I Watched the Devil Die

Chris Cotton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 8, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yellow Dog Records
• ASIN: B0007UVXLS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,209 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ex-Blue Eyed Devils singer-guitarist Cotton pursued his muse from his Bay Area home to Clarksdale, Mississippi, for this solo debut. What he found in the Delta with some aid from producer Jimbo Mathus--who played guitar on Buddy Guy's last few albums and leads his own rockin' Knockdown Society--and guitar ace Big Jack Johnson was the inspiration to blend the essence of old-time string band music and pure country blues with his folk-inclined sound.

Cotton's not much of a storyteller, but his fleet picking style, delightfully raggedy vocal cords, and taste for flat-four rhythms propelled by loose-tuned snare drums create a juke joint party feel that makes for easy listening and serves covers of Skip James's "I'm So Glad" and John Hurt's "Louis Collins" well. The best cut is Cotton's own "Black Night," where his howlin' warnings about a cuckolded husband get slicing support from Johnson's thick fills and keening slide. And the album ends with the poignant wish "Goin' Back Home," where Mathus's slide resonator guitar helps brings Cotton's pining lyrics to life. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

An aural portrait that owes a debt to Southern bluesmen and Americana pioneers alike, Chris Cotton’s Yellow Dog Records debut sounds like a house party caught on tape – world-weary men effortlessly strumming their guitars and bass, while passing around a jug of whiskey for sustenance. The barrelhouse piano, is, of course, pushed up against one wall; Cotton’s gravelly voice reigns over the debauchery. The scene is timeless – harkening back to days when the distinction between blues and country was hopelessly blurred.

Former Blue Eyed Devils frontman Cotton traveled to Clarksdale, MS to record I Watched the Devil Die at producer Jimbo Mathus’ vintage-equipment studio, housed in the city’s historic WROX radio building. Employing Memphis and Clarksdale sidemen including special guest Big Jack Johnson, Cotton and Mathus concocted a modern-day jam session with all the boisterous spirit of a classic down-home revival.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mr.Cotton did it in the kitchen with a six string razor, March 8, 2005

By 

Rick Saunders "Rick Saunders" (Pullman, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Watched the Devil Die (Audio CD)

"...the human word is like an outworn, battered timbal upon which we beat melodies fit for making bears dance when we are trying to move the stars to pity." -Flaubert

Which is my big ol' ham-fisted way of saying when it comes to Real Blues or what The Straight People (More Sugar!)call blues I ain't so sure I got my homework done enough to know what the heckfire i'm talkin' about. However in the spirit of MY Real Blues (and Mr.Cotton's) to hell with the damned stars and bring on the dancing bears!

I just finished listening to Chris Cotton's new CD titled I Watched The Devil Die. I'm awful sorry to say the best language I could come up with at the final note (without my usual swearing) was WOW! You'll be adding your own abundant and imaginative expletives after you hear it for your self. I'm at least honest enough to admit I know about enough about Piedmont style and other finger pickin' styles to keep my mouth half shut about Mr.Cotton's technical skill. On the other hand the fellow I work with is versed. His word as nail-hit-on-head upon listening was Exceptional! Most finger-pickin' sorts have sounded high-brow, tight and too pretty clean to my mud and woods tuned ears. Mr. Cotton despite his dangerous knowledge makes it roll out and around the ol' dirt road just as natural and rockin' as can be not forced faux and special. Mr. Cotton covers some of the masters works here. Mr. Willie McTell's Dyin'Crap Shooters Blues, The Mississippi Sheiks' That's it, and of course Mr's Hurt and James with Louis Collins and I'm So Glad. But this man's a fine songwriter too. Six of the twelve here are his and fit quite comfortably up against the old
timers. Each song sounds like it was played (not performed) at a late night pickin'party among good friends. The song Black Night sticks out for the help and heft of Mr. Big Jack Johnson's after-hours slide and as well for Mr. Cotton's xtra fine band's joyful playing on such a dark and menacing song. Mr. Jimbo Mathus' production here as usual brings you in to the room and sets you nicely in the hot seat front and center of the action goin' down live and naked and steamin' in the Mississippi midnite hour. I just gotta hope Yellow Dog Records P.R. Machine is fired up to overheatin' overdrive on this disc 'cuz if work this good isn't hailed in all the so called blues mags and beyond then sombody someplace ain't payin' attention.
Of course most folks don't Listen cuz they're too busy bein' dazzeled by the stars and wouldn't Hear great music if it was a dancing bear bitin' their ass.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic blues flavor, March 11, 2005

By 

Greg (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Watched the Devil Die (Audio CD)

I Watched the Devil Die is a great down-and-dirty blues album. Whether you're a blues enthusiast or new to the genre, this is a must-have album. A mix of original songs and covers, Chris brings his own flavor to to the set. Chris plucks the guitar with so much intensity he breaks strings, while his voice captures pain, desperation, and longing with true authenticity. The recordings sound live, not heavily mixed, making the album feel like an authentic down-and-dirty gem from a true bluesman.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars listening to him watching the devil die, March 14, 2005

By 

Mike Seeba (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Watched the Devil Die (Audio CD)

As one of the privileged folks to get an advance preview of the new album, I just want to say, f***ing awesome! This is easily Chris' best album to date. Black Night is an absolute masterpiece of live blues. Yet the album is also breaking out of the restrictions of 12 bars into uncharted territory. It's a new Chris, yet beatifuly blended with the best of the old Chris. Vocally he covers new ground as well, like the heartfelt and soul stirring IM SO GLAD. I feel an autobiographical flavor to the new songs like Morgan, Mississippi or in Come On, where he admits to never having killed a man. I love it!Kind of reminded me of a rapper admitting he's not in a gang but he can still flow. All in all, a pleasure to listen to from the first track to the last. Keep up the good work and see you at the cd release party