Fate's Right Hand

Rodney Crowell

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 29, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000AQS41
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,980 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Still Learning How to Fly

2. Fate's Right Hand

3. Earthbound

4. Time to Go Inward

5. Man in Me

6. Ridin' Out the Storm

7. Preachin' to the Choir

8. It's a Different World Now

9. Come on Funny Feelin'

10. Adam's Song

11. This Too Will Pass

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fate's Right Hand finds Rodney Crowell eschewing the hands-on autobiographical narratives of The Houston Kid (one of his best ever) for songs about less concrete, but no less essential, concerns. As the self-helpers might say, this is an album about growth, about knowing the difference between what you can change and what you can't. It's about facing your mistakes--or wishing you wanted to anyway (on "The Man in Me")--and it includes a recitation about meditation ("Time to Go Inward") and a rousing anthem about wanting to stick around, problems and all ("Earthbound"). Crowell seems to be in a particularly introspective version of the middle-age crazies, one as brave as it is obvious in its pop-psych references to Jesus and Buddha (and Minnie Pearl, too). So Crowell may likely be "Preachin' to the Choir"--if you ain't ready to look inward, you may find Fate a tad cloying. Then again, the jangling riffs, irresistible choruses, funny rhymes, and supple pop and country-rock rhythms are for everyone. --David Cantwell

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rolling With Rodney, May 10, 2004

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In Rodney's marvelous song "Earthbound," he sings, "Fallen angels are talking to you," which is actually a wonderful metaphor for this creatively reenergized artist. From its distinctive twangy guitar opening, "Earthbound" is my favorite song on this set of consistently excellent songs. "With each new day that passes I'm in need of thicker glasses," Rodney sings on this incredibly catchy tune. Another tune that has me hit "repeat" is "The Man In Me" with Marcia Ramirez's angelic harmonies counterpointing the urgency of a disquieted mind, "There's a man in me, and he's so full of hate; he's so misdirected, he thinks it's too late, pours salt on the wounds only time wants to heal; he's dying inside and don't want to feel." The lovely "Ridin' Out the Storm" is also one of Rodney's best. The title track is excellent. Rodney creates a genre of country-punk with a shotgun lyric spiced with stinging electric lead, "Red rum, dot com, dim sum, smart bombs, double cappuccino and a heart like a tom tom." The images come fast and furious like brush strokes from an impressionist painter, each image triggering the next, "Hard rain, fish seine, hurricane Jane, don't forget about Carla when you talkin' about poon tang, slow song on the bone, rec hall dance, double date Debbie with a pole in my pants." "Time to Go Inward" seems to be the spiritual antidote for the burning rage. "The Houston Kid" followed by "Fate's Right Hand" shows Rodney is on a creative roll. Rolling with Rodney is a great thrill ride on this excellent set. Enjoy!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Think I might stick around......., July 31, 2004

By	J. Sweeney (manchester, mo) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Earthbound"-what a life-affirming, smile-inducing song that is! These songs are all about Mr. Crowell facing middle-age, and all the good and bad things (mostly bad) he's done. These songs really strike a chord in me-"Still Learning To Fly," "Time To Go Inward," and "The Man In Me" are introspective, and he's not always flattering himself, either. The word honest comes to mind. There's a few songs about not really understanding the world today, "It's A Different World Now" and "Fate's Right Hand," which has my favorite darkly comic verse to ever appear in song "Trot-line Freddy's got his dogs in the trunk," and the song is filled with lines where you ask yourself "What did he just say?" Another favorite is "Preachin' to the Choir" an almost gospel rave-up, where he is making fun of himself and all his ranting and raving. I like all the rest of the songs, too. Great guitar work throughout, especially by Will Kimbrough, and a really beautiful harmony vocal by Kim Richey on "Ridin' Out the Storm." Her voice blends in so perfectly, you can barely hear her--that's the way GREAT harmony should be sung. I highly recommend this cd-use your coffee money, beer money, even raid your kids' piggy bank if you have to! A real MUST HAVE!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How did it take me this long to discover Rodney Crowell?, February 23, 2004

By	Bill Allison "Bill Allison" (Southwest Missouri, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First off, I remember seeing his videos on CMT years back, but when I was that young, I hadn't quite developed a taste for fine songwriting. Now that I'm well into my twenties, my tastes have become a little bit more refined and I just happen to stumble across "Fate's Right Hand".

Something about this one really struck a chord with me. It wasn't just the great melodies and choruses, it was the overall quality in the writing that made the lyrics sink in so deep. The honesty of it all. Rodney Crowell, if anything, is totally unashamed to say what's on his mind and if you need proof of that just listen to the bluntness in the title-track.

Now I know that with "Fate's Right Hand", I'm barely scratching the surface. I'm off to pick up "The Houston Kid" and I can't wait to see where that takes me. This one has defintely made a fan out of me.