Customer Reviews

Watching My Life Go By

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

With every song he wrote, every instrument he played, every sound he ever recorded, Michael Hedges showed us what a pure, true, and beautiful musical talent he possessed. His guitar skills were particularly breathtaking; while technically mind-boggling, their greater power was in the utter fluency with which two hands and a six-string communicated the treasures of the man's heart. I love dearly the music he left us before moving on. Unfortunately, I come not to praise Michael, but to criticize him. Enjoyable though this recording is, I disagree with the until now unanimous five-star rating.

There's no denying that Hedges' voice was something special: a little raw but a lot beautiful, strong but vulnerable, with a passion learned from Neil Young. Unfortunately, that influence also led him to greatly simplify the guitar parts while singing; and an affinity for unusual metaphor sometimes abused gorgeous melodies with awkward lyrics. Sometimes, melody won out, as in an e.e. cummings' love poem turned into one of the most heart-breakingly beautiful songs I've ever heard, "i carry your heart" from "Taproot". On the other hand, this approach nearly ruined "The Road To Return" for me.

This album is somewhere between those two extremes. The guitar parts weave a characteristic fabric of strumming, tapping, knocking, and harmonics; but they're also less rich than usual. This leaves more room for the vocals, but it doesn't fill the sonic space so adeptly as in the instrumentals on "Breakfast in the Field" or "Aerial Boundaries". Lyrics, though thoughtful and well-formed, occasionally venture into uncomfortable territory that might alienate some listeners. Of the three tracks that I consider essential Hedges -- the title track, "Woman of the World", and a cover of Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" -- the latter two sound warmer and more energized on "Live on the Double Planet". Ultimately, "Watching My Life Go By" suffers primarily by comparison: though there's some good music here, it's not, by a long shot, Hedges' best.

I first got into Michael Hedges with the title song "Aerial Boundaries", of the LP/CD of the same name, in the late 1980s. I was astounded by his incredible performance and command of the acoustic guitar, and his two handed tap method, finger picking style, and 'wacca wacca' style, and how he integrated them all. Of course, I purchased all the Lp's(at the time, that is), and came across this one. I didn't know he sang....and gave it a listen. I think I put it on the shelf for a week after the first listen. It digested quite well, and on the second listen, I was hooked. I not only loved Hedges' guitar work, but now I loved his voice: so clear, honest, and refreshing. He sings with an honesty that borders on trust. In subsequent years, I have been happy to enjoy his work on both solo acoustic guitar, and his singing whilst accompanying with his unique guitar styles, flute, keyboards, and even harmonica.

Sadly, Michael Hedges is no longer with us, but he is with us still.

Check him out....not only this recording, but others.

Others musicians of note on this recording are the ever present friend and compadre of Michael Hedges, Michael Manring on bass guitar, and Bobby Mcferrin shows up on "The Streamlined Man", one of my favorite tunes on the recording.

--JZ

The cuts you can hear sampled above don't do this album justice because "Running Blind," "Streamlined Man," and "Out on the Parkway," are three of the best songs here, and you can't hear them until you buy the album. Bobby McFerrin adds his own distinctive touch to the middle song. This effort from Hedges is emotional, musically tight, and provides perfect examples of why many of us fell in love with Hedges in the first place. Buy this album, then while you're at it, get "Arial Boundaries," Hedges' best all-instrumental (no singing) album.

Watching My Life Go By is a Hedges classic. Relaxed and delicately nuanced acoustic guitar chops balance and compliment an equally impressive lyric and vocal effort. For fans of this late master composer, this album is a must. Let me repeat, buy this album.

Like most I discovered Michael Hedges from his amazing guitar playing. I had all of the instrumental albums but never bought "Watching My Life Go By" because I assumed it was a step down because it was a vocal album.

But to have my collection complete, I bought it and eventually listened to it. I was amazed how well he combined the same amazing guitar playing with great vocals. And as good as his cover songs are, his originals are so much better. Some of the songs are down right haunting.

This album is a step sideways, neither back or forward. It has to be looked at on it's on merits. When one does that, it must be a classic. It is the one Hedges album I go back to most often.

I think it's easy to hyperbolize Michael Hedges. Having seen him live several times, there's no doubt -- he was an amazing composer and performer, he took the acoustic guitar to its limits, and he died too soon. I'd classify Watching My Life Go By as one of his "difficult" albums. Earnest? Yes. Accomplished? Check. The title track: urgent, brief, effective.

Watching My Life Go By has its lulls, but if you want Michael Hedges to be single sided (a virtuoso acoustic guitarist), then fine -- stick to Aerial Boundaries and Breakfast In The Field. If you can let him be a person, explore further and wider. Taproot is a sensational album. Torched is a suggestion of what was to come. Road To Return -- well, even I have difficulty with that one (only Hedges album I've ever sold). He dared to grow on tape. That means something.

A mix of acoustic guitar with and without vocals. Mostly original songs by Michael Hedges with 1 cover song(All Along The Watchtower). This is a very soothing, surreal audio experience. A must have for guitar afficionados.

Hedges, known for his finger-style tappings, incorporates singing on this effort. True to fashion, its perfection, beautifull and a keeper.

Micheal Hedges was a genius and stands out in the crowd. Every album he recorded, was exceptional.

First things first, I absolutely love Hedges' guitar playing. I was hooked from the 1st listen of "Ritual Dance" off a compilation album. That said, this is not what I love about him. When he sings or breaks out his whistle-thingys I start to check out. Not that his voice is bad, it's just...thin. It reminds me of the guy who got his guitar smashed in Animal House by Belushi. A little too sing-songy Medieval balladeering stuff.

Leave it. Get "Beyond Boundaries" and you're done. If you must the other CDs (Breakfast in the Fields & Aerial Boundaries) have some good stuff. Check the reviews. Past those I'm gun shy after getting this. Only paid $4 used so it was worth a chance, but I don't think it'll get ripped into my Ipod.

Hedges was a world class acoustic guitarist...but you'd never know it from this album. His biggest "hit" (a cover of "All Along the Watchtower") is on here...but even that's not as good as it's hyped. The lyrics are fine, but on top of the substandard vocals is the demo quality production (I seem to remember "recorded in his living room" from the liner notes?). To top it all off, the electric guitar parts sound terrible and out of place on this album.