware.
2) "That's What The Lonely Is For" - This is an alternate studio recording of "That's What The Lonely Is For", featuring a more pronounced bass line, mandolin, background vocals, and synthesizer backing.
3) "Daddy's Money" - A live cut that has made its rounds via Napster and New Media; same recording.

The only downside to this release, which is not David and his manager's fault, is that the CD clearly reflects A&M Records legal rights to a subset of his album releases. All in all, it's a good "best of" mix of his older, classic works.

Buy his back catalog, instead. All of it. This is just A&M exploiting a contract provision to harvest demand that was unforeseen when they dropped him. In general I like A&M, and until "Into The Mystery" I've always thought Wilcox' best work was on his three CDs with this label. But the fact remains that if you dig Wilcox, you'll want the whole set anyway, and if you don't, why put money in the pockets of a label that didn't have the foresight to recognize how valuable this artist is?

I think you have to reward good will where it manifests, and a warmed-over compilation by a label that tossed him away just as he was turning an important inflection point in his career is not good will by any measure.

David Wilcox is an unbelievable musician, and while this album has a collection of good songs, it is not truly a the very best of. This album shows a good representation of his work up to that point, but they leave out a handful of excellent tunes. The idea is obviously to sell this album and by doing so provoke the customer to buy the other albums as well. For seasoned Wilcox fans they will find this album filled with some but not all of his hits; and for beginning fans this would be a bad choice for a first buy. I would recommend "Live Songs & Stories". This album does have good songs, but your money would be better spent on one of his traditional albums.

I would totally agree with this review of Wilcox in Rolling Stone.....
"An eager, unapologetic sincerity flows from the heart of David Wilcox's acoustic music. The musician seeks self-knowledge, emotional reconciliation and the whys and hows of love. Although his music has its roots in the confessional folk-pop movement of the early 70's, Wilcox uses extended metaphors and beautifully detailed imagery in lyrics that are far more compassionate and philosophic than self-absorbed."

Each song is a story and Wilcox has such a feel for the beautiful ballad and the blues too!
Getting this CD was like opening a wonderful gift under a Christmas tree. Wilcox's music is the right up there with the best in the folk music business. No doubt about, I knew it in a minute :)

I am a big David Wilcox fan, and I would buy a CD of him singing in the shower, so I probably would have bought this CD anyway. However, if you are a fan you already have all this stuff. This is a (rather incomplete) compilation of his career at A&M Records. It includes "Eye of the Hurricane" and "Rusty Old American Dream", but leaves out "Show the Way" and "Someday Soon". I don't know who chose the songs, but you are better of with any one of his A&M releases than this soulless and disjointed production. Seeing as how there are no quotes from David himself from after 1991, I suspect he had nothing to do with the release himself.

David Wilcox is one of those often overlooked artists. He is an artisan of the highest calibre, who creates beautiful music and has a very pleasing voice. His music should be part of every folk/rock collection. AND if you have a chance to see him in person, don't miss his show.

This CD is certainly a best of! The listener gets an excellent idea of the range in style that Wilcox has, his ability as a guitarist and the depth of his lyrics. He also throws in a few "fun songs" like Rusty Old American Dream" (the memories of that one car that we've all owned comes rushing back), and "Daddy's Money". This CD really is a must for lovers of quality music that reaches the soul. When I first heard Wilcox, the styles of James Taylor, Jim Croce and Cat Stevens immediately came to mind. But make no mistake, David Wilcox is one of a kind. You won't go wrong with this CD. It is an essential to my music collection and I'm sure it will be for yours, too.

David Wilcox has got to be one of the best singer songwriters of our current age. He is a such a poet. We need another "Best Of" volume. The Mary Chapin Carpenter Collection