Customer Reviews

Yes We Can

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1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Right On!" is all I can say about the new Maria Muldaur. Her most powerful work yet. Upon second listen, I think it's the best thing she's done since her youthful heyday, when she was often heard singing about sex and/or romance. The three Dylan songs are the strongest, here: "John Brown," "License To Kill," and especially "Masters of War." On the first listen, I gave up on the latter after a few bars, as it's never been among my favorite Dylan tunes; bit of a slog, I always thought, whether by Judy Collins or by Dylan himself. Big mistake on my part. The second go-round I paid more attention and found that this version is the first one of the song that I've really appreciated. The atmospheric arrangement, with its rumbling drums, is hair-raising, Maria's singing is appropriately impassioned (but not melodramatic), and the lyrics come through in a more personal way than they ever have for me. The six-minute length goes by in a flash; that's how engaging it is. There are some other highlights, including Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free," with vocal trade-off's between Maria, Joan Baez, Odetta and Holly Near, and a bluesy "Why Can't We Live Together," accented by fine electric guitar work by Shane Theriot, and an interesting reimagining of "War," one of those tunes one would not think could be effectively covered by anyone, the familiar Edwin Starr version being so definitive. Muldaur slows it down, giving the lyrics a chance to be absorbed in a new way. There are other familiar voices on this CD: Phoebe Snow can be heard wailing away on "Pray For The USA," and Bonnie Raitt joins in on the title song. Muldaur's excellent band, The Free Radicals, provides solid, energetic backing throughout.

This is essentially an anti-war-themed album, as one can easily expect by looking at the cover art. What Muldaur does that makes the dread of slopping through a bunch of tired old hippie sentiments disappear, is infuse the whole project with a positive, uplifting energy. Her Women's Voices For Peace Choir, provides a gospel-flavored anchor for the rock, blues and folk styles presented, and gives the album a cohesive feel. This is good, old-fashioned sing-along music that manages to sound fresh and vital, surpassing, at least for this listener, all expectations. The finale, "Everyone In The World," with its East Indian flavor and Baez and Near adding their harmonies to the choir is just lovely, and a nice, unexpected contrast to the more blues & rock-oriented approach taken with most of what came before.

There are so many ways in which this project could have gone terribly wrong. Most of the pitfalls were avoided, and although I'm sure Muldaur is primarily preaching to the choir, it is great not to be bored, as so often happens in overtly political material, with mawkishly earnest or serious content overshadowing one of the purposes of good music,: to be moved and entertained at the same time. Maria Muldaur certainly accomplishes this purpose on YES WE CAN!

Since Maria Muldaur's self-titled debut album first appeared in 1973 she has shown a certain amount of "nerve" in her repertoire selections. On paper many of her album/CD-programmed choices could look like a recipe for disaster. Take for example her excellent 1974 album "Waitress In A Donut Shop" where she wove songs from writers as diverse as Fats Waller, Anna McGarrigle, Allen Toussaint, Lieber & Stoller, Wendy Waldman, and Doc Watson into a cohesive work that flowed from one genre to another without missing beat. That chance-taking trait has followed her throughout her career and each and every time she makes it work and comes out a winner.

Muldaur has musically never been very political - until now. Sure there was some songs here and there where she sang about promoting peace and harmony (Smokey Robinson's "Sweet Harmony") or where she perhaps got a little political (Rev. W.H. Brewster's "As An Eagle Stirreth Her Nest") but she's basically been a singer of love songs (good love and not-so good love.)

With "Yes We Can" we find Muldaur singing upfront and forceful in the area of world affairs, politics and the state of the human race Once again she mixes up the pot with a varied program that looks a bit "iffy" on paper. But by this time we should all know enough to wait and listen to her performance. And surely enough one doesn't have to wait long into the recording to realize that "Yes We Can" is an excellent piece of work.

The musical choices fluctuate between songs that call for peace and understanding and strong anti war/violence songs. On the "up" side is first and foremost the opening track, Earl King's "Make A Better World" which opens with a Stone's like riff and then adds to that a Honky Tonk/New Orleans sound. The chorus of "Everybody let's sing, sing, sing" is addictive enough to get in your head and spin around in there for days! Bonnie Raitt joins Muldaur for a great rendition of Toussaint's "Yes We Can Can" (first made popular by the Pointer Sisters on their debut album in 1973) and together they breath an updated spin of the song, which was resurrected after Hurricane Katrina by Toussaint himself.

Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free" is a really good song and makes for a great "make a change" anthem. Joined here by Odetta, Joan Baez and Holly Near, Muldaur and company easily prove why they were dominant voices in the 60's & 70s and why they're still relevant today. When the haunting, yet motherly, voice of Odetta comes in on the second verse one feels as if everything will be and can be all right after all.

But the biggest surprises on the CD are the anti war/violence songs Muldaur chooses - and they're bold choices. Her cover of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" couldn't be bettered by anyone else, and Shane Theriot adds a great guitar solo to it. Muldaur also remakes the Edwin Starr classic "War" in an unexpected slow rendition that accentuates the song's message in a completely different manner than the original.

However, it's the three Dylan numbers that are the cream of the crop of this recording. Muldaur has already shown her skill at singing Dylan with her CD "Heart of Mine" and here she shows that she's also capable of taking on Dylan's most biting and ironic anti- war/violence songs. "John Brown" is startlingly graphic and actually somewhat uncomfortable to listen to due its subject matter (a maimed soldier returning from war to a shocked and misguided mother.) With a tip of the hat to the Staple Singer's version of this song, Muldaur & Co., tackle it without much musical drama per se, leaving the words to express it's horror. (Dylan never recorded "John Brown" in the studio.)

Then there's Dylan's "License To Kill", which Muldaur sings with her daughter Jenni on harmony, that leaves the listener haunted by the visions of "the woman on my block" who keeps asking "who gave him the license to kill?"

"Masters Of War" is a Dylan work that most would shy away from due to its length and the fact that most singers are probably afraid to even approach it's anger. But as Muldaur has proven throughout her career - she'll take on anything if she wants to. Her performance of "Masters of War" is about as strong as they come.

This CD is not to be missed by Muldaur fans or by those who long for social issue resolutions and the desire for worldwide peace and freedom. For those who believe that these ideals are still as alive and well today in 2008, as they were some forty years ago, step back, listen and learn from the older generation who lived through the turbulent times of the Vietnam War. They still have something to say.

Oh, and by the way, The Free Radicals (David Torkanowksy, Tony Braunagh, Hutch Hutchinson and Shane Theriot) are a tight backup. Jenni Muldaur, Linda Tillerey, Valerie Trout , Jeanie Tracy and others supply background vocals.

I have loved Maria's music for decades, I guess that lets you know how old I am. I have a broad range of favorite artists from Assembly of Dust to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Maria's albums I reach for most of the time. This one did not let me down. When Maria sings the incredible soul touching ballads on this album you can feel it from your heart to your pinky toes! Her voice has been fine tuned with time and experiences and you can hear it in every selection. You want to sway,boogie,shout or cry when listening to this creative venue of perfection. Please, please Maria, don't ever stop.

I bought this new album of Maria short after the release and i must say "it is one of the best"! I have all the albums that Maria recorded. It's a wide range of music. From folk to big band, from blues to jazz. This time i think that it is more soul. Her voice is getting deeper by passing the years and the voice goes so well with the songs on this album. I love it!

Kees de Frel
The Netherlands

This album invites you to unite and a human race and celebrate all of us. She draws from vast source of great songwriters. Yes even Garth Brooks! I saw her live on tour with Holly Near and others and I think my favorite songs live were John Brown and War. On the album I love We Shall Be Free. The driving guitar sounds like a train on John Brown and War was turned into the mournful warning. But mostly the album is just too much fun. This is because they sound like they are having fun. The sound is raw like it came straight out of Memphis and Stax Records which adds some real authenticity to the soul. Seriously though seeing her live blew my mind because I never realized what a vocal range she had! Holy heavenly god of cow gods!

