Customer Reviews

War Crime Blues

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Chris Whitley's War Crime Blues shows the talented songwriter in his best setting, his voice and his acoustic guitar. The songs here don't show Whitley reenacting the blues but rather reinventing them. The opening "Made From Dirt" is both furious and haunting as Whitley's voice wails over the chaotic setting comprised solely by his guitar. Other songs such as "God Left Town" and "Dead Cowboy Song" continue in this vein where the fury just takes the listener in and doesn't let go. "Ghost Dance" finds Whitley sounding like our generation's John Lee Hooker, just riding one chord and letting the emotion carry the song. The quieter but just as passionate tracks "Her Furious Angels", "Invisible Day", and "White Rider", which shows Whitley's voice sounding like an old 78 record, are also great tracks. There are also 3 cover songs here, all done completely different. The version of "I Can't Stand It" is more fiery than Lou Reed's version while Chris' version of The Clash's "The Call Up" is more laid back, emphasizing the importance of the lyrics. Finally, the a capella read on the jazz classic "Nature Boy" is a great albeit unusual way to end the album. Like many of his last few albums, it's quite short at 33 minutes long, but like those releases it's designed to be listened to one sitting, in essence letting the songs take you to another place. Quite simply, this is Chris is at his best. Better than Din of Ecstasy or Living With the Law? Yes.

Chris Whitley follows up last years low-key, but solid HOTEL VAST HORIZON, with what may be his best release since his staggering debut over twelve years ago.

Whitley has covered alot of ground sucessfully over the years, but I feel that his strongest work is when mines solo acoustic blues. Rather than using the blues as an excercise in nostolgia, he uses it as a springboard for explorig his personal demons in a modern context. He also manages to put his personal stamp on every composition including covers, such as the Velvet Underground's I CAN'T STAND IT and the Clash's THE CALL UP, which are included here.

WAR CRIME BLUES is an excellent album showcasing Whitley's talents as a guitarist, vocalist, composer and interpreter. There is not a weak track included. Those new to his work may be better advised to try his debut, LIVING WITH THE LAW or his excellent compilation LONG WAY AROUND first. Those that like what they hear there, or are already familiar with his work are then well advised to invest in this album.

This is an emotionally raw album of beautiful songs recorded in a makeshift/casual environment. As can be expected from Chris Whitley, the songs do not suffer for a lack of production. In fact, the organic style of the recording brings the audience closer to him, the gravity of the songs permeating deeper than if they had been studio-produced. The unique beauty of his music reamins subtle here, but somehow more intimate and direct.

The energetic highlights of the album draw from the artist's keen aptitude in musicianship, unfolding here more agressively than usual. Chris has somehow captured a vital creative essence in many of these uptempo songs. "Made From Dirt," "Dead Cowboy Song," and "God Left Town" are all excellent songs. All three are clearly a release, or rather, a forfeiture of his emotional outrages. So many artists resort to hitting their instruments more loudly or being too lyrically blunt. Other artists might be too subtle, nebulous or cryptic. Chris carefully lands on the rare poetic island somewhere between the two. "I Can't Stand It" is perhaps the most outright of the loud songs, though he did not write it, but he sure does reinvision it. It fits the album perfectly.

Quiter songs such as "Her Furious Angels," "War Crime Blues," "Invisible Day," "White Rider," and "The Call Up" shape the album into a dance between a despairing catharsis and hope with a sense of future wonderment. The wonderful song "Her Furious Angels" appears on a proceeding album in studio-produced form, however this original appearance is the stronger of the two. One of the album's most touching songs, "Invisible Day" was recorded live in a park. You can faintly hear birds in the background. That particular setting somehow makes the song utterly magical.

The album ends calmly with an a-capella version of "Nature Boy," which I feel is sung more for the meaning in the lyrics than for any sonic enjoyment. Chris' light, slippery voice merely embraces them, but does not exaggerate. It is all very fitting.

It is important to keep in mind that this album goes hand-in-hand with it's companion CD "Weed." Together, these two albums constitute a landmark in Chris Whitley's stripped-down catalog which began with the 1998's "Dirt Floor." We are wittnessing in these 2004 releases a profound ability to practically become one with the listener. It really seems otherworldly at times how far this music can sink in. This is one irreplacable artist who will be profoundly missed.

Key Songs: "Invisible Day," "Made From Dirt," "Her Furious Angels", "I Can't Stand It"

after recording the quiet, ballad-based record Hotel Vast Horizon in 2003, Chris wanted to do something more urgent, more raw, and War Crime Blues is exactly that. From the first note, there is an aggressive sense of desperation that permeates the record, some kind of pissed-off melancholia. while not an overtly political record, "made from dirt", "war crime blues", and a cover of the clash's "london calling" among others comment on the shaky state of affairs in the world today. although this is a solo acoustic record like Dirt Floor, the production is very in your face and the songs are loud and noisy, so be warned. highly recommended.

"War Crime Blues" was the 2nd internet & live-show only release by the master of white-boy blues. It came on the heels of "Weed," which was made up of acoustic renditions of some of his best work. "War Crime Blues" was also recorded in Dresden & it smokes! 11 originals. 3 covers. And they're all great. Particularly, "Her Furious Angels," "War Crime Blues" & "The Call Up." Considering that the world was witnessing the end of Bush's first term & the beginning of his 2nd, the title of this record, the song titles themselves & the overall vibe show that Whitley was not afraid to tackle topical issues of the day. Topical or not, every song is superb. Y'all will dig it!

This album is another great work by Whitley, and it is a great complement to Dirt Floor. The most objective way to describe this album in comparison with Dirt Floor is that if they were a two-disc set (they're similar enough to be), then War Crime Blues would be the loud part of his acoustic blues work and the cd set. I really enjoy this album because it veers off from Whitley's previous acoustic work and is a lot louder and really brings variety to his discography. Besides it being louder, louder in the sense that he strums harder and is playing his music forte on about half of his tracks (not necessarily singing forte), i find that what attracts me is his vocal melodies blend together very well with the dobro he plays and, for the artist, this is an inspiring work to listen to because as a blues record, it is orignal, which says something in itself about the work.

I ordered this album for overnight delivery, with no indication that it may not be available for immediate shipment. It is now four days later and I still haven't received it.

I was a fan of Chris Whitley's back in the early 90s, then moved to an area where he was never heard on the radio. The only two CDs of his I had heard before were Living With The Law and Din of Ecstasy, both of which I like.

What do you know! I also like this one. The same dark, jagged edge that I remember.