More a Legend Than a Band

Flatlanders

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 1992)
• Original Release Date: 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder Select
• ASIN: B0000002C1
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,690 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Indie Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
More a legend than a band because, even though the Flatlanders included the likes of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock, their 1972 album wasn't actually released on vinyl until 1980 and on CD until 1990. By then, that trio of singer-songwriters had become solo stars. But this long-lost debut isn't just historically interesting. Gilmore songs here, such as "Dallas" and "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown," have become folk-country classics, and the old-time arrangements--often featuring little more than guitar, Dobro, and (on a few cuts) musical saw--are quite haunting, as are Gilmore's piercing lead vocals. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes you hear something that makes your mind reel, August 6, 2002

By	David Hirsh "David Hirsh" (Woodmere, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this a few years ago based on reading a review. I was not really into country all that much or altcountry. I have since become a fan of alt country. But there are songs on here that make your mind reel. "Dallas" and "I think I'm gonna go downtown" are two really great songs sung in that Jimmie Dale Gilmore seemingly 1920's vocal style. He sounds like the guy that Willie Nelson is trying to grow up to be. It's hard to explain really the effect that Gilmore's voice has. I understand that Gilmore has sung and played with Nelson, but it really should be the other way around. In any case, this is a must own.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Country music for those who hate country music, September 24, 1998

By	Dave Ihlenfeld ([e-mail]) (Columbia, Missouri) - See all my reviews

The Flatlanders may be "more a legend than a band," but this album is a legacy that will always live on. The group uses a wide array of instruments and vocal techniques to create a sound that is both layered and elegently simple. "Dallas" may be one of the best country/folk songs ever recorded. Even if you don't like country music, you owe it to yourself to pick up this album. You will be won over.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars saw, too much, July 25, 2002

By	"jryan777" (San Rafael, CA USA) - See all my reviews

There's a lot of nice music on this album, and the two cuts everyone alludes to, Dallas & Tonite I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown, are really terrific. The musical saw is a huge detraction tho. It reminded me of Brian Wilson's use of the bicycle horn on Pet Sounds' You Still Believe In Me; it's a great touch, comes out of left field and adds dimension to the song, a great idea. That's how I felt about the saw when I heard it on "Dallas;" then, the band proceeded to use it again and again, and it got to be a drag. Brian knew how to be inventive and creative with this stuff without overdoing it (and I don't mean to belabor the Wilson connection here, cuz that connection is pretty tenuous here, obviously), but the Flatlanders wayyyy overdid the novelty instrumentation here.