Maria Muldaur's heartfelt set "Yes We Can" is a powerful statement for peace. The title track became familiar to me on The Pointer Sisters. The Allen Toussaint-penned track embodies a positive message with Bonnie Raitt joining on vocals, "We gotta take care of all the children, the little children of the world 'cause they're all our strongest hope for the future, the little bitty boys & girls." Extremely powerful -- albeit not altogether pleasant -- is the strong Bob Dylan anti-war song "John Brown" with the tale of a flag-waving patriotic mother who can't face the shattered body of her returning son. On Garth Brooks' "We Shall Be Free" Maria is joined by Odetta who recently passed and Joan Baez whose recent CD Day After Tomorrow is excellent. The track bubbles with joyful energy. "Why Can't We Live Together" was my personal #1 favorite song of 2003 as it was recorded by Steve Winwood on his About Time CD. Muldaur's version has the bubbling bass line and the jarring organ riff with her voice passionately urgent, "No more war, just some peace in this world." Phoebe Snow who just put out a great new CD Live joins Maria for "Pray for the USA," "Hatred & violence are going up, death & destruction just piling up; War is killing even innocent little children; For those who can clearly see, you know this should never be." Jane Fonda lends her voice to Maria's rollicking version of the traditional "Down By the Riverside." Perhaps the masterpiece of the set is Bob Dylan's exquisite "Masters of War" that Maria's six-minute version rips through the dirge-like melody and bruising lyric, "You ain't never done nothing but build to destroy; You play with our world like it's your little toy; You put a gun in my hand & you hide from all eyes, and you turn and run faster while the fast bullets fly." Muldaur sounds weary from strains of worry. The lovely dove cover and her heartfelt liner notes underscore that this is a labor of love. On Muldaur's 35th album, she connects with a powerful theme on songs from the past that are unfortunately still relevant today. Peace!

I have to admit, after reading the description of the album, I thought it was going to be kind of dopey at worst and kind of corny at best. Muldaur turning her powers of musical persuassion away from seduction to imploring for peace.

But Muldaur does such a good job with each of these tunes, her phrasing, her intonation, that each comes across serious, sophistcated, and full of heart.

Of course, a certain cornball element still underliess the project-- being for peace is bit like being in favor of feeding starving babies -- nobody's against it -- not in general; it's when you get down to particular cases that folks disagree on when, how, why, why it's unavoidable, who should pay, etc.

Still, I didn't have to love deserts, donut shops, waitresses or even Richland to appreciate Muldaur's earlier efforts, and her performance on this album is as good any of her earlier efforts.

it's been 35 years since Maria's monster hit " Midnight At The Oasis", which was followed by another hit ( "I'm A Woman" ). Since then the hits have dried up, but Maria continues to perform and record. This album represents Maria's 35th album. It may be loosely termed as a Women For Peace theme album. A host of divas and celebrity activists compliment this solid effort. Overall the albums portrays a strong folkish - blues feel, despite some of the songs originating from Soul - Motown idioms. "Why Can't We Live Together " (Timmy Thomas}, "Inner City Blues" (Marvin Gaye} and "Yes We Can Can (Pointer Sisters). Personally I could've done without "Down By The Riverside", an old war horse which has been recorded, perhaps, one too many times. The version of "War" completely out plays Frankie Goes to Hollywood's version. Stirring vocals and fine musicianship, added to the combined efforts of guests like, Bonnie Raitt, Phoebe Snow, Odetta, Joan Baez and Linda Tillery make this a worthwhile album for anyone with a social conscience, seeking soulful music

Maria Muldaur is a personal favorite for 35 years. She had many other artists join her for this one, for a cause she believes in. Maria is always available to meet fans at concerts,and it helps that her own web site now allows us to buy her work through Amazon. While I agree with her views-this cd supports our new president-I would admire her no less if I didn't.

Yes We Can. The Marxist Barack Hussein Obama slogan. Yeah, I checked out her web-site and see that she is left-wing politically active. I purchased Waitress At A Donut Shop years ago and still like it. And I was thinking of getting back into her music. But now - no thank you. I do not patronize any artist that will use the money I spend on them for anti-American left-wing socialist causes. Sorry Maria - but your support for the left makes me say no way to you. In conclusion - I am always amazed at the stupidity of artists that go out of their way to piss off 50 percent of their fan base.