Willy Porter

Willy Porter

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 30, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Six Degrees
• ASIN: B00006AGG4
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,315 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Willy Porter's guitar playing is so expressive and such an integral part of his performances that he is perhaps best described as a guitarist-songwriter rather than a mere singer-songwriter. On "Breathe," the opening track of his self-titled fourth CD, Porter's intricate solo fingerpicking creates a hypnotic groove that sums up the "just chill" message of his song more succinctly than its elliptical lyrics. Even when he is backed by a band, as he is on most of these tracks, he uses a perfectly placed bent string or subtle rhythmic shift to wordlessly comment on the song, infusing it with an extra layer of meaning. On previous CDs Porter sometimes gave into the urge to overplay, which, when you pick as well as he does, must be hard to resist. But on tracks like "Unconditional," an ode to pure love, or "Dirty Movie," a sly song about a different kind of love, he tones down the guitar pyrotechnics in favor of a near-perfect blend of heartfelt vocals, smart songwriting, and subtle instrumental prowess. --Michael Simmons

Product Description
Willy Porter once again mixes up jaw-dropping guitar work with thought- provoking lyrics to produce his most powerful and mature release to date.

"...his performance digs beyond the notes and rests in the intangible aspect of soul. Funky, poppy, punchy and warm."-Songwriter's Monthly

"[Willy Porter's] got the triple threat: great singing (sweet and strong), kick-drum, bass-groove guitar playing (the influences of Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges are apparent), and quality songwriting."-Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Branching out---and succeeding, October 24, 2002

By	Roger Townsend (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I admit to being a huge Willy Porter fan. His guitar playing is awesome, his singing is glorious, and his songwriting is wonderful. Each new cd, therefore, invites comparisons to the previous ones---particularly in seeing which skill is emphasized. For instance, The Trees Have Soul emphasized his guitar virtuosity. I think Dog-Eared Dream balanced songwriting and guitar pyrotechnics with some good singing. Falling Forward emphasized his songwriting and singing, with (for the most part) subtle guitar work. The new self-titled cd mixes all three, but song by song, rather than throughout.

Because music is so subjective, listeners will have their own preferences. I prefer the last two albums over this one, but that is not to deny the many merits this album has. I think Willy is trying to branch out and reach other audiences, and I do not fault him for doing so. I hope everyone who likes good music will hear him; they will find something to enjoy for themselves.

Turning to the particular tracks, "Breathe" is a guitar flamethrower, with a good lyrical hook. The single, "If Love Were an Airplane," is reminiscent of the Beatles. It's not my favorite, because I like Willy to sound like Willy, not like the Beatles (though I loved the Beatles). But it's a good choice for a pop single. "Everything But Sorry" mixes clever songwriting with singing in character. "Unconditional Love" and "Big Yellow Pine" are masterful stories, with excellent emotive singing. The rythmic hooks to "All Fall Down" and "Dandelion on the Minefield" are typical of Willy's best guitar work. Probably my favorite track is "Dishwater Blonde." The poginant lyrics and incredible falsetto singing bring me to tears every time I hear it. It is very powerful, and by itself makes this album worth having. When you add in all the other treats, it is a great album. Willy is definitely maturing as an artist who can put together the whole package of goods.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Willy Porter you are the best!, August 29, 2002

By A Customer

Love this one. Lyrics are awesome. Willy out did himself again!
If you already own "Dog Eared Dream" and "Falling Forward" this one is a must have! If you don't have any of his music go for it!
This CD has it all,,,, Willy's singing talent and guitar playing can't be beet! Every song on the entire CD is great! The song "Unconditional" will bring you to tears,,,uplifting ones that is! "Big Yellow Pine" not only shows Willy's wonderful vocal talent but also Ian Andersons bamboo flute! Way to go Willy
If I could give you ten stars for this one I sure would!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best musical act you've never heard of, May 29, 2004

By A Customer

My interest in Willy Porter began when I saw him play live at a local venue. His recordings are very good, however, as often happens, they don't begin to do justice to the full range of his talent. This latest is a fine effort. In this age of corporate music, Willy Porter is like a breath of fresh air. Having seen Willy perform several times now, I have a tremendous respect for his talent.

What really hooked me originally was a spontaneous tune that began as a guitar riff he was noodling with while adjusting his equipment. The band jumped in, and all of a sudden they were into a mesmerizing slow funk groove over which Willy laid down some absolutely stunning lyrics as well as some electric jazz guitar work unlike any I've heard him do since. The impact was similar to the first time I saw Miles Davis play back in the 60's, or the magic that happened when sax great John Handy played a gig with legendary Indian sarode player Ali Akbar Khan. The rest of the audience was as knocked out by it as I was, and a 5 minute standing ovation ensued. Willy looked slightly surprised and a bit embarrassed. I'm not certain even he knew he had it in him.

Suffice it to say that the only downside to Willy Porter's recordings is that there is so much more than they capture. Artists like Willy no longer receive major label attention these days, and thus don't have a budget that allows them to get the most talented production people available to them. I have to agree with the other reviewer indicated that with a top producer, Willy is capable of putting out one for the ages. Do yourself a favor and catch his live act when he's in your area. The engaging folky tunes and acoustic guitar work heard on Porter's recordings are simply the tip of the iceberg. This guy is a monster talent that is almost totally overlooked.