The Salesman and Bernadette [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Vic Chesnutt

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2001)
• Original Release Date: November 10, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Velocette
• ASIN: B00005NGW3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,693 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

This album comes on with a quiet grace, gradually unwinds, then sidles into your heart with a kind of mournful soulfulness. Vic Chesnutt's sweet and croony vocals hover delicately above the ethereal and sparse instrumentation provided by the Lambchop collective to tell the story of a sad and tender misbegotten romance. It has to be heard to be believed, and, along with Richard Buckner's Since and Jeff Buckley's Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk), The Salesman and Bernadette stands among the most emotionally powerful albums of the year. --Tod Nelson

Amazon.com

The Salesman and Bernadette is a three-dimensional album, as bold as it is lonely. For this release, Chesnutt enlisted the backing talents of the 12-piece band Lambchop, who are no strangers to the country and soul that Salesman peddles. The songs weave into one another, bouncing from Motown to Merle Haggard to Van Morrison. The result sounds like a copy of Pet Sounds storming out of the house and drinking until it cries; the playing and production have to be heard to be believed. Wisely, Chesnutt withholds the money shot until Salesman's last two songs; "Square Room" is an astral take on the aching laments of George Jones, and "Old Hotel" is a midnight sulk into slippery samples and husky growling. It's not a disc that's easily appreciated on the first listen, but a few patient spins unravel something opaque yet shiny as hell. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Southern Gothic, October 24, 2001

By	Bryan "DJ BJ" (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Salesman and Bernadette (Audio CD)

Athens, GA is one of those southern artsy/fartsy cities that is a creative well of talent. It has that art house aura that draws attention from, but still protects against, the guardians of morals that inhabit the bible belt that runs through the south and the midwest. Vic Chestnut might have ended up as a wheelchair bound, bible thumper spouting hellfire and brimstone, but instead we get a man who can play a convincing role as a contemplative drunk that can pen a damn good song.

The Salesman and Bernadette is Vic Chestnut's sixth album. Lambchop is the backing band on this album. The collaboration is similar to the one Chestnut did on the album Nine High a Pallet, which involved Chestnut and members of the bands Widespread Panic and Cracker. Lambchop is an indie band out of Nashville that plays everything from country to the avant-garde.If you are familiar with Vic Chestnut's other work then I can say this is one of his more upbeat albums. If you're not familiar with Chestnut's work let me just say it is a somber album with upbeat moments. Think Faulkner... Tennessee Williams... Lush greenery thriving in humidity under weeping willows. Think of plantations past their prime and southern cities grappling with their heritage and changing times. Think bourbon and the occasional Valium.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best cd I've heard in the last 5 years (and I buy 1 a week!), August 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Salesman and Bernadette (Audio CD)

An astonishing album - beautiful musicianship courtesy of Lambchop coupled with top-of-form Chestnutt means that this is music with longetivity written all over it. Vic can die happy - he's now recorded a certifiable masterpiece. I don't think I'll ever tire of it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still going strong, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Salesman and Bernadette (Audio CD)

It's now almost five months since my last review of this album. I'm up to maybe 300+ listens now. Beautiful, high art. Maybe the best album of all time.