Still Lookin' Good to Me

Band of Blacky Ranchette

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: October 7, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thrill Jockey
• ASIN: B0000C669Z
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #70,184 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The first take of a song can catch the magic of musical inspiration like lightning in a bottle--or so says Howe Gelb, the Kerouac of hazy roots-rock. The prolific Gelb's latest exploration of that unvarnished ethic is Still Lookin' Good to Me; ostensibly a vehicle for his more countrified leanings, this fourth full-length from his hippie-cowboy outfit actually holds a genre-hopping blend of studio cuts, jams, and live tracks crammed with cameos from a range of fellow travelers. This ad-hoc approach sometimes seems sloppy, and the talents of Chan Marshall (Cat Power), Kurt Wagner (Lambchop), Jason Lytle (Grandaddy), and M. Ward are wasted on the likes of "The Muss of Paradise" (a tossed-off blues), "My Hoo-Ha" (an acoustic sketch), and "I've Been Working on the Railroad" (a ramshackle ramble through the children's tune). But Gelb's easy informality can also prompt performances of uncommon candor, as in the Neko Case-Richard Buckner duet "Getting It Made" or several tracks that feature Gelb's Giant Sand-mates Joe Burns and John Convertino of Calexico. --Anders Smith Lindal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, atmospheric album, December 19, 2003

By A Customer

A really nice, lo-fi alt-country CD. Dark and very atmospheric. Bits of it evoke Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, and others, yet never strays from its basic sound. Excellent!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It does look good to me, November 16, 2003

By	Argyllsox (New jersey shore) - See all my reviews

Now I had heard of Giant Sand and Howe Gelb over the years, and have heard some of the music through friends, and I liked it; but was never drawn to buy it, can't say I was a huge fan; until now.

A friend gave me this CD, the fourth by Howes' side project Blacky Ranchett. Holy cow! Was I missing out. I am a big fan of "The Court and Spark" and this CD has the same vibe. I am not sure if the rest of Blackys catalogue is a s good or if Giant Sand or Howes other music is as good but I am going to go back and purchase some other release by all of his bands.

"Still looks good to me" is and odd, stoned take on country music, no not the Shania Twain version of Country, but true grit country. It is infused with influences ranging from Captain Beefheart to Graham Parsons.

With a host of friends along for the ride, including a favorite of mine; the fabulous Neko Case. Now would Neko attach herself to something that wasn't great. Just look at her work as a solo artist or with the New Pornographers.

I really can't say enough about this CD, and I am sure I will be posting reviews of Howe Gelb's other releases under all his umbrella of bands.

Do yourself a favor and get some real music from a guy at the beginning of "alt-country," hell he may have even started it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not a waste of talent..., November 10, 2003

By A Customer

i really disagree with the critics review of this disc...none of the above mentioned artist (all very gifted) waste their talent here...this is just howe gelb conitinuing to do what he has been for the past decade...turning in some well written lo fi country style indie rock....and i'm giving the other artist the credit of knowing what a talented guy he is when they said 'yes' to helping out on this, his 4th album under the blacky ranchette moniker.