Customer Reviews

Whole Enchilada

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Whether you call it alt.country, real country, Americana or whatever doesn't matter. This is one very fine piece of work by a true super group.
Take Sneaky Pete Kleinow, steel guitar wizard, founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers, Garth Hudson....yes that Garth Hudson from The Band, wonderful keyboard work ranging from honky tonk piano to delightful calliope and organ sounds, Jeff 'Stick' Davis, founder of the Amazing Rhthym Aces, the wonderful vocals of Carlton Moody and super-session man Rick Lonow and it would be hard to come up with anything short of wonderful.
And that's exactly what this album is. It should be getting airplay on every college, NPR, and Americana station around the country.
Remember what you felt like the first time you heard Garth Hudson't organ work with the Band on cuts like Chest Fever? Well check out their version of The Boxtop's The Letter. Just hearing Hudson's wonderful organ work on that cut gives you chills.
The sound is smooth, soothing yet stirring and wonderfully mixed. You'll find yourself playing it over and over. You just can't go wrong with this one.

SoCal Cajun upper New York roots music? Can that work? Yes. But you'd better check your expectations at the door.

The question is, How can a Dutch California hippy (Sneaky Pete Kleinow) co-exist, nay, flourish, cheek-by-jowl to a founding father of The Band (Garth Hudson) and an unreconstructed Zydeco refugee (Carlton Moody)? How indeed?

I'll tell you how. Let the genius of each come forth, pretty much unadulterated, and let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes you've just gotta trust the res, the acumen, of your fellow musician, no matter how far afield he hails from. That's what these boys did, and they've carved out, willy-nilly, some pretty happening Americana-cum-folk/roots real estate all their own.

On this, their second outing, they've managed to annex popular music space previously unoccupied--heck, unconceived--by anyone else. This is what that host of faux Americana poseurs (you know who you are) would sound like if they had the cojones to conjure authenticity of this spectacularity.

With roots that reach back to The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Band and The Eagles, it's not too surprising that the second release from this aggregation centers around a soft, yet soulful California country-rock sound. But unlike their 2002 debut, the playing and song selection this time out doesn't rest so heavily on the remains of Gram Parsons. Instead, the band seems to have found its own identity, indebted to Parsons' work with the original Flying Burrito Brothers, but not just chasing its ghosts.

The album spans melodic two-steppers, soulful country, steel-guitar pop, blues, zydeco and much more. This is the epitome of an Americana album, artfully mixing and matching genres across the American musical experience. Highlights include a sweet cover of John Prine's "You Got Gold," the dreamy steel-and-organ instrumental "Sister," the first-person Civil War narrative "Last Letter Home," the DJ love letter, "Rex Bob Lowenstein," and the frontline dance rhythms of "Zydeco Ball."

Though the senior members of the band may not play with the ferocious inventivness of their youth, they play with the wisdom of age. Sneaky Pete Kleinow's steel may not offer up the out-of-this-world sounds it once did, but it adds texture and depth that's of equal interest. The same could be said for Garth Hudson's keyboard work; it provides beautiful underpinnings and filigree, and on a few occasions, such as the organ solo on the band's cover of "The Letter," it steps out front. This may not rekindle the revolutionary sparks of the Burrito Brothers - and really, it doesn't set out to - but it does provide a wonderfully diverse mix of American musical styles purveyed by a band whose backgrounds and history are a tasty secret sauce.

First off, I won't diss this album because it doesn't have the stamp of Chris Hillman's magical musical influence all over it, or even the awe and respect for traditional California Country Rock of a John Beland. "Whole Enchilada" is a good album, Carlton Moody is a better than average singer whose singing combines grit with honey, a sort of Gib Guilbeau meets Gene Parsons for those familiar with Byrds-Burritos history, and Garth Hudson is nothing short of marvellous especially on the Cajun-flavored songs.

In fact, the Louisiana influenced songs "Baton Rouge", a poignant Country tale of a Texas boy down on his luck and willing to start anew in - where else?, the joyful "Zydeco Ball" and the Country Rocking "Ezekiel's Wheel" are the best songs on this cd. Moody's voice, Pete's steel, and Garth's keyboards and accordion just come out right. And the perfect dj "Rex Bob Lowenstein" is also pretty good.

But while this album is far superior to anything the current incarnation of Poco and the Eagles have done (heck, they haven't done anything remotely Country since "On The Border" outside of "Lyin' Eyes" and "Take It to the Limit"), it just doesn't stack up to what they were, or of that influential band Sneaky came out of (as the original Flying Burrito Brothers). And sadly, Sneaky sounds tired here.

Pick up that first FBB "Gilded Palace of Sin", or a Desert Rose Band CD or even the Beland-era's "California Jukebox" if you want to hear California Country Rock in all its glory and power ... on the other hand, if you like Cajun Country Rock, then yeah, this isn't a bad album, and there's some spirit, but if you're looking for what the California Country sounds of Hillman's and Pete's original band, then as much as I like Moody's voice, Hudson's superb keyboards, and the occasional Pete spark, it isn't here. Enchilada yes, Burrito no.

"The Whole Enchilada" may not be earthshakingly new, but it is a delight just as a lingering kiss between long-time lovers. The Flying Burrito Brothers' original member Sneaky Pete Kleinow's pedal steel guitar shimmers on his self-penned instrumental "Sisters." "Preacher says everyman's soul has a little sin, but momma, she always talked to Jesus & said he's gonna let me in" Carlton Moody's vocals swell as Rick Lonow's drums boldly boom rhythm. "Zydeco Ball" will have you reaching for a map to see if you're in New Orleans. Merle Haggard recorded "Way Back in the Mountains" on his "1994" Curb CD; and Burrito Deluxe polishes this melody to show that it would have been a classic if country music was still playing classic country back in '94! I think my favorite is the one written by all of the band members on the wildly romantic "Woman Like You," "I guess it's time to roll the dice & tell you how I feel & pay the price; My heart's been broken a time or two, but I've never been in love with a woman like you." The Box Tops' version of "The Letter" is a classic, having appeared on over 130 albums & collections. Having been recorded by artists as diverse as Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the Beach Boys, Booker T & the MG's, Eva Cassidy, Joe Cocker, Bobby Darin, John Fred & his Playboy Band, Al Green, Brenda Lee, Melanie, The Rascles, Del Shannon, Spirit & the Ventures, it'd be hard to imagine one could bring something new to the song. Enter The Band's Garth Hudson's amazing keyboards that shimmer on this classic track. "The Whole Enchilada" is an excellent set from this group of music veterans. They click together, and the music shines because of it. Enjoy!

Being an admirer of Gram Parson's original Burrito Bros. group, I have bought whatever sounds like them or uses the name to entice the fans--now a dying breed I fear. I was not unhappy with this attempt to revive Parson's sound. The songs are flawlessly performed, the steel guitar mellow, the singer good but not great, and the band tight. Some of the songs are similar in style so there's no ground breaking here. It's a pleasant CD for riding in your car listening to smooth country music and staying awake on the Interstate but no Grammy winner. Add it to your collection of Parson memorabilia. It's well worth the money.