It's a Slippery Slope

Spalding Gray

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 19, 1998)
• Original Release Date: May 19, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Polygram Records
• ASIN: B000006Q11
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #317,834 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The middle-aged master of the neurotic, witty, perambulating monologue nearly makes his midlife crisis of jock-dude-ness interesting on Slippery Slope. It starts out interesting enough, with Gray turning 52 and meditating on his mortality, noting that his mother had killed herself at that age. Gray mixes such heavy meditations with the little funny details of life, keenly describing the speech patterns of Jamaican drug dealers in Washington Square Park or how the well-to-do dressed in their Aspen-ski-resort best resemble "expensive, brightly colored Easter eggs." But halfway through, Slippery Slope becomes like a Robert Bly special on ESPN starring Woody Allen, as Gray croons about the exhilarations of skiing. Perhaps, like dreams, other people's sports stories--even existential sports stories--are best shared only with diaries, close friends, and analysts. James Taylor's sound effects and crummy-music-laden production do nothing to elevate this work to the level of Gray's other fine pieces, which include Monster in a Box and Gray's Anatomy. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for any true fan of Spalding Gray!, June 11, 1998

By A Customer

I just got the new Spalding Gray CD, "It's a Slippery Slope." I had been waiting patiently for weeks for it to come out. Having been a longtime fan, I knew I must own it. I have seen Mr. Gray perform live a few times, and own all his books and videos.

This release is a bit different from his normal monologues. It was recorded in in a house on Martha's Vineyard with singer James Taylor producing. Mr. Gray's voice is more relaxed and intimate than in a live performance. The 73 minute piece also contains sparse music, sounds and occasional live performance clips for effect.

It is clear that this cd was a new challenge for the artist. I must say, I still prefer the videos of his performances, but its interesting to just listen to his voice. The lack of audience laughter makes it seem like he's speaking directly to the listener.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Making a right turn, June 12, 2002

By	Mr. T. Matthews "theorganicdomino" (Ilford, Essex United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A touching tale of yet another mid-life crisis for Spalding Gray (how many can this man fit into one lifetime?).
An interesting concept - mainly a studio recording of the monologue with some parts recorded from a live performance and some musical interludes and sound effects.
The trouble is the studio parts pale in comparison to the live performance where Gray has an audience to react to and puts more energy into the reading. The studio recorded parts lack energy and although Gray's tones are soothing you wish they'd simply used the live performance.
However this is the only recording available of the monologue and it's always good to hear his intonation (the CD made me appreciate the book version one hell of a lot more).
Ultimately it's all in the details - the variations of the metaphor of skiing Gray uses are, subtle, intelligent, unsettling and amusing (sometimes all at once).
The final sections leave you touched and hopeful.
I'd fully recommend this, but with some reservations.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intensity, January 30, 2003

By	JAY O'BERSKI (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews

Saw this monologue live in Pittsburgh and could barely stay in my seat. Major epiphanies & hilariously sad.

The recording does a great job of maintaining Gray's drive, stream-of-consciousness, and vulnerability.

I recommend it most for a 100 mile drive. Pulled into my destination just as he summed it all up so beautifully.

I wanted to crash...